Alhaji Shuaib Ibrahim Gwada could be rightly described as an accidental politician.
Although he is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Solution Business Services Nigeria Ltd, SBS, his political turf is the All Progressives Congress (APC) at National level and Niger State where he is a critical stakeholder.
Time Nigeria spoke with the affable humanist and a self effacing philanthropist starting out at NTA, his venture into private business and his political engagement. Excerpts.
We are aware that you have a media background as a former staff of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), how did you to transit to private business?
Thank you very much. Truly speaking I have a media background because I worked with NTA for 10 good years and I left voluntarily after having the opportunity to move to what you might call a greener pasture. Really it has not been easy because when you are used to a particular way of life, by way of your earnings as a civil servant you have to wake up every day and you are not on your own, everything is regimented but shortly after leaving the service of NTA I joined a company called Arabian Oil Company in Lagos.
I was the Chief Coordinator of their imports and export. So from there and gradually I was able to build up a private life which later conformed to what my late father used to tell me, that it is rather better to be on your own than to be dependent on government or anybody else.
It has not been easy really because nothing good comes easy but with the grace of God I was able to transit from a civil servant to a private-oriented person. I will tell you without fear of contradiction that private life is better than that of public life.
We learnt that your contribution to APC is not in small measure, are you going into full time politics?
It is true that I have been a contributor to APC as a political party. This is mainly because, I, like any other electorate have realized the need to give it a trial now that APC is a formidable party. But, that is not to say that one is interested in politics or to be a politician. As it is generally said that all of us are politicians in one way or the other. But as a partisan politician per se, I will not say that I am one. But, for sure, I am a stakeholder in APC as a party and the reason behind that is not to portray myself as a politician, but to see that in my own little way I contribute my own quota to the progress, growth and development of my own country.
Again my reason of coming into politics so to say, is as a result of calls from my people, to come and assist in one way or the other, to see whether we can at least incorporate the position of the people and I find myself privileged to render that kind of request. So I would not describe myself as the governor of Kaduna State who said he is an accidental Public servant but I will say I am an accidental politician.
But do you see yourself running for political office?
Well this is a difficult question to answer and really it is not in my character or my intention to run for any political office but however if for any reason or if circumstances warrant that, I won’t hesitate. You see, when I was in NTA Minna, I was privileged to be the Chairman of RATTAWU and there was a dissolution of NTA Chapter and a caretaker committee was set up. All of a sudden I was nominated to be the caretaker chairman and even after that I was asked to contest the chairmanship unopposed. And I just find myself without having the arrangement of being the chairman of RATTAWU and I had no option. At that point in time one would not decline. So, if I find myself in the same condition again I will run for office but not for me to deliberately plan, organise or scheme for it. It is not my intention.
What if you are appointed?
If I am appointed I will not mind, because it is contributing one’s quota. We have been talking about serving our fatherland and we have been calling for leadership by example and for change. So, it will be a disservice on my part when I am called upon to now say that I am too busy with my business. I think I will gladly be willing to contribute. For being so appointed it means there is a little that has been seen in me that I can contribute positively. So, if such a thing comes my way I will do it with the best of my ability.
The expectations of Nigerians are very high with the incoming administration, as a successful businessman how would you advise the incoming government in its policies and programmes?
My appeal will first go to the electorate, that is you, I and all of us that are clamoring for change; by the grace of God we got what we are clamoring for. For that reason, I will appeal to the electorate that God having answered our prayers, let us also give God time and the new crop of leadership for them to really settle down for business. Let us not be too much in a hurry to condemn or to expect too much within a little time.
For instance, the electricity problem. Yes one will say how come we do not have light but who knows whether there is no connection between Abuja and Shiroro Dam for instance or if there is anything faulty in between, we will not expect a miracle. But I want to tell Nigerians that this change that has come truly is not going to be business as usual.
I can to tell you that every Nigerian would be better for it in the nearest future. In fact when I say nearest future I mean in the next 15 months we will begin to feel the impact of this change which will be really positive.
