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Kwankwaso is one of the
campaign directors - Hon. Kawu Sumaila
IF there is any young politician with high rising political profile in the
current political arrangement in the state, he is Honourable Suleiman
Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP).
Hon. Kawu Sumaila is legislatively resourceful especially at the floor of
the House of Representatives where he is known for his versatility and
intellect.
As a renown legislator, he has proved his mettle when the going was tough
during the infamous attempt of the present Nigerian leader to perpetuate
himself in power in the name of ‘tenure elongation’.
The main reason why Hon Kawu became a household name in the current
political arrangement in his state is his deep romance with the state
executive governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. The legislature falls among the
few institutions that are strongly behind the Allah Mai Maita Mana project.
In a very recent engagement with Sunday Triumph’s correspondent, Abdullahi
Yakubu, Honourable Sumaila insisted that although the campaign directors for
Shekarau tenure elongation have already been picked, Dr. Rabiu Musa
Kwankwaso could be added as one of them.
Elaborating on why Kwankwaso is imaginatively elevated to this exalted
position, Hon. Sumaila posited that it was the hardwork of the erstwhile
minister of defence who sacrificed his post as minister and is now seeking
to contest as a PDP gubernatorial aspirant despite his unpopularity.
Below is an excerpt of the scintillating interview with the legislator:
Sunday Triumph: What have you been doing since your election as a member
representing Sumaila/Takai federal constituency at the federal House of
Representatives?
Honourable Kawu Sumaila: I was elected on the platform of the ANPP, the
official opposition party in Nigeria today.
As you are aware, the main purpose of electing any legislator is for him to
go and protect and uphold the rule of law. I mean the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Therefore, coming down to your question, one can understand that it is the
Constitution that specifies our duties. First and foremost, one of our
duties is to promulgate laws for the general welfare of Nigerians. Section 3
of the 1999 Constitution clearly spelt out such functions.
We at the National Assembly are executing as well as discharging this
onerous task since June 3, 1999. And by the grace of God, we will maintain
the tempo till the end of our tenure.
We have another responsibility which we normally refer to as oversight
function. Here, under this arrangement, the two houses have as a matter of
right the responsibility to monitor the activities of all the existing
ministries especially their financial transactions. We also oversee how they
manage the trust bestowed on them.
We have other responsibilities such as scrutinising the Appropriation Budget
by way of adding, subtracting, if it were necessary, making approval and
sending it for the final approval of Mr. President. These are the things we
have been doing.
Sunday Triumph: How have you been battling with the misconception of your
role as a legislator by people in your constituency and elsewhere.
Hon. Sumaila: We have been seriously mobilising the people to discard that
erroneous misconception especially the role of a legislator. By God’s grace,
people have started to understand our position.
Secondly, in third world countries, like Nigeria where democratic norms are
virtually very new, the people need to be handled with care.
It is in the light of the above that I have made it a matter of principle to
interact with my people at any given time. Infact, after this interview, I
will be proceeding to my constituency and I hope that you will come along
with me to see how the people are with us.
However, despite all the support it should be noted that it is not our
responsibility to bring capital projects to our constituencies. It is not
constitutional to do so but it is conventional and we are doing all we can
to bring some projects to our people through our personal initiatives. For
instance, I have some projects currently on ground given my position as a
member of Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Project. I am working
closely with the chairman of my two local governments, Sumaila/Takai and His
Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano state.
Sunday Triumph: Let me put it to you that you are regarded as one of the
eloquent representatives from Kano state who are reputable for fighting the
excesses of the executive arm of government. Do you feel this qualification
is appropriate?
Honourable Sumaila: Honestly, it is the responsibility of the legislators to
check the excesses of the executive. We are not supposed to be mere stooges.
It is our duty to right the wrongs of the executives given our position as
opposition members in the House. Above all, I came from an opposition state,
secondly, I was elected to the federal House of Representatives penniless. I
was elected just to go and represent my people and that is why I will not
hesitate to call a spade a spade.
Sunday Triumph: Some members are being accused of living flamboyant lives,
how will you respond to this allegation?
