Hon. Khadijah Abba Bukar Ibrahim comes from a background of a rich political heritage. Daughter of late Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri, a famous Second Republic politician and founder of the Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP), the female lawmaker is also married to former Yobe State Governor, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, a Senator. A B.Sc. holder in Business Studies and Sociology from the University of Surrey, England with additional certificate from Padworth College, Reading, UK. Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim is one of those strongly favoured to emerge as the Deputy-Speaker of the 8th Assembly of the House of Representatives. In this interview with Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo, she speaks on her background, her deputy speakership ambition and other issues.
Could you relate your growing experience as a child vis-à-vis the girl-child education barrier in Northern Nigeria?
Growing up in Northern Nigeria was not different from growing up in Southern Nigeria in those days (70’s). I grew up in Kaduna and attended Capital School Kaduna. Then, it was a boarding primary school. We had children from all over Nigeria attending the school. There was no discrimination between Christians and Muslims or North and South. Kaduna was the old capital of the Northern Region so all tribes were represented. The Southerners also felt at home in Kaduna because it was a cosmopolitan town with no cultural restrictions. Growing up in Kaduna as a child was very enjoyable. The British Colonialists had not entirely left by then, so we had tea parties with the diplomats as well as robust relationship with the white community. So a lot of interaction took place between Northerners, Southerners and the white community. The weather was also very nice because it was not too hot neither was it too cold. Though, during the harmattan season, it gets rather cold and during the raining season, there was a lot of rain.
There were no religious conflicts because both Muslims and Christians lived together. There was a lot of respect for each other’s religion. During the Sallah period, the Christians would celebrate with us and during the Christmas period, and other Christian festivals, we celebrated with them. So infectious was the unity that it could be likened to the old National Anthem which says “Though tribes and tongues may differ, in brotherhood we stand”. Therefore, because of the indifferent nature of the town, Kaduna was one of the best places to grow up in those days because, one was brought up under an environment where high moral values were inculcated into the children ; where there was love and respect for one another, where religious leaders preached love and unity of purpose. That was the kind of environment under which I grew up. In terms of education of the girl-child, the Northern Nigerian environment had its fair share of the traditional African belief concerning the place of a woman in the society; that a man’s education should take priority over that of the girl-child. However, a few of us were privileged to have parents who were enlightened enough to appreciate the fact that every child in the home should be allowed to acquire western education in addition to Islamic education.
What kind of influence did your parents make on your person?
My parents had a great influence on me certainly because my mother who is a disciplinarian made sure we adhered strictly to our religion and culture.
Though we eventually went abroad to study, she made sure we could speak our language (Kanuri) very well and would only communicate with us anywhere in our mother tongue. She also made sure we were home sewing, at least at weekends in England. That was her little way of empowering us with a skill for living. She also made sure we knew how to cook because I could remember she would ask the cook not to come on weekends so that we would go into the kitchen, clean and cook.
My father who was a business man and politician then made sure we imbibed our culture and tradition first before sending us abroad. He always say to us that ‘as a girl, education is our best weapon’, with that in hand we can conquer the world. He wanted us to be independent hence he gave us the best education no matter what it took.
I must say my parents did have a strong influence on me because they didn’t differentiate between us whether one is a boy or a girl, because they gave us all equal opportunities and did not favour one over the other.
What was your biggest motivation for politics?
My motivation and journey into politics is an offshoot and still remains a continuation of my father’s vision and life philosophy which is essentially rooted in the service of God Almighty and humanity. It all began in 1998 whilst I was on normal visits to various communities in Yobe, my state, to attend to the sick, the poor and needy with Medicare, food items and clothing. Then, people would come to me for a representation of their interests at various levels – community, local government, state, etc. But at that time, I did represent them in personal, non-governmental capacities. Then came 2004, when out of the people’s pressure, the government of Yobe State under the stewardship of the then Governor, now Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim appointed me as Commissioner for Transport and Energy. Thereafter, the pressure for me to represent my people at the federal level became so huge that I had to vie for this seat and, here we are now. So my motivation and journey into politics began as, and remains, a journey of service to the people.
Your life seems to have been politically wired, you hail from a family of a political icon and today, you are equally married to a politician, how did that came by?
My family knew my husband way back when he was in the University. He was a friend and colleague to one of my senior brothers. During the time I wanted to venture into politics, I consulted him as the then Governor of Yobe State. He advised me to assimilate myself with the demands and challenges of the people so that they would know me and get used to me first. That I did for a long while and that led to my appointment as Commissioner which gave me an opportunity to get closer to the people at the grass root and the choice was left to them. My constituents actually met my husband and told him they wanted me to represent them. So I can actually tell you that Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim as well as being my husband actually paved the way for me to enter the political arena.
Can you recall your worst experience in politics?
The politics associated with the emergency of Boko Haram and its adverse effect on my people. The sad memory hunts me till this moment and it is not what I will like to remember or even talk about.
So, how do you face the challenge of running a home as a politician and women leader in your zone?
