Your constituency has been facing security challenges for sometime now. As their representative, what measures have you put in place to ensure they are secured?
Well, at least, we need to look critically at this security challenges that we have to enable us know those who are causing this problem. I can tell you right now that we are doing our best. The primary responsibility of every givernment is to protect lives and property and if we fail to do that, it means we are failing in our responsibility. We are conscious of that and one day, the security challenges in my constituency and Nigeria will come to an end. You will recall that sometime ago, I moved a motion on the floor of the House calling the attention of government with regards to the activities of miners. Now, I have been vindicated by the position of the Federal Government in terms of the closure of mining activities in Zamfara State which is one good example of what is happening. The bandits now in my constituency have a link with those ones coming from there. Mining is one thing that has increased the activities of the bandits. Secondly, wherever mining activity is taking place, there are criminals there because a lot of drugs is involved. I moved that motion when Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara was the speaker of the House of Representatives but unfortunately, this is where we are today. However, by the grace of God, as their representative, I will continue to do my best to keep on pushing untill this challenge is tackled.
Recently, the people of Pinua Community in your constituency raised ab alarm over the withdrawal of military personnel from the area. What are you doing to ensure they are brought back?
There is withdrawal of soldiers in some communities, including part of Kanam Local Government Area. There are professional procedures for such. As a civilian, I cannot explain why security officers were withdrawn. Most times we lack patience, and when we are impatient, we give wrong judgements and it may not be right most times. But I want to tell you that these soldiers that were withdrawn are not taken completely out of the local government rather they are stationed in Bashar and other communities as a result of intelligence reports.
I can tell you that government is putting serious measures in place to protect the people. This issue of insecurity is not happening only in my constituency. It’s happening in Zamfara, Niger, Katsina and almost virtually every part of this country. Nobody should celebrate it. Any sane persons should be worried about what is happening here.
May be, this is a new challenge but we shall work collectively, put our heads together to ensure that the right thing is done. The security and safety of my people is my priority. I want to encourage my people and all Nigerians to be prayerful and to be steadfast to ensure that we give the maximum support and cooperation to security agencies because all these criminals are living within the society. In some instances, the people know them but just refused to provide useful information to security operatives to pick them up. I think even at the risk of our own life, it is important to make sacrifice and ensure that we give every information about criminal elements in our society to security agencies for prompt actions. We need to cooperate with the security and other agencies to ensure that correct information are given so that we can fight this bandits effectively.
From all indications and from available indices, mining is somehow attractive to bandits. Do you think mining activities need to be further regulated by the Federal Government?
It is not that it is not regulated by government but you know, because of the focus of this government and possibly as a result of the huge amount of money that is involved which is not going into government cofers because of the leakages, it seems less attractive to government. The discovery of oil in Nigeria also contributed in terms of the way we tap or harness our natural resources. I will say mining is regulated in the country. If you see what was computed at the time I presented a motion at the national assembly, the Federal Government lost abaut N100 billion. From my own local community, somebody is carting away large sum. How many people join me to address the matter? A lot of writeups were put up condemning my activities then because I want justice to be served. If you are able to get 10 or 20 percent as revenue of the N100 billion, that will address the infrastructural deficits that we have. Today, one of the reasons we cannnot access rural communities is as a result of bad roads. Even if you want to move in troops, the roads are bad. So, if there is no good road, it means communication too will be difficult because of the terrain. Whoever that is mining suppose to give back to the immediate communities as part of its social responsibility or community service. If they are doing that, I believe we will have little infrastructural deficits in our communities. Mining in my communities started from pre-colonial time. Germans did some mining and made a proposal as to what they will use the money from the mining deposit in my communities to develop the entire Southern Plateau down to Taraba State.
Looking at Wase, Langtang North and South, is there any synergy among the lawmakers to mitigate the security challenges?
Like I said earlier, as the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, how would I succeed if I don’t cooperate with my colleagues? Even if I do not have challenges in my community as an incumbent I have to work with my colleagues so that we can be able to deliver on the mandate given to us as lawmakers.
There is crisis rocking the APC in Plateau State because presently there are over five court cases. As a stakeholder, what would you do to ensure that the matter is resolved?
Well, by the grace of God, we will have no issue. Primary elections have come and gone and winners have emerged. As a leaders, we are going to reconcile all the aggrieved members so that we can work together as a family to win the 2023 general election in the state.
