Rashida Adamu Abdullahi is the immediate past adviser to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on women affairs. She is also a stakeholder in Kannywood; she is the owner of Mai Sa’a Multimedia located at Sani Yakasai Kwangila Complex on Zoo Road, Kano. Rashida told ALIYU ASKIRA in this interview how a young man, Musa Rafin Kuka, weeks ago posted on social media that he felt love for her and that he wanted to marry her. Rashida also disclosed that she invited the young man to Kano and warned him not to do such again because she is not cut out for ‘small guys.’
The last time we spoke, you were still serving as an adviser on women affairs to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state; you were also completing your programme at a university in Egypt. Could you please tell our readers what you are doing for a living?
Well, I served on the Ganduje administration as adviser on women affairs where I discharged my duties diligently up to the time the government rounded up its first term and I did not return during the current tenure, but I can tell you that I am still very close to the government and they always carry me along in their activities.
This administration appointed three of you into principal positions; you as adviser on women affairs; Ismail Na Abba Afakallah as director, films and censorship board, and one Yahanasu Sani as adviser on budget and economic planning. Is it, therefore, fair to say that the Ganduje administration carries Kannywood members along?
You have answered the question yourself; a government that created conducive working atmosphere for us, appointed three of us into key positions deserves nothing but sincere support from all members of the industry. Similarly, there is an ongoing project of building a N16 ICT Centre under Department of Films and Censorship Board that will give us the opportunity to go digital in our activities. So, all in all, the Ganduje administration has done its best for us.
Now that you are not in the government full time, what particular business are you into?
I know that you are asking this question for the purpose of your readers, because you are very much aware that my Sa’a Multimedia which I am the sole owner is still very active into film production. I am also into politics partially, into businesses here and there and I am a stakeholder in Kannywood; so I am very much engaged and very much busy apart from my frequent travels outside the country.
Let me hit the nail on the head now; recently, one young man posted on social media that he was dying to have you as a wife, but you are not happy about that; what is the latest development on that?
I knew right from the word ‘go’ that this was what actually prompted you to interview me. Well, I woke up one morning and saw a positing on the social media from one young man who called himself Musa Rafin Kuka, but fortunately for me, he availed all his contacts through the positing and I quickly called him and asked him if he actually knew me in person and he said no, but that he had been watching my films for a very long time and also that he was one person that admired me and that was the easiest way to attract my attention.
He said his posting on the social media was to get my attention, but I told him that I am not a young lady, I am somebody who even rose to the position of special adviser in a government, and that I am a pioneer member of Kannywood and I am into several mature organisations and business ventures, as such, the young man should in his own interest desist in such unnecessary act, that I am not his mate.
When you also replied the young man through the social media, you included several of your pictures where you were seen decorated all over with multi- million naira gold ear rings, gold necklace, gold rings and gold chains. Was that what you were referring to that you are not a woman for ‘small people’?
If you are a professor, your mates are naturally expected to be professors. A billionaire mostly associates with billionaires, even in Kannywood here, I know those who I can rub shoulders with as my colleagues. After putting more than 20 years into journalism, naturally your mates are now either editors or managing editors, so for one small boy to wake up and embarrass me on the pages of social media to the extent of saying that he wants me to marry him without even asking me, you know that I will not be happy.
But I did not threaten to deal with him or sent security after him; I called him and told him who I am by age and by virtue of my position in the society, that I have passed the stage of associating with small boys like him in the name of marriage or whatever. He promptly posted a rejoinder to his first message and apologised to me with explanations on why he did that which by all standards is not necessary. About my pictures which I decked myself in multimillion naira gold, haba!!! You know me more than that, check all my pictures you always see me wearing best dresses around, accompanied with multi-million naira gold, which I obtained legitimately over the years. I am also a philanthropist because what I gained from the society I try to give it back to the society; so I have no regrets if I said I am not meant for small people. But for simple explanation, I mean I am of age, am not talking about how rich I am.
The industry seems to be experiencing challenges as per the decline in film production and revenue; how bad is the situation?
For my fans, let me put it on record that the economic meltdown is global occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic; here is a disease that emerged from nowhere and one of the ways to avoid it is for people to stop meeting in groups, and for you to shoot a film, you need to move with your crew. Similarly, government came up with measures that have stopped people from operating in groups; so we suspended most of our films that were still in the making and I can tell you economically, this has affected the industry. But the coronavirus issue is passing away and very soon, we will resume our business full-scale. Please use this medium to tell our young men and women to always be abreast of what they post on social media because what you think may go down well with us may end up embarrassing us for life.
