Galaudu : CPC has sensed defeat in Kebbi

During the last PDP primary election for Kebbi North, Isa Galaudu, a former Banker and Managing Director of Galaphone Nigeria Ltd, an MTN Nigeria Trade partner, emerged victorious. In this interview, Galaudu reviews the political situation on ground ahead of next month’s polls. Excerpts:

You contested election in 2003 to represent Kebbi north in the Senate and you lost, and in 2007 nothing was heard about your political ambition, why did you come back in 2011?

If you recall, 1999 election was very free and fair mainly because the political landscape was at ground zero but in 2003 there was a lot of meddling in inter and intra party democracy and in 2007 it was even worse. Only a fool will continue to do the same thing over and over again and expect different result.

To many in Kebbi North, it is like any good action-movie character left for dead only to come back in full force. Nevertheless, I have been active in Kebbi politics and have kept my supporters’ loyalty intact.

We now have PDP government in Kebbi State and His Excellency the governor, Alhaji Sa’idu Usman Nasamu Dakingari, has provided equal opportunities and a level playing field for all aspiring party members.

What in your opinion are the major problems of the Kebbi North Senatorial District?

In the past four years, the state government, which today stands in contrast with its predecessor, has made giant strides in the education, health and agricultural sectors, and also in providing basic infrastructure, especially urban and rural roads. At inception, a lot needed to be done because of the massive damage and fraud that took place in the past. There is therefore need for our representatives, especially in the Senate to work at the federal level towards getting more developmental projects for the zone.

Furthermore with intermittent drought, flood, receding rivers and lakes and desert encroachment over the years, the task of making ends meet for farmers, fishermen and cattle breeders has been a struggle of immeasurable pains.

How do you rate yourself against your opponents?

I understand there are eight political parties sponsoring candidates for the position. While I respect all of them, the fact is that even on my worst day, I am the best for the job. When it comes to street credibility, party loyalty, knowledge of our constituency, grassroots support, and organized campaign and so on, my opponents are just struggling for a second position.

Since the 2003 election my name has become a household name because of our campaign strategy and so I am just refreshing the memories of the electorates. My team is proud that it has a well packaged candidate who is also aligned to our governor’s vision and mission. On the other hand, my detractors are only flogging a dead horse and I assure you my constituency will not vote for a go-along-to-get-along candidate.

What is your agenda if elected to represent your constituency?

First of all, I want to support and sponsor bills that will have positive impact on the common people, those that project our country in positive light and ensure sustainable development.

I will initiate programmes that will empower rural women, encourage entrepreneurship for the youth and support education for the less privileged. Agriculture as the mainstay of our people should be given the attention it deserves. At the moment there is no single functional federal institution in my zone and I will strive to address this democracy deficit.

The time is now for representation that inspire hope, participatory and consultative and which also seek genuine partnership that pursues democratic dividends for Kebbi North.

What is your comment on suggestions that the CPC is very strong in Kebbi and a threat to the PDP?

I don’t lose sleep for over up-start political party that is struggling desperately to be on ground. Kebbi people will vote for PDP and will vote for our performing governor, Sa’idu Dakingari.

If someone thinks he can just bring a lot of cash from Abuja to buy Kebbi people, then he must be underestimating their sense. Presenting a patch work of CPC candidates, who decamped from PDP, mostly those who carry baggage and portraying them as more credible and trustworthy, is the greatest hoax perpetrated on Kebbi people.

In fact, the CPC has too many contradictions, for example in 2007 their gubernatorial candidate who was then flying the erstwhile DPP flag, visited a border town called Bachaka in Arewa local government. When he saw the state of their road (the construction of which is now on going) he shed tears in public, saying that erstwhile governor, Adamu Aleiro, had not performed in office and had cheated the people in that area.

Now that candidate and the former governor are political co-pilots, so it requires an effort of imagination to think of how the two will now approach Bachaka people and campaign.

How is your campaign going?

Since the beginning of this month, we have been going out to campaign. Everywhere you go in Kebbi what people say is music to our ears because the PDP government has fulfilled all its promises.

The approval rating of the PDP government is very high, therefore the election result in April will be a decisive victory insha-Allah. Besides, I am the only visible senatorial candidate in the zone and the campaign of my main challenger, until very recently, is done mainly by proxy.

I want to assure the CPC leaders that going to people they ignored for the past four years and paying for their electricity bills now will not sway their political conviction.

During the campaign rallies, there were many discordant tunes for CPC when old grievances and bitter memories of 1999 to 2007 misrule resurfaced. The numbers of defectors from CPC to PDP are increasing by the day because their campaign is not connecting with the people. So I can tell you that the smell of their defeat is already in the air and they are getting the massage.

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