Why I joined active politics –Rukayya

Rukayya Umar Santa alias Dawayya, whose parents are based in Saudi Arabia, in this brief chat with newsmen, said she came to Nigeria at the age of 15 and joined Kannywood, but that when the going was though for her, she took a leave and returned when she was fully prepared for the industry. ALIYU ASKIRA was there.

About six years ago, I attended your wedding ceremony in Kano, but, according to sources, the marriage has packed up. Tell us what actually happened?

Well, I actually called for this press conference to intimate the public about my full entrance into active politics and the possibility for me to seek elective office in 2023. I am not here to talk about my marriage which was widely reported in the media, both social and hard media, negatively and some positively.

Could you let our readers into the real story since you are now going into full time politics?

This is one of the reasons I am calling for this media briefing, for me to tell the public my real story. I am an indigene of Katsina state, Matazu local government to be precise; I attended my primary and secondary schools in Kano, thereafter I attended a diploma programme before proceeding to Jammaje Institute of Higher Learning and ended up at Bayero University, Kano, where I completed my degree programme this year. I am, therefore, fully ready for politics.

Are you preparing to join politics or you are already into politics?

I am already into active politics; in 2019, I campaigned very well for Governors Badaru of Jigawa, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano, Governor Masari of Katsina and they were all successful. In Kannywood some of us campaigned for Atiku while others maintained the status quo by campaigning for President Buhari, the group which I belong to, and in 2023 if I will vie for elective office, I hope they will fully support me to realise my ambition.

Apart from politics, what else is Dawayya doing to survive?

Though, I am into politics full time, I also revived my film production company, Dawayya Movies, and so far I have produced several films that will soon be in the market. However, I am also into contracts here and there, renovating primary and secondary schools and I am also into philanthropy to engage me full time.

You are into philanthropic activities, who are your sponsors?

You see, one day I put my picture in the social media where I was in an aircraft travelling out of the country, and some of my followers started criticising me alleging that while some of us are living luxury lives, some members of our immediate community were wallowing in abject poverty. So, I started assisting people left and right; initially, I resisted the idea of publicising my philanthropic activities, because those who are doing so are running NGOs and much of the money and materials they usually donate to the poor come from companies or rich individuals; so they advertise it in the media to justify that they actually carried out what was their mission. But in some cases, I also try to make my activities public for people to know that we are assisting the poor.

What are your immediate plans?

Firstly, to put behind me the media criticisms I received when my marriage was terminated; secondly, like I told you, I am into the production of several movies, and now I am into full time politics, to serve my people. In 2023, I may go to Katsina, my home state, to seek elective office so that I can represent my people positively at state or federal level.

Finally, what do you want to be remembered for?

I am not going to die very soon, so why are you asking me about what I will be remembered for. But honestly speaking, I am really happy that I got married legitimately, had a bouncing baby boy called Umar, which I named after my father. I had rough times in Kannywood, but I am very successful today, I am not only a celebrity, I also have my Dawayya Movie Production Company, I am also a contractor and a society lady, and I also graduated recently from Bayero University Kano. So, all in all, I want to contribute my quota to the society, you know I also graduated from Islamiyya School, meaning that I can memorise the Qur’an by heart. I also teach in some Islamic schools to impact my knowledge to others; so, honestly I am a happy woman, I am close to the governors of Jigawa, Kano and Katsina states respectively, their senators and national assembly members. I am highly connected as such, I have no regrets in life. Fortunately, God also created me as a Muslim; my father is a Hausa man from Katsina while mother is Shuwa Arab; that is why I am tall, beautiful and pretty. Anytime in soon, I will settle down for marriage again.

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