Distinguished Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, the Senator representing Nasarawa West senatorial district of Nasarawa State at the 10th National Assembly in this interview with our correspondent, Francis Nansak, spoke on a wide range of issues and how he became elected without a god-father. Excerpts.
Q. You have made a name in the corridors of power, how did you get there and what can you tell us about yourself?
Yes, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada was born on 15th October 1964 to the family of the famous Alhaji Danyaya Nasarawa and Zainab Liatu. May their souls rest in peace.. Amen. I had my primary education in keffi, after which I proceeded to Government Secondary school Miango in Plateau state which was then ECWA Secondary School and now given back to ECWA. I completed my secondary school in 1983. Got admission into (SPS) the School of Preliminary Studies Jeff, I again secured admission to the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa where I backed my OND in Business Administration and Management, I later started work with the United Bank for Africa (U. B. A) and in 1991, I was part of the team that started operations of the U. B. A in Nasarawa and I left to further my studies. I bagged my HND at the Federal polytechnic and went for my National Service in 1994 with the then Benue Cement Company in Benue State.
After my NYSC, I worked with the Nigeria Tobacco Company, Zaria which was the distribution arm as the Area Manager covering Kaduna and Zaria and I was there from 1996 to 1997,where I voluntarily resigned my appointment and returned to Abuja. And my services was again requested for by Vision Technologies Company, which was chaired by Captain Yayah Abubakar and being driven by late Captain Osah Okumbo. The company was given the contract to fabricate and supply of transparent ballot boxes that were used in conducting the 1999 general elections, so even before I pronounced my presence in politics I had before time contributed to the development of democracy in Nigeria and I was prominent in that aspect. In 2001,the late Captain Okumbo looked at me and told me “Amadu, as he used to call me, “I have seen and assess you and I feel you will be best in polirics.” I said well sir, when the time comes and this also coincided with the time my contemporaries back home in keffi were thinking that within the period in question we had contributed so much to the evolution, development and the progress of democracy, yet none of us have taken part in the processes to canvass or aspire for any elective position. The thoughts then was one of us should vey for an elective office. And it so happened that I was one of those that was considered, which I was also favored because I was the only one among them that was in the private sector and any other person that was considered was to leave his job, much more I was a freelancer and the final decision favoured me. When I was told, I asked them to go and meet my father, which they did about twice and the third time my father called me and told me you have my blessings. So go ahead. That is why I stand bold to say I have no political godfather. My fathers are my friends. I sure do have people I respect in politics, but I never had any political godfather. My friends have always been my godfathers, if it is compulsory to talk about how I got here! So we went in for it and in 2003 was the year that I declared to go for the house of representatives election .The issue then was that how could I aspire to be elected to the house when the then governor, his excellency Abdullahi Adamu is from the same local government and ward with me. And I said well, if there is any provision in the Nigeria constitution that stipulated that I cannot aspire because I am from the same ward with the governor, then it should be provided for me or if there is any in the Peoples Democratic Party constitution, that was how I got elected to the house of representatives and on getting there I asked myself, what will I do to make a difference because I don’t like being where I can’t make a mark. So I needed to single myself and I said to myself that as a northerner I was never going to wear any dress except a suit that was after looking at the composition of the house with 306 members, so that has been my signature till date.
In another development I was appointed to chair the house committee on Capital Market and Institutions. This made it much easier for me because I was dealing with cooperate Nigerians and I made my marks by projecting the Nigerian capital market politically within and outside the country and the marks are there. Most of the changes being enjoyed today in the capital market we laid the foundation for it. And on assumption of office in that capacity the first thing I did was to call for the review and amendments of the investment and security Act of the Nigeria capital market. I again looked at what else to do and I came up with the association of the Under 40s in the house. I was the coordinator of the association at that time, and I was fortunate to have the deputy speaker of the house as a member, so I addressed him as sir in the chamber but when I called for a meeting he addresses me as sir. The association made the mark, after it was Masari, Etteh, Dameji Bankole, then came Yakubu, very important people, all being members of the association of the Under 40s and we were not failures. That is the journey.
Q. Distinguished, a recent report from some national dailies rated you high amongst Nasarawa lawmakers with the highest bill, what could be your motivation sir?
It is because I know what being here means, I know what representation as per lawmaking is. That is my primary responsibility. The primary responsibility of a lawmaker is to make laws and not just any law but laws that can turn around the fortune of his district, the area he or she represents and the larger community as well. And each of these bills makes a meaning. First was the bill for the establishment of Aquatic Science which has been passed into law, that has passed through all the processes and procedures of lawmaking awaiting the president’s assent. Then the bill for the establishment of a College of Agriculture and fisheries studies to be established at Umasha in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. And the FCT Wider Settlement Development Commission, which I had sponsored reaching second reading while I was in the House of Representatives. Somehow, it couldn’t go beyond second reading and because I still feel strong about it, what that bill seek to establish was a common coffers, a commission that will serve as a coffer where federal capital territory will contribute and the contingent states.