Date Published: 01/27/11

Why I want to be Governor of Niger State
…Governors too powerful in PDP
…Gov. Aliyu has failed the people
…Niger needs credible leadership

Hon. Bawa Bwari…Niger Needs A Change

Hon. Bawa Bwari was the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2007. He represented Nigeria at the African, Caribbean, Pacific and Europe, ACPEU Assembly for four years and played major roles.

Bwari, a major strategist during the Ghali Umar Na’Abba’s reign as Speaker of the House of Representatives, ventured into the Governorship race in 2007 under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, but was defeated at the Primaries by Governor Babangida Aliyu. He strongly believes that Governor Aliyu has not justified the votes he got in 2007 and has rather continued to impoverish the people of Niger State.

In this interview with Churchil Umoren, Managing Editor, Pointblanknews.com, Bwari who is running on the ticket of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, said he is poised to turning the state around by making it a citadel of Economic, Social and Infrastructural development if elected in the April General elections. Excerpt:

Q: What prompted you to want to run for Governorship of Niger State?

Ans: Some politicians want to make name, some want to make money, while some just desire fame, but I don’t see it that way. I think I can make a difference; it’s about what you can offer. If your people see you as a leader then you must take up the responsibilities of leadership. It is sad that when some people become public office holder, the next thing you see is a big car, new wife, big houses; access to him becomes difficult, while infrastructure suffers. Today in Niger the people are deprived. When Niger was created in 1976, our parents had dreams…they wanted development. Dreams of our father have not been realized. We need to make change. Today Niger needs credible leadership, I am not saying I am the most credible, but a lot of our people believe I can deliver. Our educational facilities are in bad shape, schools have no roof, and water situation is bad. In 1976 in Minna, water was ferried in trucks and distributed in drums, but today we are back to that situation. Our hospitals are consulting clinics, the rich go to India, Egypt etc..our roads are very bad. Youth unemployment is rife. Easily available to be used as thugs. Something has to be done. Poverty level is very high. Want to change the situation of infrastructure. We have the potentials but the leadership lacks vision.

Q: Why did you leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)?

A:When we got to office, we saw things differently, and wanted things done differently…led by Na’Abba who was the Speaker, , we had a document that we wanted to implement through the legislature to actualize what we thought would have made Nigeria a better nation. We found out we had challenges, stubborn President, not given the chance spent time fighting the executive branch. We could have done a lot. We had a party leadership that wasn’t ready for change. It muzzled some of us. A lot were stopped at primaries, used opposition to defeat us at the general elections ..less than 25 per cent of our members came back in 2003. It is in that realization that we said look, this party that is supposed to act like a father, as a body, with manifestoes that should be implemented by all arms were not ready for change. They don’t respect rules they do when they want to. So we thought there was need to have pressure group to challenge unconstitutionalities in government. There were some actions like trying to impeach the President because of his breaches, we didn’t succeed but Nigerians understands why we took such action, and regretted we couldn’t. PDP keep changing chairmen to sooth president in power, kept changing constitution to sooth who is in charge. Those who oppose such became helpless, and followed the President. Some of us fought. Those who backed the president then are now victims, in 2007 we formed G27 led by Ken Nnamani and Masari. We wanted members to questions amendment of the party’s constitution done by obasanjo that gave him some powers, BOT, is supposed to be advisory. Powers given to him were too enormous we agitated for review of constitution. We succeeded because the Ekwueme committee was formed, he gave a report and made substantial in the Ekwueme report which led to the dissolution of the Ahmadu Alli led NWC. We thought the coming of Ogbulafor will bring change. He started well but before we knew it the Governors had hijacked him. Teleguided him, led to his downfall,. After that we formed the reform group. Larger group Included Governors, . the Governors are like gods in the PDP which is a big problem. If you reform PDP you reform Nigeria. For justice, rule of law we wanted changes, but the serving governors didn’t want the reform because they will lose powers. The Governors scuttled our presentation. We presented it through the Caucus, BOT , but at the NEC the Governors stopped it because they are in charge. But we are happy we were appreciated. The incumbents are not thinking about after they leave, some former governors have been isolated in their states. Because I decided to run for Governorship, I have been isolated at various levels.

How would you beat Gov. Babangida Aliyu of the PDP, backed by General Ibrahim Babangida who is very influential in Niger State politics?

