How PDP made me a comedian – 70-year-old man
His real name is Isa Yusuf. He lives in Tudun Wada, Zaria. Most residents of Zaria, however, know and address him as Daram Dam Dam, the alias he earned for himself for his support for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidates. Daram Dam Dam goes round the ancient city of Zaria on daily basis […]
His real name is Isa Yusuf. He lives in Tudun Wada, Zaria. Most residents of Zaria, however, know and address him as Daram Dam Dam, the alias he earned for himself for his support for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidates.
Daram Dam Dam goes round the ancient city of Zaria on daily basis singing the song of praises of the PDP. He covers the whole of his body with posters of President Goodluck Jonathan, his Vice, Arc Muhammad Namadi Sambo, Kaduna State governor, Patrick Yakowa, emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris and many other PDP stalwarts while on his daily errands in the ancient city.
This made many residents believe that Daram Dam Dam is having mental disorder. But the 70-year-old told our correspondent that he is mentally sound. He said the love he has for the PDP made him give himself the assignment of campaigning for the party everyday with or without elections.
He said he came up with the adage Daram Dam Dam to tell the opponents of the PDP that the party would remain in power as long as Nigerian democracy continues to survive. Daram Dam Dam can literally be translated from Hausa to mean sit-tight.
When vice president Sambo was the governor of Kaduna State he used the adage Daram Dam Dam as the motto of his campaign for second term bid as a governor.
“Daram Dam Dam that Namadi Sambo was using that time originated from me. He was once here on a visit to Zaria when I began to continuously shout Daram Dam Dam; meaning that he would sit-tight in office as a governor. That was how his supporters continued to use the maxim until he became the vice president. Long before Namadi Sambo adopted the maxim Daram Dam Dam, I have been using it during public functions to entertain guests.
“Some people regard me as a madman but I am not mad. I act as a comedian to lure supporters for my party; PDP power. I am not doing this for money but I am doing it for interest. I can’t say I don’t love money but none of the big men in authority have ever recognised my efforts, yet I continued canvassing support for my party. There was the time that I learnt that Namadi Sambo has asked his aides to give me a car but I have not seen it up to today. However, I am grateful to Allah that some local politicians here in Zaria and other local governments are giving me some tokens,” Daram Dam Dam said.
One thing that attracts people to Daram Dam Dam apart from his dancing and singing on the street is his beard. He has a crammed beard that he dyed to become red. The beard looks respectable but residents of Zaria wonder why a person with such a decent outlook be dancing and singing on the street.
“Well, you can’t stop people from saying what they want to say but all I know is that I am enjoying myself. I want you to tell me where it is said that somebody with a decent beard cannot canvass support for his party,” Daram Dam Dam queried.
On why he merges the posters of the emir of Zazzau with the ones for politicians, Daram Dam Dam said he loves and respects the emir because “he is always taking care of me.”
Despite his faith in the PDP, Daram Dam Dam said the party never recognised him, Daram Dam Dam said he would die as the party’s fanatic. This decision of Daram Dam Dam convinced many Zaria residents that he is suffering from mental disorder.
“I have never seen a man that likes PDP like this old man. In our thinking, the old man is not mentally alright. Despite that however, he has a lot of fans. Anywhere he goes; boys and girls, old and young always follow him with the chant of Daram Dam Dam. His responses and the way he acts are very funny and I think people are enjoying that as an act of comedy,” Bello Isa, a Zaria resident said.