Former Deputy Governor of Kano state Professor Hafiz Abubakar is sad about the multiple issues that has arisen from the wide disparities between the leaders and the led in the country. Just like the youths, he is taking time to take stock and note where we all have gone wrong.
At the beginning of the #EndSARS protest, the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, held its 44th conference and AGM in Lagos, and Prof Hafiz Abubakar was there to declare the event open, after which he had an interview with Paul Ukpabio, sharing his feelings about youths, Nigeria and food security as it concerns the north and the entire country.
Prof Hafiz Abubakar has gone down in history as one who willingly walked out of the perks of office as a Deputy Governor, holding his dignity high instead of being associated with what his mind did not conform with.
Do you think the youths have a right to hold the #EndSARS protest at this time?
The right to peaceful protest is guaranteed by the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Where do you think that the youths got it wrong in the Lagos protest where it is alleged that armed soldiers opened fire on the protesters?
By my training as an academician I can only speak to
facts. I am therefore ethically constrained to apportion blame.
Is it possible that a fifth columnist has
infiltrated the youths and now the protest could be discredited?
There is evidence of hoodlum’s infiltration which calls
for caution to halt the slide into anarchy.
The youths have called for review of
salaries of top government workers such as senators, governor’s house of reps
member, is this possible?
I fully support the call for the review of salaries and
allowances of all political and public servants in the country. There are
multiple issues arising from the wide disparities. They need to be addressed
urgently.
Your advice for the youths at this time and
your advice to the federal government too
My advice to the original organizers of the protest is
to calm down and stock-take the situation before charting the way forward.
As for the Federal Government, they should act responsibly in a
transparent manner to address the issues raised by the youth before it's too
late.
It was Nifest 44th Convention and AGM
recently and you were there to declare the event open. Naturally food
sufficiency came to the fore burner, how prepared is Nigeria?
Food sufficiency in Nigeria is still a mirage. Although
we have good policies that seeks to promote it, critical gaps and lack of
understanding the pivotal role of other stakeholders in the agricultural food
value chain has over the years dwarfed progress in the right direction. The
Agro-Food Value Chain has three major components, consisting of production,
processing and finance and marketing linked in a chain, which explains the
strong interdependence. For quite some time our agricultural policies and
programmes have concentrated on number one which is production at the expense
of the two other critical components hence delaying our journey to food
self-sufficiency as a nation.
Apparently there has been mass motivated
programmes targeted at agriculture in time past like Operation Feed The Nation,
wouldn’t such a programme be necessary at this point in time?
I agree with you we need a new programme with the same
spirit like Operation Feed The Nation but with a total paradigm shift. In the
food value chain, production is at the beginning of the horizontal chain while
processing is the centre and finance and marketing is at the end of the chain.
To achieve Food Security and Sustainable Economic growth we must recognize and
accord processing that central role as is provided in the Food Value Chain.
This is a universal concept, tested and trusted. The application of this
concept after the Second World War is responsible for the economic growth of
Europe and USA and the Soviet Union. Nigeria is endowed with agro and food
resources to lead Africa in securing ourselves, the continent and as global
players. Regrettably, our political and bureaucratic leadership lack the
understanding and will to follow the directions that will take us to the land
of prosperity.
Recently also Nifest became chartered, with
this what advantage do you see in Nifest?
The signing into law by President Muhammad Buhari on
the 16th of October 2019 the Act establishing the Nigerian Council of Food
Science and Technology is a welcome development, long overdue. It simply means
Food Science and Technology is now recognized by law as a Profession. It will
begin to generate more interest by our youth to join the profession like other
older ones like Engineering, Law and so on. It will stimulate development in
the processing component of the value chain leading to wealth creation and
economic prosperity. It will engender trust in our food product exports
especially by the international community seeing that our Food Value Chain is
now being regulated more and is driven by regulated professionals. These benefits
are not exhaustive. Overall it an additional stimulus to Wealth creation and
Economic growth.
Kano has always been the centre of commerce
in the north of Nigeria. At present what relevance can you say that Kano has in
contributing to the agricultural development of the country?
Kano remains the center of commerce for the North. A
position it gained Pre-Colonial Nigeria. It is endowed with a huge flat arable
land, fertile soil, a mix of good climate and medium rainfall pattern.
