Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman
Former minister of transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, is aspiring for the PDP governorship ticket in Sokoto State. He explains in this interview issues surrounding his aspiration. Excerpts:
What has been the outcome of the visit of Chief Tony Aneni to PDP in Sokoto State?
Let me clear the misconception that has gone viral in Sokoto since the visit of the PDP family in state. Chief Anenih is one of the most respected politicians in Nigeria today. We all respect him, even across party lines. I am sure he enjoys equal respect among the opposition as he does in PDP because he is a true nationalist. He came to Sokoto to visit the PDP family, fraternise with them, and talk to us on how to ensure victory of the PDP in the 2015 elections. That was what he came to do. He did not come to foist a consensus candidate on the gubernatorial aspirants. His visit was basically to consolidate on the existing relationship and unity within the party, and assure us of national support. He wants us to go out and look for the people that will ensure our party becomes elected so that we’ll recover the mandate given to PDP in 2012 that has now been surreptitiously taken to APC. Because it was the PDP the populace voted for in 2012, we want to make sure the mandate goes back to the PDP. And we can only achieve that with purpose by going out to show ourselves as a strong united family.
Let me clear the misconception that has gone viral in Sokoto since the visit of the PDP family in state. Chief Anenih is one of the most respected politicians in Nigeria today. We all respect him, even across party lines. I am sure he enjoys equal respect among the opposition as he does in PDP because he is a true nationalist. He came to Sokoto to visit the PDP family, fraternise with them, and talk to us on how to ensure victory of the PDP in the 2015 elections. That was what he came to do. He did not come to foist a consensus candidate on the gubernatorial aspirants. His visit was basically to consolidate on the existing relationship and unity within the party, and assure us of national support. He wants us to go out and look for the people that will ensure our party becomes elected so that we’ll recover the mandate given to PDP in 2012 that has now been surreptitiously taken to APC. Because it was the PDP the populace voted for in 2012, we want to make sure the mandate goes back to the PDP. And we can only achieve that with purpose by going out to show ourselves as a strong united family.
Former governor Bafarawa, who is now in the PDP, is said not to be comfortable with your aspiration and his supporters are said to be fighting hard to undermine your political ambition. How true is this?
These are speculations. They are pedestrian talks and discussions that you cannot stop people from spreading. Former governor Attahiru Bafarawa is my brother. I am the only person of all the gubernatorial aspirants that come from the same LGA with him. So obviously, we have a direct relationship even before politics and even before PDP came to be. We are brothers and we will continue to be brothers. And it has nothing to do with my aspiration. Of course, in politics like any other interaction with people, there are interests and influences. Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, who served the state as a governor for eight consecutive years, obviously has his own followership. As at today, he is not an aspirant, I am the one seeking election not Bafarawa. I am the one that has an obligation and responsibility to go out and sell myself to the people, and that is exactly what I am doing. And I must not be derailed and distracted with pedestrian talks which one cannot stop. As at today, if you go to Sokoto and ask 80 percent of the people across all parties, they will tell you Yusuf Suleiman is the candidate to beat. All the parties know that. It is not because I am Yusuf Suleiman. It is how Almighty Allah in his infinite mercy has blessed me. These are blessings that come from God which no man can confer on anyone. And if I pick the PDP gubernatorial ticket today, nothing will stop me from winning the general elections. It is as good as a walkover, Insha Allah.
One of the aspirants is saying the governorship ticket is his because it was his ticket that the PDP national secretariat gave Wamakko in 2007, and there was an agreement that after Wamakko’s tenure, the ticket should go to him and so there is no need for gubernatorial primaries now. How would you react to this?
Well, the person making the claim is my brother. I will not like to join issues with him on this matter. And I respect his position if that is what he thinks. And I can tell you that is not what I think; and that is not what majority of people in Sokoto think. Like I said, everyone has the right to say this and that, but the bottom-line is what do we want to do? In PDP, we want to win elections. So we must sit down and do what will win elections for us. What can we do for the people of Sokoto State to accept and vote for us as a party in 2015 elections?
Some say your aspiration might clash with certain interests in the Sultanate council, considering the fact that you are from the royal family….
I will still be Yusuf Suleiman. I am a citizen of Sokoto state. My background, my politics and relationship with my people will not in any way interfere with my family whatsoever. That I am from the Sultanate royal family does not give me an outright advantage over the four PDP gubernatorial aspirants. It is my personal attributes and attitudes that can bring people close to me. But of course, if you come from a royal family, it confers an inherent advantage, but within the local traditional society. I have gone out of that enclosure; I have exposed myself to the fluid political arena where anything is possible. People can abuse you, and do anything to you. I come from the family background committed to serve the people. That was how I was brought up, that is what I do and what I will continue to do if I am elected as governor. The Sultan is always a father to all and non-partisan. He will remain as such, Insha Allah.
What if someone other than you wins the gubernatorial primaries? Would support him in the general elections?
I am a democrat. I believe in democratic ideals and principles. I am out in the race because I believe I can win. I know that in any free, genuine and democratic congress and primaries, I will emerge as PDP flag bearer in Sokoto state. If God in his infinite mercy says after a free and fair congress, a democratically elected person emerges after the primary, I will give him 100 percent of my support unconditionally. I repeat, unconditionally. In Sokoto PDP, you have to understand that we are all brothers and colleagues. We have built a relationship that is beyond political aspirations. In the same manner, I am sure if I become the flag bearer, the day I win the ticket, you will see all of them come together and strategise on how to win the 2015 general elections. And if anyone of them emerges, I will go to his house and collaborate with him. In fact, I will not wait for him to call me; I will go to him personally, so that we’ll carry the will of God to the next level. So, it is not going to be a problem to support either of us, so long as we witness a genuine democratic process in picking a candidate.
What is your advice to delegates and electorates in Sokoto State as we move towards elections?
To the people of Sokoto State, especially the delegates; they know who among us has better chances of winning the governorship in the state. If you are casting your vote, you should know that you are casting for PDP to win or lose the election. As a delegate, you should know that you are casting to help PDP win the general election or lose it. Cast your votes wisely, with the will for PDP to win.
So what is your plan for the people of Sokoto State?
Every government is geared towards making peoples’ lives better. My priority would, first of all, be on education because for me to develop the society, education will be top most on my to-do list if elected governor. We begin with the child education from the primary school level because that is where you build the foundation for your pupils in terms of what they are going to be in the society. Once you do not shape the psyche and mentality of the youth from primary school; it will become difficult to control them even at higher levels. One of the major flaws of the educational system in Nigeria today is we have a scarcity of qualified teachers in our primary and secondary schools. So, you are left with hundreds that go to school without being educated. They are without the necessary skills, training and education that are expected of them at that level. Once that basic is missing, then you expose the child to the menace of the society without being properly trained. This is the beginning.
Secondly, the teachers must be properly trained so that they can impact the pupils positively. So, there has to be a continuous training and retraining of teachers. Then when you come to the economy, every state like all nations have their comparative advantages in terms of what should be grown or should be produced in that community or society. In Sokoto state, I can say that I am privileged to have worked with state governments, I left the state as Director of Industries and I was state director of industrial development for almost ten years. And that has given me the knowledge of the various industries both agro allied, manufacturing, micro and small medium scale enterprises that needs to be established in each of the 23 local governments of the state. I have the knowledge of the comparative advantage of each LGA in terms of agricultural inputs, what we need to improve agricultural production and in terms of the natural resources available, capability and capacity of each LGA. If you pick any LGA in Sokoto, I will tell you the kind of crop that is grown in that area and the kind of mineral resources found in the area, because I developed state industrial development for almost ten years.
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