Hon. Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Karu/Keffi/Kokona Federal Constituency, Nasarawa, in the lower legislative chamber between 2003 and 20011, speaks with KUNLE AKINRINADE about his early life, his reasons for establishing an FM radio station in his hometown, the girl-child education and other issues of national interest.
At what point did you decide to go into partisan politics?
My going into politics dated back to my growing up days. I had always been the rallying point within my environment since my boyhood. In my primary school years, I was a prefect, and in my secondary school too, I was a prefect. Twice, I was the director of socials of Keffi Students Union, when I was at the Federal Polytechnic, Nassarawa, where I earned both National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Administration and Management. I was the founder and coordinator of Association of Better Keffi. My going into politics was largely influenced by my concern for a better situation in my society, and the country at large.
Were there challenges you faced in your early life?
Well, there is no life that is not faced with challenges. However, my own community, Keffi, has never been a village. Keffi has been a cosmopolitan community from time immemorial. My primary school in Keffi was attended by the people I can refer to as my grandfathers. So, Keffi is quite an historical town. But that does not mean that I did not face challenges in my growing up days.
In terms of infrastructure and facilities that could make life meaningful, I had access to them in Keffi while I was growing up. The only thing that I could not see or enjoy in Keffi was full fledged electricity. Before I even completed my primary school, electricity was not available. So, after my primary education in Keffi, I went to Jos for my secondary education and I had the privilege of enjoying modern life with electricity.
What informed your decision to establish a radio station in Keffi?
Having been a humble player within my local community, my local government, my state and the country at large, I came to the conclusion that in most of the events that happened in our terrain, the low level of education and enlightenment of our people is what politicians take advantage of. I saddled myself with the responsibility of ensuring that my core focus is electorate enlightenment and education. And talking about enlightenment, you cannot underestimate the role of radio stations. When I acquired the radio licence, I decided to establish the radio station in my hometown so that it could be closer to the people, and that makes it faster and convenient for programmes to be rolled out so as to deepen and grow public enlightenment in the country.
In what way have you been able to uplift the education sector in your state?
The only thing you can give your people to make their lives better is education. I have also discovered that the privileges I enjoy today were through the education I received. I went to public schools when I was growing up, and they were good schools. But the conditions of public schools today, not only in Nassarrawa State but in the entire country, are appalling. So, during my sojourn in the National Assembly, I came up with an educational foundation to cater to the needs of children with less-privileged educational backgrounds so they can acquire good education.
Again, I know that you cannot be really appreciated as a leader if you are not close to the people. Therefore, I have developed a kind of bonding with my people by getting closer to them and by being there for them at all times. The only oxygen mask at the Federal Medical Centre in Nasarrawa State was procured for the hospital by me. I know that I cannot really mention all that I have done for my people right now, but I have been able to touch the lives of so many people in the state. So my records speak for me.
What was the motive behind your decision to establish a polo club in the state?
My understanding of good modern day leadership is that you either take civilisation to people or take people to civilisation. For my immediate environment to enjoy good things, I decided to leverage on Polo in order to open my community, Keffi, to the rest of the world. I host two polo tournaments yearly in my community to support education and to support orphans. Permit me to say that each time we organise the tournament, players come from foreign countries, including Dubai, South Africa and England. So, that is one of my key contributions to the development of my community and my people. However, I believe that Polo is the only sport that can make a difference in my community because I could not have taken football there and expect any difference. And for me, my perception about life is that anything that would not make a difference to my life and immediate environment is not worth going into.
That Polo is an elite sport is a wrong perception and that was one of the reasons I decided to take the game to my community in order to discountenance such notion about the game. There are many good Polo players in the country who cannot speak good English, and that is enough to disabuse the mind of anybody that perceives Polo to be for only the elite.
There has been agitation for the upliftment of the girl- child education in the country, especially in the northern part where Nasarawa is located. What’s your take on this?
What has been hindering the educational development of the girl- child in the northern part of the country is just religious ignorance. As a Muslim, I know that Prophet Mohammed (SWA) says that when you educate your daughters, you educate the nation. So, it is unfortunate that that is happening in the northern part of the country to date. But like I told you, I have an education foundation that sponsors children of low privileged educational background, and also that I have been staging two Polo tournaments to support education and orphans. So, we have been contributing our own quota to educational development, which encompasses girl – child and others in the society. You were once a governorship aspirant in your state. Will you throw your hat into the ring again as the 2019 elections approach?
I am the aspirant to beat in the APC and the candidate to beat in the governorship race, because I have always been in touch and socialise with my people. As a matter of fact, I established both the radio station, Maloney FM, the polo club and my farm in Keffi after I left the House of Representatives in 2011, and I have bonded well with my people. So, there is really nothing for me to fear.
Vying for elective position does not start and end with being declared the winner; communicating constantly with the people is far more important. So, Insha Allahu, I will be victorious this time too. No juggernaut is greater than God to determine my fate. And I am the candidate to beat because of my antecedents in Nassarrawa State. I am not just coming out from the blue. Within my senatorial district, I am the most experienced politician with track records for the post of governor, and no one can contest that.
You mentioned earlier that you established a farm in Keffi. What kind of crops do you grow there?
We have cabbage, tomatoes and animal husbandry section where we rear cattle. So, it’s basically fruit production and animal husbandry that we do there.
How do you juggle your political career with family obligations?
Well, I have a very understanding family that knows what it means to be in politics. They attend my rallies with me, hence, I have been able to manage the two very well. When it is time for politics, I play it and give it the fullest of my time. And when it is time for my family members I equally give them the time that they need. So I have been able to reconcile both in such a way that politics has not taken anything away from my private life.
