By MAJE T. SANUSI, Political Editor
CONFIDENCE is the password that can best describe the
number one contender of the Kano ANPP chairmanship position, Alhaji Ahmadu
Haruna Danzago in his current attempt to sweep the polls, come November,
2004.
Ahamadu Danzago is a determining factor in the recent
Kano politics. He streers the wheel of the state's All Nigeria People's
Party (ANPP), his own party, in which he seems to have no match. He is
determined, courageous and fearless when it comes to defending the integrity
of the ANPP. In the face of his party's opponents, Danzago is simply a lion
who apparently masters his way to success. His dedication motivation,
contribution, resourcefulness and tact know no bount, the qualities which
apparently lead him to succeed where the PDP with all its predominance
strength and influence had failed.
In this chat with Daily Triumph's political editor, Maje
T. Sanusi, Danzago spoke about the political situation in the country,
baring mind particularly on the fundamental circumstances surrounding his
own party, the ANPP and proffering solutions to burning problems that seem
to have bedeviled the progress of his party. Read on:-
Sir, your party, the ANPP is yet to conduct the
chairmanship election in the state. What is the position now and what are
your strategies towards the contest and winning the election.
Well, the ANPP chairmanship election is scheduled for
November, therefore, it is coming up soon. The ANPP national executive
council has since appointed Sole Administrator (SOLAD) to take care of the
party in the state and he has been here for almost two months now trying
hard to get things in order, preparatory to the forthcoming election. Very
soon, the SOLAD will embark on a general tour to all local government areas
and wards in the state to acquaint himself with the situation so as to be
able to plan appropriately and design a grand timetable for the election
which will enable all contending members, supporters and the electorate an
enabling environment for a free and fair election.
As you may know, the ANPP, like all the other parties has
its own constitution and guidelines which will guide him and members on how
to conduct these elections. In Kano, we have about 484 wards, spread across
the 44 local government areas of the state. According to ANPP's plan, two
delegates from each ward, local government party chairmen council members
and both local and state legislatures, including the council chairmen, are
all eligible participants in the election. As part of our complain
strategies, all the categories of the people mentioned are important people
who we cannot do without.
We have made efforts to contact members and extend our
goodwill to all of them and we have every reason to believe that they are
with us. Leadership as we all know, is in the hands of God who bestow it on
whosoever he wishes. What is expected of any good Muslim who aspires for any
post is to do his very best and the rest will be to God Almighty. He
designs, confirms and confers on the very person of His own choice at the
appropriate time possible.
However, let me use this chance to remind our teeming
members and ANPP supporters in the state that they should learn to use their
votes wisely and to exercise their voting rights freely without being
influenced or intimidated. These are incidences that lead to the election of
bad leadership whose only ambition in securing the position is to satisfy
their selfish interests. What had actually led this country into its present
predicament is poor managements as a result of bad leadership. Nigerian
electorate should learn to avoid being used to serve the interest of
ambitious leaders who may lead the country to nowhere in particular.
You see my ambition for our great party, the ANPP, is to
have a situation whereby every individual member should be made to have a
sense of involvement and be free to participate and contribute his own quota
towards the development of the state and the country at large.
We are quite aware of the level of hardships and poverty
among large number of people in the state and the country in general, as a
result of corrupt attitude and over ambitious nature of the country's
leadership. That is why the ANPP believes that only a just, fair and
transparent government can rescue the ordinary people of this country. We
will therefore evolve strategies if we capture the leadership of the party
in the state to involve the people and cater for all of them as well as
reduce the level of their hardships and sufferings. It is in view of this
that we feel if the teeming unemployed members and youths in the state can
be made to be self-reliant by providing them with adequate facilities, such
as the spaghetti making machines, motor-cycles and are adequately trained to
acquire skills and trades among other things, this will certainly help
uplift their standard of living to a certain level.
It is understood that other contestants for the
chairmanship post in the state are gathering the influence and support of
General Babangida to aid their election. How are you prepared to compete
with them in this circumstance?
First of all, General Badamasi Babangida does not belong
to ANPP, as such, it is unwise for any politician or retired military
personnel, no matter how highly placed or respected in the country, to think
of jumping into a party he does not belong, only to influence the decision
of its members. We must also understand that introducing an opposition
personality to play a particular role in your party, will be like inviting
trouble into your own house. And at the same time, doing so will simply be
violating the democratic rights of the country. However, inviting General
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida into the state ANPP chairmanship election will
not, at all jitter my position or even retard my confidence in winning the
election. And besides, any influence in the ANPP, if it is not from General
Buhari or Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, is not likely to carry any weight,
since they are perceived as the backbone of the party here at the state
level or elsewhere in the country.
There are speculations going round that General Babangida
may likely change camp to ANPP. Wouldn't this change the position of your
party?
Well, nobody stops anybody from joining or decamping to
any party. As a matter of fact, our doors are opened to anybody who wishes
to join the ANPP, but it must be noted that the coming of any person into
the party will not disposition the stand of ANPP. It is a well-known
decision that the ANPP has no any presidential candidate other than General
Muhammadu Buhari. When he (General Buhari) was joining the ANPP everybody
knew about it because it was made public. And I can even boast to tell you
that, throughout the nooks and crannies of this country nobody has garnered
as much support and acceptability than General Buhari. Moreso, General
Buhari is well-known for his honesty, integrity probity and accountability
and therefore capable or representing the ANPP in the presidential polls
more than any other person who will make claims only to change face in the
future. As a man of proven integrity, General Buhari is known for his
straightforwardness and is never shaken. That is why we firmly believe that
God Almighty will stand by him.
