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| Comrade Timi Frank |
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| Alison Madueke |
Comrade Timi Frank is the Deputy National
Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC). Until his new
position, Frank remained a renowned Niger Delta activist who has made his
impact in the campaign against youth unemployment. In this exclusive interview
with OLUGBENGA ADANIKIN, he bears
his mind on trend of impeachments, insurgency as well as his resolve to tackle corruption in the
country. Excerpts:
How will you describe state of the Nation?
Well I will say in general like what
one of our musicians has earlier said that Nigeria scatter-scatter, everything
jagajaga. You know tactically, that has come to reality under the government of
Goodluck Jonathan. It really shows that everything under his government is scattered
and nobody is being held responsible
so that is the current situation we are
facing today in terms of corruption, security, unemployment, infrastructure and
so on.
What
is your view on the increasing trend of impeachments?
My view remains the same and my view is still clear that you know the government of today led by the PDP government has done more recklessness ever than any of the progressive governors. It is laughable today that the governor of Nasarawa is about to be impeached over issue of over N2 billion. For example, this same government under Jonathan budgeted over N244 billion as subsidy and end up spending over N2 trillion for God's sake is that not recklessness? Who appropriated that money? Where did they get the money from? Who is responsible for that? My brother that is an impeachable offence of the president and I can go on and on and on to identify these offences. The president has done more of recklessness you know? It happens that he has a National Assembly that is compromised. Issues like this have blindfolded their eyes and issues of corruption and recklessness and so on. It is just so sad that we have a Senate President that believes that he is going to be president someday, so he doesn't want to do anything to hurt the president otherwise, if we have a serious senate president, we can remember the days of Obasanjo, we saw Senate President like Adolphus Wabara, we saw former senate president like Chidor Okadigbe among others. Obasanjo have not done one third of what Jonathan government is doing. Even if we saw it as a threat but we saw so many impeachment notes against the president. But today as we speak with all the gross misconducts of President Goodluck Jonathan, David Mark is busy smiling over them. You know we have a saying that they does not put the people they are representing at heart; they are put what they are going to get first before Nigeria. So at that level, if the executive arm of the government today decide to defraud even Nigeria, you know the Senate chamber will clap their hands and say the president is doing well because it is a PDP house dominated. We are in a dilemma and in a process of scatter scatter and jagajaga. So it is a very big problem
There were chunks of allegations including corruption against the former Adamawa governor, Nyako which perhaps contributed to his impeachment but the PDP appears to have received huge criticism on this matter. What will you say is responsible for this?
That issue against Nyako happens everywhere. This is Nigeria. Go to Akwa Ibom state today where you have the PDP led government, it is the same thing that is happening. Go to any other PDP led state today, it is the same thing that is happening. For God sake, they are accusing people of the same offence that they are guilty of. They are more reckless; they cannot run away from this. Nigeria has never been this divided, Nigeria has never been this scattered, Nigeria has never been this wicked. In the history of Nigeria without fear of favour, I will tell you Jonathan government is the most corrupt government not only in Nigeria but in the world. So without fear of favour, we can clearly say that because it is clear and it’s in the public domain; a nation where over $20 billion is missing. The Minister for petroleum, Mrs. Dezieni spent over N10 billion on private jets in two years, that kind of a lady is still moving freely, the president of Nigeria is busy defending her massively without compromising. This is the same president that said that Dezieni is not answerable to the National Assembly.
My view remains the same and my view is still clear that you know the government of today led by the PDP government has done more recklessness ever than any of the progressive governors. It is laughable today that the governor of Nasarawa is about to be impeached over issue of over N2 billion. For example, this same government under Jonathan budgeted over N244 billion as subsidy and end up spending over N2 trillion for God's sake is that not recklessness? Who appropriated that money? Where did they get the money from? Who is responsible for that? My brother that is an impeachable offence of the president and I can go on and on and on to identify these offences. The president has done more of recklessness you know? It happens that he has a National Assembly that is compromised. Issues like this have blindfolded their eyes and issues of corruption and recklessness and so on. It is just so sad that we have a Senate President that believes that he is going to be president someday, so he doesn't want to do anything to hurt the president otherwise, if we have a serious senate president, we can remember the days of Obasanjo, we saw Senate President like Adolphus Wabara, we saw former senate president like Chidor Okadigbe among others. Obasanjo have not done one third of what Jonathan government is doing. Even if we saw it as a threat but we saw so many impeachment notes against the president. But today as we speak with all the gross misconducts of President Goodluck Jonathan, David Mark is busy smiling over them. You know we have a saying that they does not put the people they are representing at heart; they are put what they are going to get first before Nigeria. So at that level, if the executive arm of the government today decide to defraud even Nigeria, you know the Senate chamber will clap their hands and say the president is doing well because it is a PDP house dominated. We are in a dilemma and in a process of scatter scatter and jagajaga. So it is a very big problem
There were chunks of allegations including corruption against the former Adamawa governor, Nyako which perhaps contributed to his impeachment but the PDP appears to have received huge criticism on this matter. What will you say is responsible for this?
