|
McKren (m)
|
Why I didn’t join the Army like Tafida –Yar’Adua
By Olayinka Oyebode
Published: Saturday, 3 Mar 2007
When did you get into active politics?
Skip to next paragraph
File
Yar’Adua
I had my first practical taste of national politics in the Second Republic and my sympathy then was with the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). Prior to that time, I was more interested in activism. I once wrote a poem entitled “What ‘A’ Level did for me,” because it was after my ‘A’ Level that I started achieving a balance in my views about life.
Like what?
Although I am a devout Moslem, I recognised that Jesus did a lot for mankind, especially as represented in the things He preached. I realised that there are good and bad people in all creed, race and colour– whether black or white. Before then, I used to think that all white people were symbols of oppression. So, my first challenge was in school – to excel; and the second was on the world stage – to fight against oppression and bad governance. I was a student activist and was also active in the struggle for a progressive Nigeria. Indeed as a sophomore in the university, I was so disgusted with the apartheid regime in South Africa that I wanted to go there and fight against it. Unfortunately then, I didn’t know how to get to South Africa; but in my soul, I was greatly committed to the cause of the freedom fighters just from reading a lot of literature on the liberation struggles.
What other insight came with such a world view?
Yes, I realised that change isn’t easy. It calls for patience, perseverance and hard work. I also realised that what you can achieve is always conditioned by your circumstances and environment, no matter how good you or your intentions are, or how hard you work. Any good leader must be aware of those circumstances. Otherwise, if you push beyond the point your circumstances allow, you will crash because there are evil as well as good forces at play all the time. Recognising this and handling things right is all part of maturing.
What type of relationship existed between you and your late brother, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua?
He was the first child of my mother. After him came three daughters before I was born.
What were the differences in your political beliefs?
Not much. When I joined the PRP in the Second Republic, he was the Chief of Staff to General Olusegun Obasanjo. As such, he was not a politician, even though I knew he had sympathy for the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). I was lecturing in Zaria (Ahmadu Bello University) and was a card-carrying member of PRP. But I used to sit and discuss politics with him and we would both debate why one party was better than the other. We never quarreled over political issues. Our late father, Musa Yar’Adua, was one of those in the vanguard of the formation of NPN in the then Kaduna Central; and he was the national vice-chairman of the NPN. My father was aware that while he was helping NPN, I was busy helping PRP. But that never led to any friction in our family.
At what point did the two of you agree on the same political philosophy?
I would say in 1987. When my brother started his own party politics in 1987, he invited me and together we started the Peoples Front (PF). Its political philosophy was closer to that of PRP than NPN. We made PF the progressive party in the North. When the (Ibrahim Babangida) government formed its two political parties(Social Democratic Party and National Republican Convention), my late brother took PF to join SDP, co-opting also PSP from the South West. This was the period when I became most active in politics, and we both played our politics the same way in the same party. From that time on, I never played politics different from my late brother.
It would appear that your first outing was disastrous.
I became the SDP governorship candidate for Kaduna State. I lost the election to NRC. Just two weeks to the election, my brother was arrested and you know what happened, especially until his untimely death. With my late brother and Baba (President Olusegun Obasanjo) in prison, I did not participate at all in (General Sani) Abacha’s transition.
Speculations about your state of health are making people doubt your ability.
Such speculations in the media simply amuse me. It started in 2000 when I was a bit indisposed, went to the hospital, was treated and that was it. I mean, every normal human being falls sick, gets well and moves on.
Did you suffer any near-death experience along the line?
I have never suffered any near-death experience. In fact, the only time I ever fainted was while I was in the Government College, Keffi. I was in Form 1 and I had very high fever. I had been bedridden for a couple of days and on the third day, when I tried to go to class like everyone else, somehow I collapsed. The college principal was called in and I just found myself waking up in hospital. That has happened only once in my life.
You once boasted of your prowess in squash. How deeply involved are you in the game?
Well, now that we are campaigning from state to state, there isn’t any time to play. But back in my state, Katsina, I play squash every evening to wind down and keep fit from about 8pm till midnight. Sometimes. I also play table tennis, lawn tennis, squash and fives, which is quite popular up North. You play lawn tennis by swinging and squash from the shoulder. So you see; I exercise my body all-round.
