Senator Seidu Dansadau is a front line politician. One of his strongest points is his integrity. Rather than go with the crowd because of the pecuniary gains attached to such action, Dansadau would rather stay alone. His brand new car gift rejection offer by the then governor, senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, was legendary. Until he declined to return to the Senate in 2007,he was a member of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP.
Dansadau, together with like minds, formed the newly registered National Rescue Mission, NRM to which he chaired. He is presently the governorship candidate of his party in Zamfara state for the coming general election in February, 2019. In this interview, Dansadau explained why he is contesting the election and what his party is offering the Nigerian public especially in the restructuring of Nigeria if voted into power at the centre.
Q: What makes your party, NRM, different from other parties.
A: Of all the political parties that were registered by INEC, both the second batch of 24 and the last batch, our party NRM is number one in terms of secretariat in Abuja and all the states, our secretariat can match that of APC and PDP that have structures spread across the country. In some areas, our structure is even the best, we are the only party among the 93 parties whose structure is up to polling unit level. The essence of that is to develop grass root oriented politics. We have moved the power of disciplinary action from the national executive committee to the polling unit level. So, as it is now, any disciplinary action to be carried out would be done at the polling unit level, unlike what is obtainable among all the parties. The power is within the polling unit, not at the central level. And that is why the fiscal policy of our party is that more resources realized legitimately by the party, 70% o f it would be returned to the grassroots where the impact would be more felt. All revenues generated by the party were deployed to the polling unit level. The plan, when we get to the presidency, is that our capital budget structure will take the same trend, that is 70% of our budgetary capital allocation will be at the policy making level, that is grass root development. This is the NRM restructural program; this is our own type of true federalism government where components are more powerful because more resources and development would be deployed there. We also plan to amend the existing revenue allocation formula. So that you can have a semblance of 13% derivation formula just that this one would be 70% derivation to oil producing states while 30% will be concealed to the non-oil producing states. Again, we are saying if for example, a governor comes a oil producing states, the state automatically gets 70% derivation, meanwhile, the governor's actual area within the state may not have been producing oil, there is tendency that the governor would use the 70% derivation to develop his non producing oil area at the expense of those producing oil. So, the 30% would can be used to develop his own area. You can’t find such manifestoes in any of the political parties ever since independence. From independence till date, there is no political party that has the type of socio-economic policies that NRM has put in place. These policies will ensure that will tackle the socio- economic and political bedeviling this country since independence. Our intention and plan is to practically show Nigerians that the promise of NRM is bring about the desired change Nigerians have been yearning for and take Nigerians to the level of dream of our founding fathers. It is only NRM that has the strategy to do and implement the kind of change APC promised Nigerians because the party leadership is tested and trusted.
Q: The question on the lips of most Nigerians is what is Dansadau doing with politics and governance of his state, Zamfara, why governorship?
A: My motive for contesting the governorship is because of the socio-economic challenges Zamfara states experienced from 1999 till date. Zamfara is one of the unfortunate states in Nigeria that since 1999 till date has never got a leader that attempted to provide good governance. That is why the state is going through the insecurity and other challenges it has faced so far. There is no state in the country that has gone through agony, ordeal, predicament of insecurity like Zamfara state. I also want to mentor the youth in Zamfara in such a way that through my politics, my behavior, attitude, character and my leadership by example all will calminate into the provision of good d governance. I also want to show Nigeria and Nigerians and in fact Africa that it is quite possible to provide good governance in Nigeria. My hope and prayer is that if God, in his mercy, wisdom and power, gives me the governorship of the state in 2019 and helps me to get to the 2nd term and helps the party to govern the state for minimum of 3 terms, I am going to make Zamfara the envy of the remaining states in the federation. There is a plan to make Zamfara state Africa's center for commerce and SMEs. I will as well, make Zamfara state the model of mechanized agriculture, not only in Nigeria but Africa. If you govern well, you earn respect of your people. However, that respect would come when you act according to the rule of law.A leader must be untribalistic and unbiased. He must be just, fair equitable to all, irrespective of political inclination, religion, sex and geographical location. Everyone will be treated the same in all respects.
Q: What are your chances against the already established parties like APC and PDP?
A: For anybody who knows me especially those who know me as far as when I was in school, I have a character such that I don’t believe there is nothing that is impossible. Whatever I plan to do, I will always put justice, fairness and equity as my watch word, that is why when I was in Teachers Training College when my class mates were given all kinds funny nick names mine was JUSTICE. Wherever I meet my classmates up till now that is what they call me. gave me different types of nicknames like Justice, up till now, when my class mates see me, they don’t call my name but Justice. Why? Because at that time, whatever I was doing with my peers,to insist that justice must be done and people should truthful, reliable,trustworthy and honest. So, I have the character and uprightness I have no iota of discriminative tendencies. And the manifestoe and constitution of our party makes the party unique and if implemented, in no timei l the country shall get out of its predicament.
Of all the 93 political parties in the country none of them has the kind of policies provided in our party manifestoes. Our performance in the five states will enable us win the the Presidential election in 2023: would set us apart from other parties and states in the country. However, even if we don’t win, I am an optimist, by God’s grace, the worst that can happen to us is to win two states, and our performance in those two states in the first tenure would leave all the entire remaining states or the federation and the Nigerian people that we are capable of providing good governance in this country. God blesses and cherishes leaders that are indiscriminate on the basis or religion, ethnicity and on the basis of any sentiment.
Q: Some of your critics will say Senator Dausadau is a man of principle but they are quick to point out that you should have allowed a younger person to contest the governorship.
A: You are right, my resolve and intention from the inception of this party, was to contest for the presidency of this country until about a month ago before everything changed. I planned field a young person in his early 40s holds a PhD Degree,he has a good character, he has the pedigree and antecedence. He has been a commissioner for 12 years .So, he has been tested
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