‘The Peoples Will would Emerge’-Senator Ahmed Markafi
*Says ‘Contenders are Politicking, Better than Violence’
* How as ex-Gov he stopped Sectarian Violence in Kaduna State
*Remembers late Gov Yakowa
Can you take us through few of the highlights of your political career?
I can tell you that highlights of my political career are during my governorship experience in Kaduna State.
Even before i was sworn in, a few weeks to when i was sworn in 1999, there was ethnic dimension from some quarters
as to who becomes the governor. The controversy assumed a religious dimension after i was sworn in as governor.
But, my administration was able to bring it under full control. It is on record that i gave good governance to
the people of Kaduna State through infrastructural development. My admnistration was able to bring internal stability,
peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic groups, employment opportunities and empowerment programmes to the
people. My administration brough all sectarian crises in Kaduna State then under control.
How did you feel on the death of Patrick Yakowa, your political godson, who was then governor of Kaduna State?
I really felt so pained because i knew Patrick Yakowa very well. He was a honest, patient man, who permanently
avoid trouble been that he was a bridge-builder, stabilizer amd humble politician. He was a very loyal party
man ready to serve his people and the nation. He was a peacemaker, never a trouble-shooter. Though we all have
our imperfections as human beings, he was a stabilizing force politically. His death brough challenges to all of us.
Firstly, the person who succeeds him as governor will have to maintain the standard kept by Yakowa as people have
high expectation from the new governor. He has to know how to strike the balance by delivering dividends of democracy
to the people in nearest, shortest time possible. He has to create in the minds of the people a sign of a leader ready
to meet the ernest demands of the people by gining them good way of living.The performance is what will determine how
leadership is being fully administered and determined how peaceful Kaduna State is going to remain.
Among Nigerians in the Diaspora, Kaduna is seeing as one of the most peaceful state in the North. How were you
able to attain this feat during your tenure? We sorted out all these issues that are sources of conflicts and we
tried to remove them. This step really helped us to contain troubles that may would have risen. We did not attend to
issues on the surface, rather we took our time to analyze various source of crisses. We ensured that sources of conflicts
in Kaduna State where dealth with from their roots, not face-sufacing thing. My governorship administration was very smooth
having seen how my government performed well, we have to further serve the people from various ethnic backgorund by giving service
to the people seen as scancrosanct. This service deliver touches various ethnic background people came from, because what truly matters
is giving transparent service to the people by impacting on their lives positively. We ensured that we balance all interest and diverse
shade of opinion as a good leader. In various fora, i have never dissapointed the people of Kaduna State, as we deliver great service
to our people. That was why some people called me ‘Pastor John’, others caled me ‘Ancient Man.’ It was because those people who called me
those names never knew who i was. This is why i drive myself around in Kaduna State whenever i am visiting because my administration
then in Kaduna touched the lives of the people.
How will you describe your journey so far in the Parliament?
Well, one among equals. This desribe some of us who were chief executives of our states before joining the Senate to further serve
the people. We came into the Parliament with all the protocols and rest. For me, i had long prepared myself to transit. As soon
as i got elected for the 2nd term as governor of Kaduna State, i left the government house and went to my private house. Then, no siren
would ever approach my neighborhood because i used to my private car to the office and leave the official vehicles behind. I detached
myself completely from anything governmental. And my children followed after my footsteps. Then, my children knew that when you hear
a siren in my neighborhood; it must surely be an ambulance and not their father’s official cars. So, by the time i came here in the
Senate, it was very easy for me to adapt to the upper house of National Assembly and this shows by my credible performance in a timely
manner whatsoever assignment or responsibilities i am being entrusted in. Even from the House of Representatives, all those
parliamentarians who have worked with me often tell me i am so humble because i don’t behave as if i was a former governor. We all
have to be humble.
As a foremost member of PDP Board of Trustees, what is your opinion on the on-going raging controversy in the emergence of Chairman,
BOT?
We have a national chairman already. But, i would say the on-going ‘power tussle’ in PDP that would eventually lead to the emergence
of the Chairman, BOT, is called ‘politicking in poltics’, far better than violence. It a common mechanism being used by politicians
to test their acceptability by people and out-do one another in the area of political experience. It is politics, whether inter or
intra party because you are always having people to out-do another. It is a welcome development in any democracy since at the
end of the day the ‘will of the people would emerge.’ When you see all these machinations, they are all political instruments
being used by politicians to test their political acumen. So, we should not crriticize the process, but analyze the permutations
since at the end of the day, it would go in one way or the other. That is the beauty and essence of politics.
How do you think Nigeria’s economy can be more viable than as it is presently?
The government has to be more serious in service delivery to the people.We cannot be playing lip service to fighting corruption.
Without dealing with corruption, we cannot move forward economically. We have totake a closer look at the quality of leaders
we have presently. A good political process will produce a good leader and a bad political process will produce a bad leader.
In developed countries where democracy is being practiced, the judiciary is always on the side of policies that will further
entrech democracy. None of the developed nation with full democracy have their judiciary sitting on the fence. Surprisngly
here in Nigeria, peoples rights are being denied by the judiciary. I would tell you that the current judiciary we have in
place is not meeting the peoples expectation. And this is not helping our democracy. I believe it is hightime our judicary
rises up to entrench our growing democracy. Every policies and institutions in a democracy ought to pass through democratic
process. Political parties need to have internal democracy because if not during elections; bad candidate will emerge through
rigging and the end result is violence. It is our responsibilty to develop great leaders, create good governance for the
people. Don’t forget that you cannot have a responsible government without having a good leader. That is why corruption
should be exorcised wherever it is seen, so that polity will remain credible.
There was a recent report in America that amongst the 400 best universities in the world, Nigerian varsity occupies no position,
which indirectly rubbishes our educational certificates. What is your take on this?
Some years back it was not like that. But now, graduates have to go through series of examination from intending employers
to be sure that particular applicant is the original owner and qualified enough to earn that educational certificates.
That is an indictment on our educational system.
How will you appraise the present administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan?
I am certainly part of this government and i cannot criticize the present administration.
man ready to serve his people and the nation. He was a peacemaker, never a trouble-shooter. Though we all have
