Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar Karaye was the
first Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly between 1979 and 1983
and onetime acting governor of the state under the regime of the late
Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi. In this interview, Karaye explains why he did
not acquire much wealth while in office. He also reveals that he could
not stay in Kano city after leaving office because he didn’t own a house
in the city.
Who is Abdullahi Abubakar Karaye?
I was born in 1937 in Karaye town Karaye Local Government Area of Kano State. I did my elementary school in Karaye, before proceeding to Government Teachers’ College (GTC) Wudil and then Katsina College. I also went to the School for Arabic Studies (SAS), Kano and then Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria where I read Education. After my graduation, I went to England for further studies. I joined the civil service as a teacher and rose through the ranks to become a headmaster, education secretary and then a supervisor.
What happened after you left office?
I went straight to my hometown, Karaye, where I am still staying with my people. I went back home because I owned nothing in Kano, apart from a single plot of land located at UDB Road in Nassarawa GRA. Even that plot I cannot develop it because I don’t have the means. So when I finished my tenure, I didn’t have a house in Kano city to accommodate my family, therefore I went back to my family house in Karaye and stayed there with other members of the family.
You mean as a Speaker, you didn’t have money to build a house in Kano city at that time?
(Laugh) To be honest with you, I didn’t have. And what may interest you is that during my time, we designed so many GRAs and distributed plots to so many people in the state, but I swear to God we never allocated plots to ourselves, our children or relations. We created the present Hotoro GRA, Farm Centre, among others and allocated plots to various people in these areas, but we never allocated any to ourselves or relations. I can also recall that Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA) and Gidan Gona at Farma Centre were all created during my time. But I left office without having a hut, not to talk of a complete house in Kano city. I only owned a piece of plot, but not a house. Whenever you see me in Kano, I just come to do my business and go back to Karaye.
Why didn’t you acquire many plots despite your involvement in allocating them to other citizens?
Well, as somebody who is saddled with the responsibility to look after the welfare and wellbeing of the people of Kano State, I felt it was not proper for me to do so. So, I always felt uncomfortable as a speaker to request for something for myself. Honestly, I felt as a leader it was not the right thing to do because I was not voted into office to enrich myself. Therefore, after I was allocated a plot at UDB road, I promised that I will never request for any favour for myself.
And the unfortunate thing is that some people are presently trying to snatch that plot from me, which I am resisting. I am still fighting for my right.
What do you mean by you are still fighting for your right?
As I have said earlier, some people are trying to snatch the plot from me and we are in court right now. They claimed to have been allocated the land in 2013, while I got my certificate of occupancy for the plot in 1982. We are currently in court seeking legal redress on the matter.
What was your experience as a Speaker?
Well, somebody who was dealing with over 120 members of the state assembly, I felt very courageous because whenever I talked to them, they listened and they always believed what I said to them. In fact, there has never a time I had a quarrel with a lawmaker in the house. They always respected me and I also respected them. This is to tell you how peacefully we related in the house at that time. We never argued with each other as members and there was never a time when we argued with the governor.
What was the secret of the good working relationship you said you enjoyed with other lawmakers at the house during your time?
I think the secret is one. Whatever we do is for the benefit of the electorate who voted us into the house. We never passed a resolution that was against the wishes of our people. So we were always together and we struggled for a common goal.
Therefore, we worked as a family for the benefit of the people in the rural areas and that’s all.
Are you still in touch with your former colleagues in the state House of Assembly?
Of course, I’m in touch with them. They visit me in Karaye from time to time and whenever I come to Kano, we also meet and discuss so many issues, including politics. And whoever among us is having ceremony like wedding and so on, we do attend. So, in a nutshell, we are still together and our relationship has gone beyond us. It has been extended to our children and grand children as well. I am praying that our children, grand children and great-grand children will maintain it.
How can you compare politics of your time and now?
Well, politics during our time was entirely different from the way people are doing politics these days. And the difference is that in those days, all we were doing was for the interest of the common people. Wherever we found ourselves, we worked for the electorate, but nowadays members of the states and national assemblies, I believe only work for their own benefits not for the common people. Only a few of them work for the common people, while majority work for themselves and their families. I could remember during our time as members of the state assembly - between 1979 and 1983 - the salary of a lawmaker in the house was N800, while I as the Speaker was earning N1, 250 monthly up to the end of my tenure.
Why does it seem like the politicians of your time were more concerned about the common man than the present ones?
I am sure it is because we were elected largely to work for the electorate. The electorate voted us into the House, purposely to improve their welfare and because we believed in that, we worked for them not for ourselves. But the present lawmakers at both the states and national assemblies are not discharging their duties as expected by the electorate. But I think it is due to change of time and behaviours.
If you were to be given another chance to serve in government, what will you do differently?
(Laugh) I don’t think I will accept such a position and even if I do, I think I will not last long without being impeached, because I cannot support anything that is against the wish of the common people. And I am sure the politicians of today will not be comfortable with my political ideology.
What advice do you have for the present politicians?
My advice to them is to always fear God while dealing with their subjects. They should always work for the benefit of the electorate who devoted their time and elected them into various political offices.
You worked with the late Muhammad Abubakar Rimi, the former governor of Kano State. How can you describe the experience?
Well, the late Abubakar Rimi was a good leader and a hardworking politician. He was the type that many people will be happy to be associated with. He was a firm person, straight forward and committed. I really enjoyed working with him.
People of your calibre mostly go into farming after leaving office. Are you into farming?
Well, farming cannot do because as you can see I’m blind and without eyes, therefore I cannot go into farming. And I’m not a rich person for me to hire people to do it for me. So honestly, I’m not into any form of farming. Since my retirement, I have remained devoted to Allah and I’m contented with my position because I’m living peacefully with my people.
How did you become blind?
It was towards the end of my tenure as speaker; I became blindaccidentally.
There was a time I had so many files to treat on my table. I read many motions that day. In fact, I did not leave office that day until around 2am and on my way home, an insect which in Hausa we call Mairuwa hit my eyes and that was the beginning of my blindness.
Daily Trust
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