That issue against Nyako happens everywhere. This is Nigeria. Go to Akwa Ibom state today where you have the PDP led government, it is the same thing that is happening. Go to any other PDP led state today, it is the same thing that is happening. For God sake, they are accusing people of the same offence that they are guilty of. They are more reckless; they cannot run away from this. Nigeria has never been this divided, Nigeria has never been this scattered, Nigeria has never been this wicked. In the history of Nigeria without fear of favour, I will tell you Jonathan government is the most corrupt government not only in Nigeria but in the world. So without fear of favour, we can clearly say that because it is clear and it’s in the public domain; a nation where over $20 billion is missing. The Minister for petroleum, Mrs. Dezieni spent over N10 billion on private jets in two years, that kind of a lady is still moving freely, the president of Nigeria is busy defending her massively without compromising. This is the same president that said that Dezieni is not answerable to the National Assembly.
Ex Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah was also accused of same
corruption, though the President was slow in action but he eventually asked her
to go, but don't you think this will come to play in terms of Deziani?
Why is he wasting time? Nigerians have died over Deziani, Nigerians have protested over Deziani. For how long will Nigerians continue to cry for him to sack Deziani. I am one person that have fought the issue of $20 billion. To start with, I have petitioned the EFCC to prosecute her, I am giving them 7 days ultimatum, I am even going to head to court where they fail to do so. I petitioned Deziani when the president nominated her to Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to be elected into the office of OPEC Secretary General. I wrote a protest letter to OPEC, in fact one of my partners had to fly down to OPEC office in Vienna to physically protest. Deziani is the most reckless government official ever existing in terms of governance but she is being the most celebrated person to Jonathan. I have never seen where the president will be defending and romancing corruption like this. For God's sake, is this Nigeria for the people or Nigeria for Jonathan or Nigeria for Deziani where they don't even care to what happen to the resources of our country? For God's sake, not just sacking Deziani, even if the president sack Deziani today, I will continue to cry until we put Deziani in prison because she has committed so many offences. See, spending outside appropriation alone is criminal and recently, it is so sad that the kind of senate we have, the Senate committee report was trying to say that Deziani did not commit any offence. Meanwhile, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has misinformed Nigerians, for God's sake, let me tell you even the senate in their report acknowledged that monies were unremitted. If Sanusi Lamido Sanusi did not accuse Mr. President of stealing Nigeria's money, or accuse Deziani for stealing $20 billion. Sanusi Lamido said $20 billion dollar is missing; it is unremitted. So, truly if money is not remitted to the FG's account then where is that money? Where is the money? If they cannot tell us where the money is, then which means the money is missing and if the money is there why is it not in the FG account and if the money is not in the FG's account, if it is in any individual account, we need to know that yes this is the money, and where is the interest because here is 2015. As Nigerians, we need to know. Until when all of these is being cleared, we will continue to hold this government and hold Deziani responsible on the issue of $20 billion. It is one issue that you know if the president refuse to act under his administration whether he continues to be the President by the grace of God I know Jonathan will not be there in 2015 because Nigerians will not continue to condone governance; government that will continue to encourage or partner corruption and so on and I can tell you clearly that Nigerians will vote out this government in 2015 but if he fails to act, I can assure you when he leaves no matter where Deziani may hide, in this world some of us will bring her back to Nigeria to explain and account for the missing $20 billion. If we have $20 billion, as rich as Nigerians, why are we now looking for $1 billion - loan for that matter to equip our security? If the $20 billion was not missing should we be looking for loan? it is clearly shown that our government is broke, they diverted all these monies for their 2015 ambition even as I speak the $1 billion we are even talking about is to fund Jonathan's 2015 presidential ambition again why are they looking for the money now?
