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Engr. Musa A. Ibrahim In An Exclusive Interview With APC NewsOnline Media.

 

ENGR MUSA A. IBRAHIM, AN APC ASPIRANT FOR KOGI CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT, ADVOCATES FOR THE RESUSCITATION OF THE MORIBUND AJAOKUTA STEEL COMPANY, AND THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF EBIRA CULTURAL FESTIVALS TO ATTRACT GLOBAL TOURISM; IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH APC NEWSONLINE MEDIA.

 

The publisher of APC NewsOnline, Dr Tom Ohikere alongside the sub editor, Mr Theophilus Enemali had an exclusive interview with the Kogi Central Senatorial aspirant, Engr Musa Ibrahim as a build up to the 2023 General Election.

 

APC NewsOnline Media: Sir, you are warmly welcome to APC NewsOnline Media Studio. It is really heartwarming to see a perfect gentleman and a young man in his prime vying for seat at the senate. Sir, may we meet you?

Engr. Musa Ibrahim: My name is Musa Ibrahim, I’m an engineer and a consultant. I’m into engineering consulting and general construction of road bridge and urban development. I’m from Okene Local Government area of kogi state and am married with children. Thank you very much for having me. I’m grateful.

APC NewsOnline Media: Sir, Legislation is a very serious business. And as a focused individual that you have been, what positive effect and change do you hope to bring on board, when you become a senator?

Engr. Musa Ibrahim: Thank you very much for that beautiful question. You know, my people need very excellent representation. At this point, they need someone who has the intelligence, integrity, adequate exposure to the social realities of the world and someone with a deep sincerity of purpose. What I think my people don’t do at the national assembly is exclusive interaction with the people being represented. So, I will have an all-inclusive method of bringing everyone’s viewpoints to light. There are senators that are just a portfolio senator. It is not what my people need at the moment. They need someone with the correct network that has the ability to attract and lobby for people’s-oriented projects. You have to definitely interact with the appropriate people. For instance, the Ajaokuta Steel company that has been moribund for several years could have been one of the major sources of great development not just for Kogi, but Nigeria in general. The Steel company is said to be at 98% completion. Yet, it seems far from being functional and that’s the reason Nigeria continues to be a mono-resource economy, with over dependence on oil and gas. I will strive with every fiber of my being, when given the opportunity. The Ajaokuta steel company when functional, has a capacity to engage thousands of youths and even make Nigeria one of the leading countries in steel.

APC NewsOnline Media: Good one! Talking about Ajaokuta Steel Company, a lot of the people have the view that Kogi politicians and even others continue to use the moribund steel company for electioneering or campaign, given some views that a kind of international politics seem to be involved in making Ajaokuta Steel Company moribund. So, how would you convince the electorate that you are of a different breed from others.

Engr. Musa Ibrahim: Thank you very much for that question. To be honest, I have a very personal principle and ideology, and that is, any position you find yourself, deliver creditably because posterity will judge us all. In the light of this, I can’t seek an elective position for the sake of selfish desires. Thus, I’m completely a different breed, even though it may seem like the same narrative of politicians, there are exemptions to them. So, I will ensure that I will play all the right cards to make sure Ajaokuta Steel Company will become the success it was created to be.

APC NewsOnline Media:: There are a lot of youths in your senatorial district who are jobless, same as many parts of Nigeria. So, what’s your plan to make the youths more productive if eventually you get elected.

Engr. Musa Ibrahim: The issue of the youth is one of the reasons, I want to run for this senatorial election, because, I belong to the same generation of this amazing and creative youths, who are unemployed because of so many factors that we can right in our society. Sadly, the unemployment rate continues to skyrocket. And this is the reason, a lot our vibrant youths are becoming very restive and into crimes. Nicely, there are many mineral deposits in Kogi state that remain untapped. This could have changed the wrong narratives in our state in general and Kogi Central in particular. You see, there are ways to involve a lot of institutions that would help to engage the youth though some sort of financial grant and starter-up pack that would enable them to become self-sufficient.

At this point, it is very important to thank Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for a very amazing work that he has been doing in the area of youth empowerment, which has drastically reduced the insecurity to the barest minimum, as a matter of fact. Kogi State is among the states with the least crime rate in Nigeria and unarguably the most peaceful state in northern Nigeria. So, by the time, I’m elected, I will ensure that the social investment programme for the youths in my district will be an inclusive programme that will change the face of the place.