Hon. Sumaila: It is true that some of the members have since detached
themselves from their constituencies and they have chosen to maintain
flambouyant lifestyles. The irony is that people have to be listened to and
they must be respected at all times. I for one oppose the policies of
President Obasanjo because it lacks human face. It is generally inhuman and
its executors are carrying it not in order to serve the interest of their
masters.
Sunday Triumph: Please comment briefly on the rampant cases of impeachment
of state governors and threats by the EFCC on some innocent Nigerians.
Hon. Sumaila: Well, it was all planned by the Presidency. They sponsored
everything, they funded everything and are now executing everything, period.
As you are aware, there was a fracas between the legislative and the
executive arm of government early this year, because there are some people
who want to hold the Nigerian state hostage. Besides, the rampant
impeachment of governors directly can be interpreted as the so-called tenure
elongation “gimmick” of Mr. President.
We know from where the plan is and we know where they are heading to and
they will meet us there. At the end what the President is planning is to
declare a state of emergency throughout the country. And that will give them
the ample opportunity to continue to misrule Nigeria.
I assure you that whether they continue with the above plan ro jettison the
Nigerian Constitution, or remove us from the National Assembly, they must
leave on 29 May, 2007.
We are determined and we will drive them away. I mean from the Villa. If one
is to critically look at the way and manner the registration exercise is
being executed, one can conveniently say that there is a hidden agenda. When
you look at the number of impeachments that have so far taken place, you
will also understand that it is another agenda that is being unfolded. Even
the emergency rule that was unilaterally declared in Ekiti state is another
fresh agenda. We know those that are planning it and we know as well those
executing the plan.
Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria and no one can temper with it.
Sunday Triumph: People see and rate you as a strong supporter of General
Muhammadu Buhari, how do you see IBB’s contest?
Hon. Sumaila: It is true that I am strongly supporting General Buhari, not
only that, but I also support his principles and what he stands for. We are
with him wholeheartedly and the emergence of General IBB on the PDP’s
platform will never shake our balance. We faced the incumbent government in
2003. General IBB is not the incumbent president. We are not afraid of him
because we are Muslims. We know that power simply belongs to God. We are
going to do all we can to grab it. IBB has worked for PDP in the past and he
is still working for the same party till date.
We are with General Buhari and we shall continue to be with him until truth
triumphs over falsehood.
Sunday Triumph: The opposition party PDP in Kano seems to be very determined
to bounce back to power next year. How serious is the ANPP in its bid to mar
PDP’s chances?
Hon. Sumaila: Let me tell you, the PDP is out on a revenge mission, and
believe you me, they will not succeed by the grace of God.
Let me assure that, as far as the ANPP and the Shekarau Organisation is
concerned, we are not afraid of the PDP. The reason why I said so is because
the PDP is in disarray. The party has enormous problems which they must
squarely solve in order to be relevant. Let me give you an example, there is
unity among the hierarchy of our party. We have a sole candidate who we
maintain. Whoever is in the ANPP is with Malam Ibrahim Shekarau no more no
less.
We are one hundred per cent behind him. All the federal House of Assembly
members including some senators, party members are in support of Malam
Shekarau. That is not the case with the PDP which have 12 gubernatorial
candidates.
Infact, one of the problems of the PDP is who can come out and face the ANPP
come 2007. Secondly, Kano is an opposition state and that people vehemently
oppose policies of the PDP ruling government. One can understand from what
is happening since 2003 when Malam Shekarau took over that he has been
solely in control of Kano state.
He attends any public occasion freely and people cheer him without
harassment. I want to use this opportunity to call on the PDP aspirants to
publicly declare their intention before the people and see wonders. Let them
come to the mosque and other places of human endeavour. They should not hide
in Kaduna or Abuja and continue shouting. They should come to the real field
and interact with the people.
It is from there that one can deduce that an aspirant is equal to the task
but certainly not from the clandestine way they are operating now.
It is unwise to keep saying one can make bla-bla while he refuses to show
his/her face.
All the PDP aspirants in Kano are jokers. They are just shouting to gain
recognition in Abuja no more no less.