But the president has not clearly come out officially to declare his interest
Why is he wasting time? Nigerians have died over Deziani, Nigerians have protested over Deziani. For how long will Nigerians continue to cry for him to sack Deziani. I am one person that have fought the issue of $20 billion. To start with, I have petitioned the EFCC to prosecute her, I am giving them 7 days ultimatum, I am even going to head to court where they fail to do so. I petitioned Deziani when the president nominated her to Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to be elected into the office of OPEC Secretary General. I wrote a protest letter to OPEC, in fact one of my partners had to fly down to OPEC office in Vienna to physically protest. Deziani is the most reckless government official ever existing in terms of governance but she is being the most celebrated person to Jonathan. I have never seen where the president will be defending and romancing corruption like this. For God's sake, is this Nigeria for the people or Nigeria for Jonathan or Nigeria for Deziani where they don't even care to what happen to the resources of our country? For God's sake, not just sacking Deziani, even if the president sack Deziani today, I will continue to cry until we put Deziani in prison because she has committed so many offences. See, spending outside appropriation alone is criminal and recently, it is so sad that the kind of senate we have, the Senate committee report was trying to say that Deziani did not commit any offence. Meanwhile, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has misinformed Nigerians, for God's sake, let me tell you even the senate in their report acknowledged that monies were unremitted. If Sanusi Lamido Sanusi did not accuse Mr. President of stealing Nigeria's money, or accuse Deziani for stealing $20 billion. Sanusi Lamido said $20 billion dollar is missing; it is unremitted. So, truly if money is not remitted to the FG's account then where is that money? Where is the money? If they cannot tell us where the money is, then which means the money is missing and if the money is there why is it not in the FG account and if the money is not in the FG's account, if it is in any individual account, we need to know that yes this is the money, and where is the interest because here is 2015. As Nigerians, we need to know. Until when all of these is being cleared, we will continue to hold this government and hold Deziani responsible on the issue of $20 billion. It is one issue that you know if the president refuse to act under his administration whether he continues to be the President by the grace of God I know Jonathan will not be there in 2015 because Nigerians will not continue to condone governance; government that will continue to encourage or partner corruption and so on and I can tell you clearly that Nigerians will vote out this government in 2015 but if he fails to act, I can assure you when he leaves no matter where Deziani may hide, in this world some of us will bring her back to Nigeria to explain and account for the missing $20 billion. If we have $20 billion, as rich as Nigerians, why are we now looking for $1 billion - loan for that matter to equip our security? If the $20 billion was not missing should we be looking for loan? it is clearly shown that our government is broke, they diverted all these monies for their 2015 ambition even as I speak the $1 billion we are even talking about is to fund Jonathan's 2015 presidential ambition again why are they looking for the money now?
But the president has not clearly come out officially to declare his interest
From all the campaign jingles we are seeing
on AIT, Channels, NTA if I tell you how much those things cost, where did they get
the money from? That alone will tell you that this man wants to run 2015. May
be the atmosphere is not yet clear for him to declare but I can assure you,
this is a government that does not have feelings or conscience, the man will
run. But then, it is even questionable, who is sponsoring all these jingles on
channels, AIT that every day they will show it over 50 times for God's sake, this
is public money.
What is the assurance that if APC eventually gain power in
2015, this corruption we are talking about will not persist?
From all the names you have heard who wanted to contest in for the presidential office, they are credible Nigerians that would move this country forward; that will fight this corruption …you should know that these are people that are prepared to be president they are not accidental president. These are people that want to ensure that their dream is to move Nigeria forward. They are not people that will come and tell Nigerians I did not have shoes or I was not born rich and when they start wearing shoes they will forget that when they were campaigning, they did not have shoes. Now they have all kinds of shoes. I can tell you clearly.
But you will agree with me that even some of this people used to be members of the PDP… Cuts In
Once they were blind but now they can see. They were in PDP even my self was in PDP. I left the PDP because i knew the PDP was driving us into a lagoon. We knew that they were not coming to serve Nigerians but were coming to serve their pockets and so, some of us including the governors and every other person that left the PDP left the PDP because Yes! some of them must have been in that process of making the same mistake but they felt that they don't want to be part of it anymore so they chose to move ahead with their lives and so on.
Let me quickly take you back to the issue of Adamwa, Nyako. Some said he went on exile to Europe about a week after he was impeached. Why did he do that if he's not guilty?