As a scion of the popular Yar’Adua family, why did you study Chemistry and not Political Science? And why didn’t you join the military?
I believe that has been my destiny. In Form IV, I joined the school cadets and together with two of my closest friends, we agreed that we would make the Army our career. In Form V, I was introduced to Organic Chemistry and for me it was so exciting to study the bonding of atoms and other natural laws. My interest became so intense that I decided that the Army was out and I preferred a career in Chemistry. I really thirsted for greater knowledge about nature and the forces around us. When I finished HSC, close family friends and elders wanted me to study Medicine because I was more than qualified to do that. The only argument I had with my late brother was not about politics but academics. He thought I would do better in Medicine, but I said no, I wanted my degrees in Chemistry and that I wanted to teach.
With the benefit of hindsight, do you have any regrets about your choice?
This is one choice I have never regretted in my life; the thirst to study how nature works. It has broadened my horizon and guided my world outlook. Studies in Chemistry and Physics made my views and actions so profound. Here we are on earth, only one of nine planets in the universe (though new studies are pointing at the existence of 11 planets in all). While our earth goes around the sun in one year, the moon goes round the earth in a month. The same sun has a galaxy it goes around once in 200 million years. The galaxy we belong to has over 100 billion stars – called the Milky Way – and each one has its own array of planets. Meanwhile, there are over 200 billion galaxies in the universe. So when you look at this universe, where do you place yourself? I think we all should be humbled as human beings in the face of this staggering reality. Nobody should think himself so important that he becomes arrogant when he compares himself to the rest of creation. Some stars that shine at night have been like that for more than 15 billion years and their light continues to shine towards us. The more knowledgeable you are about the nature of the universe and that of man, the more humble you become when you understand your place in the universe. So, I am a totally humble man and consider myself greatly privileged to be where I am today.
What would you consider your most significant achievement as governor of Katsina State?
My greatest achievement as a governor was being able to restore confidence, integrity and trust between government and the people. I have demonstrated in Katsina that things can work. Now everything is working fairly well. If you are working for the state, you will get your salary at the right time. If you retire, you will get your gratuity, pension and all your entitlements. If you give notice of retirement today, a week before your final departure, you will receive a cheque for all your entitlements without lobbying or begging anybody. And the following month, you will start receiving your pension. So in Katsina, everything that a man is entitled to, we make sure he gets it on time. Contractors, suppliers and all those who go into covenant with the Katsina State Government will testify that the state would always fulfill its own part of the agreement, precisely and exactly.
What distinction are you making between politics and morality?
Katsina State Government right now commands good moral authority and that is the only way you can govern effectively. Of course, there is the political authority with which you can govern once you receive a mandate through an election you have won. But that is more often exercised through coercion and official muscle. Whereas moral authority must be earned by a leader because it calls for a willingness by the people to submit themselves to your leadership without coercion. I believe nobody can effectively govern, no matter the amount of political authority he has, unless he cultivates moral authority.
How do you intend to tackle problems of collapsed infrastructure like bad roads, lack of adequate electricity, etc?
The reforms that are already taking place are geared towards permanent solutions to these problems and many more. You see, these problems take time to solve. The President Obasanjo-led government has already activated a project which we hope by the end of this year, when the gas project comes on stream, would cause to be generated additional 3000 megawatts of electricity. You see when this PDP-led government came into power in 1999, Nigeria was only generating 1500 megawatts with all the power generating machinery in the country virtually collapsed without proper maintenance. Honestly, it is a great feat that this administration has successfully salvaged the sector from collapsing. Not only that, it has increased power generation to about 3500 megawatts and, according to laid down plans, our country will soon be enjoying additional 5000 megawatts in no distant future.
But it will appear that nothing is working and the country is believed to be retrogressing?
You see, the problem is that people think that problems can be solved magically. Power isn’t generated by magic or just by saying “Let there be power!” These things take time. Now, the Federal Government has signed a contract with the Chinese to generate 2000 megawatts of hydro-electric power from the Mambila Plateau worth $1.5 billion, which will take approximately four years to complete. So, it can only come on stream to ease our power problems in 2011. These things take time and without constant power, it is very difficult to build a modern economy. We must be honest with ourselves because such contracts that would improve the well being of all Nigerians are being signed in virtually all the key sectors of the economy and it will take only a government that will earnestly ensure the continuation of these projects for all of us to enjoy the dividends of enduring leadership. These achievements are phenomenal. It is just that too many people with loud voices like to condemn in order to undermine the achievements of the government. But with patience, we will all get there.
