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?
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