For God sake he had to run for his life first. He has to be alive to explain that to Adamawa people. So if today Nyako is not in the country, it is not because he is running from answering the questions of Nigerians. It is because he has to be alive to answer to these questions and so on. So for God's sake, what they are accusing Nyako for people in this government has done worst, people under Jonathan has done worst. What happen to issue of immigration saga under Abba Morro till today the government has not been able to explain anything to the people of Nigeria. These are critical issues for God's sake. So this government under the PDP is the most unserious government we have ever seen. Like I told you, some of us were in PDP before. Once we were blind but now we can see so I can say that some of us have even prayed for forgiveness for God to forgive us for everything being in the PDP and things that has been affected Nigeria to this level.
There are also plans to impeach Enugu Deputy Governor based on what some had called flimsy rationales, what’s your take on that?
Why are they impeaching the deputy Governor? It is just because of his political interest. The person to be impeached is the Governor. The governor must have done worst than what they are accusing his deputy of. They should investigate very well the Governor must have done worst than what his deputy must have done. But from the speculations and rumours, anyway that is PDP's internal problem that does not concern me, I am a member of APC but for God's sake how can? The Deputy governor has limited approving power, the Governor of the state have the sole power to approve anything he wants to. So for the Deputy Governor to be accused of little issues, you know what it means? It is a front and back issue. The rumour out there that the Deputy Governor wants to also run for Governor, they said he should not run, the deputy governor said he wants to do Senate they said he should not do Senate and so on. At that level, to me, it is not the allegation that made them to say they want to impeach him. It is because of personal interests; for God's sake that is PDP's problem.
This impeachment saga seemed to be targeted at APC governors even the Chairman once said it during the world press briefing. Do think this entire scenario will have any implication ahead of 2015 election?
All what I can say is this PDP government should not truncate democracy; they should not destroy what Nigerians have been fighting for all these years. It is just unfortunate that Nigerians today is in the hands of those that did not fight for this country. So they did not understand what is called democracy. I will tell you clearly without fear of favour, if they continue with this impeachment process, Nigerians will rise against them because people will start asking questions, why APC governors alone? What happen to the PDP governors? Are the PDP governors not also thieves? Every one of them has one or two agitations in their states. I can tell you that some of us can prove that this so called PDP has committed one or two offences in their states. But let me tell you the funniest thing under Jonathan, Jonathan does not care if you are a thief. Once you are ready to join PDP, if you are a thief you will be forgiven. For the fact that you will be answerable to the PDP they will embrace you, so they don't care. If today Murtala Nyako or Nasarawa governor chooses to decamp to the PDP, Jonathan will go there and dance Skelewu, the way he went to dance skelewu in Kano when he was receiving Shekarau and so on. So they don't care, they don't put this country at heart. They just want to turn Nigeria to the same thing the Boko Haram is doing to Nigeria calling for Islamic state you know that is what the PDP is doing. The PDP does not want an opposition. The PDP just want to converge; they are like cults that they don't want to hear that you are you are APC members. If you are not in PDP they will kill you. That is what they mean right now and that is very dangerous for democracy.
That brings me to the issue of trading of words between the
spokespersons for PDP an APC, how appropriate is it for the growth of our
democracy?
Well for God's sake you should know that our party is a democratic party, we are party of principle. We are party of men of honour, men of integrity. My boss today Lai Mohammed is somebody that does not just come out and talk rubbish. He is too educated to be exchanging words with anybody. Whatever thing Lai Mohammed says is based on what the PDP must have said, he is only responding to the PDP. The PDP have been making all kinds of utterances and so on. So for God's sake as a party, we must respond and that is what Lai Muhammed is doing. He had to respond just like me the deputy national publicity secretary of the APC. It is also my duty to respond to any wrong allegations to my party. So it is our duty to respond to issues to clear our names. Today as Nigerians, what the PDP has been accusing us of that the APC are the ones funding Boko Haram, General Buhari is the founder of Boko Haram, he is the sponsor of Boko Haram but God almighty has shown that if General Muhammed Buhari was the sponsor of Boko Haram, Boko Haram will not go for him as claimed, we are not even yet sure if it is truly Boko Haram. As far as we are concerned, it was an assassination attempt because it is questionable. Barely 24 hours General Muhammed Buhari fired at the Presidency on their style of leadership, he was attacked. So as a party, we have called for high powered investigation to this attack which should not be one attack of the normal Boko Haram bomb blast and so on. So For God's sake if he is the founder or sponsor will they go and kill their leader? The answer is No! they will either protect him but because Buhari does not support Boko Haram, Buhari has been speaking against Boko Haram and that is why today we can see what has happened to him but for God's sake as a party and as a Nigerian we are going to be thanking God for his life. But then it is an issue that PDP government need to answer. Why General Muhammed Buhari, why after 24 hours he fired at the government? So these are critical issues for God's sake.
