Halliru Sa’ad Malami (Jarman Bakori) is the chairman of the proposed Kaduna State Security Trust Fund. Until recently, he was Special Adviser on Special Duties at the Office of the Deputy Senate President. In this interview with IBRAHIM RAMALAN, he believes the Senator Isa Misau and IGP wrangling is targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari
What are your views on the IGP and National Assembly crisis?
Recently, the senate has engaged in unnecessary brickbat with the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris Kpotum. The problem I think was engineered by a Senator from Bauchi State, which led to the closure of a police station in the National Assembly complex. The station had there since 1999. I spoke to most senators and Assembly members, who expressed their dismay over the issue. The only way forward is for both parties to create dialogue so as to curb the menace of insecurity challenges, and not just to engage each other in ingenuous issues. Senator Isa Misau from Bauchi State, who allegedly accused the IG, should have done that in a more decent manner and way, instead of tarnishing the IGP’s image publicly.
Of course, his first allegation is a good one for Nigerians because if the IG is guilty of misappropriating N10bn security vote, he should be forced to defend himself. But the Senator shot himself on the foot when he went out of context to dwell on the personality of the police boss. Nigerians may not be interested in the IG’s private affairs with women or associates. These are issues that are not meant for the floor of the National Assembly.
I can tell you vividly that such disputes are capable of tarnishing the image of the National Assembly. I think the leadership of NASS should go back to the drawing table to find ways of redeeming the glory of the exalted floor. One can agree with me that because of the flaws of some members of the Assembly, the congress is losing its divine mandate by the day. That is why we are witnessing scenarios where key government functionaries would be invited to the gathering, but would turn it down.
The issue of Hameed Ali, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) is a typical example. He was invited to appear before the Assembly to sort out the issue of import duty on cars, which is very important. Instead of hitting the nail on the head, the Assembly members frustrated the real matter; they engaged him on frivolous questions. At the end, they asked him to go back and wear his uniform even before he could answer their questions. What happened there after? The Customs boss left and informed them that he won’t appear before the chamber anymore. It was the same with the EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu.
What do you think could the reason for this?
It is clear that they are fighting President Muhammadu Buhari. Let me tell you an instance, I went personally to meet the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and pleaded with him to intervene in the Senate and IG saga. I craved his indulgence to meet with the Senate President to call both parties to settle the matter amicably without descending to character assassination. I also met with the IG Kpotum and discussed same with him.
The interesting part of the story is that the IG obliged and we sat with the Deputy Senate President, the IG and some other personnel. We discussed harmoniously at length and I reminded the DSP that his position is a gift from God, because he was chosen to represent his community.
Ekweremadu is the only Deputy Senate President that has served as DSP for three consecutive senates. We had same talks with the IG where I reminded him about his primary obligations and how the Almighty had equally chosen him and made him the boss of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) today in Nigeria. The IG agreed to all terms for mutual reconciliation and understanding. The Deputy Senate President at the end promised to meet with the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, to resolve the matter harmoniously.
Ekweremadu told me afterwards that he met his boss and had some talks about the matter; he also advised that the senate president should summon both parties for a reconciliation meeting. Few days later, I got a call from the IG that I should check certain national dailies for the outcome of the reconciliation. I was shocked to read some fresh allegations labelled against Ibrahim Kpotum by Senator Misau, who claimed that the IG was using his powers to give the wife of the president some unsolicited privileges, and so many other issues.
This is the point where I want people to note that when you want to fight the president, you should do it directly, you don’t need to victimise his wife or family members. I would also use this medium to call on my fellow youth and Nigerians as a whole that next time when we are going to the polls, we should make sure to weed out all objectionable elements, we should scout for good representatives of people.
We should also note that it is not only the presidential or gubernatorial races that are important; the National Assembly is one of the strongest arms of government in a democratic rule, so we should choose carefully those to represent us at the NASS.
Some may think you are rather too to patronising the president…
No. Not at all. I am not seeking for any position in this government, but as a youth and a successful businessman, I feel this is an obligation to tell ourselves the truth. To an extent I have lived all my life with the elites on the corridors of power. I have seen it all.
As a youth, I want to call on people to know that the era political thuggery is over, our mandate is our vision. We should, therefore, take note of previous mistakes and use our votes carefully come 2019.
You are into politics?
I am not a politician, and no one can influence me into politics. But it is important that I emphasise here that money politics is obsolete. Whoever that wants to contest, henceforth, should come and tell people what he has done for his community. Antecedents should matter a great deal this time around. As youth, we should not surrender our mandate for some transient favours. We should look at those that have capacity to deliver, not those that can part with money to get what they want and later abandon us.
