My mission is to provide justice for all —Bashir

Shehu Abdulqadir Bashir is an aspirant for the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Bashir, a lawyer and politician, hails from Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State. The former staff member of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) speaks with BIOLA AZEEZ on sundry national issues.

Why are you going into politics?

The desire to join politics didn’t come as a difficult task. It is a desire borne out of the zeal to stand for what is right. The current beneficiaries of peoples’ trusts have been doing everything contrary to the wishes and aspirations of our people. They lack integrity in the management of people’s affairs and as such treat our people as if we are less of human beings. Having this in mind with a “burning sensation” of the ability to do something better, we take it upon ourselves to live above board, to encourage our people not to be despondent and to show them that there are still genuine citizens who have sincere intentions to make them live the life they best deserve. That is why our mission is justice for all.

In addition, our understanding is that anywhere people are taken for granted, injustice becomes the order of the day with imminent institutionalisation of discrimination, bias, human denigration, poverty and retrogression. All these fuel the embers of chaos and dehumanisation in the society. It is on this premise that I decided to give a break to my legal practice and other businesses to offer myself to serve my people diligently by representing their interests at the National Assembly as a member of House of Representatives, from Ilorin South/Ilorin East Federal Constituency.

Why pick House of Representatives rather than start from the grassroots like councillorship?

When it comes to service to humanity, I do not believe one level of government or position is superior or inferior to others, it all depends on enormity of opportunities you think you can get and bring for your people. I am privileged to have mingled with some of the best top government officials including some National Assembly members, I’m very much aware of how very easily the National Assembly can use their position to aid change and development of Nigerian people with collaboration with the executive. Don’t forget, every social human society is governed by law, and the law is meant to bring fast development if made in good faith. Therefore, I am of the opinion that aspiration to do a thing depends largely on your competency and the quest to do it better. I think at this time, being House of Representatives member will bring bigger opportunities to my people and uplift them to be among those that are recognised as resourceful and competent to take part in the building of this nation.

• I’ll rescue Katsina from APC misrule ― Lado

Are you of the belief that you will bring the needed change your constituents are clamouring for?

I’m not only of that belief, it is a struggle I have always dedicated my life to and I’m not in doubt that I do not only have the energy to push forward, I have gotten the impeccable integrity to stand by my words and make my people live like human beings for once. If you observe, the rulers of the current fiefdom in the state headed by Bukola Saraki has reduced the dignity of our people to zero, we need to let these people know that they are not less dignifying contrary to how they are being treated by Saraki and his cohorts. So bringing the desired and clamoured change should not be a challenge except to people who have never enjoyed the pleasure of helping others. You know I have been privileged to make positive changes in some people’s lives and there is nothing that gives me joy than the fulfillment of making these people happy. It feels so good, far better than being rewarded with money when you see those you have helped before wearing a gleeful look and by extension, they replicating the benefits to those around them and it goes on and on. I don’t know if you have ever been in that position before but I know how it feels when you make others happy.

Power is a gift of test from God; it’s never a tool for oppression or suppression, if God so gives the privilege to represent my people at the National Assembly, I can bet you, other representatives would use our strides as a template to develop their constituencies too. Ours would be unprecedented because I’m not going there to enrich myself, but to enrich the quality of life of my people. I shall account for every kobo I earn and shall develop my constituency with all the resources within my powers.

On the scale of 100 per cent, what’s your relationship with APC hierarchy?

Ideally, every party member is expected to maintain a good relationship with the party hierarchy, this relationship can simply be translated to mean loyalty which should be absolute. So, as long as any member is loyal to the party, I have no doubt such a person enjoys good relationship. The scale of such relationship is subject to hypothesis or at best speculative, it doesn’t always come with specifics. What is most important is loyalty to the party at all times and to all its structures.

By implication, do you have grassroots relevance to convince ward delegates to vote for you during the primaries?

By the special grace of Allah, I’m very much at home with my constituency, they have incredibly accepted me and are working so hard to ensure I emerge as the ticket winner to contest in the next general elections.

The incumbent is an ally of Saraki who many believe is the godfather of Kwara politics, when you emerge as the flag bearer for your party, how do you intend to tackle him, especially for the fact that he is first at the National Assembly?

You really want me to dabble into post primary election contest. No problems, I will.  This is my take, the incumbent is of PDP and he is on his first time. However, being a first timer doesn’t give you automatic consideration for re-election just as being a second timer doesn’t preclude you from another opportunity to contest and win, it’s all about your service delivery, once you don’t deliver, the people will not deliver you again. Mind you, PDP is now under Saraki who does not believe in internal democracy, there is no such assurance that even the current person would be allowed to contest again. Saraki plants and weeds his people without respect to their personal dignity. However, that is their internal cup of tea, whoever they bring, we in the APC will defeat them hands down.

Many Nigerians of voting age seem to be hungry for money from politicians to vote for them, Kwara can’t be an exemption, how do you intend to handle this?

My brother, as long as we would all accept the fact that money plays a key role in our electioneering, I’m of the opinion that what you consider as “hungry” doesn’t not necessarily mean a hunger for food nor money but hunger for opportunities to live a worthy live, the opportunity to be allowed to demonstrate talents and intelligence, opportunity for enabling environment to do things right, opportunity not to be deprived the right access to resources and government assistance that they can tap from to turn stone to gold. I am from a State with a peculiar kind of political orientation but most recently, that orientation is changing from being manipulated to being assertive, where delegates and other members alike are more keen in producing the best candidates unconditionally. So, I’m confident, more than ever before, for whatever manner of primary the party chooses to adopt, the electorate would put as priority the quality of the candidates not the quantity of monetary inducement.

Do you believe that direct primary is better to pick candidates?

Absolutely, you know one thing is unique about the APC, we are pacesetters. The direct primary option novel was only just tested in Osun and it was successful. It is good for so many reasons, it demonetises the primary process, having in mind that some money bags can induce the delegates and thereby voting out the best candidate the party really needs simply because such a candidate can’t dole out money. It is also all inclusive, giving every member the right to determine their candidates. That is what democracy is all about.

Do you believe in the system to produce a credible candidate for the general elections?

I strongly believe so if the process is fair and free enough.

Do you have any other message for your people?

I want all party faithful to remain faithful. The task ahead of us will require sacrifices; we must be ready to make those sacrifices. Our individual ambitions should never be superior to party’s superiority and survival. The goal is to defeat Saraki, uproot all the abominable trees he has planted in our state and free our people from the subliminal state of slavishness. The time to do it is now and we must all work together to achieve this.