The House of Representatives member representing Kano Municipal Federal Constituency in Kano State, Danburam Abubakar-Nuhu, shares his legislative experience with JOHN AMEH
You came to the House in 2015. What is the experience like for you?
It has been very interesting to me. Lots of things are happening. I have learnt how motions and bills are passed and so on. It’s a House that has a lot of people from different backgrounds. You meet people who are either from the public or the private sector of the economy. So, you learn a lot from them and you also share your own experience with them. One has realised that it’s until you come in before you begin to understand that the way people see things while outside is not the same when inside.
Why did the proposal on devolution of power fail during the recent voting to amend the constitution?
In a democracy, it is the decision of the majority that carries the day; so, it is in the National Assembly. We had to vote on the proposal and the result showed that it was in favour of ‘no’. Even the referendum, it is the decision of the majority that will count whenever we have it. Simply put, the majority of people in the National Assembly didn’t want devolution of power.
You are saying the majority of Senators and members did not want devolution of power?
That was the opinion of the House at that particular time. You know, sometimes when issues are tabled, it depends on the level of understanding of people to support them. Some people consulted their constituencies and were able to take their position based on what their constituents told them.
If the House revisits devolution of power again, is it likely to pass?
When we were to start the constitution amendment, we said let us be allowed to go to the constituencies and seek the views of people on the items one by one. That opportunity was not given to us. Consultations would have helped a lot in changing the opinions of people about certain things. Now that there have been some consultations after the last experience, let us give it another chance and see how the voting will go. If the consultations are not done widely, I am telling you, it will fail again.
National Assembly members are not liked by many people. Why is this so?
The negative perception about National Assembly members has always been there because of lack of understanding and information on what the legislature is doing. The orientation is not even there for the people. For example, before I came to the National Assembly, I was told that every member has a free telephone line. That a member can choose any network of his or her choice and gets a free line. When I came in, I didn’t see the free line. So, I asked my colleagues when they would give us the special mobile telephone lines. They told me wait and see if you will ever get any free line! I have waited for over two years and there is no line. Many things are being said out there about the National Assembly which are not true; I know now that I am inside. People forget that without the National Assembly, there is no democracy.
How do people view lawmakers generally?
Look, people believe that they voted for you to pay their rents, hospital bills or school fees of their children. Whatever happens to them, you are the first person they want to solve the problem. If you tell people the number of motions or bills you have sponsored, they will still demand to know what you have done for them in terms of welfare package.
Do you mean voters don’t really care about how many bills or motions a member has sponsored?
I can tell you that the generality of the people don’t really care. You can come here and be a champion of bills and motions, but what people want to see is what you are giving them directly. They will ask you about how many people you paid their school fees, hospital bills and so on, not about bills you sponsored.
Maybe it’s because the bills and motions are not relevant in terms of addressing their needs
That is not the issue. The bills will be relevant of course. There are people who will appreciate the bills. I am not saying everybody is not interested in the bills or motions, but the generality of people are more concerned about what they can see on the table. For example, my first motion on Aminu Kano Hospital and the Dala Orthopaedic Hospital generated interest across Nigeria and some people commended me for that. Some people will appreciate it but many do not. Also, the bill on special status for Lagos and Kano, which Jimi Benson and I sponsored, people appreciated it.
Now that you mentioned it, what is the fate of the special status bill for Lagos, Kano?
It has been referred to the Committee on Constitution Review. Once it is done with it, it will bring it back to the floor for us to consider it.
I can see a large photograph of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso behind you. We hear his is your godfather?
You are really asking a funny question! How can you see a picture of my godfather and you are asking this question? He is actually my political mentor. I respect and cherish him a lot in terms of his own ideals which I believe in and promote. He has concern for the downtrodden; he supports the entire community, especially in the area of education. As governor of Kano State, he had a good and elaborate programme on education from primary to tertiary level. At a point in time, he actually guaranteed free education and was feeding pupils in Kano.
