Alhaji Rabi’u idris is the present Special Assistant to Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema of Katsina state on Protocol. He was a veteran journalist who worked with Voice of Nigeria (VON) and a publisher of local Hausa newspaper Rayuwa. In this interview with HAMIDU SABO, he pointed out the contributions of his mentor – the Katsina state Governor – on the progress of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state in general. He also called on Chief Tony Anenih the Chairman Board of Trustees of PDP to respect Shema and peoples of Katsina by distancing himself from Katsina’s internal politics, while also advising him to earn his respect and deliver Edo State to PDP first and foremost.
We’re approaching 2015 elections, how do you look at the nature of politicking in Katsina state?
The politics of Katsina is very clear, because we are very much united; most especially the members and supporters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). We always do things together, including politics; that is why we have always remained loyal to our mentor the dynamic Governor of Katsina state – Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema. So far, we are waiting for the direction to take, direction in the sense that we are approaching elections and we have only one choice. By this I mean the choice of our governor will be our unanimous choice. Therefore as soon as the governor decides on a particular candidate, that would be our choice. And all I want to tell you as far as 2015 is concerned in Katsina, it’s no shaking. One good thing to know is the contribution of our leader, since Shema has done well to the extent that, he has touched every soul in the state. As we speak, there is no home in Katsina that does not enjoy the dividends of democracy provided by the present administration. In fact, under this administration, we have witnessed free education, free medication for children and pregnant women. We have seen modern road networks and we are witnessing peaceful co-existence. I can tell you that Katsina is one of the lucky states in Nigeria in terms of leadership.
From your disposition you are comfortable with the achievements of Shema within the last 7 years and you believe he is infallible…
(Cuts in) Of course I’m 100 per cent comfortable with his achievements. This is because today, in the whole of Nigeria, Shema is the only governor that completed all the project he inherited; the only governor that constructed a new ultra-modern Government House without touching the government coffers; because he only used the interest generated from the state funds to construct the new Government House. And you see, all the projects executed were of high standards. By standard I mean that no single white elephant project can be found in the state. Let me just say that both PDP itself and the people in the state were proud of the governor for his hard work on projects that touch directly on the lives of the people.
Some people were calling on President Jonathan to pick Shema as his running mate in 2015, what is your take on this?
This is good idea because the President will find Shema as a loyal, modest, committed and accountable second-in-command. This because those who know him well would readily admit that is always ready to give his sincere contribution to the development and progress of our country. It is evident that Shema deserves to be compensated by Peoples Democratic Party or by the Presidency. Let me say this, in terms of project execution, when you look at the permanent PDP secretariat constructed through his contribution, you will discover that no state in Nigeria did it. Don’t forget that Shema was the former Deputy Chairman of the party and he assisted in solving PDP crisis in the south–west. He played key role in the election of President Jonathan in 2011. Till today he has the highest number of party delegates, where even Mr. President is taking note of that contribution.This places Shema at a vantage position, such that no single problem of PDP can ever be difficult for Shema to solve. I heard some people saying that PDP cannot do without Governor Shema and when I looked at it, I am convinced really, PDP cannot do without him.
Despite his contributions stakeholders of the party are not favourably disposed to having him as Vice President…
(Cuts in)It is quite surprising that some people are even thinking like that. Even recently, while I was in Saudi Arabia, when Chief Tony Anenih the Chairman Board of Trustees of the party came to Katsina I heard the way he addressed Shema. It was unfortunate. I wish I was there, wallahi the story would have been a different one; because we cannot fold our arms and allow Chief Anenih to disgrace our mentor in his own state. The manner Chief Anenih commented on party issues in the presence of our governor, namely that he should forget his ambition to become the next Vice President was quite unfortunate. Chief Anenih had even the guts to tell Shema to go and contest for Senatorial seat and also apologize to PDP; that the issue of Vice President is a closed case. The person whose interest Anenih was promoting, did not contribute half of what governor Shema did to the party. Don’t forget that Shema chaired so many committees in resolving internal crisis of the party ranging from south-west to North – east. Infact even Mr Anenih, with due respect to being the BOT Chairman, did not do what Shema has done to PDP. You see, before now I have respect for Mr. Anenih simply because of his age but now I have reservations on that, since he did not respect my boss. I know he cannot even deliver his ward in Edo state. There is no doubt and we are all living witnesses to the fact that Chief Anenih did not could not secure his ward to PDP, let alone Edo state. On the other hand, governor Shema brought his ward, along with his local government and above all Katsina state to PDP and equally worked for the primary election to be won by President Jonathan in 2011. I believe the PDP and Nigerian are aware of these efforts, but I challenge Chief Anenih to show to Nigerians where he contributed in electoral terms, to the PDP.
Did Shema really want to be Vice President?
Despite his contributions to the party, nobody in this country, including Chief Anenih can say he heard governor Shema agitating for Vice President’s position. The governor didn’t tell anybody that he is going for Vice Presidency. So, we don’t even know where Chief Anenih got his information from; even though we are in a democracy, everybody has a freedom of expression. In any case, it is not a sin if people gather to pray for someone’s upward mobility from one position to another. May be the PDP elder heard some people praying for Shema to be compensated with the position of Vice President because of his immense contributions to the party, an idea that I support and nobody can stop them from praying for Shema.
How do you see 2015 elections without Shema?
I don’t think PDP can do without Shema, because he is one kind of a leader the party needs to boost its electoral fortunes. He has never ever contemplated abandoning the party like most Nigerian politicians are wont to do. In a nutshell, without Shema in PDP there will be set back. By setback I mean that Katsina has the highest delegates in the whole country and losing these delegates for a party is a serious problem and we are not praying for that. You see, we only want to see PDP and only PDP everywhere.
Therefore, I am calling on the elders of the party at all levels to be just and fair to governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema when it comes to the issue of compensating those who did well to the party. Look at the strength of unity in the party within Katsina state. How does that compare to other states in the country today? There is no political gain where there is no unity of goals and objectives and there is no reason why anyone who did well for a political party should not be compensated.