The population of the people in PDP in the state is less than 1 per cent of Nigerlites. We are going to tell the public to choose between me of the ACN or Governor Babangida Aliyu. We are on the ground in Niger, and this time around it is not going to be about personalities but what the masses want.

Q: How do you see the proposed coalition between the(ACN and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)?

A:Right now, the ACN has better structure, have more states, we believe that if with the CPC popularity in the north, an AC’s spread in the south west, if they agree to form an alliance, they will give PDP a very good fight. I want the alliance, we will have a choice…if ANPP joins the alliance, victory is possible.

Q: What’s your take the way the far north treats the north central when it comes to decisions on who represents the north. It’s like the north central is often used by the North east and west to achieve political gains?

A: The north central is part of the north but has bulk of minority in the north… they have sympathy for minority issues in the south, depending on the issue. Support swings north, south. The zone plays important role, the zone can’t be ignored. I see the zone as a zone that balances Nigeria, the role that creates political balance for Nigeria,, it should be given special attention, no zone can ignore the north central. In the politics of Nigeria, we are central to politics and create a balance.

Q: When you left the PDP how did your cousin, General Ibrahim Babangida feel, considering the fact you are one of his boys. Did he approve your exit.?

A: At the time I left, he was also unhappy about way things are being done in the PDP. I recall he wrote the PDP about the way they were doing things, court orders, PDP constitution,. He was considering also leaving the PDP and that was when most of his boys like us started leaving the PDP because we realized the system would not allow us realize our ambitions. We had no alternative than to leave, he respected our positions because we are experienced, he gave us free hand to move anywhere,. Don’t forget he has his men in the Labor Party, CPC, ANPP, AC etc, they are all over. He supported us.

Q: What will your first few months if office look like?

A: I have already identified the problem areas. I know the major areas. Education, Roads, access roads, youth unemployment, and portable water. I will review what is happening in the ministries, look at what the situations is. Check if the bureaucracy will assist in achieving my goals. If not, I will reposition key ministries to address the issues identified.

Q: What are your plans for revenue generation, considering the lean purse of the state?

A: We are aware that the state has no money; they currently rely on federal allocation. But In terms of potentials however, I want to say Niger is not poor. Let’s take for example Suleija it is near the FCT, it could be an alternative to so many in the federal capital territory. We can make land cheaper around Suleja to attract industries, put in place an enabling environment . I Will encourage Industrial activities…it is close to Abuja. They will come and invest. Niger has solid minerals; I will encourage investors to come and partner in mining activities. Niger will be central point for mining activities in Nigeria …, we have a lot of hydroelectric power potentials. Go into partnership, with investors in power sector. The FG is giving it a priority. Revenue will be generated. We have a lot of tourism potentials in Niger.

Q: Talking specifics, how do you intend to fix youth unemployment in Niger State?

A: We are discussing with National Directorate of Employment ( NDE) , studying their documents to see which will sooth Niger State. We have discussed with a consultant in Niger state and studying a 2004 documents which outlined blue print to tackle the issue of youth unemployment. It talked about setting up farm centers, where a lot of skills could be acquired in fisheries, agriculture, animal husbandry, poultry, crops production etc. I realized we have farm centers in Kuta, Mokwa and Kotangora area. Will bring them back, keep them busy, thye will acquire skills and be absorbed into agencies or given loans to start small businesses. Vocational training will be provided as well. During my 8 years at the National Assembly, I sponsored 230 students to the Sani Abacha Institute in kano, to acquire vocational skills...a lot of them are self-employed today.

Q: How do you intend to plug waste in the public service?

Q: Some ministries need to be harmonized. Some are unnecessary. Redundant workers are a big burden to revenue base. We will make those considered redundant more productive by moving to them other areas they are required. It will save a lot of money. With the monetization system, most people don’t need drivers. We will make the redundant drivers more productive in other areas. We want to focus on capital projects, and not recurrent. But we will not sack or retrench instead we make them acquire productive skills in various centers to be created by my administration.

Q: What is your take on zoning?

A: It is a welcomed development. We need to balance things considering the complex nature of Nigeria. Those who are opposing it are doing so for their selfish interests. They are doing so because it favors them to do so. If zoning is in your constitution, why not respect it. You can’t talk about rule of law and disobey your constitution. I am disappointed the PDP refused to respect its constitution. If you don’t like the idea, then you amend your constitution, not disregard it.