Alhaji Amanabo Yusuf is the candidate for the House of Representatives (Idah/ Ofu/Igalamela/Ibaji, Kogi state) on the platform of the New Nigerian People’s Party, NNPP. In this interview with CHAMBA SIMEH, Yusuf, referred to as the alternative, said his foray into politics is to improve the welfare. He also bared his mind on the state of the nation and Kogi state in particular about many issues that are germane to the political growth of our country and Kogi state in particular.
Excerpts:
We know you are into business and doing well and now politics. Why politics?
You are very correct but to the level of your immediate understanding of not knowing that my name has been a recurring decimal in the politics of Kogi state. I have been into this game for a long time taking into consideration that as human we cannot wean ourselves from politics; from the cradle to our maturation as adults, we have all been involved one way or the other. Today the world over, politics is being used as a vehicle to change society for the better but as you can see, in our clime we seem to have abandoned politics to mostly the worst among us and you can see where we are today. I am into politics because I want to use politics as a vehicle to transform the lives of my people who since this dispensation have been abandoned and denied the dividends of democracy.
Why are you contesting for the House of Representatives in the 2023 general elections?
As I have stated before in several fora and I shall continue to say again, I am an apostle of the new type of politics dispensation that believes that if things must change and if we must develop, we must be seen through our political actions to be working towards changing the present axis of our political godfathers who have negatively erased the potential we have for development. I am in politics therefore to protect our people from the excesses of the political godfathers who have held our people captive for a long time and I see the NNPP.as the vehicle and platform to fulfill this noble aspiration.
People now see the the New Nigerian People’s Party as a party of aggrieved politicians and the message you are propagating seems to negates this perception.
We are in a political dispensation and climate where politicians see any other party that is evolving as a direct affront to theirs. So, you don’t be surprised when they ascribe negative nomenclatures to new platforms.The NNPP is realistically the third force that our people have for long been yearning for to positively and purposefully confront the behemoth parties that represent our under development. We in the NNPP yearn for a country that answers to the need of the people, which is development in all ramifications. It is now obvious, and make no mistake about this, that we are the next big thing and a viable alternative to the APC and PDP, who many want to see after next year’s elections as the vestiges of our past years of failures.
Is your party is cut out in sending a clear message to the other parties?
As reporters and journalists of no mean pedigree you are now getting our messages clearer. It is also now obvious that the electorate more than ever before are reacting negatively to the years of the PDP and APC in the administration of the country and our dear Kogi state. Our people are now ready to have a substantial voice on issues that affect them, particularly security, education, the economy, social security for the aged and vulnerable, etc.
Are you sure of this, considering that the level of political sophistication of our people is low?
Our people have reached a level whereby they can now clearly acknowledge a good leader and political platform. Make no mistake about it, the NNPP today is a total re-awakening of the late Aminu Kano political ideology on making the people count. Politics is about the people. Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the national leader and presidential candidate of our great party, if you ask is a pro-people politician in the mould of the late Aminu Kano, is desirous of delivering on his political ideology and manifesto.
Idah/ Ofu/Igalamela and Ibaji federal constituency is politically and developmentally backward. What is the reason for this?
Ironically, this is one of, if not the largest, federal constituency in Kogi state. My constituency is like a mini-Nigeria where leadership is our albatross. We, therefore, need a leadership that will transform the dream of our people into reality.. Leadership is the bane of our development and our people need to brace up to this reality. Our leadership recruitment process must change. Today, leadership is defined as dealers in hope and it is reserved for the best and the brightest as against the norm which made it an exclusive reserve for dispensers of gratifications. To get it right, we must be ready to cleanse our political Augean stable and it must start with the next election.
Who in Kogi state is your political idol and why?
Hon: Prince Abubakar Audu of blessed memory. A man of great conviction, a political icon and leader of men, a worthy ambassador of what is good, a fighter for the people’s freedom and emancipation, a great dealer of hope.To me the man is indescribable.The father of modern day Kogi state who has left his footprints on the sands of time as governor of Kogi state. His mementos are scattered through the vast landscape Kogi state. He as a leader delivered because he built strong institutions that have outlasted him as against today when our leaders made themselves strong men to be worshipped. Rest in peace, our leader.
Let’s us talk of the new direction government of Yahaya Bello. How is he faring?
I don’t want to talk about a young man who got power by the stroke of a contraption now referred to as a divine intervention. He, as a young man like I am, wasted the magnanimity of our generation and the opportunity to make a difference. He promised a new direction but here we are today with no direction.
Some are of the opinion that the ruling APC in the state has not been fair to the Audu family?
Hon: I agree with that assertion.The efforts of our leaders past must not be in vain. Let me avail you of what I learnt from the death of Prince Abubakar Audu. I have learnt that even if life is ephemeral, we must strive to leave legacies that would make us to be remembered. Even Audu’s critics agree that his legacies are indelible. But what will the governor bequeath – footprints of failure and regret.The APC has failed to recognise the Audu family; it is a shame and a hallmark of the failure we call governance in Kogi state today. I am happy that one of his sons, Mustapha Mona, is keeping the flag flying even though his bid for the House of Representatives failed.
What are your political strategies, going into the elections?
I am a very simple man with a simple need. Not a man to be involved in any crooked deals. I am not feisty, argumentative or antagonistic because nobody has formed this view ever about my personality. I would try to have a political strategy that would make development in its physicality come the way of my people.
