It is often said that good and quality things are usually sought after by people who desire them in their multitudes. Thus corroborated the popular old adage which says “a golden fish has no hiding place because its skin has given it away”
This is precisely what’s happening today in political fibre of NNAD as the incumbent NNAD’s president Dr. Chidi Topaz Olujie and his loyal vice president Hon. Haruna Mohammed seems to be the proverbial beautiful bride that is being sought after by many among their friends, political associates and even political opponents.
In recent times, these people oriented leaders have suddenly metamorphosed from lowest to highest level of popularity within and outside the Deaf community in Nigeria, a thing that earned them so much admiration and love every where.
What is more exciting about their popularity is how Deaf Nigerians have been making serious overtures to the Abia and Zamfara-born politicians with a view to getting them to their side.
Apart from these, many others belonging to splinter political groups within NNAD have also been making serious contacts with the duo ostensibly to be part of the political group Dr. Chidi and Haruna established prior to the 2020 election in Kano state known as Unity Peace and Progressive Team (UPP-T). A team established with the objective of fostering unity and harmony among the Deaf Nigerians to perceive themselves as one indivisible entity.
One or two major reasons for establishing this political group can be traced to the political trajectory of the two men which is firmly rooted in populism and the pursuit of welfare for the people.
The duo has within over three years of political engagements and involvements ensured that the platforms they had been saddled to preside over become avenues for bettering the lives of Deaf Nigerians from all walks of life.
Their resolve to always give maximum attention to education, human capital development and empowerment of unskilled Deaf youths are the things that have endeared them to the Deaf followers who have continued to reciprocate these gestures by aligning with them during elections, and are more than eager to replicate the thing they did in kano by given the two leaders an overwhelming support.
It is no gainsaying the fact that Dr. Chidi Topaz Olujie and Mal Haruna Mohammed remains in the league of the few politicians around.
Many people usually mobilise and canvass for votes for the political group Chidi/Haruna belongs due to their raising popularity. So fanatical are members of the ubiquitous UPP-T Movement that their imprint is found everywhere not only in the North but across the country.
Another things that make Chidi/Haruna more popular and earned them huge recognition, respect and admiration within Deaf community is the magnificent achievements they recorded in the past three and a half years of their stewardship as president and vice president of NNAD. They have so far secured a huge $40.000 grant from the Disability Rights Fund (DRF), enter into partnership with several organizations for the betterment of Deaf Nigerians, e.g, Deaf E-3 project funded by USAID to strengthen Deaf education, empowerment and employment in collaboration with Gallaudet, Wesley University, ensuring the Nigerian Deaf Youth Section officially became a member of the World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section (WFDYS) which eventually produced the first-ever WFDYS secretary from Nigeria.
Others include the leadership training and workshops to strengthen capacity of NNAD, successfully drafting and adoption of a brand new NNAD constitution, Inauguration and Documentation of the official recognition & adoption of the Nigerian Sign Language (NSL) with support from the National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPWD) and Disability Rights Fund (DRF), formations of several committees that successfully handled some of NNAD projects, attempting to hosting World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) 2027 AGM in Nigeria (though Dubai won the hosting right), Capacity building workshop for National Executives and Stakeholders in tackling trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrant with the support from Anti- Trafficking in Persons & Anti- Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) and International Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), hostling for standardizing of cut-off marks for the Deaf and cancellation of Post UTME into Tertiary Institutions by JAMB, among other people-driven initiatives. Apart from that, the near Spartan lifestyle of the two great men has made them even more popular and greatly endeared them to many because they remained among the very few trusted politicians who have no cases of embezzlement and/or corruption whatsoever.
Unlike some presidential aspirants, who are seen as miles apart, Dr. Chidi Topaz Olujie and Mal Haruna Mohammed will always be sought after by different political groups and tendencies within NNAD as we gradually match towards September 2024 election in Ogun state due to their records of outstanding performance and their near perfect and incorruptible personalities.