My father served as Adamawa lawmaker, it is my turn to finish

By Okwe Obi, Abuja

Ahmed Sani is a strong contender for the Gombi Constituency in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State. In this interview, he spoke about his plans to offer quality representation if elected come 2027.

Why do you want to run for the seat in Adamawa State House of Assembly to represent Gombi Constituency, come 2027?

Well, the good people of Gombi Constituency in Adamawa State deserve adequate representation, someone that knows the real problems of his people. To begin with, I studied law and being a legislator is always what I wanted to be because I know how to draft bills and more.

So, why do you think that the people of Gombi Constituency should entrust you with that office?

Honestly, I don’t think there is any other candidate more suited than me for now, because I have studied and have been practically everywhere in the world in pursuit of knowledge and business. I am an established businessman in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, and they know that I am not going there for my personal interests or benefits but rather to see that our local government and constituency is propelled for achievements and development. We have a lot of people that are educated but don’t have jobs, women are there with no empowerment skills, there is no proper healthcare, no good roads and all these things can be achieved or done with adequate legislative bills and also conveyance of our problems to the government. I think I can push for these programmes with whomever is in government for the benefit of my people and the state, even at the federal level I am capable of speaking for my people at large.

Why do you think the people of Gombi Constituency will consider your track record, given the realities of Nigerian politics?

Well, to be frank with you, I think I have a stellar record of community development and empowerment of youths and women. I think I have brought about fifteen youths from Gombi to Abuja and given them jobs, and this is done without being in government. I have used my own company in Abuja to assist and create jobs and also helped my constituency. Apart from that, I have helped people in my constituency in small and medium scale business. I have also tried to help students in their educational pursuit and participated in feeding programmes within my area. I have distributed fertilisers to farmers and empowered farmers with other farming tools to enhance their livelihood. So my records with my people should speak for me and they know that I am not going there for my own interest. Moreover, my father was once a legislator in the Second Republic and his own records speak as well, and so I think it is fair for them to give me that mantle for adequate legislative representation in 2027 for the good people of Gombi Constituency, because I want a system where I will be held accountable for every action I take. I want to be transparent and accountable for my actions.

Historically, Adamawa State is not a Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) state. Why do you think the people will give them a chance in 2027?

I think in 2027, it is going to be a different ball game because the people of Nigeria, not just Adamawa State, have seen that it is not about party politics anymore. Now it is about individual character because the majority of our past political activities has been about party politics but now I tell you it is about whom you are. Our Nigerian politics and parties are not ideologically based but rather a fellowship of individuals. The All Progressives Congress (APC) you see today is the fellowship of the late Muhammadu Buhari, and the current people you see in NDC today, which is myself, Abdullahi Ahmed Speaker, Hajiya Binani, Hajiya Larai and our party leader, Seriake Dickson. Our records speak for themselves. We are here to render service to the people of Nigeria.

Are you not afraid of the number and calibre of aspirants in ADC, Labour Party, PDP and APC in the House of Assembly race in Gombi Constituency?

No, it is not something to be afraid of. I think that with adequate awareness from the media and others, we can do something that has never been done before in Adamawa State or Gombi entirely. For the first time in party politics we are seeing a very large number of contestants, which I think should prompt us to sit down at a round table to have a parley on how to assess the capabilities of a person, and the general public will then know where to cast their votes. This should not be about religion, selfish interests or tribe but rather for the benefit of the people, to know who will bear the burden of their pains and be there through the good and bad of Gombi Constituency to represent them well. It is not about your party because your party can be subverted. Today I can be in NDC and tomorrow I might find myself elsewhere, but in politics your word and credibility matter a lot to your own people. The fellowship of your people depends on what you give them and who you are, and if you have compassion it sidelines everything else.

What have you identified as the three major problems in your constituency, and how do you intend to fix them if elected as a member of the Adamawa State House of Assembly?

I will focus my priority on empowerment of youths and women because a lot of the youths and women are left behind. I will facilitate avenues for them to obtain loans to be able to farm, and for market women also, because if you feed a woman you are not feeding a family but an entire generation, whereas when you feed a man it is just his family. So I will focus on youths and women with empowerment skills and business support. Secondly, I will encourage girl child education and massive enrolment of children into primary and secondary education, as well as source scholarships for deserving students at all levels, and also rehabilitate school buildings and provide textbooks. When you develop students from primary and secondary schools they will want to learn more, and that is what pushes society forward. Then, the development of infrastructure such as roads and hospitals and a primary healthcare system should also take a prominent role, because no society moves forward with poor road infrastructure. Our people need good roads to move and transport their farm produce and goods. I once witnessed a woman give birth at home on the floor because of a poor road network and lack of a good healthcare system.

You have touched lives as an ordinary Nigerian. How do you intend to continue if you are elected a legislator come 2027?

I will continue by looking for opportunities to generate jobs both at federal and state levels to enhance development, and also create skill acquisition centres for youths. I think we can create a system whereby monthly we can facilitate jobs for at least ten people in our constituency.

How will you address the issue of healthcare and take it to the doorstep of your people, especially regarding maternal mortality?

It is important but if you put your mind to it, it is practically straightforward, because there are a lot of doctors, midwives and nurses around that you can deploy to the rural areas with adequate care, where you will see that healthcare facilities are established through constituency projects. You also partner with NGOs, and these are things I will do if elected.

What is your relationship with other aspirants in the race?

I have a very good relationship with them regardless of their political party, because the interest of our people comes before individual interest.

How would you assist in the fight against insecurity if elected in 2027?

Thank you very much for this question because insecurity has become a big problem that requires a collective effort from every Nigerian to fight it seriously. Therefore, I will assist by providing the necessary equipment that will help the security agencies and vigilantes to carry out their work effectively.

What is your message to Adamawa people as 2027 approaches fast?

I call on my people in Adamawa State to get their voters’ cards ready to vote and defend their votes. I will also ask them to be peaceful in their conduct. I will also call on Nigerians to vote NDC from the presidency, Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly in all the states of the federation.