Alhaji Sada Salisu Rumah is the Senior Special Assistant on Diplomatic and Society Relations to Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema of Katsina State. By the virtue of his office, he is the governor’s chief public relations strategist and a peace maker.

He worked to give a sense of belonging to non-indigenes in Katsina following which his principal used his experience as a lawyer of high repute to rename the Association of Non-Indigenes  as Association of Indigenous Nigerians Resident in Katsina.  By this, the non-indegenes  are now  entitled to free education, healthcare and all other things indegenes are entitled to in the state. In this interview, Rumah speaks on his mandate. Excerpts:

Recently you went on a state wide tour. What motivated the tour?
It’s true that Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema has charged my office with the responsibility of sensitizing the people about government activities and bringing them closer to the government.  We are doing our best to discharge this responsibility and the recent tour is part of this effort to build a bridge of understanding among the diverse peoples resident in Katsina State on the one hand and between the people and government on the other.

Gov Ibrahim Shema

During our tour of the thirty four local government areas, we made consultations, listened to their  views and aspirations of the different ethnic, social, cultural and religious groups of Nigerians resident in the state.  The aim was to make every Nigerian feel at home and have a sense of belonging. It is also to make every one understand that despite our differences, God has ordained us to live together as brothers and sisters and we can do this comfortably once we are committed to mutual respect and understanding.

We have conducted the first and second phases of the tour.  We suspended the third phase because of the Ramadan Fasting. We intend to resume immediately and we are encouraged by the support of His Excellency and the involvement of the Commissioners of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and of Information as well as the General Managers of the State Radio and Television which has made the tour a huge success.

How do you think people will benefit from the tour?
Our interaction will promote understanding among Nigerians from various parts of the country living in Katsina State.  It will also reassure non-indigenes that they are accepted and at home in the state. We want to leave no one in doubt that Katsina State is truly the Home of Hospitality and, in our state, every one is involved in the effort to promote political, socio-economic, religious and cultural harmony.

Just as every one is involved, so also every one is equally entitled to the benefits of programmes and policies of government.  That is why in Katsina, both indigenes and non-indigenes benefit from free education, free healthcare services for children under five years, pregnant and nursing mothers and treatment for diseases such a malaria and kidney problems.

Another important component of the tour is to consolidate the peace and security in the state especially in the face of the security challenges faced in the country.  We have enjoyed peace through prayers and deliberate effort to promote understanding among the people.  Peace and security is important as an enabling environment for people to pursue their livelihood.

Our vision is to create an environment in which both indigenes and non-indigenes in the state have equal opportunities and free hand to contribute to the economic, social and political development of the state. Some times peoples are masters of their fate as they tend to forget that the responsibility of shaping society in to the right path is an obligation for all.

Here, the duty of government is to open the gate of success to its people.  It’s the responsibility of the people to make good use of the opportunities.  For example, the Governor Ibrahim Shema-led administration has constructed the youths craft village to train youths in various skill acquisition programmes.

Youths are trained and then given working materials to set-up businesses on graduation.  By doing this, government has created the opportunity.  It is left to the youths to take advantage and become self reliant or to dispose the working materials provided to them by government at the gate of the training centre.

You have shed light on Governor Ibrahim Shema administration’s effort toward empowering the youths.  What is your department doing to complement this effort?

Yes, the administration of Governor Ibrahim Shema has contributed immensely toward making the youths and other people in the state to become self-reliant. The government has improved agricultural activities through the provision of fertilizer, soft agricultural loans, farming implements and insecticides to farmers. These are geared to ensure food security.

Business Apprenticeship Training Centres (BATC) have been established in some local governments to train youths in skills and trades. Soft loans have been provided to small scale and medium traders.  Even local business-men and women have benefited from government intervention.

I mean what is your department doing to assist in this effort?
The department of Diplomacy and Societal Relations has opened a door to listen and act on complaints of inadequacy, cheating or abuse of office among government organizations and staff. My office has received several complaints from the public regarding the formulation and implementation of government programmes and policies.  We have channeled such complaints and views of the people to the appropriate agencies for solutions.

Secondly, this office has also been carrying out sensitization on the importance of peaceful co-existence among the people.  This is important because peace is pivotal to the success of any government policy or programme, so we are assisting by promoting the enabling environment for government policies and programmes to succeed.