Shehu Muhammad Sanusi is from a royal house in the Dutse Emirate Council, Jigawa State. He was a district head (Hakimi) in three different local government areas for 21 years. Sanusi, who was turbaned as Ciroman Dutse, dropped his turban for partisan politics and even chose a less recognised political party. In this interview, he spoke on why he joined politics, his choice of party, why Jigawa has remained undeveloped, 30 years after creation, what Governor Muhammad Badaru should do, among other issues.
You abandoned your position as district head for partisan politics. Why?
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It is nothing unusual. Let me take you back to the Sardauna era. He was once a district head but he resigned and joined politics and became the premier of northern Nigeria. He became a very prominent figure in Nigeria.
As you know, Sardauna came from the Sultanate house; he was a great grandson of Shehu Usman Danfodiyo. Maybe I am trying to copy him. That is why I resigned and joined politics as he did. I joined politics with the sole purpose of helping my people.
I grew up in a royal family. My late dad was the Emir of Dutse. Now, my elder brother has taken over. I voluntarily retired from the position of district head and joined politics, and that is why you are here with me. I also worked across the private and public sectors and now a businessman.
Is this your first time of participating in Nigerian politics?
During the Second Republic I was a university student. I was one of the youth leaders in my area who mobilised the youth in the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). That was where I started political activism. When I was in the university, I joined the Student Union as an activist. But it is now that I am into fulltime politics.
Why did you choose to pitch tent with a small party like the Action Alliance (AA) instead big parties like the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)?
Action Alliance is not a small party. It is older than the APC. It was created in 2005 while the APC was created in 2014. You can call the APC and PDP big parties, but to me, none of them deserves that accolade because they are just one family system kind of political parties, moving from one step to another.
Owners of the PDP said they would rule the country for 60 years, but in 16 years they collapsed. Many of them joined the APC, which is now collapsing. They will soon run back to wherever they find comfort. So both parties are just family names, they are not big. It is the people that make a party to become big, not the name per se.
We brought the Action Alliance in August 2018 and contested for an election in 2019 and took the third position in just six months. If a party you are calling small could just start in six months and register its presence the way we did, indeed, we are competing with people in power. You can recall that they didn’t allow people like us to participate in local government elections because they know we are a big party.
Jigawa State was created 30 years ago; how would you assess the journey so far?
The history of Jigawa is very interesting. Nobody can beat his chest and say he was behind its creation. It was just the will of God; that is why we call it Jigawa tarin Allah ( Jigawa is God’s making). God has given us a gift without our sweat. But it is unfortunate that a lot of us did not build on that advantage. People are only interested in stealing money to build houses in other states or countries. Some create confusion among the emirates. That is what a lot of people are doing, and that is why Jigawa has remained the way it is; not moving very fast.
Talking of Jigawa within the Nigerian context, there is nothing to show, in terms of human, capital and educational development. It is in Jigawa that you will see two, or at most, three teachers in charge of 400 to 500 pupils in primary schools.
Who do you blame for this?
Of course, the government is to be blamed. In fact, it is the governor, who is the leader of the government that I blame. He should be held accountable for his actions here and in the hereafter. Educationally, and in terms of infrastructure, we are backward. They only do roads because they want to make more money, not because they like the people. Look at the road from the state capital here to Birnin Kudu, via Madobi, how many years has it been constructed? Just three years, but go and see the potholes there. How can you construct a road and in just two to three years it becomes very deplorable? That means they are only using that to make money. They don’t fund education and the health sector. Go to our hospitals and see patients lying on the floor and receiving treatment. Also, they don’t have money for medical bills, they can’t pay for beds. They come from poor families. It is very unfortunate and pitiable that a young state is like this.
What is the way out?
The way out is to have honest and capable leaders who are God-fearing
Given your royal background, don’t you think that sometimes your stance would be in conflict with the authorities, either at the political or traditional level?
They will, certainly, but I am not rebelling against anything; I am just telling the truth. I have a degree in Conflict Resolution, which means that I am an expert in resolving conflicts. I also have a degree in Islamic Studies, which means that religiously, I am qualified. I have a degree in Public Administration and one in Social Studies/Education. In all these degrees, which one will not qualify me to talk? Which one will not qualify me to see the people as my constituency?
I am not a troublemaker; I am a peace ambassador. Go and check my history. My problem with people is that I don’t fear anybody. I only fear God. If you do what is bad I will tell you, and if you do good, I will also tell you. Everybody cannot be bad or good.
What is your advice for Governor Badaru?
I have been advising him on education, but he refused to take it. He is a commercial person and I have been advising him on how to improve the quality of commercial activities in the state. He knows me very well. For two years, I have been following him but he refused to change. I also advised him on human development, but he refused to listen. He doesn’t take advice.
What would you tell the people of Jigawa?
Let us come together and face the reality. We should forget our differences and what happened in the past 30 years.
You dropped your turban to embrace politics, what is the position of your title, Ciroman Dutse?
I am still the Ciroman Dutse, I only retired as a district head. As you know, a district head is just like a commissioner or minister. It is just a political appointment. But the Ciroman is from the traditional institution. Even the present emir was the Ciroma before he ascended the throne. I am also hoping and praying to become an emir one day; if not me, maybe my child.
Don’t you think your principles would be in conflict with the position of an emir?
No. I have never asked or lobbied anybody to become an emir, but if it is God’s will I will accept it. I want the position but I don’t put it in my heart. It is not a do-or-die affair.
Has any of your sons joined the big parties?
None. They are free to do so if they feel like; it is their decision. I need them to be as independent as they can be if they want to join politics. Even in my party I don’t influence anybody and I don’t want somebody to be influenced. Let us all work as a team. Success is from God and it is our prayer that he gives us success.