By Tom Garba
Years ago, I met this Young Man while a Councillor of Warwar in 1996, supervisors councilor for health and natural resources, a Political ward in Sardauna Local Government Area, Central Senatorial zone of Taraba State. In him, I saw a radiant face of hope to the people of Sardauna. Little did I know the Man is more of an anointed Joseph for the entire people of Taraba State, and of course, an ideal Young Man of the Nigerian Dream. I found a golden principle of leadership in the inside of this gentleman. The forthrightness, sincerity, and down-to-earth qualities of a true servant are the best that described his real personality.
This Man is Call Deacon Abel Peter Diah, a one time Chairman of Sardauna Local Government, a five term House of Assembly Member representing Nbamnga Constituency, and a two-term former Speaker of the State Assembly (8th & 9th Assembly). My Knowledge of this Man in the local and state legislative duties is no doubt a Gendarme who kept and still keeping, upholding the law and the sanctity of the House of Assembly.
Abel to me is another visionary Young leader whose life is a characteristic of the assertion that “leaders are born”, while others believe that ” leaders are made through dint of hard work”. He remains one of the rejuvenated Lawmaker, a Dynamo, the shaker and mover of what is democratically good for the people of Taraba State while he was the speaker of the House. During his Einstein leadership of the state Assembly, Diah sponsored bills into law, his regime was known for its vibrancy in checkmating the executive arm of the government as a functional legislative House whose duties are focused on making sure the right thing is done by the Executive.
It’s best to say that the ability and the acumen of leadership in the former speaker is a percipience to power who believe that “power” means changing bad to good and good to better in the PDP concept of leadership, a party he is dead loyal to and vowed allegiance to it for the rest of his life.
The bravely and dexterous work of Diah is still earning him a good reputation within the political class in Taraba, earning the confidence of a brilliant lawmaker from his colleagues whose Wisdom is helping in stabilizing the in-house political tempo of the Assembly.
His Seludous of hard work and the productive representation is giving to his constituents, it is goodies being enjoyed by thousands of people around the state. A seen promising lawmaker to bridge the gap of leadership for the common man in Taraba state.
To political class students, Hon Diah is more than a ranking member in the state’s Assembly gallery, his gained experience is without limits compare to his contemporaries in the House chambers. The inbuilt and “worked your way” to leadership qualities in him makes him Taraba state lawmakers for six consecutive elections. From 2003 to date for the people of the Mbanga constituency have found him worthy, a noble Son whose selfless services and servant service to humanity are never tiring, hence their voice of call to service was made to him. This is no doubt, a call from God, as it is commonly said” the voice of Men is the voice of God.” With this kind of Man, with this nature of a Man in Taraba, he is a clear pointer of a great leader, a man that can change the story for good, in the interest of Tarabans and Nigerians.
With his experience, his honesty, his marriage to PDP, and his God’s fearing attitude, the Taraba 9th Assembly is seen as a stabilizer of democratic norms in the state. The separation of power between the executive and legislative under the watch of Peter while a speaker was what everybody can attest of, and is undeniable sustaining and growing up democracy tenets in the state.
While under his watch, he leads well his colleagues, martialed out good and people’s oriented laws, he does not relegate the duties of the oversight function of lawmakers to the background, his distinguished colleagues receive the support they need in checkmating all the excess of the executive in Taraba state. A leadership strength he sees as the hope of the electorates to challenge the executive wherever necessary through constitutional bounds and backups.
Peter is now seen as a trailblazer and a pathfinder that is helping in charting a new course of development for the people of Taraba under the leadership of Governor Ishaku Darius Dickson. He believes in the State called Taraba, from the Mambilas Mountains down to the Southern valleys of Dungas, Wukaris, and the uphills of the Northern region of Zings to positively change the nasty stories of the state to a story of survivors and victors unto good works.
Been the former speaker of the House for the second time, his experience was much and still counting as a unifier, sustainer, brazing up the standing pillars of democracy in the state.
He is known as a Man of peace and detribalized Nigerian that believes in the total unity of the country, a known philanthropist of international reputes whose attitudes to good works no know bounds, not minding who you are, your tribe or religion you profess before he can be of help.
The Marafan Sardauna, the revered traditional title gotten from his kinsmen, Diah above all prefers to be the maintainer and keeper of the traditional institute. A good custodian of the norms and values of his tradition hence his love of Peace and the unity of Taraba is top of his agenda. His likes are few, his types are rare, no wonder the master planner (God) is rising him higher, from unstoppable step to another step of Glory.
Yes! Who knows, Abel Peter Diah is a willing vessel God is preparing to use to take Taraba, Nigeria to an enviable state. The world is waiting for this young, visionary, and dynamic intelligent man to the circle of world leaders.
He is a good man to watch in the growing up, going down the political swinging pendulum of Taraba state. A star whose shining abilities are a future glory of the state. The horizon in the North East with dominant colors of beauties is about to breakout.
Tom Garba, FIMC, FBMC
A Journalist, an Opinion molder
Who wrote this from Abuja.
He can be reached through this means:
tomgarba5@gmail.com
08172570859
