What informed your decision to join politics?
Well, I was persuaded by the teeming people of my constituency; Gusau/Tsafe federal constituency. According to them, they saw in me someone who they can be trusted and somebody who will not only deliver the goods, but will be able to give good representation to his people. This is because they felt they were not getting the best representation. In order to come out of their present state of hopelessness they have found themselves, the need a change. In fact, five months ago, I never dreamt of joining politics, but after my turbaning ceremony by the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, who honoured me with the traditional title of ‘Darman Gusau’, it then dawned on me that I might yield to the pressure of my people. This is because the pressure was too much for me and finally, I succumbed to the wishes of the people. I was comforted with the Islamic teachings which says ‘don’t give power to those who ask for it, but rather give it to those who did not ask for it.’ So I consider the calls of the people that demanded me to lead them as words of God and therefore decided to answer their call to represent them. Before then, I made several consultations with my close relatives and those that matter. After due consultations and when I got positive responses, I accepted to serve with all humility. A lot of people felt that I should vie for higher offices, but I felt it will be better to seek for the Federal House of Representatives.
What was your thought when you said the seat of Gusau/Tsafe federal constituency is dormant?
I called it dormant because the present member representing the area who was at the National Assembly for almost four years now had failed in his duty to bring any positive development to the people of the area. Since he was elected to the best of my knowledge he had not moved any motion or bill to indicate he knows why he was there. In fact, he was just a bench warmer. So, the Gusau/Tsafe Federal Constituency needs somebody who will represent them well and ensure he brings dividends of democracy to the area by making sure that their interests are protected.
Were you engaged in philanthropic gestures to prepare yourself for future?
No. As I said earlier, whatever I was doing for the community was based on free will and the desire to help the downtrodden. There are no attachments. Right before this time, from the little money I have I make sure the people that are around me and my community are happy. For so many years, I have been doing so, especially assisting the less privileged like making donations, assisting them with food items. This gesture was equally extended to the orphans as well as I have been sponsoring a number of them right from primary school up to the tertiary level. I also got scholarships for several number of students that were opportuned to get admission into the tertiary institutions across the country. I visit hospitals to have contact with sick people on their sick beds and provide them with the necessary assistance. I constructed several Islamiyya schools and mosques as well as several boreholes to my immediate community. I was doing all these things without expecting anything in return. But in life, whatever you are doing, there are people watching you and admiring your contributions. I think that was the reason why people felt I should join politics and contest. According to them, if somebody can sacrifice his wealth for the people when he is not in government, what he will do to the community when he joins government is beyond imagination.
Why did you decide to contest under APC?
Well, we don’t have better leader in this country than President Muhammadu Buhari. When he came into power as President of this country, he came with three agenda which he felt would move the country forward. These were to fight corruption, insecurity and the revival of nation’s economy. So if you look at these three sectors critically, Mr President has achieved a lot.
And in Zamfara State, the former governor and a political leader of the state, Alhaji Ahmed Sani (Yariman Bakura), is somebody who had done a lot for the state. Anyone following the political trend in the state will agree with me that there’s only one dominant party in the state and that is APC. The state has always been under his control. He is a blessing to the state. The present Governor, Alhaji Abdulazeez Yari Abubakar, is also focused and has provided a lot of infrastructures in the state. He is a visionary leader who needs to be supported by any person who is concerned about the socio-political and economic development in the state. In fact, these two gentlemen are great leaders in our state and I am solidly behind them and the party (APC) . So, I stand with APC and I will contest under it because it is a great and trusted political party in the country.
If you are elected, what are your plans for the people?
The youths and the women will be considered as the topmost priority as they have been left behind for many years. Majority of our youths are jobless and most of our women are also redundant. Zamfara state which has been known as an industrialist state and used to have factories like textiles, oil mills and sweets factory but all is moribund now, it is really sad. So, by God’s Grace, if I am opportune to be a member, I will introduce skills acquisition programmes where the teeming youths including the women will learn different trades so that they will become self reliant. We will also introduce farming programme through the CBN/Anchor barrower initiatives and encourage rice farming. Right now, I personally initiated and ensured the programme was brought to the state and currently more than 33,000 youths have registered for the programme. So, God’s willing, I will continue with the programme if elected as well as introduce more job opportunities until unemployment became a thing of the past in the state.
and then