Dauda Kahutu Rarara is a Hausa singer known for promoting President Muhammadu Buhari in his songs.
In this interview, he talks about his proposed people-sponsored song, among others issues. Excerpts:
Weekend Magazine: You are known for singing for Buhari, but recently there was speculation that you have shifted loyalty and started singing for former vice president Atiku Abubakar. How true is this?
Dauda Kahutu Rarara: That was the handy work of mischief makers who mimic my voice to gain favours from political gladiators.
I never knew Buhari is this popular — Rarara
Kannywood: APC Musicians accuse Buhari’s music Director, Rarara of corruption
We have got many people arrested for going around collecting money and defrauding people in my name.
However, I have a cordial relationship with the former vice president since when he was in the APC before the 2015 general elections.
Together we moved across the country to mobilize support for the then APC candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari until he quit the party.
If I sang for Atiku at that time, it should not be a surprise.
He once asked me to sing for him and when he decamped to PDP, they continued to use it in their campaigns.
WM: Will you sing for Atiku again?
Rarara: No, I don’t serve two masters at once.
In anything you do, if you don’t set for yourself certain principles, you may get into trouble.
If you go after money it will finish one day and leave you with the people.
If I should be singing for Buhari and Atiku at the same time, who then do I hold as my hero?
I am strongly with Buhari and I can only leave him when he retires from active politics.
WM: We learnt you sang in your state of origin and was attacked. What happened?
Rarara: I was trying to let the people understand that they have a stake in the safety and security of their society.
It was a call for you and I to get involved in security matters.
For instance, if a need arises for a vehicle for security, there are people in each ward who can contribute towards that cause.
Everything should not be left to the government.
We have a role to play as a people.
That was why I sang ‘Jahata Jahata Ce’.
Security is the bedrock of development, and for the society to be safe and secured, people must play their part to complement the efforts of the government.
In that project I brought together stakeholders to tell them we don’t have any state other than Katsina.
WM: There were reports that you were attacked when you went to launch the song in Katsina. Is this true?
Rarara: That is not true. People do concoct many lies about me.
When I keep quiet it is because it is not true.
We went to launch the song ‘Jihata’, meaning my state and when we were singing people applauded us.
Myself, Ali Nuhu, Baballe Hayatu, Maishadda and many other prominent personalities in the Kannywood industry were there and everyone wanted to come close to us.
Some wanted to come close to Ali Nuhu and other stars.
These are the people we had a problem with because they got angry.
The way the story was circulated is incorrect.
Katsina is my state and I don’t think such a thing can happen to me where I have a large fan base.
WM: You called on Nigerians to contribute N1000 each to fund your next album about President Buhari. What informed that decision?
Rarara: I was pushed to make that call based on some claims by Buhari’s antagonists that he has lost popularity.
Knowing fully well the president is still dear to poor Nigerians, I resolved to make the call.
In the song I intend to enumerate 192 projects that I know have been executed successfully by the government, something the PDP government have not achieved in the 16 years they were in power.
WM: Recently there were speculations that about N70m has so far been realized. How true is this?
Rarara: You yourself know that it is not true looking at the personality of the person we are talking about.
If you say N50m was realized, you are indirectly saying only 10, 000 people are with Buhari.
I do not want to mention what has been realized, but as time goes on, we will keep Nigerians updated.
If in three days we could not raise N2m, it means we are defeated. Remember we are talking about Buhari, not Rarara.
I have received calls from over 3000 people who are willing to donate.
Some brought their contributions to my house, some to my office, and some through radio stations.
WM: From the responses how do you gauge the popularity of Mr. President?
Rarara: I never knew President Muhammadu Buhari is this popular until now.
I am telling you, if he were to contest election again, he would win a landslide victory.
The calls we are receiving from different parts of the country and the way poor Nigerians are trooping to contribute for this song is really reassuring.
WM: How far have you gone in writing the song?
Rarara: No, this song is not written on paper but in my heart.
I have all the 192 projects successfully executed in my heart and when that song is eventually out, we will give Nigerians their exact locations to check for themselves if it is not true.
Buhari supporters are not known for propaganda but the truth.
WM: How did your journey as a singer begin?
Rarara: It’s a long story that is tied to my desire to contribute to our society’s development, and this is by giving those in authority, and even the poor masses, advice on how things should be done.
I think the best way to convey these messages of encouragement is through singing.
