2015: I can’t bet on Jonathan’s re-election – PDP Chieftain, Nzeribe Senator Arthur Nzeribe, powerful politician and businessman will soon turn 74. He has been out of active politics for some years after his last outing at the senate. His political history earned him the reputation of one that would not just vanish from the scene without a trace. This trace, he said , remains his clout as the only rolling stone that steadily gathers moss. What this means, as he explained is that “I am the only person that takes his people or his people accompanies wherever I go politically. They don’t just go with me empty, but I always win with them. Since independence, I have been in five political parties and played prominent roles in them. My people always go with me.” That is the reason election in his Oguta LGA of Imo State has remained a vexed issue in the past two years where results of the gubernatorial tussle in his council was inconclusive. Once again, last month, the thunder struck at same spot in the same manner as the House of Assembly run-off election in Oguta again re-invented the old tension. Again, it remains an inconclusive outing as INEC announced, although in disagreement with the position of the Imo State government. Ogbuagu, as Nzeribe is fondly called spoke again on the political developments in the country today and said loudly that he remains very much in the scene and has no plans to quit. The discussion touched on several facets of the polity where he bared his mind – some in commendation, some in caution and others in regret of his position right now and the state of the nation, which he lamented he is really afraid for in 2015. But if you would not agree with Nzeribe, you can’t still deny him this special take-away he hands all Nigerians, especially politicians to keep their personal ambitions at the background while that of the nation and its continued existence takes front seat. “Every Nigerian politician aspiring to any position has the right to do so provided they obey the rules. But what I would warn and plead with them is that desperation should not define the game. I have my fears for the 2015 race, and I sincerely think the nation needs people that are first patriots to get the positions so that we don’t in selfish acts jeopardize the existence of Nigeria, because if the nation is not there, there would not be any position to vie for.” At the interactive session , Nzeribe bared his mind to Sunday Sun on various issues about the nation. Excerpts: Your party PDP is going through a lot of problems at the moment, where do you think they emanated from? I believe they’re notably from inside the party. If they’re internal, then how can they be solved? They should be solved through discipline in the party. Members who are behind all these should be called to order, and that could involve sanctions and punishment for working against the interest of the party. What do you have to say about your colleagues in the senate and their opposition to local government autonomy? I stand on the same platform as my colleagues in the senate; that local governments should be abolished completely. There should be no third tier of government and the funds can go directly from Abuja to the states. So you’re in support of the scrapping LGs? Yes I am. What is wrong with LGs? What is wrong with the system is that the money going to them cannot be rationalized. They are never utilized properly. Do states utilize theirs properly? I believe they do to the best that they can. You complained about the government of your state and some of your statements indicate that you are not satisfied with Jonathan’s style even though Jonathan belongs to your party and the government of your state does not, so where do Nigeria’s problems come from? I believe that the problems in Nigeria lie with the individual ruling and not the party. If the problems are from the individual and he is under a party, why hasn’t the party called him to order? The party is made of individuals who don’t want to do things the right way, and they cannot give what does not exist. For example, I have asked my party many times, can we have the manifesto? What does it promise? Today, this one wants to bring water, another electricity without a manifesto for direction. How can we effectively lead?. That’s not possible. Now the government has gone three years with no manifesto to work on, forget the individual pledges taken because we know what those mean politically. Some time ago, you praised Bamanga Tukur. Do you still praise him now given the many problems of the party? He has not done anything that warrants a comment on either good or bad,because it’s not long since he assumed office, but now, we are beginning to see the true Bamanga Tukur. You will have some quality time to say whether he is succeeding or not succeeding. Do you recognize the fact that there are problems in PDP? Oh yes, I do! Who would you blame for the problems? I would not apportion blames but I would rather make suggestions and the one and only suggestion that I can make is that we should clear the board, including everyone in it and start all over again. Because if you say let us leave two or three people, the same thing will repeat itself. You will only worsen the matter by apportioning blames but if you clear the deck, clear such attitudes and do it democratically, then sanity would return. Do you want Jonathan re-elected in 2015? I know he is entitled to fight for re-election in 2015, and of that I expressed my views during the primaries to my national chairman. How do you see 2015 elections? I have my fears. I see uncertainty. I have to admit that I fear for the nation whenever I remember the forthcoming 2015 elections. I then call on Nigerians to be cautious and patriotic in handling it, because the way it goes would determine what Nigeria would be subsequently. I sincerely think the nation needs people that are first patriots to get the positions so that we don’t in selfish acts jeopardize the existence of Nigeria, because if the nation is not there, there would not be any position to vie for. How do you feel about PDP losing out in your Oguta constituency? PDP won the election but APGA said that we must go back. How can we go back? The court said we won, INEC said we won. You said sometime ago, “ole oke Ndigbo ketere?”, meaning what has Ndigbo benefited in electing Jonathan. Why do you say that? I say that because we have not benefited much. How much will you like to benefit? You asked an incredible question. We want a good piece of the national cake. We want good roads. We want the second Onitsha Bridge constructed. We want it built and not just a story of awards. Since I came into politics till today, I found out that the Onitsha bridge only gets patched up when we complain and they move on, when it really needs to be rebuilt. You said earlier that you appreciate the declaration of state of emergency in three northern states and suggested Nigeria involves outside influence. Can you explain the reason(s)? The best solution will be for the government to bring the people closer. The emergency rule became necessary to dissuade doomsday prophets of Nigeria’s disintegration from having a field day, and just like the Philippines did in the ‘50s, do not be shy to go outside and ask for help. Look for the right experts to help us. The problem with that is when you put on the television and hear the so called experts in the country talking about the same thing all the time, some of them do not even have school certificate or the qualification. If we are going outside to seek good carpenters and cleaners, why can we not go abroad and seek the right experts? Do you miss the senate? I cannot pretend not to miss it, particularly the quality of people they have on board now. I see people of my age bracket making contributions that will change the nation and that makes me feel I am supposed to be there and do my bit. Do you think Ndigbo will have a good shot at the presidency in 2015? Do not attempt it, because if you do, you will fail. First of all, we have to tell ourselves the truth; that we are not yet settled among ourselves. Since I came into politics, the Igbo have never aspired for the office and won and next you will see them coming back again. It’s the same people that keep coming out for the presidential election from Igbo land. All the time, they keep recycling themselves. Igbo will only win when we begin to speak in one voice and not necessarily in the same party. What’s your reaction to Arthur Eze’s statement that “no Igbo man should contest, because they all support Jonathan”? I think the statement is very undemocratic. The Igbo are free to exercise their rights. Because I said you cannot win does not deprive you of the opportunity or right to compete. They are free to come out for election even if they will not win. Recently, the chairman of the PDP BOT, Chief Tony Anenih also said there is no vacancy and the party should not subscribe to primaries to pick a presidential candidate. Do you agree ? That is his opinion. I think they want to achieve a situation where Jonathan wins without competing in the primaries but I say, Jonathan should contest like everyone else and not be told that he can win automatically. I can bet on Jonathan winning the primaries of PDP, just pick up our constitution and see what it says about incumbents running, you have to be a dog to lose, but I cannot bet on him winning the election. I’m saying that the possibility of him winning the PDP primaries is much easier than winning the election. I’m urging all party members to stay in the party and assist Jonathan win at the party level. The politics outside the party is not something that I will like to dabble into right now. The essence of our democracy at the moment is making it more difficult to forecast the outcome of the election.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 13:29:11 +0000
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