The challenges are enormous but not insurmountable. First, unknown to many people, the bar is sometimes raised whenever a woman is involved. How do I mean? Anywhere you see a woman is adjudged as “capable,” that woman must have performed better than normal. Whereas an average performance is enough for her male counterpart to be taken as “suitable.” Secondly, you are confronted with effective management of the home and state/national assignment. Thirdly, most political affairs – meetings, scheming – in fact, real politicking, are usually night / evening affairs. So in the case of a nursing woman-politician, you can imagine what level of resilience that is required of her. But as I usually advice the younger generation of women, try to acquire sufficient education first, by going to school and obtaining knowledge, which I did. With that, a woman can effectively maximize her home, office management and make the best out of both.
What would you consider as your greatest achievement in politics?
I am still in politics, so, there is still room for more achievements. But I can say my greatest achievement thus far is that I have not disappointed those who insisted that “Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim’s daughter should represent us.” I have given them voice in the National Assembly, executed numerous projects – electricity, provision of water, healthcare, schools/education, etc to them at my own expense. In fact, literally speaking I have shared whatever I earned here (National Assembly) with them. Besides, I have attracted federal government resources and numerous federal projects to their benefit.
Your name has equally been mentioned in relation to several legislative achievements in the House, do you think this is reason why you are being touted for the position of Deputy Speaker of the House?
With all modesty, my name is not and cannot be new in terms of legislative practice and attainments in the House. Besides some bills and several motions I have advanced for the betterment of the Nigerian society, I have served as Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Rural Development (2007-2008), Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Communications (2008 – 2010) and presently, Chairman, House Committee on Privatization and Commercialization and thus far without blemish. Many hold that there is no way one could have discharged the duties of these offices without acquiring experience and building confidence.
What is going to be your major objective if you emerge as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives?
If, by the grace of God, my party and my colleagues, I emerge as the Deputy Speaker, one’s major objective will be to assist the President navigate our nation out of the current economic quagmire. Of course, it should not be taken for granted that I will be of immense assistance to the First Lady in realizing her vision for the Nigeria girl-child education and emancipation of women at all levels, all these we will achieve through legislative process and advocacy.
Your support for internally displaced people in Yobe State who are victims of an insurgence riddled North Eastern Nigeria is also seen as a major reason for your ascension to that position, how will your role as Number 2 in the lower House end the problem of Boko Haram in North East?
This is a subject matter to which I and my family have been committing our resources to, because we cannot even have peace of the mind when our people are displaced and scattered from their homes due to insecurity. As Deputy Speaker, I shall intensify effort in seeing that NEMA (National Emergency Management Authority) carries out its duties promptly, honestly and efficiently; that the House of Representatives carry out effective oversight functions on the federal government especially on the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and determine whether the resources allocated for their comfort get to the IDPs. We shall also ensure that our security agencies are better motivated to guaranteeing adequate protection of our people. But essentially, the problem of Boko Haram, I believe, will come to an end the day we have an effective leadership as I believe we will have under General Buhari. Secondly, if we as leaders – state and federal- implement policies that will send many to school, create jobs and employment, then Boko Haram will naturally come to its end.
Do you think the North East where you hail from is ready to tackle the crisis of girl-child education which is a blight in that part of Nigeria?
Yes, I do, because until the advent of Boko Haram, awareness for the education of the girl-child in the North East had grown tremendously. But with a misguided ideology hiding behind religion, education of the girl-child in the North East was adversely affected. But as I said, with effective leadership, insecurity will be drastically reduced, families will return to their homes and every child including the girl-child will go back to school. Additionally, we shall ensure that donor funds for the training and security of the girl-child in the North East will be judiciously utilized.
What is your assessment of the performance of the legislature particularly the House of Representatives in the last 16 years?
I would say that the Legislature has done quite well given the circumstance. But first, we must remember that it is the only arm that is not yet firmly rooted, that is still growing in the Nigerian polity. Unlike the other two arms – Executive and Judiciary, it is the only arm that gets suspended during the military interventions. Notwithstanding, the National Assembly has performed creditably well. It had played significant roles in passing into law bills that have assisted in reforming our economy, from a controlled system to a free market system. It has helped more in exposing corruption and deficiencies in governance and bringing about public awareness in activities of government. Admittedly, the National Assembly is yet to perform to the best expectation of Nigerians as there are still a lot of rooms for improvement. But with time and benefit of legislative practice and better understanding of Nigerians on the role of the legislature, the National Assembly will meet national expectation.
Do you subscribe to granting financial autonomy to the legislature?
That is necessary. Sometimes, it is not necessarily the absence of funds that hampers legislative assignments; it is largely due to bureaucratic bottlenecks arising from release of funds from one arm to the other. Again, financial autonomy will insulate the legislature from acting on whims and caprices of any other arm and guarantee its optimum performance. And contrary to fears, autonomy will engender greater responsibility in funds management because, with the coming of strong institutions as envisaged, nobody will be bigger than the EFCC or ICPC. Every public officer will know that these are consequences that will come with every untoward behaviour. For this reason, I will subscribe to granting of financial autonomy to the legislature.
In what areas do you think the legislature must improve on to make the 8th Assembly more efficient?
We must take our oversight functions more seriously. If this is done there will be little or no room for non-performance by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). If we take our oversight functions seriously, corruption will be prevented from taking place or detected timely. And when the relevant MDA know that corruption will definitely be exposed, it will work hard to make sure that the people get value for their money. That is one area that if I find myself in leadership position, I will always ensure that the House gives full vent to.