Kindly introduce yourself to the readers?
I am Safiya Aliyu but, popularly called Chairlady. I am a graduate of Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, with Higher National Diploma (HND) in Public Administration. I am currently the Young Progressive Party (YPP), candidate for Sokoto State House of Assembly, Sokoto North II.
Are you the chairlady of your party or why do people call you chairlady?
People referred to me as the chairlady of Young Progressive Party (YPP), because,I am the women leader in the constituency before becoming the candidate of the party for the House of Assembly in Sokoto North II.
Can you take us through your background and political antecedence?
I attended Sultan Maccido Primary School like any other kids in the neighbourhood after, which I proceeded to Government Girls Unity Secondary School, Bodinga and later, Hafsatu Bello Secondary School, within the metropolis. After my secondary education, I proceeded to Sokoto State Polytechnic for my National Diploma ND, and Higher National Diploma, HND, in public administration and graduated in the year 2019. Due to the Covid-19 issue, I have to wait till year 2021 for my service which I rounded up in 2022.
Interestingly, I have no antecedence in politics. I have not been involved in it until recently but, I am good to go in community mobilisation. This, I think was what motivated people in my constituency to send out the clarion call that, I should come and represent them at the state assembly.
How much pressure did your constituents exerted on you to answer their clarion call?
When the nomination was zeroed down to me, there was less pressure to exert on me because, I welcomed the nomination with my two hands as, a honour done to me by my community. With a little retrospect into the trajectory of those who had represented us at the state assembly level vis-a-vis democratic dividends they have brought home, I realized that, I have to join politics to protect the interest of youths and women in particular, especially in my constituency.
You mean those who had represented your constituency don’t do grassroots empowerment and all sort of programmes to enhance the lives of women and youths?
Here, I will say, we have not been fortunate to have quality and capable representation at the state assembly. Those that have gone there only went to represent their families and come around during electioneering campaign to dish out hand-outs to our devastated, traumatized, poverty ridden people who, most often, sell out their conscience for instance succour.
The electorate often accuse politicians of ‘use-and-dump.’ Now that you have joined the fray, will it not be same sing-song peradventure, you win your election?
You seem not to have done enough check on my family background and my antecedents. I am sure those that sought me out for this elective post into the state parliament are yet to complete their task. I have a clear cut intention to change the narratives. Women and the youths are always cajoled with sugar coated tongues to get their votes during electioneering campaigns and, before you know it, they are abandoned till the next election campaign.
As a starter, why the YPP instead of one of the leading political parties?
Yes, the YPP may not be a popular party in the state within the last two years. It was because, we just retrieve the party from someone who held the party hostage for two years without anything. We just do that barely nine months ago.
After taken the party back we have done what is necessary to make the party known in the state, we have visited the 23 local governments area of the state and tremendously in membership drive and mobilization. The manner people welcomed the party is one of the reasons that motivated me to join the contest for the state assembly seat. YPP is now widely accepted.
When I joined the party, I was not a member of executive but after joining them, I was appointed as the women leader and from there I decided to try as a youth to contest, maybe I will get to be known and will have opportunity to prove myself better for people to know what I can contribute.
Don’t you think joining any of the big parties would have boost your chances than YPP?
I never thought of this because, there are many disgusting things inherent in the so called big political parties. You will agree with me that imposition is rampant in the big parties. In the big parties, level playing ground is a strange word, you need godfather to annoint and subsequently impose you on others among other shenanigans happening within. YPP is where my heart is and, I follow my heart.
The so-called big parties started from somewhere and with the ways Nigerian politicians cross carpet, I would say, you should watch out for YPP in the nearest future.
It seems you are not afraid of the big parties?
I am not afraid of any big party. The so-called called big parties also started from somewhere before getting to where they are. This is why I also decided to join the small one and grow together, I am not afraid of anything. My involvement in various organizations really helped and made mobilisation very easy for me.
In this part of the country, women rarely come out for political contest or representation. What is the reaction of your parents when they heard of your intention?
I know myself as a person with strong conviction. The moment I made up my mind and take a stand, everyone around me know that, I can hardly be influenced. So, not only my parents but, everyone around me welcomed my decision and throw their weights behind my political aspiration.
Thanks to the media, for their generous and wider publicity. I can testify to their immeasurable contribution to my aspiration, which has continue to get bigger and tremendous boost.
Through the media, I received a lot of accolades and encouragement from people.
Did your parents support your political activities?
Yes, they gave me their full support because I have been involved in so many organizations before joining a political party. Entering politics is not a big thing for me, I told them and they gave me their support. I go to them for advice and they give me advices and support me with prayers.
Did you take into consideration the fact that, you are a woman, aspiring to represent the constituency of the Sokoto Sultanate Council Area?
I am from a well known family within the Sultanate, Dankimallen Sarkin Musulmi Sokoto. Even though, the Sultanate Council is apolitical, I am aware, they are very proud of me and, what I am doing. If not, my family would not have endorsed my aspiration.
Politics is assumed by many as a dirty game.what is your opinion on that as a politician?
Honestly, since I joined active politics, I have not experienced the dirty side of it. The kind of politics I play is clean and transparent. No nocturnal meetings. No one have attacked my personality because I do not have skeleton in my cupboard or any dirty past. I campaign on issues without any mudslinging, neither will you see me with miscreants or political thugs.
The election is few weeks to come, how do you see your chances?
The acceptance and support I have been receiving is not only overwhelming but actually, beyond my expectations. If the support will translate into votes without any underhand deal on the day of election, I would say, I am optimistic of victory.
As a woman contesting for elective position, how much support have you gotten from the women support groups in the state?
Women organization are my foremost support base. Virtually every notable women group in the state are aware of my aspiration and have assured me of their votes at the election. I visited them for advice and they gave me very useful advice. Even young men association are supporting me.
There is this believe that politics in Nigeria is about money, how deep is your pocket?
Of course, I am not in the class of money-bags neither is anyone bankrolling my campaign. I only make use of the human and capital resources within my disposal to get things done.
As I said earlier, if I decided to do something I do plan before going into it. If you want to achieve something good, you must plan before going into it.
I use the little resources I have on my people even when I was not in politics. So, you can imagine what will happen if I get to where I am going to. I enjoy tremendous support from my friends, family, well wishers and supporters. Take for instance, every of my posters, flyers you see around were printed and posted by volunteers who believe in my aspiration. I do everything I can do from my pockets. Nobody is bankrolling my campaigns.
You attended Yiaga Africa programme for youths candidate. What was the experience like and, what is/are your take home from the programme?
Let me put it on record that, if there is anything I have benefitted in my political sojourn, it is my encounter with Yiaga Africa. I have been opportune to be part of their, all expenses paid, political organizing labs in Sokoto, Kano and Abuja.
The experience and knowledge gained was second to non. It actually broaden my knowledge on how to use accurate data to run my elections campaigns by identifying the number of wards in my local government, polling units, registered voters in their constituents and every other information needed to win elections.
At another gathering, Yiaga Africa also profiles the story of young people that won elections and also look at how to support young people to run and win elections because the 2023 elections ought to be elections for the youths.
I am very familiar with challenges young people face in politics, elections day operations and procedure from opening of polls, closing, result transmission and strategic ways to work with campaign teams and party agents courtesy, Yiaga Africa.