But you will agree with me that Gen. Buhari once made a statement on radio a couple of months back that the Boko Haram boys should not be killed, instead they should be embraced and given amnesty just like the Niger Delta youths.
Well for God's sake you should know that our party is a democratic party, we are party of principle. We are party of men of honour, men of integrity. My boss today Lai Mohammed is somebody that does not just come out and talk rubbish. He is too educated to be exchanging words with anybody. Whatever thing Lai Mohammed says is based on what the PDP must have said, he is only responding to the PDP. The PDP have been making all kinds of utterances and so on. So for God's sake as a party, we must respond and that is what Lai Muhammed is doing. He had to respond just like me the deputy national publicity secretary of the APC. It is also my duty to respond to any wrong allegations to my party. So it is our duty to respond to issues to clear our names. Today as Nigerians, what the PDP has been accusing us of that the APC are the ones funding Boko Haram, General Buhari is the founder of Boko Haram, he is the sponsor of Boko Haram but God almighty has shown that if General Muhammed Buhari was the sponsor of Boko Haram, Boko Haram will not go for him as claimed, we are not even yet sure if it is truly Boko Haram. As far as we are concerned, it was an assassination attempt because it is questionable. Barely 24 hours General Muhammed Buhari fired at the Presidency on their style of leadership, he was attacked. So as a party, we have called for high powered investigation to this attack which should not be one attack of the normal Boko Haram bomb blast and so on. So For God's sake if he is the founder or sponsor will they go and kill their leader? The answer is No! they will either protect him but because Buhari does not support Boko Haram, Buhari has been speaking against Boko Haram and that is why today we can see what has happened to him but for God's sake as a party and as a Nigerian we are going to be thanking God for his life. But then it is an issue that PDP government need to answer. Why General Muhammed Buhari, why after 24 hours he fired at the government? So these are critical issues for God's sake.
But you will agree with me that Gen. Buhari once made a statement on radio a couple of months back that the Boko Haram boys should not be killed, instead they should be embraced and given amnesty just like the Niger Delta youths.
Muhammed Buhari was not the only one that has spoken on the process of giving amnesty to Boko Haram, the Sultan has also done that and the sultan is still doing that. Other prominent Northern leaders even in the PDP have called the President to give amnesty to Boko Haram and so on. So Buhari was not the first to make that statement so if you accuse Buhari for making that statement for the sake of peace and stability in our country, for that alone we now accuse him of being a member of Boko Haram, then which means the people who have also supported the amnesty too are also Boko Haram. They should be thinking on how to solve the problem, they should be thinking of how to move forward not to be calling names and accusing people. Let me tell you, to tell you where this government is an unserious government, this is the same government that said the former Governor of Borno state was the sponsor of Boko Haram, was the leader of Bokoharam was this of Boko Haram. When he was in the APC, they were calling him all kinds of Boko Haram names but today that he is now moving to the PDP, they are celebrating. So is this not a confused government? We are waiting for the President the day he will go and dance Azonto in Borno state to receive Alimodu Sheriff. Today the so called Alimodu Sheriff that they said is the leader of Boko Haram, sponsor of Boko Haram is being celebrated by the PDP hierarchy, being celebrated by the government of today so for God's sake who is truly Boko Haram is it the APC or the PDP?
If you are in the best position to advise the president, to ending this insurgency what will be your advice?
Well I tell the president to do everything possible to ensure life and property of this country is protected. I will ensure that the President takes every measures, every strong step of not compromising our security to make sure we have a strong defence that can tackle Boko Haram; to make sure we have a service Chiefs that have capacity to do this job not service Chiefs that will come and tell Nigerians they will end Boko Haram in four months and today since after that statement the issue of Boko Haram attack became more serious and you still see those service Chiefs sitting down there. By today, a serious government would have fired the service Chiefs.
