Daily Independent (Lagos)
24 November 2008
interview
Hon. DANLAMI HAMZA is a veteran at the House of Representatives, where he is currently serving his fourth term. A vocal politician, he represents Fagge Constituency, a densely populated Kano Metropolitan council.
In this interview with Correspondent, AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) leader spoke about how he brought Fagge, his LG, to federal attention, among other dividends of democracy; Kano PDP's inability to match words with action, and a number of national issues including President Obasanjo whom he said 'ran the country aground more than any other leader in the history of the nation's democratic experience.' Hamza lamented the lack of vibrancy in the House, which he blamed on the rapid turnover of lawmakers which does not give room for continuity in the House.
Excerpts:
Enumerate projects, which have direct impact on the masses in your immediate constituency, since you became a member of the House of Representatives?
I make bold to say that I have been a fairly good representative of my people as evidenced by their electing me to serve them for four terms. My constituency is Fagge, which is a politically astute Local Government, and there are many concrete evidences apart from historical that will convince anyone that if Fagge people don't want you, nobody can impose you on them. And unless they are convinced with what they are getting in terms of amenities, they would have voted me out long ago. Primarily, the responsibility of a lawmaker in the House of Representatives is to represent the constituency and make sure that all laws being passed will not adversely affect them. For now, the most important bill that the House has passed is the Appropriation Bill and that is where a representative has to do everything humanly possible to ensure that his immediate constituency is taken into consideration.
Before I became a member of the House of Representatives, I don't think the name Fagge ever appeared in any budget of the Federal Government of Nigeria, and I can assure you that every year, unfailingly, I have projects even before the break down of the constituency projects. I always ensure that Fagge Local Government gets its fair share of the projects particularly during Obasanjo's administration.
Through my active participation of activities in the House, I have been able to attract rural electricity, despite the fact that the Federal Government as you know does not ordinarily carry out projects in state capitals but invariably the state. I have also been able to attract water projects, some hand pumps, some automatic, as well as overhead tanks. Also, I have been able to attract three hospitals, which are located at various areas within my constituency. Apart from rural electricity and water, I have been able to attract some educational projects, consisting of two laboratories at a girls' school, which is by way of the budget. But in terms of employment opportunities, I have also been able to secure a lot of slots for my people, particularly in the Police force, where I secured over 14 slots, ranging from the rank of constable to inspector, as well as in the Army, where I also secured over 40 slots for the people of my constituency. I was able to achieve this feat for my constituency because I always hand pick my committee; probably due to my training as a banker who is always concerned to ensure that people are gainfully employed, so as to effectively contribute to the economic development of the country.
Before my foray into lawmaking, foreign currency dealers are often guests of the Police because it was considered an illegal business. But thanks to Allah, all that is history today, because the business has been legalised through my personal efforts alongside other lawmakers in the House of Representatives.
My immediate constituency which boasts of a large concentration of foreign currency dealers informed my deep involvement in ensuring the legalisation of the parallel foreign market (FOREX) through the House of Representatives.
Through the House of Representatives Energy Sector Committee in which I was a member, we were able to convince the former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2001 to vote the highest budget ever in the history of this country to the Energy Sector. It has gone into the history books that 2001, the Energy Sector got the highest chunk of the budget. Besides, I have on my own volition sponsored so many youths from my constituency involved in self-help projects.
Apart from the first day of my being in the House, I initiated Poverty Alleviation Programme, like skills acquisition and economic empowerment of some women through a revolving loan scheme. But unfortunately, that project has been halted because some of the beneficiaries failed to redeem their pledge to repay the loans.
Is there any pronounced difference, between Kwankwaso's administration and that of Malam Shekarau?
No matter what anybody will say, since the advent Malam Ibrahim Shekarau's administration, provision of infrastructure and other basic amenities has been moved to another level, particularly with the ongoing road construction projects in the Sabon Gari area of the metropolis and beyond. In his infinite wisdom, Shekarau mandated me, through his aids, to select roads for rehabilitation. And, without giving me any opportunity for consultations, I selected Burma Road , then Yankura to Sarkin Yaki, but my religion does not permit me to outline what I have contributed to the growth and development of mankind. It is between you and your God. At the last count, there are over 72 orphans in Fagge constituency which I have been personally catering for quite sometime now, but all these efforts are geared towards preparing them for the future. My being a member of the House of Representative, as well as my interaction with the State Assembly afforded me the opportunity to render quality service to my people.
