Malama Fati Ibrahim Talle-Tara, 80, is a popular food vendor in Koko,
Koko/Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State. She famously offered
her life savings to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential
candidate, retired General Muhammadu Buhari for his campaign when he
visited the state.
Weekly Trust had a chat with her. Excerpts:
- Weekly Trust: What motivated you to offer your life savings to General Buhari for his campaign?
Fati Ibrahim Talle-Tara: The first time Buhari ventured into politics
and contested, he lost. The second and third time, too, he lost but he
appealed to us to be patient. This will be the fourth time
Buhari will contest. It is his patriotism, humility
and honesty that make me support him. As I speak to you, I have assigned
one of my sons to Kano to produce 300,000 posters for Buhari’s
campaign. The posters are in Jega right now, ready for distribution.
- WT: How much money have you spent campaigning on behalf of General Buhari?
Talle-Tara: All my life savings during the times he has contested. There
was a time I spent N2 million. I spend my money campaigning for him
because everybody knows that he doesn’t have money to do so. I generate
the money mostly from savings from my food-selling business which I’ve
been doing for decades. It’s my life savings.
- WT: How will you cope now that you’ve donated all your savings?
Talle-Tara: How much is the money? Compared to the good governance we will get, it’s nothing, really.
- WT: How did General Buhari receive you when you met him at the airport?
Talle-Tara: I waited the whole day at the airport. I met him physically
that day for the first time in my life and we greeted warmly. I felt
fulfilled. He was also excited when we met. Interestingly, my fathers’
name is Buhari, too. So, I will do everything for him like I would for
my father. Moreover, General Buhari is sincere and patriotic.
When he landed at the airport, he said they should inform Sokoto State Governor Magatakarda Wamakko to take care of my needs.
- WT: Did Governor Wamakko do so, as requested?
Talle-Tara: Yes, I was in Sokoto with my people last Saturday and we
were lodged in one of the big hotels. He (Wamakko) asked me to make any
request. I said all I need is for him to continue his good work and
support good governance in Nigeria. He gave me N1million, one bale of
wrappers and two Hajj seats, one for me and one for my daughter Umma
whose husband died and left with seven children.
- WT: How would you feel if the change you expect doesn’t come?
Talle-Tara: I will continue to use my money to campaign for good
governance in Nigeria and I will never regret doing that. We have trust
in God that this time around we will have that change that we are
clamouring for. Even if we lose this election, we will still consider
ourselves winners because we know that we lost not because we did not
win.
- WT: What contribution are you making towards credible, violence-free and credible elections?
Talle-Tara: I have commissioned religious scholars within my available
resources to pray every day for Nigeria. We have faith in God, there
won’t be any crisis.
- WT: What is your dream for Nigeria?
Talle-Tara: My dream is to see a day that Buhari will win the election
and be sworn into office. That day, I will slaughter a cow, cook plenty
food and throw a big party. I have told them that I will declare free
food at my shop for everybody including those in the town and villages
to come and celebrate.
- WT: Would you describe yourself as a politician?
Talle-Tara: My late son and I ventured into politics when Buhari did. I am into politics just to support Buhari.
Talle-Tara: I’m a widow. My husband died and left me with 15 children
and 15 grandchildren, and most of them are the ones helping me right now
in my business place. I’m actually from Jega. It’s marriage that
brought me to Koko.