And that is why he should have fired
this one because this is the people that said in four months they will end
insurgency in Nigeria and it is over four months they made that comment,
Nigeria today has gone disarray. So that has shown that they don't have the
capacity, they don't even have the idea or knowledge over hundred and one day,
our girls have been kidnapped the security will come and be telling Nigerians
we know where these girls are but you cannot get them. For God's sake, why are
they putting the lives of those children at risk? Why can't they do their jobs
without shouting?
Parts of the measures the FG claimed to end this insurgency and bringthegirls back was to get a $1 billion loan but the APC seems to be against it…
Let me tell you, we have talked about it before the issue of one billion dollar loan is for Jonathan's 2015 election I can tell you clearly when Nigeria has spent over three trillion, over three trillion on security we have not seen one security gadget that can protect and defend our territorial zones. The issue of the cctv cameras over N70 billion was spent in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), till today nothing is working nobody is being held responsible, nobody is questioned about it nobody is being sacked for that. So when you spent over N3 trillion it did not work, is it when you spend $1 billion that it will work. Well maybe to their own mathematics that $1 billion might work because they always believe (laughs).. I just don't know how to describe this particular case. For God's sake, was it in 2012 under the late General Azazi, over one trillion was budgeted in security till today we don't know how one trillion left our FG coffers and nothing to show that our security is well equipped. What will $1 billion do? then Nigeria is a very unserious country to be looking for money. So as I have told you, these are issues that we will continue to fight for no matter the threat and intimidation, I have been speaking and I will continue to speak. As I speak today my life is at risk, my life is endangered, if tomorrow should come and anything happens to me, Nigerians should know that this government should be held responsible because when you say the truth they will come for you.
Some Nigerians see APC as party of hope. How would the party ensure their expectations are not dashed in the midst of internal crisis within the party ahead of 2015?
Parts of the measures the FG claimed to end this insurgency and bringthegirls back was to get a $1 billion loan but the APC seems to be against it…
Let me tell you, we have talked about it before the issue of one billion dollar loan is for Jonathan's 2015 election I can tell you clearly when Nigeria has spent over three trillion, over three trillion on security we have not seen one security gadget that can protect and defend our territorial zones. The issue of the cctv cameras over N70 billion was spent in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), till today nothing is working nobody is being held responsible, nobody is questioned about it nobody is being sacked for that. So when you spent over N3 trillion it did not work, is it when you spend $1 billion that it will work. Well maybe to their own mathematics that $1 billion might work because they always believe (laughs).. I just don't know how to describe this particular case. For God's sake, was it in 2012 under the late General Azazi, over one trillion was budgeted in security till today we don't know how one trillion left our FG coffers and nothing to show that our security is well equipped. What will $1 billion do? then Nigeria is a very unserious country to be looking for money. So as I have told you, these are issues that we will continue to fight for no matter the threat and intimidation, I have been speaking and I will continue to speak. As I speak today my life is at risk, my life is endangered, if tomorrow should come and anything happens to me, Nigerians should know that this government should be held responsible because when you say the truth they will come for you.
Some Nigerians see APC as party of hope. How would the party ensure their expectations are not dashed in the midst of internal crisis within the party ahead of 2015?
The fate of APC is bright, the fate
of APC is in the hands of Nigerians. Nigerians are yearning for change then
they should be prepared to vote for the APC because the PDP government for over
15 years have not done anything good to Nigeria democracy. The fate of APC is
in the hands of God and the hands of Nigerians. Let Nigerians decide what they
want. If Nigerians want to continue with a government of corruption, it is left
for Nigerians. If Nigerians wants to continue to vote for a party that romances
and defends corruption, it is left in their hands to know; if they want to
fight for a party that can fight corruption, which can bring peace to Nigeria,
bring employment to Nigeria, it is left to Nigerians to decide.