Furthermore, do you know that the rich cultural heritage of Kogi Central Senatorial district, which is not just beautiful, but glorious, can be commercialize and this will become a point of tourist attractions. The Ebira people have one of the richest and entertaining festivals in north central Nigeria. A lot of our young people with creative energy, continue to roam the street because they do not have the right opportunities to showcase their talent. As we all know, talents are in abundance, but the right opportunities are lacking. If you go to Mexico and Brazil, these countries have commercialized their cultural heritage centres, through the vibrancy of their youths, thereby engaging the creative youths and and even reaching international audience, as people visit from other part of the world.

APC NewsOnline Media::  Thank you very much, a lot of people are now talking about internal democracy and its benefits. Some people feel that direct primaries are more inclusive, while indirect primary election seem to favour the anointed ones. This was the reason the electoral act amendment bill was not signed. So, as a senatorial aspirant, which do you favour?

Engr. Musa Ibrahim: I will take an exemption to choose which one I think is favourable or not, however, I have things to say about both. You see, the direct primary gives the people the opportunity to be part of the selection process of whom becomes the party flagbearer. However, this can become very problematic and chaotic, if not well managed. The indirect primary, which allows selected delegates to vote on behalf of other party card carrying members, can be practiced. You see, it is important that even the determination of the delegates should be purely democratic, not a sort of an imposition. If we want to leave a lovely legacy for the net election, we must ensure that whether it is direct primary or indirect primary, it should be purely democratic.

APC NewsOnline Media:: Sir, you an engineer and very much into constructions and all that. The federal roads in Kogi state are not in good shape, even in your senatorial districts some roads are nearly impassable. Last year, there several awards of road projects, but I doubt if any was allocated to Kogi. Sir, if you become a senator, how do you hope to attract and lobby for federal projects in your constituency.

Engr. Musa Ibrahim: I think that may not be very correct because I travel home all the time, and the projects funded by the Federal Government in Kogi state especially in the areas of road constructions are in great progress at different levels. The president Muhammadu Buhari administration, deserves very huge commendation. The achievement cut across different segments. From the provision of infrastructural facilities, to several social investment programmes, the home-grown school feeding programme that has so many children enrolled in school in northern Nigeria. This is a great feat for this administration. So, the view that Kogi state is not attracting projects enough is not true. However, the masses need more people-oriented program, which is the reason, I want to be at the corridor of power to add more values to the lives of my people.

APC NewsOnline Media:: Sir, you know one of the millennium development goals is gender equality. In Kogi state for example, the governor, Yahaya Bello gave equal play ground that even gave opportunities to women to be elected as the vice chairman of all the local government. How do you hope to have an inclusive government in your constituency when elected?

Engr. Musa Ibrahim: The governor of Kogi State, Governor Yahaya Bello, is an exceptional leader. In fact, he deserves great applause for running an inclusive government. So, when I become the senator, I will engage in women empowerment, so that many women especially in rural and disadvantaged community. I will do the best I can to ensure that the women will be given the necessary thing to thrive and not just be a dependent at all time.

APC NewsOnline Media: sir, a lot of people in many communities in your constituency, sometimes find it hard to even enroll their children for SSCE, Sir would this be part of your plan to help these students enroll for SSCE? some senators seem to be doing this?

Engr. Musa Ibrahim: Thank you very much for that question. I have never been a senator; I am just vying for the position. If you go to my community and ask, they will tell the many things I have done in terms of philanthropism. Every year, nearly 100 to 150 students Jamb fee are being paid from my fee.  About 50-70 students WAEC fee are being paid annually from my purse. So, I don’t have to be a senator to do this. But as a senator, it will give me greater opportunities to help thousands of people in my constituency in this regard. If I become successful in this pursuit, I will improve upon what I have been doing. This is what leadership all about.

APC NewsOnline Media:  Sir, how would convince your electorate to vote for you and convince them that you are the most sellable candidate?

Engr. Musa IbrahimThe truth speaks for itself. My antecedent as being one of the leading supporters and sponsors of community projects, alongside a whole lot of other philanthropic gestures, would make them know that if they give me bigger opportunities, I would do greater things. As they say, action speaks for itself.

APC NewsOnline Media:  Thank you very much, Engr Musa Ibrahim, it’s a great pleasure to have you at APC NewsOnline Media Studio.

We wish you a resounding success at the polls. 

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