By Chioma Gabriel, Deputy Editor
The history of Nigeria’s politics will not be complete without  mention of a frontline female politician, Sarah Jubril who remains the only woman to consistently aim for the most coveted seat of power, the Presidency.

Since 1991, she has been consistent in this quest, starting off on the platform of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in 1991 and from 1999, has been on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.  Sarah Jubril’s name has occasionally  featured  whenever the issue of consensus comes up but in this interview, the woman of worths insists she has no business with consensus candidacy. Excerpts.

You are the only female amongst the super male politicians from the North in the quest for consensus candidacy on the platform of PDP…

I am also a super woman in Nigeria and from the North. I am not a weakling. These people you are referring to as supermen, do they have the integrity that Nigeria desires at this point? Some of them are the chief traitors of this nation’s destiny and they are practising politics with deceit. That doesn’t make anybody a superman. It is integrity that makes a super person. I am a super woman and a super citizen of this country.

Frontline female politician, Sarah Jubril

Politics should  not be about super money. It is about super character, super integrity, super discipline. Let your imagination go beyond what you are seeing. The people you are talking about may have money to spray around but character and integrity is superior to corruption.

Nigerians should change their mentality. That I don’t have money does not make me less a person in this quest.  I have character, I have integrity, I have education, I am a mother and has a God-given wisdom. I think big.

Why did you tie your presidential aspiration to this issue of Northern consensus candidate?

I am not part of the consensus aspirants. I cannot deny where I come from. I am from the North but I am not part of these men seeking consensus. No consensus aspirant from the North will stop me from contesting the PDP presidential primary. I don’t attend their gathering and whatever they decide does not concern me in any way.

The only problem we have in PDP is the issue of zoning and I am still talking about that because President Jonathan should respect zoning. Obasanjo had a term of eight years. It was based on zoning.

This Nwodo you are seeing today was there when this decision was made and he was the national secretary of PDP and he knows. He wrote to Rimi that they were returning his N2 million donation. And in 2002, it was because of zoning that Obasanjo had to contest again.

He was given that free rein. Jonathan was there and he voted on behalf of Bayelsa when he was the acting governor. So, Anenih wrote and declared zoning. The party Chairman endorsed. The President endorsed and so many others including the President of the Senate. They even tried to get a third term for Obasanjo and that is what baffles me.

Are political leaders not meant to be men of integrity? Why are they perpetrating lies? I can say it because I am a woman and if nobody else does, I will. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. If they wrote to Alhaji Rimi that he should not contest, then the same should also apply to Goodluck Jonathan. This is the way gentlemen behave. It is Jonathan’s presidential ambition that is causing crisis in PDP. It is not the turn of the South.

But I am not contesting on their zoning anyway. I am contesting on the true zoning of God. He created two zones of men and women. It is from men and women that zoning should emerge.

If the men are having problem with themselves, then, the natural constituency in every home should not. We are in every home. Women have been marginalised since independence in 1960. That is 50 years. So, we are demanding for restitution from PDP.  My ticket will represent our restitution, not zoning, not consensus.

You are ranked as a Northerner and each time analysis is made since you declared your interest, your chances are considered in the midst of the four.

No. I am not part of consensus. This is the conspiracy of the men and the press. I bought my forms, the primaries are supposed to come in January. I will contest primary. I don’t know about consensus.Basedon constitutional integrity, I will contest primary. Let President Goodluck stand on the part of integrity.

The presidency was not zoned to Yar’Adua .It was zoned to the entire North. Therefore,I expect President Goodluck to withdraw from the race if he is a  Christian.   Christian and this is the truth.

He has no business being in the race. I have reported him to CAN. Why should people encourage President Goodluck to tell lies, to deny zoning. He is a Christian and I am standing on the righteousness of God to tell him to withdraw from the presidential race. I have no apologies.

Why are men of God in this country not speaking to him? God is not the author of confusion. I have written a letter to CAN. I have written to PDP. I have written NCWS. What is NAWOJ doing? What has it done?

I did not join any consensus. I am standing on my own. I am contesting at the primaries. And by the way, I don’t think all of these aspirants would scale through the EFCC or SSS or clear their records to be able to contest elections. If Nigeria is committed ethical system, then I don’t think all of these men will qualify and I will come out as unopposed candidate of the PDP. For me, it is character against naira.

PDP seems to be battling with crises. Don’t you see these crises affecting the party in the next elections?
If PDP is wise, all of them, Jonathan, IBB, Atiku and so on should all withdraw and put me up as the Presidential candidate instead of this disgrace going on.

That is the only thing that will save them but if the men remain chauvinistic and politically ignorant, then, they have a problem to solve. But I have offered myself as the solution, the neutraliser, the rescuer of the party and the solver of Nigeria’s political problems. Brazil has elected a woman president. Let them give the candidacy to me and enjoy tranquility. PDP should be wise to consider my candidacy. I am on a rescue mission.

You have been on the presidential aspiration since 1991. What is the guarantee that you will make it this time?

I am more than qualified all these while. I am more qualified than these super men you talked about. Since 1991, I won my elections in the ward, local government and state level. It’s the men that have been conspiring against me. Go to Kwara. I have been winning elections. People don’t know what I am going through. I am being sabotaged and I am saying no. In this my quest, I am renouncing caucus because I am on a rescue mission in this country. They think I’m poor.

But they are mistaken. As long as these corrupt people continue to rule over this country, I will not give up. By the way, Abraham Lincoln, how many times did he contested? I am not discouraged. I am not afraid. I will follow this aspiration to the end.

Do you think you can weather the storm when you consider the Nigerian factor and the fact that Nigeria is bigger and tougher than some of these countries that women are elected president?

Don’t underrate my God. You don’t just know what God can do. My quest is not about money. I am not competing with the moneybags. I have none to spray around. But I want to take this country to the next level.

In 1991, I contested presidential primary of the Social Democratic Party alongside MKO Abiola and the rest. I sold everything in my house to raise N10,000 to contest and I made the fourth position. I can still make it.

Why are you discouraged?

One thing we should never do in life is to reckon without God. God can overcome moneybags. God can overcome corruption, hypocrisy, deceit, and this time around, everybody shall see what I’m talking about.