Tell us anything about your school days that you cherish so much
My aspiration was and has always been to be a champion wherever I am. I was in the college football team and later into athletics where I ran the 100 metres race up to my university level. My position was either first, second or third, nothing less.
What nicknames did sports win for you?
I didn’t quite have any nickname other than my house name, which is Garba. They called me Alhaji Garba. I got the Alhaji because apparently my mum gave birth to me soon after she went for Hajj and came back.
You attended a mixed school, right?
My secondary school was not mixed. My primary school was mixed. I went to Barewa College, one of the best schools in the North. Of course, the university was a mixed school.
I asked because at 50, you look very handsome. I wonder how you handled girls in your 20s and 30s
Well, I can tell you that those were the good old days, that I had the strength, in terms of athletics strength. When I was running 100 metres, they (girls) would love to come and watch me and to see how I fared. They went as far as cheering me up. There were lots of handshakes to say this is our star. Now I am 25 years old in my marriage with one wife. I am satisfied with her. Girls will always be there to say they want the good thing, but the good thing doesn’t come cheap.
So, what is your strategy to counter pressure from women?
Prayers! My only strategy is prayer.
Prayer against what?
Prayer against evils! I always pray against the evils. If you don’t pray, you will end up running into such things. I always tell people that if you are ambitious, you must be disciplined to go far. My father always told me while he was alive that I should protect the name. I didn’t understand him until later in life. For instance, you cannot be a kwankwasia person and be seen showing the wrong examples.
How is relaxation like for you?
I play football. At 50, I still play football. Even this evening, I will play football. I play between 5pm and 6pm every day.
Do you follow any football club?
Manchester United! I am a Man-U fan for life. I am not likely to miss any of their matches. Aside football, I like travelling a lot. You learn a lot when you travel. During my NYSC days, I travelled to every state capital in Nigeria, just to know the people living there.
Tell us two of your legislative inputs that are dear to your heart
Well, I have 19 motions and also bills. The first one, which was actually my first motion, was on the Aminu Kano Hospital. Doctors were so happy and they called to congratulate me. My first bill was on medical fees, which was also applauded.
You came to the House in 2015. What is the experience like for you?
It has been very interesting to me. Lots of things are happening. I have learnt how motions and bills are passed and so on. It’s a House that has a lot of people from different backgrounds. You meet people who are either from the public or the private sector of the economy. So, you learn a lot from them and you also share your own experience with them. One has realised that it’s until you come in before you begin to understand that the way people see things while outside is not the same when inside.
Why did the proposal on devolution of power fail during the recent voting to amend the constitution?
In a democracy, it is the decision of the majority that carries the day; so, it is in the National Assembly. We had to vote on the proposal and the result showed that it was in favour of ‘no’. Even the referendum, it is the decision of the majority that will count whenever we have it. Simply put, the majority of people in the National Assembly didn’t want devolution of power.
You are saying the majority of Senators and members did not want devolution of power?
That was the opinion of the House at that particular time. You know, sometimes when issues are tabled, it depends on the level of understanding of people to support them. Some people consulted their constituencies and were able to take their position based on what their constituents told them.
If the House revisits devolution of power again, is it likely to pass?
When we were to start the constitution amendment, we said let us be allowed to go to the constituencies and seek the views of people on the items one by one. That opportunity was not given to us. Consultations would have helped a lot in changing the opinions of people about certain things. Now that there have been some consultations after the last experience, let us give it another chance and see how the voting will go. If the consultations are not done widely, I am telling you, it will fail again.
National Assembly members are not liked by many people. Why is this so?
The negative perception about National Assembly members has always been there because of lack of understanding and information on what the legislature is doing. The orientation is not even there for the people. For example, before I came to the National Assembly, I was told that every member has a free telephone line. That a member can choose any network of his or her choice and gets a free line. When I came in, I didn’t see the free line. So, I asked my colleagues when they would give us the special mobile telephone lines. They told me wait and see if you will ever get any free line! I have waited for over two years and there is no line. Many things are being said out there about the National Assembly which are not true; I know now that I am inside. People forget that without the National Assembly, there is no democracy.
