In this interview, Senator Nenadi Esther Usman (PDP Kaduna), explains how the vote on the amendment of Section 29 (4b) of the Constitution was lost and calls on the Senate to revisit the matter.
Mrs Sarah Jibrin made an attempt to become the first female president in the country but failed. Can a woman become president in this country soon?
Of course, a woman can rule this country... but I can't tell you when. Women have ruled in several countries of the world even here in Africa. Look at the Liberian case, a woman is there as President today. She is President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. We have another woman who was a President of Brazil, we've had Margaret Thatcher the great Iron lady in Britain. Even in Islamic countries like Pakistan, we've had Bhutto as President. It's a doable thing, and I think if Nigerian men were to give a woman a chance they will definitely see the difference, most especially if the woman is giving a chance under the flag of PDP.
What is the Senate doing in terms of legislation to reduce poverty among the women folk?
Well, the only thing the Senate can do as you rightly pointed out is to make legislation. They are not the ones to execute the law. Whether the laws are executed, it's not in the Senate power to determine.
But, I think, a time has come that we need to fight poverty within the face of the woman. That is why I am making an exception and began to share 406 cars to all women PDP leaders in Southern Kaduna. It's something that has never been done either in this state or in any other part of the country. These cars could be used either for personal or for commercial transport businesses.
This is just a step towards empowering the woman folk. The more women occupy positions, the more they think of themselves and plan for the future of their children.
As the only woman from the North-West Zone in the Senate, what are the challenges you face?
There are challenges. First and foremost, when you are in the Senate, you don't count yourself as a man or woman senator. We are just senators. But there are times when one is at crossroads because you wish something happens but it can't happen.
The last one was the issue of Section 29 (4b). Those of us at the constitutional amendment committee had actually come up with an idea that the section should be deleted because it has always been there. The entire committee presented it to the senate to be voted at large. We mobilised women groups and they came, watching us from the gallery. The first time the vote was taken, it scaled through. For some of us who had to leave the chamber to attend to other assignments, I was shocked while I was away (which is why I was not registered because I was not physically present at that time in the chamber), the issue was brought back and the voting took place again and we lost.
We have only eight women in the Senate. That was a day I wish we had more women than that number. If we had more women than that number, we would have carried the day. It is something that I felt bad about.
That is why when people like Hauwa Shekarau came up with a petition, alongside other civil society groups, I willingly signed onto it. We want the Senate to revisit the issue and vote again.
People from your constituency are alleging misrepresentation on your part. How will you react to it?
Well, such allegations come with being a Senator because it's not easy to be a Senator, especially in Kaduna South.
We have eight local government councils and 87 wards while the population of the area is over 1.7 million.
Naturally, when you hold such a position, there would be quite a number of people that will wish they are the ones. But they should be able to handle these emotions appropriately. Some will handle it maturely because it's God that gives the position and when it's their time they can have it. Others cannot handle it but will always want to run you down.
For these people, I normally don't want to take it hard and feel bad about it. The majority of the people are happy about what I'm doing. The few, though very vocal, are not something to worry about.
Also, there are people who will openly tell you that "If you don't do this for me, I will keep embarrassing you publicly." So, they are the set of people that have resolved on blackmail saying until you settle me. For these kinds of people, I always say one thing: go to any length you want to run me down, I will not settle you. I will not, because there is only one truth and it must come out someday.
Is APC a threat to PDP?
I don't particularly see APC as a threat to PDP particularly now that they are calling on President Jonathan and PDP governors to come and join them. It means that right from onset they are feeling weak and disadvantaged, so I don't see them as a threat.
But I see their coming as a wakeup call because they are coming into existence. The PDP must wake up and put its house in order and ensure that we mend fences where there is need and make reconciling moves just to make sure that we come back together as one great party that we are.
They started the first meeting in Southern Kaduna zone. Are you quite sure that the support PDP got in 2011 will be the same in 2015?
We will still get the support. Let's put things in clear perspectives. APC came to Southern Kaduna because they believe that to weaken or kill the PDP in Kaduna State, they must attack the PDP at its greatest stronghold. You know that Southern Kaduna is actually the base of the PDP. PDP boasts of the strength in Southern Kaduna which made it a household name in Kaduna state. If you want to kill a snake, you go for the head. But to God be the glory, they came, they saw but they did not conquer and they left.
They said they are going to boot your party out come 2015?
[Laughs] But you see, they are already calling on members of our party to come help them out. That shows they can't help themselves not to talk of booting us out.
Will you run in 2015?
Well, I am still consulting people because it's a bit early. It's just two years now, and I am still planning on my mid-term report and consulting. The issue of whether I will contest election or not is going to be as a result of consultation of major stakeholders of Southern Kaduna and my supporters and campaign coordinators. Just as I did the other time, I am not in a hurry to come out and declare that I will contest.
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