A prominent politician in Adamawa State, Markus Gundiri, in this interview carpets the election that brought in embattled Governor Murtala Nyako and describes the ongoing impeachment process as a reflection of the wishes of the people of the state. He spoke to Grace Alex among other journalists. Excerpts:How’s your political journey been so far?I am a man that was born a long time ago in a village, in Adamawa State and had my bachelor’s degree in Ahmadu Bello University, and my master’s in Engineering at the University of Newcastle in the United Kingdom. I worked in so many placesin government, and rose to the rank of a Director in charge of dams in thiscountry.I retired in January 2010 and was requested by my people to come intopolitics to salvage the situation we have in Adamawa state. That is the lack of development; the lack of security, lack of employment, lack of proper education, and so many things that were actually impeding the socio-economic development and empowerment of the good people of Adamawa State.As of that time we registered into the PDP, wishing that we were going to contest on the platform of the PDP. Inthe end, someone was forced on the people, that is, the present governor of Adamawa State. So a lot of us decided to go where we could have better opportunities. As a politician, especially those of us that are just starting, we wanted to have that feel, that experience of being a politician, we wouldn’t just sit down and look at things happening without partaking in it.So most of the people in Adamawa State decided that we should join a political party and we did. We went toACN. By the grace of God, I was allowed to be the standard bearer of ACN in Adamawa State. We contested the elections against all the other candidates of other parties and won, but things just happened and the PDP governor was declared the winner. Some people win some people lose, just like football, some goals are conceded offside, but politically speaking, the election that Nyako won was offside. We took it as men, and as real democrats in this country trying to build a new type of system.Now that you are in the PDP, how do you hope to reconcile the two PDP factions in Adamawa?There is just one PDP in Adamawa State headed by Chief Jewel Madaki. The other faction that was headed by the other guy was the one that went with the governor to APC, and so we do not have any type of friction in PDP today in Adamawa State.You said you left because the PDP imposed a candidate. But now you are back in that same party.In the present situation, there won’t be any candidate being imposed on the party by PDP. The party has grown to be a more democratic party,especially with the present government. Things are done according to the rule of law and it’s not just the PDP, but the government itself today, running the country on the rule of law.Where there is rule of law, you find more sensible persons tilting to that party. If there is no rule of law, then there is a problem. So it’s not out of place for me to go into PDP today. Then, it wasn’t just me; so many people including some of the candidates left to go to other parties and contest the elections.Why did you return to PDP then?We cannot work with someone who has served Adamawa State in the capacity as a governor and didn’t do anything in the seven years that he has been in power and to associate with him in any way is tainting your integrity as a man. Even to be in the same political party as him. He is not a democrat per say. He is somebody who has institutionalised the rulership of Adamawa state based onfamily. His son, who was lieutenant, resigned to become a cashier for him.Everything that is called government in Adamawa was actually run by his people within the same family and there was no democracy. The people in Adamawa are not going for anyonewho associates with this kind of person. So, of course, you will not have any democratic principles with anything that is associated with him; you will not be able to exercise your rights.Are you in support of the impeachment process against him?My position is simple. Anybody who does wrong and goes against the constitution of this country must be punished no matter who he is. If I become the governor and I do wrong,they have the right to impeach me. If you know you have done wrong, accept you have done wrong and get out. So, I honestly support what the House of Assembly in Adamawa State is doing. But if he can be able to defend himself of all the accusations levied against him, then he can exonerate himself. But I support fully what is being done in Adamawa State today.What role is your party playing in this impeachment saga?We just give them the moral support. Remember that now the House of Assembly is hundred per cent PDP. All the 25 members of the House of Assembly defected to PDP and we will give these young men and women all the support that they need.Are you still interested in the governorship?As I told you initially, I didn’t force myself into politics. People of Adamawa State saw a man that can lead them, a man of integrity – that can stand for development, for freedom and for the welfare of the people and they called me and sent representatives from all the 21 local government areas not less than ten times. Then I said I will do it. If the same people come today and say they don’t want me to contest, I cannot force myself on them.In the political history of this country, only one governor has been impeached. Every other attempt has always fizzled out. Do you think this will fly?The people from the PDP will always support these people. So whether it will succeed or not succeed, it is that the institution of the country is respected.Tags:Nigeria,Featured,Politics,Markus GundiriRating: (3.5)
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 12:14:19 +0000
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