By Muazu Elazeh

In his poem “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” John Donne reminds us that no human loss is isolated, as we are all interconnected. Every person’s death or suffering is a universal experience that affects all of humanity. He wrote:
“…Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know.
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee”.

Last week, that bell tolled for Senator Godiya Akwashiki, who, until his sudden, sad, and utterly tragic death, represented the Nasarawa North Senatorial District of Nasarawa State in the upper chambers of the national assembly.

Senator Akwashiki, a former member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who later defected to the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP), died on 31 December 2025 at the age of 52 in an Indian hospital where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness. His death has created a big vacuum not only in Nasarawa North politics but also in the hearts of the people he served with exceptional dedication.
Without exaggeration, the late lawmaker was arguably the finest senator Nasarawa State has produced since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. This is not necessarily because he sponsored the most significant number of bills or dominated Senate debates, but because of the tangible and lasting impact of his representation on the lives of ordinary people across his senatorial district.

Akwashiki’s journey into politics was driven by a genuine desire to serve. That sense of purpose remained unwavering until his final days. He was first elected to the Nasarawa State House of Assembly in 2011 as a member of the now-defunct Peoples Democratic Party. From 2011 to 2015, he served as Majority Leader of the House, gaining respect from colleagues across party lines. After his re-election in 2015, the PDP-controlled Assembly elected him Deputy Speaker, a role he carried out with maturity and restraint.

In 2019, he defected to the APC and contested the Nasarawa North senatorial seat. He won decisively, marking his first entry into the National Assembly. In 2023, he secured re-election, becoming the first person in the history of the Nasarawa North Senatorial District to achieve this feat. That single achievement alone cemented his name permanently in the political history of the zone.

A grassroots politician, the late Akwashiki focused his efforts on rural development and economic empowerment for his largely impoverished constituents. From his tenure as Deputy Speaker in the State House of Assembly to his election as Senator in 2019 and his historic re-election in 2023, he made a lasting impression on the people of Akwanga, Nassarawa Eggon, and Wamba local government areas.

Almost every village in the Nasarawa North Senatorial district shows clear signs of his representation. He brought development projects to many communities and did everything necessary to ensure that areas with limited government presence benefited. He played a crucial role in securing employment in various parastatals for many of his constituents.
His strong dedication to constituency development and empowerment endeared him to the people, ultimately securing him a second term.
Since 1999, each election cycle in Nasarawa North has consistently produced a new senator, mainly due to the complex and often unpredictable nature of the zone’s politics. Before Akwashiki, none of the senators who served the zone secured a second term. This one-term pattern is unique to the Nasarawa North Senatorial District.

For context, Nasarawa South Senatorial District, which encompasses Obi, Awe, Keana, Doma, and Lafia local government areas, has produced several senators, including the late Haruna Abubakar, who served as Deputy Senate President under the late Chuba Okadigbo; Emmanuel Okudu Okpede; Suleiman Adokwe; Hussaini Egyegbola, whose tenure was shortened by a court ruling; Umaru Tanko Al-Makura; and the current holder of the seat, Ogashi Onawo. Notably, Adokwe served for more than one term.

Nasarawa West, which comprises Keffi, Karu, Kokona, Nassarawa, and Toto local government areas, has also produced senators such as the late Abubakar Danso Sodangi, Abdullahi Adamu, and the current senator, Ahmed Wadada. Both Adamu and Sodangi were re-elected, while Wadada is serving his first term.

However, Nasarawa North, which includes Akwanga, Wamba, and Nassarawa Eggon, holds the record for producing the highest number of senators, with all but one serving only a single term. Since 1999, the zone has produced Senators Patrick Aga, John Danboyi, Patricia Akwashiki, Yusuf Musa Nagogo (who was sacked by the court), Solomon Ewuga, Philip Gyunka, and Godiya Akwashiki. The district gained an unenviable reputation for one-term senators.

That jinx was broken in 2023 by the late Akwashiki. His re-election, however, was anything but straightforward.

He was on course to secure the APC senatorial ticket when a power struggle between former governors Abdullahi Adamu and Umaru Tanko Al-Makura was allegedly exploited to edge him out of the race.
Ahead of the 2023 general election, the contest for the APC ticket saw Akwashiki opposing Danladi Halilu Envuluanza. Ultimately, the odds favoured Envuluanza, who became the party’s candidate.

Dissatisfied with the process, which he firmly believed was rigged against him, Akwashiki defected to the SDP, a party with limited structure and visibility in Nasarawa State at that time. What followed surprised the political establishment. The SDP won two senatorial seats and secured two House of Representatives seats in Lafia/Obi and Karu/Keffi/Kokona constituencies. Most notably, Akwashiki convincingly defeated the APC candidate to secure re-election.

By breaking Nasarawa North’s long-standing jinx, Senator Godiya Akwashiki solidified his legacy. In death, as in life, he remains a symbol of service, resilience, and people-driven politics.

His death marked the end of the road for one of the finest grassroots politicians Nasarawa has ever produced. He was not highly educated. His highest qualification was a first degree he earned at Nasarawa State University, Keffi. He had no substantial financial backing. He was a village man through and through, yet he defeated highly educated men with large financial resources who consider themselves too urban. He engaged with his constituents, regardless of their social standing, and made many feel at ease around him. He was truly a symbol of selfless service. His sudden demise has created a vacuum that will not be filled anytime soon. Goodbye, Godiya!