Following a recent TV3 report on the rise of second-generation politicians in the country, Chief Executive Officer of MASLOC and NPP Parliamentary Aspirant for Yendi, Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama has waded into the conversation, underscoring the need for such persons to be given a fair shot at leadership.
She contends that the leadership skills, mentorship, grooming and experience the children of politicians gather while understudying their parents in leadership is priceless.
“The children of businessmen are encouraged to take over their parent’s investment, like wise for other professions, why should it be a challenge, if the children of politicians also aspire to the heights reached by their parents through the ballot box. That should definitely be encouraged” she said.
Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama is the daughter of the late Alhaji Shanni Mahama who became the first Member of Parliament for Yendi at the age of 31, in the second republic and later in the third Republic. He was also the Deputy Minister for Agriculture during the second Republic.
The late Alhaji Shanni Mahama as an MP for Yendi and Deputy Minister of Agriculture in 1969, is on record among others to have established the Yendi Secondary School, brought electricity to Yendi, constructed the first tarred road in Yendi, introduced affordable housing (low cost) bungalows in Yendi and constructed the Malzeri Irrigation Dam.
His daughter, Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama, former Deputy CEO and current CEO of MASLOC has significantly taken after her father and following in his footsteps.
Like her late father, Hajia Abibata is impacting the lives of many women and young people in the Yendi Constituency.
Currently, the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic has a number of second-generation politicians, both on the Minority and Majority side.