WHY I HAVE 3 WIVES – DAN MUSA, EX-DEPUTY SENATE PRESIDENT
Many Nigerians may know Alhaji Mohammed Dan Musa as former Speaker, Katsina State House of Assembly and former Deputy Senate President. But not many know the story of his life.
In this interview, Dan Musa has told Saturday Sun what would pass for his life history. He talked about his childhood, life of activism, family and other things.
What is your take on infant marriage?
Well, it is not encouraged even in Islam. It is done only by some people who turn religious injunctions upside down for their own selfish interest. You see, so many of the conservative mallams give wrong interpretations, just to maintain their status and influence over the mass illiterate Muslims. But that is not the provision of Islam. Islam is a universal religion; so it is not restricted to what Hausa or Yoruba or Igbo or Arab or American Muslims would like to do differently.
What is your philosophy of life?
Right from childhood, I hate injustice. Right from childhood, I've been fighting injustice. That's why even before Nigeria became independent, in this same town (Katsina), the then Emir of Katsina, who is the grandfather of the present Emir, had to come to our school, Katsina Teachers' College, because I led a demonstration. Then we were being trained as Grade Three teachers to teach from primary one to four. I was the ringleader. I was flogged. I was expelled and the Emir, whose word is final, said that I should not be employed by anybody.
But I believed in God. At that time, I told my elder brother to go and read and that I would be somebody in the country. And by His grace, before the Emir of Katsina died, I was the speaker of the defunct Katsina State House of Assembly. I did not lobby any mortal; it was the grace of God.
Again, I have always been with the masses. During the Babangida era, I refused to join any of the two political parties he created by military fiat. This was because I believe very strongly that the military had no business to float political parties for politicians to join. So, I did not participate in the politics of that era.
Let's look at your growing up days?
I come from a royal family. My father was a village head. We come from one of the four dynasties that received blessing from Shehu Usman Dan Fodio. But to me, they represented injustice. So, right from childhood, I did not like the institution despite coming from it. By God's grace, after I was expelled from Katsina Teachers' College, I was offered admission at Bida Teachers' College, now in Niger State. That was where I finished my course as a Grade Three teacher. I then started my teaching career. I went back for my Grade Two certificate before going for my advanced level papers at Bayero College now BUK. I later went to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria to read Law. Thereafter, I went to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos before being called to Bar in 1976.
Do you have any regret?
The regret I have is that Nigeria is yet to realise its potentials, to be the real giant of Africa, so that my people will have no business to go to Europe. It is a thing of regret that our people are regarded as criminals abroad because they have a country where they cannot realise their potentials. If Nigeria is ideal, I would not have been in politics. I would have retired.
Who are your role models?
The great Emir of Katsina, Mohammed Duku, who transformed Kaduna into a modern city, is one of my role models. Although politically, we disagreed, I admired the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He was a great leader and disciplinarian, who had the interest of his people at heart and did well for them. Also, admired Abdul Nasser of Egypt. These were my role models.
Happiest moment
My happiest moment in life was when I helped somebody in distressful condition and I gave him hope and happiness. It makes me happy if I make another person happy. Also, if injustice had been committed against somebody and I succeeded in getting justice for him, I feel happy.
How many wives do you have?
I have three wives and 23 children.
When and how did you meet your first wife?
Both of us were young at the time. It was on a Sallah day that I saw her and I was attracted. In those days, when you see your would-be-wife, you go directly to the parents. That was how we met.
Why did you marry other wives after her?
Islam says that I can marry up to four wives if you can do justice and I know I am doing justice to them. Again, I have the means. I educated my 23 children. Only two or five are in secondary school; some have first degrees. Some read Medicine, Engineering, Computer Science and Information Technology etc. My daughters are also all educated.