You were first elected to the House of Representatives during Kwankwaso's administration. If you were to compare the projects executed by Kwankwaso's administration and that of Malam Shekarau, which one have direct impact on the masses?
In reality, the projects Kwankwaso embarked upon in his four-year tenure were done cleverly, strategically and politically. They were projects that are visible on the sides of the road. They are meaningful projects that would impact on the lives of everybody. Take, for example, the issue of water, which has been an age-long problem which successive administrations in Kano State have danced around. But for the first time in the history of Kano, an in-depth study was conducted and Shekarau took a bold step to embark on a N6 billion water project, and now, another N5.7 billion has been signed for the provision of water and no matter what anybody will say, sooner than later the problem of water in Kano would be a thing of the past.
Formerly, I used to buy water in my home but today, I don't; and very soon nobody will buy water in Kano. Also, during Kwankwaso's administration, state-owned government hospitals were in bad shape without drugs and only nurses can be found at a time in various wards; so also is the emergency ward during the PDP government, where you can hardly find any nurse or doctor to attend to patients. For the first time, Kano people voted in and voted back the governor. I think that speaks volumes of their rejection of PDP in Kano.
In respect of the water projects, how would you compare the performance of Sheakarau with that of Kwankwanso?
The PDP led-government only laid pipes, which is a gimmick to deceive the masses that they are pursuing a meaningful water project without feasibility studies. Talk to water engineers, they will confirm to you that there is neither infrastructure on ground nor water to be channeled through the pipes. There were no structures on ground to execute the so- called water project. So, if you don't have structures on ground, you will not know the scope of the water project. It was indeed in a very bad state but today the picture has changed because Governor Shekarau's government has initiated and awarded contract for water projects and very soon water scarcity would be a thing of the past in Kano State. The Technical Committee set up for water projects made recommendations which Shekarau approved after its presentation.
What is your worry about Kano in the near future?
I have a clear picture what I would see Kano become. The rural areas are not very attractive because there are no social amenities and this situation encourages rural to urban migration. I would like to witness the provision of social amenities so as to discourage rural-urban migration, particularly healthcare facilities and power. If we don't address the energy crisis, the cottage industries would continue to suffer; we need to provide electricity to the rural areas, including basic amenities. The existing social facilities have been overstretched and that is why they are experiencing so much strain. There is also the problem of refuse collection, which I would want addressed. More importantly, I would want rural electrification projects vigorously pursued, so as to provide rural dwellers with electricity because basic amenities would facilitate their self-help projects.
But today, the story has changed: Shekarau not only engaged 4,000 new nurses but increased their allowances.
In terms of roads, quite a number of them are being constructed at the moment. To me, candidly speaking and politics aside, you cannot compare Shekarau and Kwakwaso in terms of the provision of basic amenities, which impacted positively on the people. Shekarau achieved a lot more than Kwankwaso in terms of execution of projects which impacted positively on the masses. Take the case of Gidan Bayero Building which was started during Kwankwaso's administration and I doubt which of the projects that (?)been completed to date.
If God favours you and gives you position of leadership, don't misuse that opportunity, you should thank God and assist others with the opportunity. I was shocked to my marrow sometime ago when some students from my constituency - from the College of Education - came to me for assistance, for their registration. These students, you won't believe were being given N 1,200 per annum as allowances during the PDP-led administration in Kano State. But I was paying N 5,000 to students from my constituency, as well as sponsor their projects while the incumbent administration pays N 6,000 yearly bursary per student.
During the PDP-led administration, pensioners were starved of their monthly stipends. There was a remark a commissioner made, sometime during the PDP-led government; precisely, the commissioner said that they have not paid workers, not to talk of pensioners. The PDP government did not match their words with action.
Do you think Kano people are foolish to have rejected PDP just like that?
What are your major challenges in the House of Representatives?
Well, the first challenge in the National Assembly generally is the rate of influx of new members, it is a huge problem to the House. In the last general election, I think only about 84 members returned to the House and this happens every election, which makes it difficult for continuity. And whether we like it or not, we have to slow down; and if you push too hard, it would become frustrating, particularly for the new members who will not be able to cope with the intricacies of lawmaking.
For the old members, it is easier for them to cope because they have been in the House for a lot longer. But, unfortunately, we have too many first-timers in the House, which as I earlier pointed out does not give room for continuity. During my first time in the House, it seems as if I was going back to school as a freshman to learn new things, this time the act of lawmaking. We were always busy attending seminars, symposium, workshops, all in a bid to harmonise and articulate our thoughts for the business of lawmaking.
