Kabiru Gaya Ibrahim

A VOICE FOR HIS PEOPLE!

An Architect, a Senator, a father, a grandfather and a friend to all, Senator Kabiru Gaya is a highly respected, kind, selfless and humble politician. Originally from Gaya town in Kano State, Gaya was Executive governor of Kano state for a short-lived period (1992-1993) due to the military take over at the time. Years later, his selfless and tireless devotion to his people saw him being elected to the Senate house where he has held brief for his constituency from 2007 till date. Style correspondent Safina Mohammed spent the afternoon with him as he opened up about his passion for Architecture and role as a member of the Nigerian Senate. Why did you go into politics?

It’s my desire to help people. I remember when I left the university, I practiced as an Architect, I was making very little income at that time, but I was also assisting my community. I built a library for them and bought books. I built a mosque and was involved in day-to-day activities of the community. I believe that drew me closer to the people. Even though my father was a traditional ruler in the local government, and I was also the youngest in the family, I was able to make an impact in the community. People asked me why I was not into politics? At the time, I said no. As a professional I didn’t want to, but I decided to assist the then gubernatorial candidate Alhaji Aminu Wali. I worked with him and supported him but we didn’t win the elections at that time under NPN. Later as his boy, I worked hard and was lucky to win elections as the Governor of Kano state under NRC

What were your earlier political days like? Was it an easy take blending into the Nigerian political system?

Well I did not take politics as a do or die affair and I also was not planning to contest. If you go into politics and you are not contesting, you will enjoy it. At that time, I was virtually contributing and doing the best I could to help. The little money I made I gave them and they benefitted out of it. But when you make the decision to run for office, that’s when politics becomes difficult and if you are not careful, you end up being messed up.

For the first few years, I had no plans to run for office but finally began to get interested when we go out for campaign. I then developed interest in running for governor after so many people tried to convince/ advise me to run for office. I didn’t have the money to contest but I had the will and zeal to help people and the experience from working with Ambassador Aminu Wali during his campaign. I also knew how to relate with the people. We would travel round Kano state to the villages. I believe up to today, I am one of the few politicians that has visited every village in Kano and Jigawa state I campaigned for two years.

On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your performance in the Senate house so far?

I cannot grade myself, but I do the best I can for my people. I promised them that when I get to the Senate, I will be vocal and make sure I protect their interest, and I believe I have lived up to that promise.

I have done so many projects in my constituency. More than 600 people have being employed within the last few years and still more are getting employed. I built over 200 classroom blocks I even went beyond my local government with over 25 health centres in Kano north, south and central. I built over 396 solar-powered boreholes, each costing about 10million naira.

I have also built some roads and bridges and given out lots of irrigation farms.

What is your ultimate goal when it comes to your work in the Senate? What do you want to be remembered for?

My goal is to contribute to the floor of the Senate. I don’t contribute everyday but whenever I do, I try to have some basic points. The bill for North East development commission will be coming out soon. It’s a very good bill that will take care of six states in the north east and I’m happy the Senate and the House of Reps have joined me on that bill. When the President signs, the North East development commission will be a product of Senator Kabiru Gaya and that makes me proud.

What would you recommend as a way forward to make the Senate and it’s committees more proactive?

First of all, the Senate is doing its best already. Prior to now, when the President brings the budget, we the National Assembly add some money into it but this one surprisingly, we reduced the amount of money in the budget because we do not want the government to borrow too much so we removed some excesses. In the early days, things like computers, library books and trips were a priority which we took off from this budget to save money for the government. This time I really have to praise both the Chairman committee of Operation of the Senate and the Chair committee operation of the House of Reps Senator Goje and Honourable Abdulmumini.

What were the influences that fuelled your desire to becoming an architect?

I developed an interest in it during my secondary school; at that time we did not really know much about Architecture or Engineering, only buildings. I was in JSS2 and they were building new classrooms in my school. I met the building engineer from Ogun state and we became friends. He normally would send me on errands to get things for him. He also noticed my interest in construction and he would advice me. He encouraged me to study sciences. He would explain the concept of building and engineering but I had no interest in engineering so I asked him about the different roles of people when building. He explained to me the importance of Architects, Engineers, Quantity Surveyor and Builders. I kept asking questions and that was when my interest in Architecture begun. He was around for months until the building was completed, when he was leaving, he gave me two books and I kept those books and didn’t use them until I was in the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria to study Architecture. By that time, I had developed so much interest in Architecture that when I was filling the form to enroll in the university I wrote Architecture as my first, second and third choice.

How rewarding is Architecture as a profession in Nigeria?