How do people view lawmakers generally?
Look, people believe that they voted for you to pay their rents, hospital bills or school fees of their children. Whatever happens to them, you are the first person they want to solve the problem. If you tell people the number of motions or bills you have sponsored, they will still demand to know what you have done for them in terms of welfare package.
Do you mean voters don’t really care about how many bills or motions a member has sponsored?
I can tell you that the generality of the people don’t really care. You can come here and be a champion of bills and motions, but what people want to see is what you are giving them directly. They will ask you about how many people you paid their school fees, hospital bills and so on, not about bills you sponsored.
Maybe it’s because the bills and motions are not relevant in terms of addressing their needs
That is not the issue. The bills will be relevant of course. There are people who will appreciate the bills. I am not saying everybody is not interested in the bills or motions, but the generality of people are more concerned about what they can see on the table. For example, my first motion on Aminu Kano Hospital and the Dala Orthopaedic Hospital generated interest across Nigeria and some people commended me for that. Some people will appreciate it but many do not. Also, the bill on special status for Lagos and Kano, which Jimi Benson and I sponsored, people appreciated it.
Now that you mentioned it, what is the fate of the special status bill for Lagos, Kano?
It has been referred to the Committee on Constitution Review. Once it is done with it, it will bring it back to the floor for us to consider it.
I can see a large photograph of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso behind you. We hear his is your godfather?
You are really asking a funny question! How can you see a picture of my godfather and you are asking this question? He is actually my political mentor. I respect and cherish him a lot in terms of his own ideals which I believe in and promote. He has concern for the downtrodden; he supports the entire community, especially in the area of education. As governor of Kano State, he had a good and elaborate programme on education from primary to tertiary level. At a point in time, he actually guaranteed free education and was feeding pupils in Kano.
Tell us anything about your school days that you cherish so much
My aspiration was and has always been to be a champion wherever I am. I was in the college football team and later into athletics where I ran the 100 metres race up to my university level. My position was either first, second or third, nothing less.
What nicknames did sports win for you?
I didn’t quite have any nickname other than my house name, which is Garba. They called me Alhaji Garba. I got the Alhaji because apparently my mum gave birth to me soon after she went for Hajj and came back.
You attended a mixed school, right?
My secondary school was not mixed. My primary school was mixed. I went to Barewa College, one of the best schools in the North. Of course, the university was a mixed school.
I asked because at 50, you look very handsome. I wonder how you handled girls in your 20s and 30s
Well, I can tell you that those were the good old days, that I had the strength, in terms of athletics strength. When I was running 100 metres, they (girls) would love to come and watch me and to see how I fared. They went as far as cheering me up. There were lots of handshakes to say this is our star. Now I am 25 years old in my marriage with one wife. I am satisfied with her. Girls will always be there to say they want the good thing, but the good thing doesn’t come cheap.
So, what is your strategy to counter pressure from women?
Prayers! My only strategy is prayer.
Prayer against what?
Prayer against evils! I always pray against the evils. If you don’t pray, you will end up running into such things. I always tell people that if you are ambitious, you must be disciplined to go far. My father always told me while he was alive that I should protect the name. I didn’t understand him until later in life. For instance, you cannot be a kwankwasia person and be seen showing the wrong examples.
How is relaxation like for you?
I play football. At 50, I still play football. Even this evening, I will play football. I play between 5pm and 6pm every day.
Do you follow any football club?
Manchester United! I am a Man-U fan for life. I am not likely to miss any of their matches. Aside football, I like travelling a lot. You learn a lot when you travel. During my NYSC days, I travelled to every state capital in Nigeria, just to know the people living there.
Tell us two of your legislative inputs that are dear to your heart
Well, I have 19 motions and also bills. The first one, which was actually my first motion, was on the Aminu Kano Hospital. Doctors were so happy and they called to congratulate me. My first bill was on medical fees, which was also applauded.
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