Politics can’t be played on air (II)
By ABUBAKAR G. YA’U and
MUH’D HAMISU ABDULLAHI
Sir, these issues of transparency remind one of the activities of the EFCC. So, considering the effort the EFCC is intensifying towards taming the menace of corruption in Nigeria, as some look at it as biased and others as the right step forward, how do you view the performance of the commission as a law maker?
Let me make it quite clear that all Nigerians support the fight against corruption. All of us are tired. We are sick and tired of this undesirable aspect in our national lives. Having said that we must make sure that the fight against corruption is done within the dictates of the law. The supremacy of the constitution and the law of the land must be upheld at all times within this fight. That is what gives legitimacy to this aspect. Right now, even little innocent boys know that the fight against corruption is something that is selective in nature, it is vindictive in the way it is carried out and hence, it is denting the credibility and the image of the institution that is fighting this corruption.
If allegation of corruption can be targeted against the president, I would have loved to see a situation, where the chairman of the EFCC will go ahead and institute an independent investigative panel to go and make sure that they scrutinize and investigate everything to the last. Because no matter what we will say, people outside this country are watching us and I have no doubt whatsoever in my mind that majority of Nigerians support a very sincere and a very focused fight against corruption that is done within the confines of the laws of this country.
Sir, coming down to the state level, with the caliber of the present governor, how do you assess the performance of the Shekarau administration in Kano?
I must say that for quite a long time, this is the first time that we are having a very sincere and result-oriented focused chief executive in the state. This is somebody who is so determined to make sure that he has set everything in the right track not what we were used to in the past where the chief executive of the state will do things and play to the gallery. I have heard a lot of commendations for the present government in Kano state, but my personal experience from what I have seen is that we have a government in place that is very determined to see that things are done in the right way for the first time in a lot of years.
Sir, this reminds one of a certain belief that in the history of political development in Kano, the issue of continuity of an incumbent administration had in the past proved very difficult, but as many people are agitating for alamaimaita (continuity) of the administration, do you think the governor can break the jinx?
First of all, we all must admit that with God, all things are possible. And I would like to to add that Malam Ibrahim Shekrau is a very God-fearing leader who has subjected himself to the judgment before God Almighty and has agreed to lay his fate in the hand of God Almighty. And that is the reason why he has been carrying out the kind of policies that he has been carrying out for the benefit of the masses of the state. I have no doubt whatsoever in my mind that, no matter the amount of criticism, no matter the amount of double-edged lies being peddled, no matter the amount of ‘bad-belly’, we shall succeed come April 2007 by God’s grace.
Sir, another revelation, especially during the Abuja national convention of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), many things were said and it happens that the scrapt The Buhari Organization (TBO) had opted to remain in the party, despite all those fracas. As an ANPP member, what is your reaction to the position of the scrapt TBO and how do you see the capability of the party to win elections, particularly presidential one in this year?
Let me make it very clear that The Buhari Organization is a part of ANPP. ANPP is our party and there is nothing wrong whatsoever for people to pursue their legitimate ambitions. But the way politics is played, whenever the majority decide, then you should be good enough to accept the outcome and in my opinion, General Muhammadu Buhari, who is a leader, who is a father to all of us, made the right decision in staying in the ANPP, because, believe me, we do not have a better presidential candidate than General Muhammadu Buhari insha Allah, we will make sure that we protect our votes and secure for this country somebody that will be sympathetic to the plight of the masses who will be accountable to the country and who will obey the rule of law, who will set examples from himself, not somebody like President Olusegun Obasanjo who will say one thing and change it tomorrow when it is convenient for him. We have been witnessing that all these years, but Nigerians have been patient knowing that in a democracy, a day will come when the voters will have their way - must have their way. And this time, we are fully prepared insha Allah.
To round up, Sir, as you got the mandate to recontest into the House of Representatives, how far has your preparation gone?
Well, thank you very much for that question. You see, initially when I contested in 2003, I was first of all propelled by the desire to give my constituency quality representation. I think, I have been able to achieve that. I think, I have been able to set a bench mark where future representatives from my constituency will be adjudged. And as the people of my constituency felt the need for me to recontest for this seat, I am now more than willing, after of course due consultation with the elders and other well meaning individuals in my constituency and statewide. What I will point at is, I am ever ready to serve my people in which ever capacity they deem it fit.
Do you have any advice on how best people should look at our representatives?
Well that should be the topic for another time because that in itself is something that will take much time. And I am willing to discuss this thing at length at another time, because there are issues that are crippling our people indirectly. By the level of representation that we are having, we have to understand that national politics is not played in radio stations. National politics is actually played in that theatre of national politics, which is inside the chambers of the National Assembly and the Senate. So, if you have a representative that cannot be able to articulate and represent the idea of his constituency within the chambers of the National Assembly, you do not have any representation.
What do you expect from people in your constituency to ginger you up in your responsibility as a law maker?
I do not understand the question.
Like you revealed not in this interview, that people in the Western part of the country, normally visit houses of their representatives just to make them alive to their responsibilities, while I think, otherwise is what we are having here.
Well, you see you have to understand one thing that because of the policies that this government has pursued for the past seven years, which have further worsened the condition of the people, it has entrenched poverty in such massive proportion. We now find it unavoidable to come across such situations. And as representatives of the people, we must be sensitive to their plight. That is the reason why it never bothers me to make sure that I am in constant touch with them and I assist where I can. And even when things are so big that I can not personally intervene, I make sure that I seek the help of people who are in higher position than me in order to intervene with a view to bringing succor to our people. The issue of being in touch with people from one’s constituency is something that is very very vital to democracy as a whole. It is the level in which we practice it to make it more efficient that needs some fine tuning. And at a later date, we will fully discuss that.
Thank you sir
Thank you too.