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By Gbenga Odogun
In this interview with GBENGA ODOGUN, the National Rescue Movement senatorial candidate for the Kogi West senatorial zone, Dirisu Abdulgafar, speaks on his senatorial ambition, flooding ravaging the nation, part-time legislators, restructuring and other salient issues
Briefly tell us about yourself and your mission in politics.
I hail from Kogi State, Lokoja to be precise. I am a graduate of the University of Abuja with a B.Sc in Economics. My mission in politics is to see how we can serve the people better because I think that the people have been shortchanged when it comes to service from politicians and their leaders in general. I feel that they can be better served with more dignity, which can make them feel like human beings.
Now, I want to go to the Senate to actualise my dreams of providing better services for the people. For instance, concerning the flood ravaging the state at the moment, we are at a crossroads where we believe the reason for this flood is negligence. For the Lagdo dam in Cameroon, it is known that there was an agreement to construct some dams on our side, which would have sucked up excess water being released from the Lagdo dam at this time of the year and reduced the impact of floods in the state and others. Also, the constant dredging of the River Niger, Benue and other water channels is expected because there are expected specifications of depth that would prevent flooding. But unfortunately, these agreements have not been met on our side. If we have, the level of flooding will not be this bad because we all know that water must find its way by all means.
Also, due to climate change, there is more water now as a result of the depletion of the ozone layer. I realised that my people deserve quality representation and I want to provide that to serve my people better, which is why I have decided to venture into politics.
Since when have you been nursing the ambition of representing your people, and what do you want to do differently from what others have been doing in the past?
In 2019, when I got to the age where I could venture into politics to serve my people better, that’s when I joined my party, NRM. What I realised was that we don’t listen to our grassroots people enough and as we don’t know what their problems are, we cannot offer the right solutions. You need to get closer to the people, feel their pain, and try to make life better for them.
Insecurity has been a major problem not only in Kogi State but in the country as a whole. Just last Sunday, unknown gunmen invaded a church in Felele, Lokoja, killing two people and injuring several other worshippers. What do you have to say about this?
I think insecurity has to do with most young men being unemployed, poor, and desperate. We have gotten to a stage where we people don’t have any value for life anymore, so if we can give the people more education, try to reduce the illiteracy level, and create more jobs for the citizens, I think they won’t have time to be thinking of kidnapping or attacking worship places. I can’t understand why someone in their right mind will just enter a church to kill people who have not offended them. If you have a well-paid job and you are well-educated, you will have value and you will know what the value of life is.
What’s your position on the issue of part-time legislators, as some people have argued that the present arrangement is too expensive and taxpayers are not getting value for money?
I will say that maybe we are not ripe for that yet although I too feel that the budget is a bit too bloated, especially at this time when people need money for many other things. Insecurity needs to be tackled, and the legislative arm is gulping a lot. Maybe there is wisdom in it (part-time legislators) but we still need the lawmakers to work on that and how the budget can be reduced.
What’s your party’s position on the issue of part-time legislators?
We in the NRM believe it’s over-bloated. Our party is for the downtrodden, and anything that will free up funds to provide a better life for the people is what we stand for. However, there is a sense in having two chambers but there should be a way of reducing their budget.
How will you react to the statement credited to the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar that Northerners don’t need a Yoruba or Ibo candidate but a fellow Northerner as President?
We all need one another in Nigeria. For instance, I have a relationship with other tribes in Nigeria. I have cousins everywhere, so we all need one another. INEC guidelines have clearly stated that you have to win two-thirds of the states and have 25 per cent in each state. If you don’t, you cannot be declared a winner even if you have a majority.
Your party, NRM, is relatively new. How are you going to convince the people to choose you instead of other big and established parties?
All we can do is appeal to them that the PDPs’ 16 years and the All Progressives Congress’s eight years of their lives have not been touched positively. It’s time to try an alternative, which NRM is ready to provide. We know their needs, we feel their pains; they need security, food, shelter, and better infrastructure and we are the alternative to provide that. We intend to touch their lives.
How will you react to the Muslim-Muslim ticket of APC?
We are currently deeply divided along ethnic and religious lines, which may be a result of our not being ripe for it. In fairness to all, I think every religion wants to be and should be represented. Competency should take precedence over religion. We are simply not yet ripe for a same-faith ticket.
Are you comfortable with the present arrangement when senators have been coming only from the Okun axis to represent Kogi West or are you saying that it’s time for Lokoja/Koton Karfe?
I will say it’s time for Lokoja/Koton Karfe because the last time we had a shot at the Senate was during the time of my father and leader, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, and now it’s time to come back to us in the spirit of fairness.
What’s your view on the much-talked-about issue of restructuring?
I think restructuring is very important in that it allows every region to manage its resources. This will lead to more jobs, and better security as more youths will be engaged and taken off crimes, it will allow for state police which will improve the security of lives and property of average citizens of the country. Security is local, everyone knows each other and can easily identify criminal elements and troubled spots. State police are also part of the local community and can easily attend to crime situations. Every region and state will know how to tackle their security better than a centralised government as we currently operate. I think restructuring is a very important ingredient needed for the growth of Nigeria. So, if handled as it should be, it will lead to more productivity, more people working, and more industries will come up, which will affect the economy positively.
Are you satisfied with the leadership style of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the governor of Kogi State in the last seven years?
I expected much more from him, being a young man, although he deserves some credit in the area of security. But overall, he should have done better. Don’t forget that Kogi is central to every part of the country.
What have you to say about the flood ravaging parts of the state, are you satisfied with how displaced persons were being handled?
I think government’s handling of the situation has been poor. People have been displaced, they have lost loved ones, property and livelihood yet they are being subjected to inhuman treatment in the camps where there are health facilities, no drinkable water and poor electrical supplies. I think the government at both levels can do better. Flooding shouldn’t be happening at all if appropriate steps have been taken such as the dredging of the River Niger, the creation of new water channels and stronger dams. Government should endeavour to create new districts where they can move people to in case of an emergency such as this. I expect more relief materials to be sent to the IDP camps to cushion the effects of the devastation caused by the flooding.
What’s the major focus of your campaign that you can be held accountable for in the future?
It may interest you that the current flooding has affected me personally. Our family hotel is currently submerged in water, so I am going to vigorously pursue the dredging of the River Niger. I intend to sponsor a bill to that effect. I will ensure all waterways are built, rivers are dredged, and all channels are opened to allow for the free flow of water. This will form the major focus of my campaign for which I can be held accountable in future.