For example, in my constituency, Sumaila/Takai, no single PDP member has
indicated his intention to vie for the Federal House of Representatives post
till date. I still remain the sole contender of the post on the platform of
my party, the ANPP.
What the PDP is still holding on to is how to rig election because they have
the police, the army at their disposal but even with all that I don’t think
they will succeed. Likewise with the way and manner the voters registration
is being conducted they think it will be to their advantage. We are going to
challenge them. We are going to guard and protect our ballot boxes
seriously.
Sunday Triumph: Why do you think you must support Malam Ibrahim Shekarau
come 2007?
Hon. Sumaila: The simple reason is that we have seen reality. I have
identified myself with Shekarau because of his tremendous achievements in
three years.
His policies have virtually touched every aspect of the people’s life. He is
in good working relationship with all the labour unions in the state. He is
in close romance with the civil service, likewise the pensioners. The
farmers, school children, students of institutions of higher learning,
members of the general public, politicians among others.
Infact, all these are the reasons why we want to allow Malam Shekarau to
retain his seat. Other salient factors revolve around the issue of an
incumbent not ruling Kano for the second time. We are Muslims. We believe in
God and we shall Insha Allah, break this infamous jinx. We see it as a
superstition and such belief has no basis in Islam. Power belongs to God. It
is He who knows tomorrow. No one can deceive us to forget about our moral
positions.
Sunday Triumph: What is your opinion regarding the idea that it was the
(government) not pensioners that bought a form for Malam Shekarau to contest
for a second term?
Hon. Sumaila: We know that people can make destructive comments regarding
that episode but the fact of the matter is that Malam Shekarau is far above
such a flimsy arrangement. I believe that even if Malam has the money he
will not belittle himself to that extent. In a nutshell, it was the
pensioners themselves who saw reason in what the government has done to them
so they resolved to compensate the head of the government through that
means.
It could be recalled that the same pensioners who bought form for Malam are
the same people who demonstrated the infamy of Kwankwaso by burning his
effigy. They heavily prayed for his downfall.
Besides that, let us assume that it was His Excellency, the Executive
Governor who gave them the money to buy the form for him, then there must be
a cogent reason for him to do so. For the pensioners to even agree to be
used there must be a reason for that. Every right-thinking Kano citizen must
reason that Rabiu Musa is a human being. These people (pensioners) are also
human beings. Why did he treat them badly?
Today, people will rise and start condemning me if they so wish but
certainly there must be a reason for that. I repeat myself.
I assure you that it is the pensioners who bought the form for Malam because
they know how much they have benefited from him. What they have done is just
a token of their appreciation.
Sunday Triumph: Why is it that the coming of Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso seems
to shatter the hope of ANPP members. Since his declaration to contest, there
have been lots of hues and cries from the ANPP rank and file. What is really
happening? Are you afraid to contest with him or what?
Hon. Sumaila: Let me quickly close that chapter for you and you can ask
something else if you like. There are about 15 campaign directors of Malam
Shekarau. I am among the most active of them but with the coming of Rabiu
Kwankwaso, we are now sixteen in number. He is one of our campaign directors
whether he likes it or not. The pensioners are quite aware of what will
happen when Kwankwaso stages a come back. The traditional rulers also know
what will happen, likewise the civil servants, members of the public, the
Ulama and Hisbah guards all know their positions under Kwankwaso.
His willingness to contest serves a dangerous signal to all and sundry for
now, everybody is redoubling his effort to make sure that Malam makes a come
back. Therefore, Kwankwaso is a director in our campaign organisation. We
will pay him for whatever service he renders for us.
Sunday Triumph: Do you have something to tell the ANPP members or members of
the general public?
Hon. Sumaila: I would like to urge our members to be adequately informed and
be very alert on the political situation.
The PDP wants to do something in the forthcoming election which in our
viewpoint, is critically detrimental to our progress. Let us join hands and
stop the government of misrule under President Olusegun Obasanjo.
We are going to challenge their plans to rig 2007 elections.
Sunday Triumph: Thank you for sparing your time.
Hon. Sumaila: Thank you too. You are most welcome.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER
26 2006