As the campaign goes on, the candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Etsako Federal Constituency, Muhammed Bawa, has declared that the time for political handouts and career politicians in Edo North is done.
Speaking to community leaders, youth groups, and traders during his campaign tour on Thursday, Bawa said his goal for the House of Representatives is a fight against the ongoing poverty affecting the Etsako people.
Bawa introduced his Efua (Light) Manifesto, highlighting his campaign's focus on what he calls the “Triple Integration Agenda.” This plan aims to boost social, economic, and political unity across Etsako West, Etsako East, and Etsako Central.
He criticized the long-standing political culture in the area, urging voters to reject temporary handouts and demand real economic opportunities.
“For decades, representation in Etsako has been a joke. Our people have faced a degrading political cycle where career politicians hand out seasonal gifts, a bag of rice here, a branded motorcycle there, while our communities crumble around us.
“We are smart and hardworking, yet our people still suffer from deep poverty. You cannot fix this problem with empty political promises. I am not running to give our people another round of political charity; I am offering a solid plan to end this cycle of begging and create wealth instead.”
Bawa explained the economic part of his plan, which includes the creation of the ‘Etsako Enterprise Sinking Fund.’ This fund will be a revolving capital system aimed at helping the youth in the constituency become business owners instead of job seekers.
“We must stop the sad joke of training young people for jobs that do not exist,” he said. “Under the Efua plan, we are creating a business model funded by the Sinking Fund. We will group trained unemployed youths into cooperatives, give them assets like heavy machinery, agro-processing tools, and logistics support, and connect them to supply chains.
“The enterprise owns the asset, makes money, supports the owners, and pays back the capital to fund the next cooperative. We are making a clear shift from dependence to ownership, from poverty to productivity, from business to corporate ownership.”
Bawa noted that this economic connection is key for the social unity of Etsako, breaking down the divide-and-rule tactics used by politicians.
“For generations, political figures have exploited tribal feelings, creating false divisions between Etsako West, East, and Central,” Bawa said.
“Economic ties will hold us together. When a carpenter from Auchi, a logistics manager from Agenebode, and a worker from Fugar all own and run a successful business, ethnic differences fade away. Shared economic goals will heal our historical divides. We need to stop asking ‘What is my village getting?’ and start asking ‘What empire are we building together?’”
On political unity, Bawa promised to move away from the passive approach in the National Assembly. He vowed to be a strong voice in the Green Chamber.
“The Green Chamber should not be a resting place for the politically connected; it should be a center for our economic and political survival,” he said. “The time of silent back-benchers is over. We will use our legislative power to secure federal infrastructure, protect our farmers so they can work without fear, and unite Afemai into a strong political and economic force.”
Bawa expressed strong confidence in the NDC's chances in the upcoming elections, stating that the party has grown from a political group into a movement supported by an aware electorate.
“The NDC is set for a win in the next election. People are tired of broken promises and are ready for real change. The support we see across Etsako shows that our people want genuine governance. We are heading towards a clear victory.”
Bawa highlighted the difference between himself and his rivals, stating that his experience in the private sector gives him an edge over career politicians.
“I did not come from the comfortable world of political godfathers; I grew up in the tough reality of the Nigerian private sector. I have managed payrolls, worked with labor, negotiated important deals, and built businesses from scratch.
“Career politicians only know how to talk in Abuja while their people suffer. I am a builder, and I am entering politics to apply a tested plan for wealth creation for my people. The era of political godfathers is ending; the era of builders has begun,” he said.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