Furthermore, Kano is lucky to have the largest water reservoir in the country
with 15 Dams and an active surface water holding of well over 3.5 Billion cubic
meters. This, places it at an advantage position for both wet and dry season
farming. Consequently agriculture contributes to more than 60 % of the states
GDP.
There was a time that Kano state was known
for her groundnut pyramids, can the state make a comeback with the groundnut
pyramids?
From the facts stated earlier, Kano has the potential
of re-creating Groundnut Pyramids, Rice Pyramids, Tomatoes Pyramids, Sorghum
Pyramids, Sesame Pyramids and a host of other Food Commodities Pyramids.
However, what we need now are more Oil mills, Rice mills, Tomatoes processing
plants and so on, as a matter of paradigm shift. The emphasis should be to make
food available, adequate in essential nutrient content, and affordable by the
low income and the poor. This is the correct road to a food secure and
prosperous nation.
What was it like being the Deputy Governor
in Kano state though very religious but also open and accommodating to people
from other parts of Nigeria.
(Laughs) On a serious note, it was a great honour and
privileged for me to serve my state as Deputy Governor. I owe a debt of
gratitude to the present Governor HE. Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and his
Predecessor HE Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for the opportunity. I didn't contest for
the position. They consulted and invited me from the University. It's a great
and life time experience. I learned a lot about my state, people, my country
and the realities driving our nation. I can comfortably say there is a very
wide gap between critical stakeholders in this country, that is the Academia
and Politics and the Political Leadership at all levels.
Most Northern leaders started out as
teachers, and you are one too?
Yes. I am one. And I am not only one but am the son,
grand son and great great son of teachers. So
my wife is a teacher, my eldest son is a teacher. My daughter is a Teacher. So
you can deduce from that.
Do you miss the classroom?
I didn't allow a gap to miss it. As Deputy Governor I
continued supervision of my PG (PhD) students.
There was a time that there was a paucity
of educated people in the north of Nigeria but today it’s a different story,
tell us about the silent revolution going on in education and agriculture
sectors in Kano and viz a viz the north
Kano was lucky to have a visionary leader at inception
in 1967 and that was in the person of Late CP Audu Bako of blessed memory. He
laid a World Class foundation for Agricultural and Educational development.
Many of his successors built on that.
What motivated you to education at an early
age and inspired you to be a professor?
My grandfather! As a pioneer student of Food and
Nutritional Sciences from Kano State, I was motivated to get to the top. I
thank God for fulfilling my dreams. I am the first Kano state unregenerate to
become a Professor of Food and Nutritional Biochemistry: The first in Bayero
University Kano.
How did you get into politics, was it
deliberate?
I was a follower of political activities since
childhood. The Great Nationalist and Champion of the poor Mal. Aminu Kano of
blessed memories was our neighbor. We came from the same clan, ward and local
government in Kano.
In Nigeria, people don’t resign from public
offices even in the face of whatever, perhaps because of the perks of office.
Is dignity bigger than the perks of office?
I came from a dignified poor family of Ulamas (Teachers
in Islamic theology). Decency was central to our bringing. For me, l continue
to thank and pray for my deceased parents who have inculcated in me to cherish
ones dignity over all world attractions. So, yes, for me dignity is
bigger than the perks of office.
You also aspired to be a governor in Kano
state, is the zeal to serve still there hot and burning?
Before I answer you let me give a little background.
When I resigned my position as Deputy Governor on the 4th of August 2018, I
rested for only two months receiving well-wishers, counseling my followers,
reflecting on my experiences and thanking God. I wrote and requested for my
reinstatement to the University. It was approved and I resumed duties as a
Professor to my department on the 1st of November 2018. In the University I
held the position of a Head of Department, Deputy Dean ,Pioneer Dean of a
Faculty, Pioneer Director of a Centre of Research and finally Deputy Vice
Chancellor (Academics) of Bayero University. I was called to serve my people
from that seat as Deputy Governor. Currently am serving as a Visiting Professor
at the National Universities Commission, Abuja, crisscrossing the country
offering my service for the development of University education in our beloved
country. It is clear from the foregoing that am willing to serve my country in
any capacity at all times.
Tell us a few of the things that you hope
to do differently if you get into such office to serve?
I will look into how I handle some of my relationships
with peers, bosses and so on differently.
Who have been your role models?
My role models have been Mal. Aminu Kano, Abubakar
Tafawa Balewa , Sardauna of Sokoto of blessed memories.
Any regrets so far?
No regrets at all.
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