NOW that speculations on whether you will contest or not has been put to rest, can we find out why you joined the Zamfara gubernatorial race?
Well, I joined the Zamfara governorship race to arrest several insecurity issues that is bothering my state. It is a well known fact that insecurity had bedevilled our area, I have to come to rescue my people.
If given the opportunity, security issue would be one of my priorities; I have a lot of programmes like free health care, free compulsory education, agriculture and youths empowerment. Take for example, Zamfara state under governor Yari has failed in providing infrastructure but there were some developments which I appreciate.
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What do you think went wrong with the security situation in the state?
One of the factors that brought insecurity to our dear state, which was at one time one of the most peaceful and entrepreneurial among the northern states, is that flow of information is limited from villages to city; there was also lack of enough presence of security in our villages. When the present administration of governor Yari initiated reconciliation or dialogue with armed bandits, it was a welcome development but lack of sincere arrangements marred all the efforts.
If I’m given the mandate in the next governorship election, I promise to bring all stakeholders to a round table and hear their views on the way forward. It is not all about taking guns, fighting and killing innocent persons, but get the challenges and solve them once and for all.
Poverty is one of the issues affecting development in Zamfara, do you have any programmes to arrest the situation?
If we talk of poverty, Zamfara state is the poorest but not poor in terms of abundant mineral resources. I want to assure my people that by God’s grace and with peoples’ mandate, if given the chance, 10 per cent of my monthly allocation would be shared to every Zamfara citizen, men and women; village by village; local government by local government, I promise no single kobo would get missing under my watch.
I would also make investment for every Zamfara indigene; I will purchase shares for each and every individual, people would be more enterprising.
I would also provide employment opportunities for people by going into mining and creating a partnership with companies to come and invest in the state.
What about youth empowerment?
From my own observation, youths constitute a large proportion of our population in the state and their future is in jeopardy. Our youths would be more engaged with programmes like agricultural activities to be self-employed. Engaging in agriculture is a sure way to youth empowerment. Youths have abandoned the bedrock of our young state, we need mind reorientation and have to change our focus to agriculture. The youths must go back to their roots to be able to survive.
Agriculture is the largest employment platform and must be practised in its entirety; that is part of my mission to youths in the state.
What are your thoughts on education and minimum wage?
I think it is time children of this age take education very serious. In our days, we were taught by expatriates; our teachers were recruited from Ghana, Indian, Philippines, South Korea and other parts of the world.
If Zamfara people give me their mandate, education would get more boost, quality education. I will recruit professional teachers and improve their condition of service. The N30, 000 minimum wage for workers is not enough, Insha Allah, I intend to increase the salary to make workers more comfortable. My administration would be an all-inclusive government.
What is your assessment of the state’s health sector?
Health situation is very poor and pathetic in the state; our hospitals are in decay, my mission is to revive the sector. I will invite doctors and make them feel at home with very attractive conditions of service.
My government would provide free medical services for aged people and pregnant mothers while children will all be accorded with free services by God’s grace.
and then