Honestly, it breaks my heart watching the kind of politics being played in Gombe South today. Not because we lack intelligent people, capable youths, experienced elders, or politically exposed individuals, but because we lack unity, long-term strategy, and collective purpose.
Everybody wants to lead. Everybody wants to be in the front seat. Everybody wants personal recognition, yet very few are willing to build together for the common interest of Gombe South as a whole.
Politics is not noise. Politics is not social media pictures. Politics is not about who shouts the loudest or who sits closest to a politician during campaigns. Politics is strategy, structure, sacrifice, influence, negotiation, and long-term calculation.
Politics is understanding that sometimes one person must step forward while others rally behind for the greater good of the people.
A senator representing Gombe South does not represent only Balanga, Billiri, Kaltungo, Shongom, or any single local interest. He represents the entire Gombe South. That means the people must begin to think beyond tribe, beyond clan, beyond personal loyalty, and beyond individual interests. People must begin to ask harder questions:
Who has the competence?
Who has the credibility?
Who has the emotional intelligence?
Who understands governance beyond slogans?
Who has the strategy, political maturity, and genuine interest of the people at heart?
These are the questions serious political regions ask themselves before elections.
Unfortunately, in Gombe South today, too many people are still playing politics of emotion, politics of ego, and politics of stomach infrastructure. Everybody wants immediate personal gain, even when the community keeps losing collectively. That is why division continues to weaken the region politically.
The painful truth is this: many political stakeholders in Gombe South have failed in one major responsibility — succession planning and political mentorship.
In stronger political structures across Nigeria, experienced politicians identify competent younger individuals, mentor them, expose them, invest in them, and gradually prepare them for leadership. They understand that leadership is continuity, not personal ownership.
But in Gombe South, too many people hold power for years without intentionally building the next generation. Even after occupying strategic offices, some still refuse to step aside or empower capable younger voices because of fear — fear of losing relevance, fear of losing control, and fear that the next person may become politically bigger than them.
That mentality is dangerous for any political region.
Look at the political history of Northern Nigeria and even parts of Gombe State itself. The most respected political figures were not respected because they were loud. They were respected because they built structures, built people, stood firm on principles, and played politics with courage, patience, and strategic thinking.
Men like the late Dr. Idris Abubakar, Jibrin Barde, and several respected political actors from past generations understood that politics was beyond personal survival. They understood negotiation, alliance-building, political grooming, and regional interest.
That was why their voices carried weight.
Today, too many youths have reduced politics to collecting stipends, snapping pictures with politicians, and defending leaders blindly online for temporary benefits.
But let me ask honestly: after years of loyalty, how many of these leaders have truly empowered you politically? How many have introduced you into serious political rooms? How many are genuinely preparing you for leadership tomorrow?
Taking pictures beside politicians is not political relevance. Running errands without growth is not political strategy. Blind loyalty without development is political exploitation.
Sadly, this has weakened the bargaining power of Gombe South politically.
Another painful reality is how women are still being sidelined politically despite the fact that many women possess stronger communication skills, better grassroots coordination, and often more mature political approaches than some men dominating the space.
Politics cannot continue to exclude women and still expect balanced development.
GOMBE SOUTH MUST WAKE UP 💪
The 2026–2027 political season is not just another election cycle. It is a test of political maturity for Gombe South — a test of whether the region truly understands modern politics or whether it will continue operating with division, ego, hunger, and emotional reactions.
Because whether people like hearing it or not, political observers across the state are already studying Gombe South. They are watching the internal divisions. They are watching how easily people turn against one another. They are watching how personal interests constantly override regional interests.
And politics is perception.
Once a region is seen as disorganized and divided, external political forces begin making decisions on its behalf because they know resistance is weak.
That is why candidates can sometimes be imposed without proper consultation. That is why the opinions of the people become secondary. That is why serious negotiations rarely favor divided regions.
Politics does not respect noise. Politics respects structure, unity, numbers, influence, and strategic coordination.
Even at the national level, we constantly see politicians forming alliances with people they may not fully agree with ideologically because they understand one thing: politics is about long-term positioning. It is about understanding future calculations beyond immediate emotions.
That is the level of political maturity Gombe South must develop.
This message is not hate. It is frustration mixed with hope.
Because I still believe Gombe South has intelligent people, capable youths, experienced elders, and enough human resources to become a strong political force in Gombe State.
But that can only happen when people stop worshipping politicians blindly and start prioritising competence, strategy, development, and collective progress.
The politics of hunger will never build a strong region. A politics where people easily sell their voices, dignity, and future for temporary gains can never produce lasting development.
Yes, everybody has needs. Yes, survival matters. But there must be a limit where personal hunger does not destroy collective destiny.
Leadership is service. Politics is responsibility. Representation is sacrifice.
Until Gombe South begins to approach politics with discipline, unity, courage, strategic thinking, mentorship, and long-term vision, the region risks gradually losing political relevance while others continue advancing.
People are free to disagree with me. People are free to criticize me. But deep down, many know this conversation is necessary.
Gombe South must sit up. The future will not wait for anybody.
Take this message as hate or take it as truth, but one thing is certain: no region grows politically without unity, strategy, mentorship, sacrifice, and collective vision.
Politics is not about who eats today; it is about securing the future of generations yet unborn.
Gombe South must decide whether it wants to remain divided by ego, hunger, and personal interests or rise together as a serious political force that commands respect, influence, and development.
The future will not be changed by silence, blind loyalty, or social media praise-singing. It will only change when people begin to value competence over sentiments, strategy over emotions, and collective progress over personal gain.
If this message speaks truth to you, do not keep quiet. Share it.
Let the conversation reach every youth, every stakeholder, every political supporter, and every son and daughter of Gombe South.
Sometimes uncomfortable conversations are the beginning of real change.
Bona Fide Daughter of the Soil !
Afiniki Stanley Obidah, (Nikysmart) writes from Abuja, Nigeria.
