My mum warned me against joining politics – Rep Madaki

Rep Aliyu Sani Madaki: “I always speak my mind.”
Daily Trust: If you look at the take-off of the House, it was very controversial, but it now appears that everything has been settled. What’s responsible for that?

Madaki: The House has stabilized largely due to the way and manner the speaker has been carrying himself as well as the composure of the members.

DT: You’re known to always oppose the Speaker. Why?

Madaki: I’m not fighting the Speaker, and I can’t fight the institution of the National Assembly. After all, who am I? Just a single person out of 360. I don’t have any personal issue with the Speaker. It’s just that I happen to be consistent in what I believe in. When we came, it was through our party, APC, which indicated to us that this is what we should do. Being a loyal party member, I had to follow what the party said. I don’t pretend like many politicians do. I always show my direction, and I speak my mind based on what I believe is right and in the interest of my constituents who brought me to Abuja.

DT: Why do your colleagues shout you down sometimes when you stand to speak on the floor?

Madaki: Well, there was a day I speaking, then some of my colleagues were shouting in support. I had to stop to say ‘this is ridiculous. Allow me to make my point.’ I believe we should be talking based on conviction, philosophy and ideals. I’m the type that says it as it is even if you don’t agree with me. I have no apology for saying what I believe to be right.

DT: What is your relationship with the Speaker right now?

Madaki: We have a very cordial relationship. I don’t have any issues with him. In the last assembly, Speaker Yakubu Dogara used to be one of my closest friends. We only had a problem when he came to contest for speaker, and I decided to follow the directive of our party to support Femi Gbajabiamila.

DT: What motivated you to get into politics in the first place?

Madaki: How I joined politics is a mystery to me, because I can recall there was a time my brother wanted to contest for chairmanship, and I said, “Are you crazy? Politics is for people without job. Don’t ever go into politics.” Incidentally, about two years after that, I went to my late mum and told her that I wanted to resign from my work as a public servant to join politics. She said, “Are you crazy? I can recall you telling your brother not to join politics. Why are you joining now?” What prompted me to join politics was an incident of Third Term bid. It made me to follow my friends then in the House of Reps to beg them not to support Third Term bid. One day, one of them told me that the man who was representing me was the one at the forefront of Third Term. He asked me to talk to my rep. I was really angry. I knew our rep at that time was deep into the agenda, and there was nothing one could do to change his mind.

I then went to Kano, that was in 2006, and called a few politicians in my area and told them I wanted to assist them. I said I wouldn’t join politics but asked them to look for someone whom we could trust so I could support the person. To my greatest surprise, they said that person was right in our presence, then I asked who? They said me. I said no, politics wasn’t for me. They gave me two weeks to think. I then resigned my appointment as an accountant at the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel. I was on Level 13 then. My director initially refused to sign my resignation letter. I went to my permanent secretary, and he refused too. He said I was too young to resign. In the end, I sent people to him and he later consented, that was in November 2006. I contested in 2007 under the then AC and did very well under a new party. By 2011, I contested again and won.

DT: Are you thinking of quitting any time soon?

Madaki: I don’t know. Only God knows. I’m not desperate for anything. Whatever you’ll become, it has been destined by God.

DT: Would you say money politics still holds sway in the House?

Madaki: I won’t say it’s not obtainable, b