It seems things are no longer moving in Nigeria the way they should, considering the current state of the nation’s economy. What is the way forward?
Honestly, we are gradually collapsing as a nation. Enough of blaming the last administration. It is time we forge ahead. This is almost two years of this administration and there is almost nothing visible on ground that we can call an achievement. I am one of the few Nigerians that have been saying that President Buhari is building a very solid foundation for a strong edifice called a better Nigeria but using two years out of four years to build a foundation is not a good calculation. APC as a party is not in charge as Mr President and few relatively unknown persons are in charge whereas, those known as political and administrative giants in the party have been ignored and sidelined.
The voices of those that would have contributed to the economic revival of this nation have been silenced. The ministers and advisers are pseudo appointees as most of them have no clue as to what is required of their offices. Most of the machinery running this government are just catapulted to the position of authority and they are doing on-the job training, this is inimical to the growth of our country. A situation where you call on a trainee doctor to revive a dying patient, what do you expect as result? My advise to Mr President is this; let Mr President run an all inclusive government even if he is limiting it to his party members only. Appointing only those that are close to him irrespective of their knowledge, skills and or experience will further aggravate our economic problems as a nation. Nigerians are not happy at all and fighting corruption has almost lost any relevance. There are only high profile arrests, no prosecution or conviction. Our fight against corruption is almost becoming a laughing stock.
There are indications that some APC national leaders and their loyalists may float a new political party ahead of 2019 if the current crisis in the APC is not resolved. What is the truth?
Yes, it is possible for them to go out of the party if they are no longer getting the level of respect they deserve. Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar are the two major political giants we have today in Nigeria and they are the engine room of the ruling party, the APC. By the time their views and pieces of advice are no longer welcomed in the party they co-founded, it means the key to the exit door has been given to them. But on a more serious note, if Tinubu and Atiku desert APC as a political party today, the multiplier effect of their exit will leave the party virtually empty. They are not truly involved in this government. How many nominees do they have in the pseudo cabinet of this government or how many board members and chairmen are their nominees? This government wouldn’t have been in place if the ideas and views of these two men were ignored during the formation of the consortium called APC. They contributed energies, finances and it was their political dexterity that brought about the present administration of Buhari.
But it is crystal clear that the two leaders may form alliance with an existing political party and they will coast home to victory in 2019. The political structure, especially in the presidency, mainly in the Northern Nigeria, may have been hijacked by some political jobbers. If President Buhari does not wade to this building imbroglio in the APC, it may not help this administration as a lot of people will work against his government. President Buhari should call all the leaders in the party and listen to them and let them suggest to him what should be done to rebuild a better Nigeria. Buhari as an individual mean well for this country. I recommend the sack of most of his ministers and for the party to be allowed to have contribution in the formation of a new and better cabinet.
Do you think some aggrieved chieftains in the PDP are also part of the ‘secret’ arrangement?
Yes, the so-called reconciliation in the PDP cannot be productive. The party is already polarised beyond repairs, the factions you are seen today are like two parallel lines that can never come together for any reason. There will be an emergence of another political party that is sponsored by some faction of the PDP and some disgruntled elements from some other political parties. I am too sure that a mega party will emerge very soon. PDP will remain but those that make things happen will no longer be members. Alignment and re-alignments are going on now and PDP may be badly affected and if the ongoing crisis in my great party, the APC is not swiftly controlled, some giants will also jump out of APC to another party. PDP is divided into two major factions today and they can’t come together but very soon, one faction may join force with the APC to outdo the other faction.
President Buhari’s Ambassadorial list has generated concerns nationwide with the APC governors writing to the President. What are the wrongs in the list?
Why won’t the presidency consult with the APC governors and some top lawmaker’s and other eminent Nigerians before the nomination? Ambassadors are the representatives of Nigeria, in the various countries of the world and we cannot as a nation, send a mediocre to represent us just because the person is selected by someone close to the President. Presidency has killed the principle of supremacy of the party by making appointments all alone without the party. I support the Senate’s rejection of most of these relatively unknown personalities in the diplomatic world.
What do you make of Senate rejection of President Buhari’s proposed external borrowing of $29.9bn?
The Senate’s rejection of Buhari’s external borrowing is not for the good of this country. They rejected not just because the executive did not attach the breakdown of how and what they want to spend the money on but because President Buhari did not corner the Senate to agree on a deal and the sharing formula if the money is approved. Nigerians should watch out, we will all be surprised that the same Senate will approve it whenever the President is ready to play games with them.
Governor Nasiru el-Rufai of Kaduna State has said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is already running for 2019 presidency. What is the implication of this?
Governor el-Rufai proves or claim superiority over any other person. Atiku brought the Kaduna governor to the political limelight when he was the head of economic team as vice president under Obasanjo. If you flash back during Obasanjo’s administration, the same governor made many vituperations against Buhari. Atiku should be calm to reply el-Rufai ‘s political outburst. If for instance, Atiku becomes president in the future, he el-Rufai will celebrate him. What is wrong in Atiku or any other Nigerian Politician strategizing for 2019 presidency now? Honestly, the attack on Atiku over his political direction which is yet to be disclosed is going to boomerang as people are not happy with the present state of affairs. By the time people allign and realigned and people like Atiku leave this party and some other political heavyweights join forces against the government, there will be too much pressure for the government to concentrate. Look at the situation on ground where the ruling party controls the majority in the National Assembly and requests from the Executive are being rejected, all is not well. I also advise governors to concentrate and govern their states. Atiku is more than qualified for the first office in Nigeria and when the time comes, Nigerians will speak, if he decides to contest. Buhari needs the likes of Atiku and others to put heads together and remove Nigerians from this economic situation.
What is your assessment of the current security situation in the country?
Boko Haram is gradually going into extinction but I believe we must not relent in our efforts until the sect members are totally crushed in the land. The Niger-Delta Avengers kind of insecurity is a big threat to our economy and we cannot afford to allow this last for a long time but we have to be tactical the way we handle them because they are not terrorists, they can be called upon for negotiations. We cannot war-war with them we can only jaw-jaw with them. Finally, President Buhari should quickly proffer solution to the high level of poverty in the land because nothing promotes insecurity anywhere in the world than poverty. When people have no options than to take to self help, it is the mother of all insecurity. But I know Buhari is working to stop all these and we all need to support him and it shall be well with this country again soon and very soonest.
The Niger-Delta elders recently made a 16-point request from the federal as conditions for peace. Are your comfortable with these demands?
The 16-point request from the leaders of Niger-Delta is not too much. We should understand that all is not well in that area and people must cry out. I don’t support the way the Avengers are blowing up oil pipelines but some people believe that they have to revolt over the situation in the region. The requests have been made and the federal government must begin to look into them. Let the FG begin with employment of the ex-militants that were trained by the former administration. Invite the leadership of the various militant groups and make a promise to them directly because most of the elders there have lost the confidence of the militants.
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