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There are 18 politicians jostling for the only Senate seat in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). And as usual, both the serious and the jokers are on the ballot. But out of them all, one person stands out. He is Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda. The ninth Senate Minority Chief Whip.
Out of the lots, three appear serious, but even then there is a name that is ringing a bell in every nook and cranny of the FCT. And that name is Phillip Aduda, a grassroots politician that has cut his political teeth before any of the other 17 contestants.
His influence, popularity and acceptance is legendary. There is no part of Abuja that the name doesn’t ring a bell. He is known for his magnanimity to assist the residents of Abuja, irrespective of tribe, ethnicity or religion. He is accessible and has contributed more politically than any of his opponents.
There is hardly any part of Abuja that he has not delivered the dividend of democracy to. The communities spanning the six Area councils and the 62 wards have felt and benefited from his earlier representation. And he has promised to do more and provide and meet the yearnings of the residents of FCT.
Politics is an interesting game and it is local and those who know the formula are enjoying it. As for some, it is a dirty game, while others believe that the players make it dirty by their actions.
In a political contest, both the goats and the sheep are allowed to the pasture, but when the chips are down, the men are separated from the boys and with the various political parties presenting their best candidates for the exalted seat, one name stands out. And that is Phillip Tanimu Aduda.
Aduda is a young vibrant man who suffers no fools a bit, as he thinks FCT and speaks FCT progress for both the natives and the settlers. Politicians are seldom known to think of tomorrow. It is statesmen who do so. He falls in the latter grouping as his thoughts are how things should work well for the growth of the FCT and how indigenes benefit from it.
When you meet him, you see a workaholic party faithful who gives prominence to national issues and desires for a better Nigeria. He is a quintessential party faithful who puts everything he has in the success of the party and especially the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He is known to have bowed to the overpowering zeal to serve humanity. His strength of character and no nonsense reputation for getting results, his doggedness, this passionate political prince of Karu has proven that success is no respecter of gender but only favours hard work, tenacity and purpose.
Philip is a household name in FCT political calculation. He was elected twice as a member of the House of Representatives and three times as a senator, representing FCT in the National Assembly. Since he joined politics in 2003, he has remained a PDP member and became its minority Chief Whip in the 9th Senate. But he is now contesting as a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He is Gbagyi, the majority tribe in FCT, followed by the Gwandara, Gade, Koro and, of course, the settlers like the Igbo, Yoruba, Kanuri and the Hausa/Fulani. One thing that has been working for Aduda is that he distributes political patronage to all, not restricting it to Gbagyi alone. This has therefore made him, arguably, the most sought after politician in today’s FCT.
When he joined APC, he described President Tinubu as a political colossus, a nationalist, a talent hunter, a strategist, an enigma and a man with the heart of a giant and with political acumen recognised by all in the political divide.
This passionate political Prince of Karu has proven that success is no respecter of gender but only favours hard work, tenacity and purpose. For his resilience and doggedness, the party decided to field him for the Senate seat once again.
As a politician, he shook hands with destiny with his appointment, he did well as Minority Chief Whip in the 9th Senate. As a federal legislator, he has shown rare promise, penetrating vision and a clear grasp of issues that are beneficial to the development of Abuja.
Success is not accidental, he will tell you, neither is it served a la carte, he will add; you have to go for it. Young or old, the only thing that separates leaders from others, winners from losers, is their dedication and perseverance in bringing true change into anything they do. Aduda can conveniently say he has and is maneuvering through the corridors of power at the highest level of government.
Tirelessly, he soldiered on, initiated reforms and fortified capacity, building measures that have yielded fruits not only in his domain but also every nook and cranny of Abuja since he went to the National Assembly in 2003. To underscore his commitment to serving the public good, he has weathered the political waters and is still in good standing. He has won and lost elections.
He has ensured the residents of Abuja are placed in key positions both within the FCTA and at the federal level. These people are not only Gbagyi or Gwandara, but we have Ibo, Yoruba and Kanuri who have drank and are drinking from his pot of connection to the power.
Indeed, with a new dawn on the horizon beckoning, February 6, 2027, Phillip Aduda may be leaving an indelible footprint on the sands of time as an irrepressible political juggernaut of change and an astute politician.
He is doing his best for his people believing that history will be kind to him at the end of the day. The coast is clear, who then is not afraid of his candidature and why Aduda if not Aduda.
Abdul is an Abuja based journalist and wrote in via [email protected]
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