But as a party first of all I can tell you no
matter internal problems we are having in our party, it will be resolved and it
has already been resolved with the kind of National chairman. We have the
capacity to lead the current exco which I believe as the deputy national
publicity secretary, the Exco will do everything possible to resolve this
internal crisis between now and the next few days we are already on it. We will
set up a reconciliatory committee led by the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar
as the chairman. We have people like Governor Rotimi Amaechi that are solution
solvers. The internal crisis in APC is normal everywhere. You should know that
for that party to get to that level, their tactics as a formidable opposition
they don't want two party systems in Nigeria. We should know that they will
also be sponsoring what is going on in the APC but that does not mean that we
are not going to solve our internal problem. So by the grace of God we are
going to get out of this in a short time. For now the APC is just preparing to
take over the presidential seat by the votes of Nigerians, so that is what we
are doing. We are only trying to convince Nigerians and then I can assure you
whosoever that is going to emerge as APC presidential candidate will beat
President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 election. We will not disappoint Nigerians;
we are going to conduct a free and fair primary to elect our presidential
candidate. We are not going to allow imposing of candidates to Nigerians.
That’s one thing; internal democracy is among issues party loyalists expressed concerns over.
That’s one thing; internal democracy is among issues party loyalists expressed concerns over.
You can see first of all from even
our ward congresses, our state local government congresses it was shown live in
the national convention. The convention started around 7pm and ended up the
next day 12 a.m; voting process was transparent. People voted for every
candidate that emerged, everybody was voted for. We tried to show an example
and that was why we said the PDP should learn from that process. I have been a
member of PDP all the times we have our conventions at the end of the day, a
day to the convention everybody will come up and say consensus. So, this is not
issue of consensus, this is issue of reality.
You appear to align with the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and he is believed to be one of the aspirants, what are his chances?
You appear to align with the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and he is believed to be one of the aspirants, what are his chances?
I can't speak on that for today, I am a national officer of the party, I am embracing all presidential candidates that will emerge. My own is that every presidential candidate is to present himself to the party. Yes, I will not deny the former vice president, till tomorrow he is always my boss, I have been with him for so many years, everyone or the other also have their own at the national level. So when you get to that stage at the level of being a national officer of the party, you have to be transparent to all candidates, you have to be opened to all candidates. I will advise him to campaign very well, I will advise him to put his house together but the fate of anybody that will emerge at the primaries is in the hands of the delegate.
What are the chances of the APC if it eventually floats Muslim/Muslim ticket?
The issue of Muslim ticket is just a mere propaganda of the PDP. The APC won't come up with Muslim candidates because we want to win an election; we are doing everything possible to win an election. In fact there is nothing even bad if we have a Muslim/Muslim ticket. Abiola and Kingibe were Muslims yet they won an election. So the issue of Muslim/Muslim ticket should have not been a problem but today it is because under this government, Nigeria is divided than ever. So that is why people are scared of issues of Muslim/ Muslim ticket but if it is not because of that, there should be nothing wrong with the idea. Whether Christian/Christian or Muslim/Muslim ticket this is Nigeria for God's sake; but for the first time, because we have a government that is incompetent to handle issues, because we have a government that is being sentimental, that is why today the country is divided than ever. Before today, there is relationship between the northern and the south but today that relationship is no more since Jonathan emerged as president of this country, he came with the sentiment of I am a minority and a Christian they brought issues of Christian, the people under his cabinet, the people under the south-south where I came from started saying that this is our town this is our own. So that was where the decisions came from, he knew that yes, the decision all this while in this country of Muslim, Christians, north and south has never been as bad as this. They have forgotten when Jonathan wanted to be the President of this country, it was still the northerners that voted for him, and then they forgot he was a south-south man or he was a Christian. The Muslims voted massively for him. But after emerging president, they came with issues of the North doesn't like us, the North is behind Boko Haram, the north is this, the north is that. Who are we going to hold responsible during the time of Niger Delta crises? Did the Northern leaders or Muslims accuse the Christians of being part of the people sponsoring the Niger Delta crisis? The answer is NO! Even as at then, the same Niger Delta people where I come from, when the problem was going on, we were still accusing the Northerners of being sponsors of the problems of the Niger Delta. Today, north is also facing the same challenges that we faced in the past. We are still accusing the Northerners again for God's sake, I can tell you clearly which Northern leaders will want to continue to kill his people like this? The people that die every day in the North are more of the Muslims than Christians. I am not defending the North but I am speaking as a patriotic and a true Nigerian. If the Boko Harams were killing people in Bayelsa or people in Delta or in Imo or Abia every day, the way they are killing people in the North, then if you accuse that the Northerners are the ones doing it, it is reasonable. That is why I say the government should stop dividing Nigeria. The government of today should come up with solutions instead of complains. But at this point in time, we are going to leave Nigeria in the hands of God to decide where Nigeria should go from where we are today.
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