To me and I think to most people, it is very rewarding. As an Architecture student, I was already working and earning. During that time not many people were aware of the role of Architects but those who were familiar with the profession engaged us regularly. The late Abdulqadir Dantata who was then the Chairman of Dantata & Sawoe Company and Shiekh Isyaka Rabiu were some of the first people that gave me jobs. I made about N5,000 which i used to buy my first car. I have had the opportunity to do so many projects in Abuja and it has been fulfilling and rewarding. The only time I stopped practicing was when I became Governor of Kano state for two years before I was booted by the military. I immediately went back to my profession. I still love and enjoy Architecture and I’m happy to be a member of the Nigerian Architects Association. When I left university I started teaching at the Kano state polytechnic for a while before going back to practice Architecture fully. That’s what made me who I am and that’s what I still depend on. Politics is not a part time job. I always prefer professionals in politics not professional politicians.

When it comes to buildings, how would you describe your signature style?

Well I usually design based on my clients needs. Typical example is the Ship house, it was designed by my company and I was one of the Architects that worked on that project. The Nigerian Port authority invited us for a bidding between three indigenous firms and three foreign ones. We decided to design a building looking like a ship, so that’s how we have the ship house in Abuja today. Unfortunately the military came and booted them out of the place. Also, if you go Kano and take a look at Isyaka Rabius’ house, you would find the concept of Islamic Architecture because he is a religious leader. When you come to my house I am a mixed type person, and so I have a mixture of modern and traditional architecture.

What’s your most fulfilling and rewarding project so far?

Wow I wouldn’t want to talk about the ship house alone. The Isyaka Rabiu house we designed and, I believe is one of my most rewarding projects also the mosque I built in my town, which holds about 1.5million people. It is one of the biggest mosques in Kano state, asides the two in the central part. I

I cannot grade myself, but I do the best I can for my people. I promised them that when I get to the Senate, I will be vocal and make sure I protect their interest, and I believe I have lived up to that promise.

designed the building, supervised and financed part of it and I got contribution from many Nigerians that assisted us in that project. It’s a project that I conceived and achieved and till date the people in my community thank me for it.

What’s your take on the performance of the present government so far and what do you think can be done as regards improvement?

First I must commend to President Muhammadu Buhari and thank God for bringing him on board

He is fighting corruption and that is very important. You can see from day one he started recovering funds from the looters of our treasury. It’s not easy for him because when you fight corruption you have to fight hard otherwise the corruption will fight you back. He is succeeding in the battle. Although the situation in the country might not be so good, very soon the budget will help Nigerians live a better life. His coming to power has changed a lot in the country. Look at the way he has been highly received in different countries all over the world. He is a person who is not corrupt and has no tolerance for corruption. He has the interest of Nigeria at heart. I believe the President is God’s blessing and we should all pray hard so that God guides him to do the best he can for the country and face the issue of development and infrastructure. We need good roads, we need railways and most importantly we need power. The budget is not oil revenue based, which means we can do without oil and develop in agriculture.

What principles do you live by?

I live a simple life and I have an open door policy, my door is always open to visitors. I learnt something from the former Ambassador of the United States who visited us in Kano during the campaign of governorship. He said there was a possibility for me to win the election but there are two things I had to do. He asked if I knew Aminu Kano, which I confirmed. He also asked if I knew Sardauna, which I also confirmed. He then said, for me to win the election in Kano, I would have to do better than them. I asked him how I would be able to fill such big shoes, he said simply asked me to take the good part of each one of them and put them together. He said Sardauna respected the traditional institution and valued them therefore anywhere I go, I should ensure I respect the elites, the educated and traditional Rulers. And as for Aminu Kano, he worked with the masses and related with every common man, he ate, lived, and dressed like the common man. He spoke for the common man. So he advised that when I visit my people, I should be their friend, bring my level to their level, and that is what I have been doing. I do not make promises I cannot fulfill. This is how I live my life

How best would you describe yourself?

I’m just me, ordinary Kabiru from Gaya town in Kano state, a leader, a father, a grandfather and a friend to all.

Who are your role models ?

General Murtala Mohammed. He is the type of President I want for Nigeria. I also admire President Buhari, he is a straightforward leader and a person with a vision, and he is honest and sincere. Also Aminu Kano, Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and, Sardauna they were honest politicians and men of vision and sincerity.

With your hectic schedule, how do you relax? What are your hobbies?

I have a farm; I go there to relax on Sundays. I spend that time with my family. My grandchildren also visit, and I play with them in the swimming pool. I used to play golf but not anymore because of my tight schedule.