By Our Reporters
Barrister Salifu Oguche Usman is not a typical Nigerian politician seeking for favour or opportunity to grab public funds for himself, family members and cronies. If we’re complaining of bad leadership, wisdom demands that we elect the right person to represent the good people of the newly restored Ogugu State Constituency at the State House of Assembly. It would be a big error to elect wrong person to represent the new constituency that would shape the destiny of Ogugu people – both the current and future generations.
Barrister Salifu Oguche Usman may be new on the ballot, but over the years, he has been deeply involved in politics and policies that would uplift his people. With his loaded and intimidating credentials in the area of politics, legal background, leadership exposure, and deep understanding of what his people want, he unarguably represents the kind of multidimensional leadership that Ogugu people have been yearning for.
Barr. Salifu’s engagements with eminent personalities such as political authorities, community leaders, professionals, and stakeholders both at his ancestral home of Ogugu, Kogi State and entire Nigeria, have continued to widen his understanding about good leadership thereby positioning him as the right man for the job.
The Igala-born young and vibrant lawyer has proven that, good leadership is not a rocket science. If we have competent and god-fearing leaders, the people can actually get dividends of democracy. His physical size and age might not be massive, but he is an embodiment of knowledge and experience.
Barr. Salifu has occupied the following leadership positions; National Legal Adviser, Ogugu Development Union (ODU); which is the leading umbrella body of all Ogugu sons and daughters worldwide.
He was also the immediate past Vice President of Ogugu Development Union (ODU), Abuja Branch.
National Legal Adviser, Emenega Community Development Association (EDCA); his community in Ogugu Constituency.
The brilliant young lawyer was the immediate past Vice Chairman, Emenega Community Development Association (EDCA), Abuja branch. He is the current National Legal Adviser of Igala Youth Leadership Assembly (IYLA); and Secretary General, Ane Igala Restoration (AIR); and other leadership positions, too many to mention. In all the positions of leadership he has occupied, he has demonstrated capacity, honesty, god-fearing and humility.
The roles Barr. Salifu Oguche Usman played to restore Ogugu State Constituency, cannot be easily forgotten. In year 2013 as a very young lawyer then, he wrote the first letter to INEC requesting that Ogugu State Constituency that was suppressed be restored.
The constituency was given to the good people of Ogugu in 1993 before the military junta led by late Sani Abacha, overthrew the government. Unfortunately, when democracy returned in 1999, the constituency was cramped. This led Barr. Salifu to write a letter to INEC for the restoration of the constituency in 2013. In 2014, he had to drag INEC to court on behalf of Ogugu people at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Bar. Salifu Oguche Usman had shown the capacity, the clarity, genuine love for his people, as well as good courage. His quest to represent the good people of Ogugu at Kogi State House of Assembly, has nothing to do with pride or ‘emilokan’ (it’s my turn) rather, it is a call to service. He understands that the essence of life is service to God and humanity. He has demonstrated that he is ready to serve his people, listen to them, and to deliver dividends of democracy for the people.
To those who are saying, “he is too young,” “he doesn’t have the experience,” “his community man (or brother as they say), has been in Kogi State House of Assembly for nearly 8 years” and so forth; here is a question for them: when the young lawyer was busy pursuing for the restoration of Ogugu State Constituency, where were those they referred to as “old and experienced politicians?”
Bar. Salifu Oguche Usman has fully demonstrated that he has the requisite experience to represent the good people of Ogugu. He is very humble, educated, courageous, competent and god-fearing young man. He represents the new phase of Igala race that we are all clamoring for. Let’s reward all he has done for the good people of Ogugu by coming out en mass to vote him to Kogi State House of Assembly in 2027 general elections.
God has used Barrister Salifu Oguche Usman to ‘fight’ for the restoration of Ogugu State Constituency. It would be a big blow to waste this great opportunity by not electing him. Let Ogugu people put their hearts together and get Bar. Salifu elected to Kogi House of Assembly. Let’s rally round him because he the right man for the job.
Born in Victoria Island, Lagos State on January 20th, 1981 to the late Salifu Obaje Oguche and the late Mrs Rametu Ojonogecha Oguche. He attended Qua Iboe Primary School, Ogugu Center from 1987-1992.
He then proceeded to Ogugu Community Secondary School, Ogugu from 1992-1998.
He was at Benue State University, Makurdi, 1999-2000, and earned Diploma in Law.
He went to Kogi State University, Anyigba (2002-2007), for his Bachelors of Law and Letter (LLB.
He was at Nigeria Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos from 2007- 2008 (Barrister at Law), BL
He was at the University of Abuja, from 2010-2013 for Masters of Law (LLM).
Salifu Oguche Usman, Esq is a private legal practitioner, a senior Associate at R.R Adejo_Andrew and CO; a Principal Partner, Abbluent Partners, Abuja, Nigeria.
Below are the copies of Barr. Salifu’s letter to INEC in 2013.
