Activist and co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Aisha Yesufu, has said her decision to join partisan politics does not signal the end of her activism and advocacy campaigns.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Yesufu explained that years of advocacy convinced her that identifying national problems without possessing the authority to solve them was no longer sufficient.
She said activism and politics are both aimed at promoting the public good, although they operate through different approaches.
“Yes, activists make demands, while politicians are supposed to solve problems based on those demands.
”But unfortunately, in Nigeria, politics is often not seen as serving the greater good, but personal interests. I’m not leaving activism. I’m not leaving advocacy. I’m taking advocacy into politics,” she stated.
According to her, the legislative arm of government should represent citizens, hold the executive accountable, and ensure that only competent individuals are approved for public office.
“You find out that when you talk about the legislative arm of government, it is supposed to represent the people, hold the executive accountable and ensure that those nominated for public office are people who will truly work for Nigeria.
”Outside, yes, I do have a voice. But inside, I’ll be able to do a whole lot more,” she added.
Yesufu recently declared her intention to contest for the senatorial seat representing the Federal Capital Territory under NDC in the 2027 elections.
She stressed that her political ambition is driven by a desire to secure constitutional authority to address issues she has long spoken against as an activist.
“One of the things that I realised is that with activism, I use my constitutional right to be able to talk about issues and point out the problems that we have.
“And it got to a place from 2018 that I realised that as long as I sit back and just focus on discussing or pointing out the problems, those who are in office, who have the constitutional authority, may decide whether to listen or not. And what we have in Nigeria is that usually they don’t listen.”
“For me, I’m seeking constitutional authority to then be able to provide solutions to these problems,” she added.
Commenting on politics in the Federal Capital Territory, Yesufu dismissed suggestions that residents of Abuja could be politically controlled or manipulated by powerful figures, including the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
“I don’t think I look like someone who is a walkover to anybody,” she said.
She maintained that voters in Abuja have consistently demonstrated political independence during elections and would continue to make their own choices without external imposition.
“One of the things I know about the politics of Abuja is that when it comes to the general election, Abuja residents are very firm in their decisions, and they choose who they want.
”Nobody has the right to come and impose anybody on us in Abuja. There is no coronation in Abuja. It is the people who make those choices,” she stated.
Yesufu also vowed to uphold electoral integrity, insisting she would neither participate in vote manipulation nor tolerate attempts to undermine the will of voters.
“I will not do any illegality. I’m not going to steal anybody’s vote or rig anybody’s vote.
”If anybody gives me their vote and somebody wants to rig that vote away from me, when they go lower, I will go underground. There is no monopoly of anyhowness,” she said.
The activist-turned-politician further explained that her campaign would focus on introducing people-oriented laws that address security, education, infrastructure, empowerment, accountability, and the protection of indigenous land rights in the Federal Capital Territory.
