Buhari has failed the North – Balarabe Musa

A former Governor of the old Kaduna state, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, is known for his criticisms of governments that he believes are not favourable to the masses. In this interview with ALIYU ASKIRA, he says President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to impact positively on the North.
Sir, President Buhari has finally decided to announce publically that he is going to contest again in 2019, what is your comment on this? President Muhammadu Buhari is somebody I know very well and this is a man who contested for the Presidency for four times before winning the election as such, even a fool knows that he will definitely contest again in 2019. Remember, I was a former Governor and I can tell you the nitty-gritty of the game. Most of those calling on the President to contest before he announced himself must be doing so on his instance, meaning he must be the one encouraging them underground to urge him to re-contest. Having said this though, I am a progressive politician and will remain so up to the end of my life. I want to put it on record that though those who work for the merger of several political parties that gave birth to the APC did a fantastic job but unfortunately, the Odigie Oyegun-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC did not manage the party well.
At a point, the party cannot even send nominees to the National Assembly that is dominated by the legislatures from the party for approval, as such, one will not be surprised that the president has decided now to call for new leadership.
On the president’s his chances of winning the 2019 presidential election, well he will face a serious task from us because we are going to form a broad-based alliance either under PRP or any progressive party to try to defeat him in 2019.
I am surprised that today you are taking a different position from what I used to know you to be politically, there was a time you called President Buhari a fascist dictator, now you are saying he has the constitutional right to contest for the second term? Buhari was once Head of State as a military dictator when they sacked the Shagari government on 31st December, 1983 and sent many of us into detention without trial. In the process, some governors and ministers developed all kind of ailments and some even died soon after they were released. How will you describe a leader that can lock somebody before looking for evidence to prove whether he is guilty or not?
Later, President Muhammadu Buhari was appointed as the chairman of the PTF by Late General Sani Abacha and he performed so well that Nigerians decided to ask him to join politics and govern Nigeria as a democratic leader. After three unsuccessful attempts, he finally won in 2015 and I have no regret to say that there was a time I even campaigned for him to be president of Nigeria.
But we later fell out when I asked him for a single favour and he refused to oblige me. Pray! What was the favour that I asked from him? Because of the directive by INEC then under Professor Jega that any party that cannot win a council seat will be deregistered, I asked Buhari to support even one councillor from the PRP so that if he wins our party will not be deregistered, this Buhari refused and I was highly bitter with him.
Sir, is it true that you have never collected bribe in your life? Well, if not because you have been coming here whether for interview or not to greet me, I would have thrown you out of my house for asking me this rude question. But I will answer you, as former governor, one was opportune to work with different manner of persons or any governor that comes into power in Kaduna State will want to see that those that were there before him are taken care of.
During June 12, campaign, late Chief MKO Abiola provided funds But you know the man Buhari, he remains as rigid and stubborn as ever, and if this is the attitude he will continue with if he secured second term, then it is unfortunate for the North that is yet to benefit from his 3-year old government. for some progressives in the North apart from those in his party- the defunct SDP- to campaign for him.
So if any privilege or financial assistance comes to me from these quarters, I will see nothing wrong with it. But quote me, Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa has never asked for bribe. In fact, many times Governors and sitting presidents used to ask me to nominate people for appointments or ask me if I am interested in contracts or direct gratification, I always turn it down. Look at my house very well, you will know that I am not a corrupt old man.
Now that President Buhari has declared to contest again, can you assess his government? To say the list, the President is running his government like somebody who became President as an independent candidate. I am not against what is happening to Senator Bukola Saraki, but the PDP will never put its senate president on trial.
I thought the National Leadership of the APC will fi nd a way for the President and members of the National Assembly to operate on the same page, what they are charging the Senate President for is not that he stole money, or committed an open crime, they are charging him for not declaring some of his assets. Please tell me, if that is the fault of the senate president, how many among our senators serving and past or members of the National Assembly or former governors that had declared their assets properly? To me, this is an embarrassment to the ruling party. On the other hand, having put Bukola Saraki on trial, the best thing to do is for the Senate President to resign honourably because by being in dock, he has lost moral right to seat as Senate President.
Secondly, I expect Buhari to sack his entire cabinet immediately because most of them are either facing corruption charges or are being mentioned in the newspapers as bribe takers. But you know the man Buhari, he remains as rigid and stubborn as ever and if this is the attitude he will continue with if he secured second term, then it is unfortunate for the North that is yet to benef from his 3-year old government.
No new federal road for the North since he took over, the PHCN services are getting worse by the day and people are still stealing billions under his watch. Even his fight against corruption apart from locking up Colonel Sambo Dasuki who has secured bail judgment even from ECOWAS Court and other competent courts of jurisdiction in Nigeria, but still remain locked up, nobody has been convicted in 3years of corruption fight by the Buhari Administration. As such, I will advise the president to set up a powerful tribunal primarily charged with powers to handle cases of those who looted our treasury but on lighter mood, our image abroad is now on the better side and even our foreign reserve has moved to a respected fi gure.
Can you after many years of being out of power tell us life as sitting governor and secondly whether you are still regretting your impeachment from office? As far as I am concern, when I was governor, the only difference was I move with siren because of security and my movement are always monitored by security details. But I did not allow the luxury attached to the Office of the Governor to make me to forget that I am still Comrade Balarabe Musa. Most privileges provided for governors, I refused to enjoy them. On my impeachment, I can tell you it has been overtaken by events and I don’t want to open an old wound.
You also ask me if I will want to comment on how we parted ways with Late Abubakar Rimi and Mallam Aminu Kano, well I contested for Governor on the PRP ticket under the presidential candidate of Late Mallam Aminu Kano. Though he lost and I won as Governor in Kaduna State, I will never forget him for giving me that opportunity. We later fell out based on principles only. About my Late friend, Abubakar Rimi, late Rimi was a colourful politician, full of life and always frank to a point. He did a lot to develop Kano and when he died 8years ago, he left a vacuum that is not easy to fi ll. He was my friend and now that he is no more, I pray for Allah to forgive him his short comings.
What do you have to say about how Buhari handles security issues? That is the only thing that the North has benefed from his government. But in terms of project, there is nothing to write home about. Remember the Dapchi drama, it should be investigated by international bodies.