By Katdapba Yunana Gobum
At an event yours sincerely wasn’t able to attend in Jos on January 4, 2025, the life and times of Rt Hon Usman Zumunta Musa were celebrated.
The event, from all intent and purposes, was not designed just to draw people to the venue. It was principally to acknowledge his contributions in changing the lives of people, even while dead.
Above all, his interventions served as an attachment to the idea of raising young men and women for quality service towards achieving a mileage in the development of their communities.
Be that as it may, the initiative is a sign post of the struggles he helped to achieve for the journey of life of many people from different walks of life, while he lived.
He didn’t deliberately choose those to receive help. He facilitated for all to get help. Little wonder, many of them were at the venue in great numbers; in what was seen as a traditional outing to support their benefactor.
Their different perspectives and comments, are, in many respects, a reflection of how he stood up for them; when they needed education but could not afford it; help to settle medical bills; and leverage the different difficult stations of his many constituents, so as to get them fulfilled.
On this score, more of his constituents got attached to his politics. It is this brand of politically conscious trajectory that has raised from Kanam and beyond an army of well informed men and women who appreciate service wherever they find themselves.
Over time, his home became a point of convergence: It brought together both the young and old to draw wisdom and mentorship.
They always left satisfied and filled to the brim; thanks to his wife, Hajia Hauwa Usman Zumunta, who has remained in the tradition of doing what is good for those who visited the family house.
One dignitary after another at the event poured encomiums on the politician whose place in history is not a product of chance. The Usman Zumunta Musa Legacy Summit and the launch of the Zumunta Water Relief Initiative were to keep his name and memory fresh and incandescent.
It was organized by the Usman Zumunta Musa Foundation, to celebrate the life and legacy of Rt Hon Usman Zumunta Musa, former Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly’s contributions to leadership and community development.
Rt Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, sees the late Zumunta Musa as a father figure whose ‘life embodies the virtues of leadership, service, and selflessness. This event is a celebration of his legacy and the lessons he left for us to emulalate’.
Prof Chris Kwaja, says the impact of ‘Zumunta Musa’s life was defined by his commitment to empower others and foster unity, regardless of religion, gender, or political affiliation. His legacy challenges us to live purposefully and dedicate ourselves to the betterment of’ of humanity.
The summit’s climax came with the official launch of the Zumunta Water Relief Initiative by His Royal Highness Mu’azu Muhammad Muhammad II, Emir of Kanam.
In the words of the Emir: This initiative embodies the values of compassion and service that defines Zumunta Musa’s life’. As can be seen, the summit serves more ‘as a tribute to a man who dedicated his life to service but also as a platform to inspire current and future leaders’
Many keep saying that whether it was at Tetengi Estate Alheri, Zaria Crescent, Maman Iyabo (late Ibrahim Kuku Estate), New Legislative Quarters, Ungwan Doki, Bukuru and at Atiku Street, Rayfield, where he lived once, the story of lavish reception to all was not lacking, whenever they came visiting.
If you have ever met him, he was such a simple and easy-going person. Rt Hon Usman Zumunta Musa had a unique gift for making everyone feel valued and cherished.
While working with the Plateau State Ministry of Agriculture, before he ventured into politics in 1999, he is reported to have left a track record of honesty, sincerity, and dedication to service.
While the sojourn lasted, he was imbued with an excellent character that went ahead of him, thus making those who saw service in government as a means of enriching one self.
He lived a selfless life, which greatly impacted other people’s. If there is none of those who may have benefited, one who still stands tall is Rt Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi.
Dr Gagdi could rightly be said to have been sufficiently mentored by him. No wonder, it is said that a teacher expects his students to excel far above what he has achieved.
The impact of Rt Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi in PKK, Plateau and beyond cannot be reduced to happenstance. The people’s representative has a unique mission to deliver in the lives of his constituents.
Today, there are many whose lives have been turned around for the better. They include, but are not limited to: Amos Inusa Baduku, Isiaka Birni, Abdullahi Lawatla, Tanko Lawatla, and Emmanuel Bayero. There are many more; and to be fair, the summit, in the main, was to put him on the spot; even though not alive.
While serving the people of Katana constituency of Kanam, he was made Deputy Speaker on May 15, 2000 in the Plateau House of Assembly; with a term from 1999-2007. He opened the floodgate for three more sons from the local government area to serve in the same position.
Apart from other extra efforts to drive home the needs of his constituents; one of the most difficult tasks was being the Chairman Investigative Panel on the Allegations of Corruptions against Governor Joshua Dariye.
On October 5, 2015, the Gum-Gagdi politician who was born in 1957 and served Kantana constituency for two terms died. It is sad to recollect.
He left in his trail a worthy principle of ‘politics without bitterness’, for which the state still needs. The Usman Zumunta Musa Foundation is a welcome Initiative dedicated for the good of community development.
He is survived by his wife, Hajia Hauwa Usman Zumunta (Gambo), who, together with his children; Zuwaira, Zakiyyah, Zaharaddeen, Al-Amin, and
Abdulhakim have kept his memory alive.
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