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Hon. Abdulmumin Muhammad Ari,
Member representing Nasarawa/Toto
Federal constituency at NASS |
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The
House of Representatives member representing Nasarawa/Toto federal constituency,
Hon Abdulmumin Muhammed Ari fetes the people of his constituency at the Federal
Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Saturday. In this interview with UJI ABDULLAHI ILIYASU,
he talks about his choice of Nasarawa for the party, insecurity and sundry
issues in his constituency. Excerpts.
Why did you prefer Nasarawa as venue for your ‘thank
you’ party instead of Abuja as many of your colleagues will do?
you’ party instead of Abuja as many of your colleagues will do?
It
is not the Abuja people who elected me. It is the people of my constituency that
elected me. You imagine that a woman who has no money can trek to the venue of
our party. It is best to always identify with people who voted for you. If I
want do the thank you I would do it to the teeming populace or voters who voted
for me not a selected few who are opportune to be in Abuja or can afford to go
there. A person who has only N50 can take okada to come down to the venue here to
celebrate with us. I want to carry all my constituents along so that we can share
views together. I want to appreciate them and also to increase our
relationship.
is not the Abuja people who elected me. It is the people of my constituency that
elected me. You imagine that a woman who has no money can trek to the venue of
our party. It is best to always identify with people who voted for you. If I
want do the thank you I would do it to the teeming populace or voters who voted
for me not a selected few who are opportune to be in Abuja or can afford to go
there. A person who has only N50 can take okada to come down to the venue here to
celebrate with us. I want to carry all my constituents along so that we can share
views together. I want to appreciate them and also to increase our
relationship.
What do say about the kidnapping and other crimes in
your constituency?
your constituency?
Security
challenges are not peculiar to Nasarawa alone. It is a national as well as a
global challenge. But let me come down to my constituency. I am not happy about
what is happening to my constituency in terms of insecurity of life and property.
I am not happy that my brothers and sisters cannot go to their farms; I am not
happy that my brothers and sisters cannot go to the bush to rear their cattle; I
am not happy that market women cannot go to rural markets in my constituency. My
conviction is to submit all things to God. We have to love ourselves and become
our brothers’ keepers. Where love exists peace prevails. And again I have to
thank the federal government and the Nigerian military and other security
agencies for their relentless effort to fight insurgency and violent crimes in
the country. I also appreciate Nasarawa state government in its part in ensuring
security of life and property in the state.
challenges are not peculiar to Nasarawa alone. It is a national as well as a
global challenge. But let me come down to my constituency. I am not happy about
what is happening to my constituency in terms of insecurity of life and property.
I am not happy that my brothers and sisters cannot go to their farms; I am not
happy that my brothers and sisters cannot go to the bush to rear their cattle; I
am not happy that market women cannot go to rural markets in my constituency. My
conviction is to submit all things to God. We have to love ourselves and become
our brothers’ keepers. Where love exists peace prevails. And again I have to
thank the federal government and the Nigerian military and other security
agencies for their relentless effort to fight insurgency and violent crimes in
the country. I also appreciate Nasarawa state government in its part in ensuring
security of life and property in the state.
How can you take advantage of the inspector general
of police who is from Nasarawa state?
of police who is from Nasarawa state?
I
am lucky that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) is my elder brother, though
he is not an Inspector-General of police of Nasarawa state, but for all
Nigerians. The Nigeria police are at the scenes of conflict all over Nigeria 24
hours. In all local governments in Nigeria there are police stations to take
care of criminal cases and violence or conflict. We shall leverage on that to
make sure that my constituency and Nasarawa state are safe. The IGP was
appointed based on merit, in that case he is equal to any security challenges
that may arise in any state of the federation.
am lucky that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) is my elder brother, though
he is not an Inspector-General of police of Nasarawa state, but for all
Nigerians. The Nigeria police are at the scenes of conflict all over Nigeria 24
hours. In all local governments in Nigeria there are police stations to take
care of criminal cases and violence or conflict. We shall leverage on that to
make sure that my constituency and Nasarawa state are safe. The IGP was
appointed based on merit, in that case he is equal to any security challenges
that may arise in any state of the federation.
What do you think can unite ethnic and religious
groups in your constituency?
groups in your constituency?
We
should not allow religion to divide us. We should love one another. We should
be our brothers’ keepers. God knows why
he created different religions and ethic groups and keep them together in one
place. Peaceful coexistence is also religion. All religions preach peace.
should not allow religion to divide us. We should love one another. We should
be our brothers’ keepers. God knows why
he created different religions and ethic groups and keep them together in one
place. Peaceful coexistence is also religion. All religions preach peace.
What do you in your leisure?
I
love visiting my relatives. I went to Toto local government to celebrate the
last Sallah. I love travelling to see my people. You can see that after my
election, I have been staying in Nasarawa. I didn’t go to Abuja, away from my
people. I love to be with people. When we understand one another we will live peacefully
together.
love visiting my relatives. I went to Toto local government to celebrate the
last Sallah. I love travelling to see my people. You can see that after my
election, I have been staying in Nasarawa. I didn’t go to Abuja, away from my
people. I love to be with people. When we understand one another we will live peacefully
together.
Your reception at the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa,
shows that you love the youth, so how can you deal with the issue of
out-of-school children in your constituency?
shows that you love the youth, so how can you deal with the issue of
out-of-school children in your constituency?
I
cannot do anything as regards that alone. I will only work together with
superior officers to do something to check the challenges. I cannot solve the problem on my own alone
but i can appeal to relevant authorities to make sure almajiri syndrome is
eradicated in my constituency. Almajiri issue is one of the major issues the
north is contending with, so my constituency won’t stand aloof.
cannot do anything as regards that alone. I will only work together with
superior officers to do something to check the challenges. I cannot solve the problem on my own alone
but i can appeal to relevant authorities to make sure almajiri syndrome is
eradicated in my constituency. Almajiri issue is one of the major issues the
north is contending with, so my constituency won’t stand aloof.
How can the Nineth Assembly ensure cordial relation
between it and the executive?
between it and the executive?
Legislation
in the Nineth Assembly is going to be for the good of all Nigerians. By the grace God the rancour between the
executive and the legislature as witnessed in the Eight National Assembly is
not going to repeat itself. But this is not to say the Nineth Assembly is going
to be a rubber stamp of the executive.
But where there is no conflicting interest between the executive and the
legislature, it will be very unpatriotic to create one just to show the independence
of the legislature. We shall make laws
that will benefit all Nigerians, especially early passage of budget and other
bills that are good for democracy. President Muhammdu Buhari is a man of
integrity who deserves the support of all Nigerians, not the legislature alone.
in the Nineth Assembly is going to be for the good of all Nigerians. By the grace God the rancour between the
executive and the legislature as witnessed in the Eight National Assembly is
not going to repeat itself. But this is not to say the Nineth Assembly is going
to be a rubber stamp of the executive.
But where there is no conflicting interest between the executive and the
legislature, it will be very unpatriotic to create one just to show the independence
of the legislature. We shall make laws
that will benefit all Nigerians, especially early passage of budget and other
bills that are good for democracy. President Muhammdu Buhari is a man of
integrity who deserves the support of all Nigerians, not the legislature alone.