JONATHAN KNOWS HE WON'T FIND IT EASY — DUROJAIYE

By NBF News
Click for Full Image Size

Durojaiye
What is your take on the present political arrangement?

I believe that each party is free to organise its own mode of nominating its standard bearer and everyone is busy doing that. The electoral process is already in force and attempts are being made to make further amendments to it. But what we have can operate. The most important thing is to get voters registration done. I said it earlier that if it would be necessary, let's extend the time for the election in order to give room for a thorough voters registration. Without that, forget about a free and fair election. Now, I am happy that has been done.

Some believe that President Jonathan's chances of winning has reduced, how would you react to that?

President Jonathan would surely have a strong opposition and he knows it. It will be wrong of him not to anticipate that people would oppose him. Nobody has the monopoly of right to rule this country. For many years now, I have always supported a two-party structure and that is what will happen. A situation where we have up to 50 political parties while the PDP that has been in power for so many years and has amassed enormous resources, still wants to be in control, should not be allowed to go like that. Recently, the USA conducted election and elected Barack Obama. Just early this year, Britain also did theirs.

It costs a fortune for even those countries that are less corrupt than ours. So, the PDP has that advantage of having more funds to throw around. It is not just for bribing people but for effecting a sound campaign through the media, canvassing and house to house campaign. PDP has the money but others do not have. Therefore, the best way out is for the other parties to come together on whatever arrangement. I would love to see that. All the noise we hear today come from PDP. Whether it will be the incumbent or some of the veterans in politics should represent them. In fact, that should be their internal issue and they should sort themselves out. It all lies in the hands of PDP members to decide who they want as their candidate. If Jonathan emerges, it is good. But Nigerians will later decide who becomes the president through election.

What do you think should be done to reduce the strength of PDP?

What I have to suggest is that the progressives, which I belong to, should come together. So, whoever the PDP brings out as flag bearers, let still have an ACN candidate with a Labour Party or ANPP person as his or her running mate. There should also have an understanding with APGA and other political parties. All will come together and form a body. That would make it easier for the public to pick the right person among the candidates. That was what we did on June 12 and it worked because we had a two-party structure. With that, people find it easier to identify who they would prefer as their leaders. For instance, let me say that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Dele Momodu or other younger people representing the progressives should face whatever veterans they bring in the PDP. I think that would enhance a clear-cut campaign. So, what I am saying is that strong opposition brings the best in the electoral process.

Are you in support of or against zoning?
All along, I have never supported the zoning arrangement. In fact, the issue was debated at the Constituent Assembly in 1988 when we went to write the 1989 constitution that was neither passed into law nor implemented. The zoning issue comes up because we believe that we have not become one country yet. If we are one country, it does not matter where the president comes from. The emphasis would have been who will best safeguard our interest and ensure security, which is the most threatened in this country. Now, power supply is comatose. We need improved education, which has been on the downward trend for a long time now. So, who we need now is anyone that would make the essential things that are needed to make lives meaninful for our people no matter where the person comes from. We are not really solving any problem when we say that power must go to this or that place.

It is not really changing anything. No one person does it alone, others must join hands to achieve a better result. There are other positions like ministers that make things go well in a country. When the South had Obasanjo as president for eight years, what did the people from the zone benefit? Is it our roads that we would say that are the best ever? Look at the Lagos/Sagamu road that is the real economic artery of Nigeria. From Sagamu to Ibadan down to the North, then from Sagamu to Benin that leads to the South South and South East of the country. Are these roads okay? These are the roads that should have been expanded to 12 lanes. So, I do not see any extra-ordinary benefit. What I am saying is that it does not matter who is there. What matters is putting someone that would cater for the needs of the people. That, however, does not mean changing the rules when the game is still on. But I would have preferred that we should not make zoning an issue.

Suggest how free and fair election could be achieved in Nigeria

I suggest that every Nigerian should be prepared for the election. They should participate actively. It should be one man, one vote. And they should be prepared to protect their votes to make sure that nobody manipulates it. Also, let the judges be prepared to give any electoral petitions adequate attention. We do not have to wait for three and half years as we waited in Ekiti State.

How can you react to security lapses in the country?

In fact, the country is sick in the area of security. The recent incident where SSS operatives impounded some containers containing ammunitions at Apapa Wharf is a clear indication that all is not well in the country. I was really amazed. I saw when they were being off loaded. They said they were 13 containers. How are we sure they are not up to 130? We really have a very porous border in Nigeria. Our security system needs to be improved upon. The condition of service of police should be improved to get better service. They cannot do much on an empty stomach. Having done that, anyone of them found wanting should be punished accordingly to serve as a deterrent to others. Also, the police should be under the state control so that they could be monitored very well.

How can the governors be made the Chief Security Officers in their states, and they provide some logistics for the police need, yet they cannot control the commissioner. Rather, he reports to IGP. Other security operatives should also be improved to enhance performance.