Barrister Issa Manzuma, a former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kwara state chapter, was the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2019 general elections. In this interview with KEHINDE OSASONA, he speaks on his motivation and why his party lost.
Why did you choose to run for governor instead of the Senate or House of Representatives?
Every other position other than governorship, like you mentioned, is equally contestable for me. Come to think of it; I have all the required and necessary qualifications to vie for any of the offices including the presidency.
Having said that I opted for governorship for obvious reasons and I have no regrets. But by my involvement in politics now, I have seen that money politics is yet to fizzle out of the polity and it is killing the political landscape. The earlier we do away with it, the better for good governance and good leaderships.
What was the motivation?
Well, let me say here that about two factors motivated me to contest the 2019 governorship elections in Kwara state on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The first factor was the desire to serve the people of Kwara state. I am sounding emphatically now. After my tenure elapsed as the immediate past chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Ilorin branch, I received a lot of encomiums regarding my performances in office and I thought I could do more by contesting the gubernatorial election, which for me, would enable me serve the people of Kwara state on awider platform.
Second factor was as a result of the general complaints across the country of the performances of political office holders. According to a British Philosopher, Alexander Pope, “Those who refuse to participate in the electoral process fall victim of bad leadership.” So, it was my desire to participate in the electoral process outside unnecessary criticism that actually motivated me to vie for gubernatorial election in 2019 in the state.
Kwara north Senatorial district where you hail from had for sometime now been agitating for the exalted seat. Could that be the reason you took a shot at the governorship position?
You could say that, but the major reason has been my meritorious service as NBA helmsman and the need to partake in the electoral process. Again, although the zoning formula is not contained in the 1999 Constitution, by practice and convention of the people of Kwara state, the zoning formula was more or less adopted.
When former governor and Senate president, Senator Bukola Saraki, left office in 2011, and the gubernatorial slot was zoned to Kwara south Senatorial district, everybody had assumed that it was the turn of Kwara north. That was what informed my decision to participate and contest for the position because it is our turn to do so. If you observed very well, you would see that we had at least 35 candidates, and the majority of them came from Kwara central whose turn it was not to produce governor in 2019, we already have the out-gone governor too who is from Kwara south, and we still had candidates from Kwara south.
At a point, I faulted the people of my zone and I was like why? If you say it is your turn to produce the governor of Kwara state, why did we have few persons that showed interest across party lines? If you say it is your turn, you must also demonstrate it by fact, present a candidate even if he fails to win eventually at least there won’t be an excuse that nobody came out to contest from your zone on any political platform. I think Kwara north people didn’t get that right.
Again, Knowing that we have over 90 political parties in Nigeria, I think the quest to aspire and represent my zone was what also informed my intention to contest for the slot which was graciously offered by my party, ADC.
Now that the governorship election has been won and lost and the candidate of the APC, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, from the Kwara central senatorial district has been sworn in, what is your party’s next line of action?
The next plan of action by my party, ADC, and my humble self is to support the governor-elect to move the state forward and to also wait for 2023, hoping that by then, everybody would see reason my zone should produce the governor of Kwara state.
Whatever is the reason that informed the zoning again of the gubernatorial slot to Kwara central that has had such advantage from 1999 to 2011 is left for posterity. However, by my own understanding and civilised norms, the slot should go to Kwara north by 2023.
Are you satisfied with the performance of your party in the elections?
For a start, the expectation was higher than what we had, but that was the votes we got from the electorate. So, I am quite satisfied that the electorate have spoken. My party was popular and we have up till now our structure across the 16 local government area in the state. Prior to election, my party, ADC, was one of the favoured parties based on our acceptability and I make bold to say here that we came out from the election victorious; we were not defeated at all.
But the O’to ge uprising in the state against the then ruling PDP did not spare any party?
Well, aside from the O’to ge thing, I must state here that the major factor that affected all the political parties including the PDP and my own party, ADC, was the growing support and popularity of President Muhammadu Buhari. Of course, it was and such was the case across the country.
However, I must not fail to mention that to some extent, the O’to ge uprising actually affected my party and few other political parties in the state who are hell bent on sending the then ruling PDP packing for their alleged non-performance.
The speakership position is still in contention, as we speak; could zoning it to your district at least assuage your feelings?
Politicians as you know have their own calculations. But whatever may be the calculation is subject to equity and fairness. My zone ought to be treated in more equitable manner. I think they should be fair to us when it comes to sharing of positions; knowing fully well that the zone has equally contributed greatly to the development of Kwara.
Going forward, our stakeholders should bear in mind that Kwara is a cosmopolitan state with diverse tribes. I also think the federal character principle should apply here. As the saying goes; give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. The central has produced governor, south the deputy governor. So, I think in order not to promote hatred, political gladiators in the state should give up the speakership post to the north.
Did the governorship candidates’ forum at any time set an agenda for the new APC governor?
Like I said, politicking is over, governance beckons, and time to work jointly for rapid development of Kwara is now. I think we have responsibility to support the governor and government for the state to move forward.
