Don’t Drag NCC into Politics-Gital

The recent attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has given rise to all sorts of agitation, including the call for a state of emergency in the North. Suggest the way out of the security logjam in Nigeria.

Let me start by commiserating with the families of the officers who lost their lives during the attack on the NDA. The same goes to the families of all our service personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice in their patriotic and heroic effort to defend our country from internal insurrectionists and external aggression by terrorists.

We have had many wake up calls, on the need to change our approach to national security. Every time we claim we are on top of the situation. But the NDA attack is shows that we are not on top of the situation. Instead, it is the lowest we can go. We understand that there could have been insiders collaborating with the terrorists. That means a complete failure of intelligence in the most strategic military institution in the country. The terrorists who gained access into the NDA, operated freely, killed our prized officers and disappeared without trace have confirmed the vulnerability of the country. Who knows the next target?

Declaring a state of emergency in the North can only help if there is the political will to deal decisively with the situation. Also, there must be unity of purpose. When brothers are fighting, the thief can walk in and take any thing he likes. The disunity in the country is affecting the fight against the terrorists and bandits. Our military resources are spread all over the country, engaged in active duty. It has never been so. Therefore, everybody must come together to fight the menace. Our President told us that if we do not kill corruption, it will kill Nigeria. Now, Nigeria is being gradually killed by insecurity. So, the answer to the problem is not state of emergency.   

Top politicians such as Senator Ali Ndume have warned against integrating ‘repentant’ Boko Haram fighters into the Nigerian Army just as others do not support a pardon talk less of such privileged soft landing as recruitment into the Nigerian Army. May we have your view please?

That is part of the problem. There is distrust in the system. The army has denied recruiting the repentant Boko Haram fighters. But the people do not believe the Army. I think it will be wrong to treat the surrendering Boko Haram fighters with kid gloves. The families whose loved ones were killed, the people who were displaced and their lives shattered, who now live in IDPs are there watching. Such people will never forget and may never forgive. Another question is: what is the standard practice in dealing with people who are fighting to dismember the country? Is it to reabsorb them, put them on trial or what? Also, those threatening the existence of the country by violent means should receive the same treatment, no matter what part of the country they are operating. 

Give us your antidote for the perennial leadership crises that plagues political parties in Nigeria especially during the period leading to general elections.

The answer to the problem, whether in the party or in the government is for people to aspire to positions of power with the intention to serve, and not to be served. If politicians see themselves as servants and not masters of the voters, the struggle for power will not be like a war. In fact, this one is more than a war. You can see that in my party, the APC, ever since Oshiomole was removed, it has been one problem or the other. Today, it is the PDP that was laughing at the APC yesterday. All because of 2023. See what is happening in Anambra. The three major parties: the power struggle in the APGA, APC and PDP is a major problem. I think the solution to this problem is to remove some of the privileges that politicians enjoy. That way, only people who want to serve will aspire to power.

Do you agree with the view that the Federal Government appears to be paying greater attention to things that should not be priority, such as Niger Republic to the detriment of the country?

No. I do not agree with that view. As a country, we should strive to have excellent relations with our neighbours. Besides, when you join the economies of countries, your people will benefit. This is very important. In America, the United States will always assist their neighbours to grow their economies. What the present Administration has done is to implement the vision of great African leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Muamar Gaddafi, of a united continent that will prosper based on mutual cooperation.

Yes. I agree that greater emphasis should be given to domestic problems. I think the Government is trying in the areas of infrastructure. You can see the construction work all over the country: the rail lines, the Second Niger Bridge, the roads and many others.

The problem is that because many leaders, especially Governors are not applying their monies judiciously, the poverty level is very high all over the country. That is why people misunderstand the attempt to establish better economic relations with Niger Republic. In future people will begin to appreciate the benefits. We should extend this to Nigeria-Cameroon and Nigeria-Benin.

As part of its amendment of the Electoral Act, the National Assembly had hinged the electronic transmission of votes on the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC receiving assurance from the Nigerian Communications Commission that there was sufficient internet coverage all over the country, a position that has been rejected by INEC. Was the NASS right to have made such a provision?

The National Assembly was wrong. There are many reasons. Number one is that by the Constitution, it is only INEC that can determine how it conducts elections. It is not to receive instructions from any person or agency of government. even the President cannot. Number two, INEC has consistently said that it can transmit the results electronically. It has done so before. So, you cannot query that unless you do not believe in the leadership of INEC. Number three, the NCC has not requested and cannot request to participate in the election because the Constitution has not assigned it any role. I wonder why the Senate in particular is eager to disrupt the great contribution that the NCC is making to the country by giving it a role that violates the constitution and which could draw the Commission into the country’s unending political squabbles. Number four, many public institutions and corporate bodies have since perfected how to handle transactions electronically nationwide. All the banks that handle heavy data on a daily basis are all linked digitally. Therefore, the NCC should be allowed to continue with the good job it is doing as a regulatory agency.

Despite the higher bench frowning at such behaviour, conflicting rulings by Courts of coordinate jurisdiction such as the ones on APGA in Anambra and the national chairman of the PDP have thrown political parties into disarray while compounding the work of INEC. How do we curb such conflicting judicial pronouncements?

This is a matter for the National Judicial Commission. I must say that some of these rulings are very embarrassing. May be, the judges believe that they are right. But as you said, these conflicting undermine the ability of INEC to do its work efficiently. Thank God that there are higher levels of judicial intervention as well as checks and balances within the judiciary. But on the whole, our judiciary has done well.

Do you support the argument that the President should be zoned to the South in 2023?

Why not? If it will help to bring healing, reduce insecurity, forge greater national unity and bring about prosperity in all homes. You see, I think that we should think nationally and as the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo said recently, we should deemphasize where someone comes from. We are all Nigerians.

Actually, I think that good governance is more important than where the President comes from. This means less corruption, greater equity and inclusive government, equal opportunities and access, security of life and property and enjoyment of the basic freedoms. I believe that the clamour to make the President an ethnic or zonal issue will reduce.

You also remember that some people have argued that the competition can be reduced if we devolve responsibilities and resources from the Federal to the states and local governments. We should borrow from successful countries where, like in the First Republic Nigeria, the central government is more involved with foreign policy, defence, a common currency and related matters. Through national policies, the states can collaborate to create the incentives in agriculture, education, health etc. Lastly, when we talk about equity in producing the President, do not forget that the North East, like the South East, is yet to produce the President. May be it is because both are in the East. I think that if zoning must be allowed, then the North East and South East zones should be allowed to produce the President and Vice President. But my honest thinking is that we should think nationally instead of sectionally.

Have you received the COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes. I have taken the COVID-19 jab. I feel more secure now. However, I still observe the COVID-19 protocols: I wear my mask, when in a crowd, I try to maintain social distancing, I wash my hands with soap and I sanitize then regularly. The price of doing these things is cheaper than dying.

What is your message to the people concerning COVID-19?

People should adhere to the protocol issued by the World Health Organisation and the Federal Government. COVID-19 is real. It is decimating the world’s population. If not tackled, like AIDs, it could create many orphans. Everybody who is eligible should take the vaccine. It is free. NCC, APC, INEC, NASS