I’d have loved to be a teacher – Sen. Rufai Hanga

Daily Trust: How active an APC member are you, considering that your former party, the CPC, helped to form it?

Senator Rufai Hanga: I’m part of the APC. I initially refused to go with the APC because we had lots of problems and those behind the problems were key members of the party in Kano then and I decided I would not want to associate with them because I wanted peace. I supported President Muhammadu Buhari and the present governor, Umaru Ganduje. I did not only support them vocally, I was with them physically in the field, going round. These are on record with the people and even in the media.

I am actively part of the APC and was part of the reconciliation committee set up by the governor to reach out and reconcile everyone and we are still doing that. It is only in Kano that we have that kind of committee, and we are doing fine.

 DT: You were in the House of Reps and also in the Senate. What would you have done differently if you were there today?

Senator Hanga: Though I have not declared intention to contest now, many people in my state want me to contest and are using the social media. People are canvassing for me. I am yet to make up my mind as it would be too early for me, two years away. I am not a political novice and one should not act unwisely. I have not indicated my intention, but as a politician it is natural. You are in politics for something, either to make something happen or to undo something. Whatever your intention, as a politician, it would not surprise anyone.

If I were in the Senate, whoever is there will always remember what needs to be done. The longer one stays there the better one fully grasps the dynamics. The moment you leave you would be seeing what you missed. It is natural that whoever is in the National Assembly would do better, the more you are involved, the better you perform. If I happen to go back to the National Assembly, I have many things to do that my constituency and all Nigerians would appreciate me.

One of the things I would prioritize is sanity on our roads. I would work for the strengthening of the VIO and other road safety enforcement agencies. Gone are the days when the VIO was active and there were fewer road accidents in Nigeria, unlike today that people get driving licenses at home and enter the road to cause carnage. There is also the issue of rickety vehicles, all these would be prioritized. If we have sanity on the roads we can have sanity in other spheres of our national life. There is also the local government autonomy issue. 

When I was in the Senate, I was part of the committee working on amending the constitution to ensure that local governments enjoy autonomy like other tiers of  government. We all know that governors use  local government funds arbitrarily. For instance, in my state, Kano, the former governor, Kwankwaso, cornered local government funds and forced them to accept building a five-kilometer road in each local government against their wish. The money earmarked would have built 50 kilometers of roads across the villages. Even in some instances the roads were not built, only the demarcation of existing roads was done.

The local governments would have gone for roads, health, water and agriculture, among others, and if you spent N1.8bn on other things it would have been far better than the five- kilometer roads that such amount was spent on in each local government. If I return to the Senate, those would be among my top priorities.

DT: Who would you say is your political role model and why?

Senator Hanga: My role model is Malam Aminu Kano. I still admire him because I do politics of ideology, that is why after Aminu Kano, I did not follow anybody except President Buhari. Aminu Kano was not able to practicalize his ideology, but Buhari has the opportunity to practicalize his ideology.

DT: Speaking of politics, what do you see as your worst moment as a politician?

Senator Hanga: When I floated the CPC and some people were relaxing or refusing to even join us, saying that we could not succeed, or those that said they could not follow Buhari, but after the party grew within 10 months, the same people came and drove us out. They concocted lies that I was given money by the PDP or that I did not support Buhari. At the end of the day, it was investigated and found to be lies.

I never even had one percent of the amount of money they mentioned. So, nobody can trace anything to me. I am contented. I was in business and my business is not new, I inherited it. I am from a business family and everybody knows it in my state, my family is known for it. In fact, my businesses crashed due to CPC’s formation and sustenance.

I was a transporter. I was bringing oil for Shell with over 7,000 vehicles. I was buying and selling, I used to import goods and sell, and I was also into properties. But everything crashed. I am writing a book on that, which will soon be presented to the public. 

DT: Are any of your children taking after you as a politician?

Senator Hanga: I don’t see any of my children going into politics, though I noticed one or two of them showing interest. I advised them against it. When you go into politics, it is difficult to quit. So, I advise people not to go into politics. I wish I had not gone into politics, but I don’t have the intention to quit now. I believe I will be in politics for life. 

We have seen it happening several times, people saying they were quitting politics only for them to come back. This makes people to see them as liars, that they say this and say another thing and act differently.

DT: What would you do if any of your children goes into politics against your advice?

Senator Hanga: It is up to him or her. If they decide to go, so be it. Some of them have jobs,  lecturing and working in companies. I have one struggling to get a job after graduating three years ago and he has two degrees. I have eight children.

DT: How do you balance your time between business and politics?

Senator Hanga: I am not an accomplished businessman. I am into business but I am not a rich man. I live from hand to mouth. If I have N1,000 and I have something to do that would cost N950, I spend the money.

DT: If you were not a politician, what other path would you have chosen?

Senator Hanga: I am an accountant, a certified one. I practiced accounting for a long time before I retired. I would have loved to be a teacher, and I even taught on voluntary basis. There was a time my friend in a College of Education had shortage of lecturers in Cost Accounting and the students were to graduate. My friend who was the HOD then contacted me. When they asked me how much it would cost them, I said I would take it for free and I did this for about a year. Sometimes I lectured for a semester or two when lecturers were not available. I like teaching and would have loved to be a teacher.

DT: How have you been able to manage your duties as a politician and as a family man?

Senator Hanga: I have not been very busy since I retired. The only time I am very busy is during the political season. I am not only a brain worker but also a leg worker. I go to the remotest parts, I am a grassroots politician.

DT: When you are not flexing muscle politically, how do you relax?

Senator Hanga: I give a lot of time to my family, and I always travel for Umrah (lesser hajj), many times a year. I spend 10 days or two weeks. I pray and perform other acts of worship. That is my vacation.

DT: What type of books do you read?

Senator Hanga: I read a lot of fiction. I’ve read lots of books, including The Godfather, by Mario Puzo. I’ve also read lots of Jeffery Archer. His style of writing is captivating.

DT: What is your favourite food and how frequently do you indulge yourself? 

Senator Hanga: My favourite food is Tuwo. I mean ‘swallow’ generally, like Amala, Semovita, and so on.