We had a forum and before the governorship poll, we came together and vowed to support whoever wins, but did not actually set an agenda for in-coming because we felt his political party has its own manifestoes and programmes.
Again, we decided not to cause any conflict between us in the course of doing that. However, we would avail him of our advice and suggestions from time to time for a better Kwara.
Last word
You see, it is not my training to speculate as a lawyer, but I think it would be in the interest of the state that the incoming administration runs an all-inclusive government consisted primarily of all the progressives, as promised.
APC has learnt lessons from 8th NASS leadership mistakes – Kwara senator-elect
Pharmacist Sadiq Umar is the Kwara North senator-elect. In this interview with TOPE SUNDAY, he says his district should produce the next speaker of the House of Assembly, and bares his mind on the race for the leadership of the 9th National Assembly.
How challenging was your election because you contested against the political structure of the Saraki in the state?
I give thanks to God, the Almighty. Honestly, I cannot say there were serious challenges during my election. I can only say I am grateful to God for making me one of the lucky politicians during the period. Aside from the movement challenge, due to bad roads in Kwara state, I don’t think that there was any other challenge that was a threat to me.
The Baruteen/Kaiama road is one of the worst roads in Kwara state. We learnt that the road has been approved for construction and repair, but no change has been affected on it. How will you address this challenge?
The truth is that, the Kwara state government did work on some roads in the state though significant, yet not a quality work. Baruteen /Kaiama road is not one of them; it has been damaged for a long time. Roads that have been worked on are Ilorin road through Oyo state to Baruteen, but not Baruteen/Kaiama road.
While I am in the Senate, I will ensure that the repair of Baruteen /Kaiama road is approved either by the federal government or state. The road can promote economic growth for the Kwara people by linking the Kaiama and Baruteen and even the Bode Sa’adu road. The people will no longer have to pass through Oyo state before going to their districts in Kwara as a result of Baroten/kayama bad road. The repair of the road can also reduce poverty in Kwara North since it will boost economic growth there.
How were you able to emerge considering your local government in terms of the population compared to the remaining local governments that make up the Kwara North Senatorial District?
Actually, I am not the first to have emerged as a senator from Kaiama. I have an uncle who had once represented Kwara North as a senator though it was short- lived. During that time, Kaiama was still a local government during General Ibrahim Badamusi Babangida regime. For me, I was able to achieve this because God has designed it to be. There was an understanding that it is time for Kaiama to represent the senatorial district. Though, the primaries were tough, with the people on my side, I was able to attain this position.
Ahead of the 9th Kwara state House of Assembly, there are sentiments that Kwara North should produce the next speaker. What is your take on this?
First thing first, I appreciate experience. Returning an experienced person into the House of Assembly will be very useful. However, not all speakers that Kwara state has produced were returning members; so it is nothing new. Besides, this issue does not call for debate. There is a balance of power in practice all over Nigeria, where three senatorial districts share the major first three positions. This means that Kwara Central has the governor, Kwara south has the deputy and Kwara North should have the speaker of the House of Assembly. So, there is no need for controversy just that everyone has the right to aspire.
Also, the race for who becomes the Senate president in the 9th National Assembly has expectedly become tensed. As a senator-elect, between the three candidates, Senators Ahmad Lawal, Ali Ndume and Danjuma Goje, who do you think deserve the seat?
To be honest with you, everyone seated in the chamber is capable of being a Senate president. If your people find you worthy to place you in the Senate, then you can be a Senate president. A Penate president is the first among the equals. In other words, someone must lead. Based on experience, Ahmed Lawan is the most experienced. He has been there since 1999, the current Senate leader and also from the APC, the majority party. All APC has to do is to pick the caucus leader to be the Senate president of which Ahmed Lawan is the person in question. He is also competent as a legislator and all elements are in his favour. It has been agreed and the president did not object it. I think he is going to be the next Senate president. So, I don’t think there is an issue.
But it is rumoured that the PDP caucus in the Senate is working underground to play the kind of game they played in the 8th Assembly. How will you react to this?
Well, it is a rumour and rumour will always remain what it is, which is a rumour. PDP is the opposition political party. They should have their plans too. What I am trying to say is that, we should be fair in this democracy. The majority party should produce the senate president and any member of the Senate is free to support any candidate of his choice. This is the right and fair thing to do.
What happened in 2015 was very unfortunate and APC as a party has learnt its lesson. They are ready to make amends and have taken corrections for the last mistake.
Finally, what is your message to the people of Kwara Nigeria as a whole during this Ramadan season?
First, I say Ramadan Kareem to our Muslim brothers and sisters, but I urge them to use this holy month to pray for Nigeria’s peace, progress and stability. To the people of Kwara, a new dawn has come, good things they expect, but they need to be patient because things are bad now .But with hard work all our promises to them will be fulfilled. They should keep supporting us with their prayers and by the grace of God, we will take them to the Promised Land.
