Since her inauguration into the House of Representatives, the people of Nangere and Potiskum have been left wondering what exactly has become of Hon. Fatima Talba, their representative. Her absence from the political and developmental life of her constituency has become a source of frustration and anger among those who trusted her with their votes. Almost three years into her tenure, there is very little to show, and the silence surrounding her supposed legislative efforts speaks volumes.
The truth is that the people of Nangere and Potiskum feel abandoned. They elected Hon. Talba to be their voice in Abuja, but that voice has gone missing. Instead of championing the cause of her people, she has vanished into the comfort of political invisibility. Since taking office, there has been no serious engagement with constituents, no town hall meetings, and no efforts to connect with the communities she represents. Her physical absence has become symbolic of a much deeper problem: the complete disconnect between elected officials and the people who put them in power.
Worse still, it is being said that in two whole years at the National Assembly, Hon. Talba has not sponsored a single bill or motion. In a legislative chamber where performance is measured by impact, she has left behind no legislative footprint. Her record so far is an empty slate. For a representative who swore an oath to serve, this is nothing short of disgraceful. The House of Representatives is not a tourist attraction where members come to sightsee or take selfies. It is a place for hard work, ideas, debate, and action. Hon. Talba’s silence is not only embarrassing but also insulting to the people who believed in her potential to bring change.
Representation is not about attending a few sessions and hiding in the crowd of legislators. It is about standing up, speaking out, and making the struggles of one’s people impossible to ignore. To neglect this duty is to betray the confidence of the electorate. The people of Nangere and Potiskum did not send Hon. Talba to Abuja to be a spectator. They sent her there to fight for them, to attract projects, to make laws that would improve their lives, and to demand attention for their long-neglected communities. What they have received instead is silence, invisibility, and excuses.
Nangere and Potiskum are not constituencies that can afford neglect. The people are suffering in silence. Their healthcare system is on its knees. Hospitals are under-equipped, medical workers are overwhelmed, and patients often die of treatable illnesses because there is no infrastructure to save them. Education is collapsing too. Many schools lack teachers, classrooms are falling apart, and the level of illiteracy continues to rise. The children of this constituency are being robbed of their future while their representative sits comfortably detached from their reality.
Poverty and unemployment have become a way of life for many in the constituency. The absence of empowerment programs or constituency projects has left people hopeless. No skills training, no youth engagement, and no visible attempts to improve livelihoods. The roads are in terrible shape, electricity is unreliable, and clean water is still a luxury in many communities. These are not new problems, but what makes them worse now is that the representative who should be pushing for solutions is nowhere to be found. Hon. Fatima Talba has failed to give her people the representation they desperately need.
This is not mere criticism; it is a call for accountability. The office she occupies is not a reward but a responsibility. Leadership is not about enjoying the title of “Honourable.” It is about showing up, working hard, and being visible. It is about being the bridge between the people and the government. Hon. Talba has broken that bridge, leaving her people stranded in despair. For two years, she has done little to justify the trust and resources invested in her. If she cannot perform, then she should at least have the decency to engage her constituents honestly and admit it.
The patience of the people is running out. They are tired of representatives who disappear after elections only to reappear when it is time to beg for votes again. The people of Nangere and Potiskum are not asking for miracles. They are simply asking for a leader who will listen, who will speak up, and who will deliver even the smallest of changes. Hon. Talba has so far proven incapable of doing any of these. The least she can do now is face her constituents and give an account of what she has achieved, if anything at all.
It is not too late for her to redeem herself, but time is running out fast. Two years remain in her tenure, and she must decide whether she wants to be remembered as a ghost in the National Assembly or as a representative who woke up in time to make a difference. She owes her people more than silence. She owes them action, visibility, and results. History is already watching, and it will not be kind to those who squandered their mandate on inaction.
The people of Nangere and Potiskum have suffered enough neglect. They cannot afford another wasted term. If Hon. Fatima Talba continues down this path of passivity and detachment, she will go down in history as one of the most disappointing lawmakers her constituency has ever produced. Public office is not for the faint-hearted, and leadership is not for those who hide. The time to sit up is now. The people are watching, and their silence today may soon turn into rejection tomorrow.
Kasim Isa Muhammad writes from Potiskum, Yobe State.
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