Haven’t the people have been too patient already?
PDP has a road map of reforms that provides lasting solutions to our country’s fundamental problems. That is how nations are developed. Planning is long term. For instance, the last significant investment in our railway system was in the early 60s when the rail network was extended around major parts of the country. That was well over 40 years ago. It is only this administration that has drawn a strategic plan to modernise and upgrade our railway to the standard gauge for the entire national network. This will be done in phases and it will take 25 years to complete. This is what we didn’t do as a nation, but while this government is now doing. A standard rail system will not happen overnight like magic. That is not possible, but in 25 years, yes, we can do it. If in 1982, government had done this 25-year plan, by now we would have been enjoying an efficient mass transit system all over Nigeria. To correct the mistakes of our past and then put this nation on the path of true progress, it will take time and hard work. I will be honest with you, these major steps that this government has taken have never been taken in the history of this country. Yet, these long term reforms - which are in the PDP manifesto - are the things that will build up this dear country and establish us on the path of true progress. Nigerians would not need to wait for too long. Within the next three to four years, these reforms will begin to yield great results.
Prior to being named the presidential candidate of your party you were quoted as saying you would like to go back to the classroom.
Well, that’s me. Going back to the academia would give me something to do that really satisfies me and there is nothing wrong with that. You see, once you are providing service the right way, it gives you satisfaction. Teaching gives me great pleasure. True governance is about serving others, not yourself; and that I also derive in teaching.
What is your take on women empowerment and representation in government?
The effort to encourage women in governance has been on in the last six to seven years. The PDP manifesto already provides for 30 per cent participation of women in elective positions, in governance and political appointments, and we will follow that to the letter.
Why have you settled for only one wife when Islam allows you to marry up to four?
At one time, I was married to two wives, but I later divorced the second one. Now, I am married only to the first woman I married when I finished from the university. You see, Islam allows a man to marry up to four wives, provided that you can be equitable to all the wives. If you fear that you cannot be equitable, then one is better for you.
With two academics like you and your running mate, Governor Goodluck Jonathan, in the presidency, what magic wands would you be waving over the ailing educational sector?
I have been involved in the educational reforms in Katsina State in the past seven and half years, I have been at it. So I know what is needed to revamp education across our great country. In most schools in Katsina, there had been no major investment in education in the last 30 years or so until we came in. Existing facilities are completely dilapidated yet the number children that need education has really escalated. We don’t have a state university in Katsina, so my responsibility was mostly for primary and secondary schools where decaying facilities like classrooms meant for 40 students are being shared by as much as 250-350 students in some instances. No meaningful learning could go on in such an environment. Laboratories and workshops were non-existent. The living conditions I saw in some boarding houses were unfit for human beings, yet a dormitory meant for 20 students would house 120 students.
How did you approach the problem?
It took us the first four years to restore and upgrade the existing facilities, build laboratories and workshops where there were none. Gradually, we restored sanity in those schools and reduced the number of students per classroom to about 40. In some schools, we spent between N300 and N700 million for this cause of revamping education in Katsina; building new facilities where there were none, furnishing and equipping them. To complete this process and properly reposition education in Katsina, it would take the best part of another four years if this PDP style of governance is sustained. There are six core subject areas - Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English, Mathematics and Geography where we needed 3000 teachers to drive our reforms. We looked everywhere, but we could only find 420 teachers. Now, it means we need to set up a university to produce the kind of teachers we need in Katsina. The university just took off from its temporary site in January 2007 and we will complete its permanent site before the year ends, yet it will take at least five years for the first set of graduate teachers to emerge from the university. So you see, the education reforms which we started in Katsina in 1999 will take another 10 years to fully redress and establish the state on a sure path of educational progress.
So what would you like to ask of Nigerians?
I would like to ask of them patience, perseverance and hard work.
|
![Nairaland [Nigerian Forum] Home](http://www.nairaland.com/Themes/default/images/english/home.gif)
Author
obj and yaradua.jpg (95.76 KB, 741x522 )
