Hajia Rukayyat Ibrahim is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a governorship aspirant in Kogi State. She praises Governor Yahaya Bello’s leadership in the state, even as she explains the reasons behind her governorship aspiration, among other issues, in this interview with BODE GBADEBO.
Why do you aspire to be Kogi state governor?
Politics is first and foremost about service to the people. No doubt, Governor Yahaya Bello is doing well; but our party, like you know is truly progressive and democratic in all ways, so I believe that the ideals of my party, the All Progressives Congress still remain the best for Kogi people. Again, let me say this, Governor Yahaya Bello, like I said, is doing well, but don’t forget that I’m a woman, I’m a mother and the popular adage says when you train a girl child you build the nation. My idea is to take the state on the voyage of peace and the path of progress. Governor Bello has done enough on the restoration of peace; he has bought military wares and assisted the police but like a mother and one who believes that peace is the foundation of any meaningful development, I strongly believes that engaging our youths and building brotherliness among the Kogi people regardless of their location or language will best restore lasting peace to the state and it will take the passion of a mother to achieve that. If given a chance, Kogi will be one of the most peaceful states under me and that will translate into accelerated development as investors can confidently put their resources into our economy. Meanwhile, I need to make this clear, I have been in politics right from the days of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) then later joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before coming home with the progressives in the APC. In all these, I feel at home with APC and I strongly believe in the party, that is my reason for seeking whatever I think I want in politics with the APC. What the APC cannot give me, I’m not sure other parties can give as my party is the one I trust to guarantee the welfare of our people. I trust the party. I have been with the APC for some time now and I will be glad to continue to grow with the it.
Don’t you have the fear that you may not stand a chance in your party as a woman?
Not at all. I have listened to our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari at different times, he has been assuring and reassuring about the sanctity of the electoral process. He has always assured that votes would count and of course, that doesn’t end with general elections but internal party politics. You can see that internal democracy is playing out well in the APC where powerful members, including governors are losing election even as preferred candidates. Just look at Lagos State where the incumbent Governor Akinwunmi Ambode lost at the party primary and still remains loyal to the party; that is all I want. So, I believe I stand a chance since our votes would count as always assured by the President. I therefore do not see any threat because I have a lot of the males as my supporters and I’m sure that when the time comes, you will see them standing with me.
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What should be the expectatitons of the youths in particular if you are eventually elected?
There is no way anyone can claim to lead a people without first guaranteeing food security. I can tell you that agriculture will be our first priority. We will deploy the best of technology to stimulate agriculture as a means to reduce poverty and end hunger. Kogi has a very expansive land, what are we doing with that? Are we going to always wait for monthly remittances from the federal government without doing anything on our own? How do we generate resources internally without the involvement of the youths, the women and a good number of our citizens in the state?
And in addition, as an individual, we have invested in cashew farming through which a lot of youthful populations and women are empowered and they’re doing well. We will replicate that if I become the governor. We will modernise and revolutionise agriculture. Kogites are not lazy, all they want to do is to find something profitable to do. Fortunately, we don’t even see the demarcation of men and women, I believe that if we have jobs for them to do, we will do well. I want my people to be busy doing something because when they are engaged with jobs they will not cause problem, there will be reduction in criminalities. Kidnapping is thriving because there is no work. If they can’t get government work, they can do other things. Even graduates that do not have jobs can learn other trades like tailoring and other skills as vocations.
President Muhammadu Buhari has just won his re-election till 2023. How does that make you feel as an APC chieftain?
This is one of my happiest moments, I must tell you. The last over three years under President Buhari cannot be compared with the sorry past. Nigerians have rewarded the President based on their trust and confidence in his anti-corruption drive, his fight against insecurity and all he is doing to stimulate the economy. Nigerians are very perceptive people and you can see them seeing through the lies of the past and propaganda of the opposition. His victory is what Nigerians should be confident about and I’m optimistic that the next four years will reposition Nigeria and my compatriots will again love this country as our place of pride.
