By Abu Michael
Walk through the markets of Abejukolo, the river banks of Bagana, or the farming communities of Omala LGA and you will hear one thing repeatedly: “2027 is settled.”
In Omala State Constituency, the conversation is no longer about who will represent the people in the Kogi State House of Assembly. The people have already made their choice. They have adopted Hon. Umar Yahaya of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for a second term.
The question now dominating town halls, union meetings and evening discussions is different: How do we sustain this momentum? How does the “magician lawmaker” do even more?
That shift in conversation tells the full story of representation in Omala today. It is a story of results, not promises.
Hon. Umar Yahaya has, in the 10th Assembly, become the reference point other constituencies quietly wish they had. He is described as a one-man riot squad, not for chaos, but for breaking barriers of neglect.
He works like a bulldozer. In hard-to-reach areas where roads were abandoned for years, he tore through, graded and opened access so farmers can get produce to market and patients can reach hospitals.
Healthcare delivery has been brought to the doorsteps of the people. Through free medical outreaches, drug supplies and support to primary health centers, he has made pregnant women and little children his priority.
A mother in Ogbogbo said it plainly: “Before now, we delivered at home and prayed. Today, we have drugs and health workers because our lawmaker remembered us.”
That human touch has earned him the title “lawmaker with the heart of gold.” It is not from political slogans. It is from seeing his personal resources deployed for emergencies, school fees, and small business support when government processes are slow.
But Hon. Umar is not just about charity. He is legislating with purpose. His motions and contributions in the House have centered on rural development, security, education and health — issues that matter directly to Omala people.
Just recently, he raised his voice loud and clear for Omala to have a Girl Child Science Secondary School. He is not resting. He is pressing the right buttons in government to secure the state’s approval, because he believes the daughters of Omala deserve engineers, doctors and scientists too.
That single advocacy has rekindled hope among parents who previously thought science education was only for children in the cities.
Traditional rulers say his style is different. He does not wait to be invited. He goes to communities, listens, and returns with solutions. That accessibility has kept the APC family in Omala united and strong.
Youth and women leaders note that empowerment programs under his office have been consistent, not seasonal. Skills training, grants and job linkages have given young people alternatives beyond idleness.
Community stakeholders argue that Omala cannot afford to experiment in 2027. “We have seen what works,” a community elder in Bagana said. “Now we want to consolidate and expand it.”
And that is exactly what constituents are asking for: sustainability. More roads. More health centers equipped. More scholarships. More support for farmers. More visibility for Omala in state planning.
Hon. Umar Yahaya says he understands the assignment. He notes that his alignment with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to ensure Omala gets its fair share of development.
“Elections will come and go,” he told constituents recently. “But development must remain. My job is to make sure Omala is not left behind.”
Political analysts say this is the ideal of democratic representation, when performance makes campaigns unnecessary and governance becomes the campaign.
In Omala, the 2027 House of Assembly election is no longer a contest. It is a ratification of work already done.
The real contest now is against poverty, poor infrastructure and limited opportunities. And constituents believe Hon. Umar Yahaya is the man to lead that fight.
As 2027 draws near, Omala’s message is clear and soothing: we have adopted our representative. Now, let us talk about sustainable development and doing more.
For Omala, the future is not a gamble. It is a project already in motion, with Hon. Umar Yahaya at the center of it.
