Hon. Salisu Ado Daura is a member representing Daura/Maiduwa/Sadamu Federal Constituency of Katsina state in the House of Representatives. In this interview with SAMUEL OGIDAN, the lawmaker speaks on his activities for the constituency, the security challenges and the chance of his pary, the APC in 2015 general elections
Your stay in the House
I will say so far so good. We joined the House of Representatives following the Supreme Court’s judgment in December, on January 12, 2012 to be precise. We are barely two years in office. I think one can say it has been very eventful so far. We have acclimatized with the National Assembly and have been participating actively in the activities of the House. The only snag was that some things took place while we were not there. For instance, things like the orientation of the members which we didn’t have the opportunity of participating in. There was also the issue distribution of committees. Even though when we came, we were told that we would occupy the committee positions of those who left. Besides that, I don’t think it has affected our stay or our contributions in the National Assembly so far.
Specific contributions
As you know, debates take place in the House; especially on motions, bills and on a number of other issues. Don’t forget we are 360 in number, so, of course it is not always every time one finds opportunity to talk, but when you get that opportunity, you make your position known. Then of course, there are also committee activities. Most times, we engage ministries in marathon meetings for days if not weeks. So that gives you opportunity to participate in debates.
On the issue of what we have done for our constituency, by the grace of God, I can say I am a bit lucky, because most of my projects have been executed. I hardly have any unexecuted projects. May be I have to mention some. Take the education sector for instance, I realised there are many secondary school drop-outs in my constituency, roaming the streets, they don’t have the needed qualification to proceed to higher schools and you know what that breeds in the community. You find delinquency on the increase.
Upon realizing that, I started thinking of how best to assist in that sector. So, I decided to run a programme. Over 2000 secondary school drop-outs registered their names. I then organised a four months training programme for them with conditions, that one, you have to attend the trainings for that four months, at the end of which we conducted a test for them. And those who succeeded, we gave them free WAEC, NAPTEB forms. I got about 70 teachers and I ran that programme simultaneously in the three local governments of my constituency. I paid about 70 teachers of various subjects to train them for four months. At the end of it, about 1,100 sat for the final test. I bought free WAEC forms for all of them. They sat and got good results. So, that was the first exercise I undertook.
As par capital projects, in 2012, I got about five classroom blocks, which we built and completed. We have not yet handed them over to the local governments, but we will eventually do so. In 2013, last year, there were seven or eight classrooms. In fact, just recently I went and handed over five of them built in the Islamiyya schools. And there were two others, about seven class rooms. On the whole, I have so far built about 14 classroom blocks. And there are two or three under construction now. So I am hopeful that before the end of my tenure, I will build about fifteen or so class rooms in my constituency. Besides that, I also built cottage hospital in Mai’adua local government as well as one skill acquisition centre in Daura town among others.
Motivation
There are many motivating factors. One is that in my constituency, all the three local governments, particularly the main local government, Daura have been unfortunate under this state administration as the local governments are not doing anything. I can say the problem is all over Katsina state. They are not working. They are the ones that are supposed to be developing the grassroots level, but nothing is taking place because the state government has politicised everything.
If you look at the amendment of the constitution, one of the things we passed was that local governments should be autonomous, but you know under the constitution, that amendments has to have 2/3 of state assemblies, passing the same law. Unfortunately for Nigeria, most state legislators are like side-pockets of the governors.
Poor budget implementation, who takes the blame?
I think it is the failure of the executives. The National Assembly passes budget, and when that is done, the responsibility is now on the executives to execute the budget. So honestly, it is the failure of the executives to implement the budgets.
Tackling current security challenges
I am more than worried about the situation in the north eastern part of the country. And I think everybody should be more than worried. This is a government that keeps on saying it is on top of the situation, they are doing all they can, but they are not doing anything. Honestly, they are not, as far as I am concerned, the government of the day is not capable. That is the truth.
As for the solution, since the government is not capable, the only solution is to have government that can because security challenge is very serious. In developed nations, this will not happen. Every day, people are just being killed in spite of the state of emergency in the states.
On claim that insurgents are better armed and motivated than the military
Governor Shettima is more than right in this regard, because these things are happening under his nose, under his watch. What have we achieved so far? School children have been slaughtered severally, and taken hostages. So, I think the government is not capable. When the governor said Nigeria is at war, of course that is the truth and nothing but the truth..
Reason for the relative peace in Katsina
I don’t know. Sometimes it beats my imagination. But it is amazing, when you look at the scenario. Borno state is APC, Yobe state is APC, Adamawa state is APC. Katsina is PDP may be that is why. See Nassarawa state, an APC state, there is Ombatse crisis, see Rivers State also an APC. So when you put two and two together, if you don’t get four, you’ll get something very close to four. Honestly, it is very painful. What is happening in Borno is clear indication that the government has failed.
APC’s crisis and its chances in 2015
It is very unfortunate that CPC lost Katsina state in 2011 because we believed, CPC then had captured Katsina State and even the presidency. But of course, there were events that took place in Katsina, where some disgruntled members made the party to lose in the state. But you know the adage “once beaten, twice shy.” So we won’t allow it happen again, I am sure. I am very hopeful that this time around Katsina belongs to APC by the grace of Allah.