And every time there is a military interregnum; the Legislature suffers, because all the structures will be dismantled, which took time to put in place.
What is your view or opinion on the Freedom of Information Bill?
I am apprehensive on the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill. If it is passed, some journalists would use it to witch-hunt and, in the process, cause enormous damage to public institutions. For example, somebody called me sometime ago and said Honourable, a friend of us has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission operatives. My first question to him was, do you know the name of my friend, whose name was mentioned, he said yes, insisting that he would not be available to contest the election he has long been preparing for because he is cooling off at the EFCC detention cell.
Newspapers have already published the story, which to my surprise turned out to be false. That is why lawmakers are apprehensive of the Freedom of Information Bill because it would definitely be abused by some journalists.
What have you benefited from Fagge Local Government?
Since I moved for the creation of Fagge Local Government in 1981 or thereabout, during the Abubakar Rimi days, I have never benefited one inch of land in my local government and, for two years running I have paid leave grants to primary school teachers because the local government is top heavy. For example, just last month, the local government took loan of N 18 million for the payment of salaries because they are top heavy with population of over 2,500 teachers which is for Fagge alone. And this is what the local government is going through, because it was denied possession of some of its property, like Sabon Gari market.
However, the incumbent Fagge Local Government chairman is performing miracles, even without money, and it would be pretty unfair to publish stories that are damaging to such an enterprising local government chairman who is executing projects that impact positively on the lives of the ordinary man.
'If somebody tells you something negative about your wife, would you accept or investigate to confirm the allegations?' You and I know that you need a direct evidence to confirm an allegation levelled against someone. Even in the days of money politics, I make bold to say that I was outside the country during campaigns for primaries to the House of Representatives which the governor was so upset about and declared that if everybody is going through primaries, it should not be me, because I have already distinguished myself from the crowd as a man who is ever ready to sacrifice his life for his people to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
At the close of the day, I recorded a landslide victory against my opponent. People of Kano are very wise and you cannot pull the wool over their eyes while casting their vote for whoever they want to represent them.
Between me and my people, particularly at the last general elections, I must always remain grateful to them. My problem for now is how to convince my people to look elsewhere for my replacement, because I am beginning to feel the weight of my responsibilities. I have not been myself for quite some time now due to the demands of domestic problems because I lost my first wife not too long ago, and domestic responsibilities have indirectly fallen on my shoulders. In view of this situation, I am beginning to feel the weight of the office and it's not possible for me to delegate my responsibilities, and, as such, I have to randomly shuttle between Abuja and Kano so as to service the home front. I have to call my home seven times per day so as to effectively monitor domestic activities. And so, I am beginning to feel the weight of this office. And during the last elections, I knew I was not going to contest, but my people insisted that I must have to represent them because of my good records.
What is your worry on the domination of the National Assembly by the PDP?
Let me tell you something: the National Assembly is dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) within the last six years and is ruled by a tiny cabal who decide what happens within the party and who and who gets elected. Somebody will sit down and draw out a list of names, primary or no primary certificates would be issued to people who never contested any election and that is what has been happening within the PDP. For example, somebody like Ghalli Na' Abba, Tony Anyanwu and a lot of others, including some commissioners were opposed to former President Olusegun Obasanjo's third-term agenda. They paid dearly for opposing Obasanjo's third-term agenda. Obasanjo blocked their re-election to the House of Representatives using his powers as the President and leader of the PDP. That Na 'Abba did not return was a big minus to the House of Representatives because he was an asset and firm in his decisions when he was Speaker of the House of Representatives. It could not have been to prevent Ghali's return to the House, if he had been an independent candidate which is not practicable for now in Nigeria . I am very worried that independent candidates are not allowed in Nigeria which offers everybody a chance in the country but the danger is that they can be used as canons, they can land anywhere because they are not answerable to anybody because they are independent candidates and that may be more dangerous because no matter who, I want a situation where once you are elected, I want to have some control from time to time; but if you are independent, you are there on your own, there will be no measure of control. However, the House, having known Umaru Yar'Adua way back and knowing the kind of person he is they would have been convinced that he would give Nigeria a credible election.
Why are members of the House Representatives afraid of passing the Bill on Freedom of Information?
