WHAT YOU DONT KNOW ABOUT PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI…….Hajia Maryam Yakubu

it was directly from a source that can speak well of President Muhammadu Buhari, one of cousin to him, Hajia Maryam Yakubu, wife of Deputy Governor of Katsina State. She gave an insight to the kind of person Mr President is in this interview. A graduate of Catering Services and Community Development from Kaduna Polytechnic, Hajis bares her mind on why the President is a rare being….

When did you join politics?

I have been in politics since 2003 when my cousin also joined politics.

The family had to join politics through my husband who is also the current deputy governor of Katsina State.

Do you engage in any other business aside politics?

Of course yes. My flair for cookery is the reason for my opening of a

catering school which l combine with my politicking. It might also

interest you to know that l also have an NGO, ‘Women Unity of Kaduna

State’ (WOKA); it is geared towards the uplift of women.

President Muhammadu Buhari is your uncle; tell us some of the hidden qualities

 He is strict, It is his nature.  Just forget that facial look you know when he was in the military, he acted as a military man and now that we are in a democracy, he would adjust.  I want to tell you that

he has a very simple mind, he is very understanding and he listens to people’s problem.  He is a very honest person. You know one funny thing, even at home, he sometimes forgets that he is no longer in the military and the moment we alert him that ‘oga, you are no longer in the military too.’  Then, he will laugh and adjust.

Could you enlighten us on the activities of your NGO and

how it has impacted on the lives of the people?

Just as the name implies, the NGO has touched on the lives of women

and by extension the homes because we have been able to empower many

women by training them in such skills as making of pomade, liquid soap

etc. These are things that help to uplift their standard of living

without them making request from their husbands. Our NGO marked its

10th anniversary on the 14th of February, last year.

How would you rate the participation of women in politics, especially in the northern part?

It is very impressive because their level of participation has

actually improved. One basic fact is that women are very vital in

winning elections. They play a very important role but the irony of

the matter is that they suffer and work hard for the party but at the

end of the day we are not the ones benefiting in the politics of

Nigeria. Women are hardworking and honest.  More so, a woman sticks to her guns. She maintains her stand. If she takes a position, she sticks to it. She would never shift ground no matter what comes up later.

But they seem to be marginalized by their male counterparts?

I would say it is the pattern of politics being played in Nigeria. In

Nigeria, they do not recognize women as important tool in politics

whereas we play very important role.

You said northern women participation in politics is encouraging. Can you cite examples of such women who have contributed towards politics in Nigeria?

You see, women of those days made great contributions. The likes of

late Gambo Sawaba,  late Laila Dogonyaro and some others who really made a mark.

Were you part of the train?

Oh No. I was not part of the train because l was young then. I did not

start politics until when they finished theirs. (Laughter.)

How can you compare their own politics with today’s politics?

Well, we are trying our best. Even now, we have good ones. You know we are

learning from them. They actually encouraged women to come out as politicians.

Would you say husbands are giving their wives necessary support politically?

The problem we have in the north is that they apply religion in the

issue of politics. You know our religion does not allow women to

expose ourselves the way men do. This is why we are having problem.

Are you saying women should not participate in politics because of this issue?

No, women should participate. Our religion allows it.  Some of these

men you know take advantage of some of these rules Allah placed on

women to deprive them of some opportunities. For instance; in Islam, a woman cannot be a leader.  This, l would say is the main reason why women are so backward

in politics. If not for it, honestly speaking, we would have a woman

president.

But there is this notion that women don’t vote for their fellow women.

Women are expected to vote for their fellow women. Gradually, we would get there.

We are trying to change this. Any woman that comes out to contest for

any elective post; women are supposed to support her so that she can win. We hope to see things working out better politically.