NO! We are not afraid but apprehensive and with all due respect, a lot of you are my friends and you will pick up hand-set, call me and say you heard this or that and you want to hear the other side to ensure a balanced report at the end of the day. But I will give you another terrible example. Just before the local government elections, I was at home in Abuja when my phone rang and somebody said Ah! Honourable you know I am your friend, what is happening to your boy,Tukur. Is Tukur my boy? I asked him. He said yes and I told him that I only met Tukur in the party and people want him to contest, he is not my boy, do you think people are my slaves. I then asked him what is the matter with Tukur? He said he has been arrested because he was caught with two bags of Indian hemp. I asked him: do you know what you are saying? He replied yes. I told him I know Tukur. He is a clean and upright man. I asked him: do you know where Tukur lives? He said somewhere there. And I asked him again, where exactly? He said somebody told him. And the next thing I saw, it was announced on Freedom Radio, saying that one of the local government chairmanship candidate may not participate because he has been caught with some quantity of Indian hemp and he is cooling off his head at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) detention cell. He was arrested with two bags of Indian Hemp at Fagge Local Government, adding that when they contacted NDLEA officials for confirmation, they said there was no such person in their custody. Can you see what harm they have done to Tukur? And that is why lawmakers are apprehensive of the FoI Bill, and not afraid. We are indeed apprehensive.
Honorable, you have been opportuned to work with several Speakers in the House of Representatives and here you are with a very young Speaker. What is your assessment of the leadership of the House as compared to the others. Also, you expressed your desire to always assist people and with your experiences so far, are you still encouraged to assist people?
It is right, I have worked with three Speakers for a prolonged period. Of these Speakers, Ghali Na' Abba from the context of Kano politics and his background worked with a very difficult Executive and at that point Obasanjo had disdain for the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives. Don't forget he was a Head of State without a Legislature. For him to have suddenly found himself in that position of President and the House, led by this young man, Ghali, asking him questions is almost an anathema, so he was like doing everything to put disdain in the House and that brought out the best in the House, so the more he fought the House, the stronger and more united it became because they viewed him as the greatest threat from outside and that was why he was not able to teleguide Ghali. But the only way he could do that was by using some members of the House to make sure he didn't go back to the House which is rather unfortunate because Nigerians missed a lot by his not returning to the House. But we wanted Ghali to return to the House, but his side had to be radically different from Aminu Masari who came in as a hard core party member. Aminu is somebody who is really deep in PDP's warfare. He was teleguiding the moves of PDP governors and he does anything to cushion the party and that was why they were so chubby, chubby and not lobby, lobby with the Executive.
And, I quickly make bold to say that the House was the worse for it. The system we are running is one of check and balances and it is deliberately fashioned that the House was a nightmare just like the Senate is a check on the Executive just like the Executive would also be checked by the National Assembly with the Judiciary adjudicating. Any time you find the Legislature hand-in- gloves, it is because they are disturbed by the people of the country, so that is why I said the House and the country was the worse; and that was why Obasanjo was so comfortable that he was thinking of the third term, despite his running the country underground and he still felt comfortable to plunge the country to an unholy agenda.
And if it were the days of Ghali Na' Abba's leadership of the House, he wouldn't think of third term because he knows it would be met with stiff opposition.
What is your assessment of Dimeji Bankole since he took over the leadership of the House from his predecessor, Patricia Etteh?
I know Bankole very well. We worked together at the Appropriation Committee. He is a well-bred young man, very respectful, he has respect for everybody older than him as well as his colleagues and that begets respect for him. One cannot help but like him, he is very soft and firm. He has a different style of making his point, he gives his mind but doesn't hurt anybody, he is not giving any ground, he is not proud. He has his own different style and I think the House is beginning to find its mark again. The only thing that I might advice him is to worry less about pleasing everybody all the time. As a leader, you have to take some hard decisions, which might not be pleasant even to yourself, but that is the price a leader has to pay. The appointment of committee chairmen and their deputies in the House of Representatives is a very serious matter. The House will only function as good as the quality of the committee chairmen.
What is your worry in the House of Representatives?
My worry is the rate of high turnover of new members which does not augur well for the House because of lack of continuity. For new members, it's just like fresh students in the university who have to engage in intensive academic works to catch up with high expectations. Therefore, when you come new into the House, its like going back to school where you have to read and hook up to the Internet constantly so as to be relevant in the House.
Also, I would have loved the House to be organised in such a way that legislators will talk without shouting at each other. We know there are problems and everybody knows that there is crisis in the Niger Delta. But while debating such issues, we need to disagree and agree with each other without shouting.
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