Former Director at National Broadcast Academy, NBA (Training Arm of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN), Ikeja – Lagos, Dr Ajibola Abiola, who is also the Director of Organisation, The Rebirth Group, an Arm of New Nation Enlightenment Foundation, in this interview spoke on a wide-range of national issues, including restructuring, return to parliamentary and regional system of government.
*What is your take on the current socioeconomic and political situation in Nigeria?*
Nigeria is currently in a state of flux and the fault lines are widening by the day apparently caused by the country’s defective foundation. And you know when the foundation of a building is faulty, no matter the amount of patching you carry out, it will eventually give way one day. Imagine 64 years of Independence, Nigeria has never experienced a better tomorrow. In fact, you can easily predict what the future holds going by the picture of what you are seeing today.
Just like one political figure said many years ago, Nigeria is simply a geographical expression and an assemblage of certain sub ethnic nationalities that have remained sharply divided among themselves, portraying a picture of unfriendliness and inability to live together. The hijack of the Regional Government by the Military in 1966 inflicted an incalculable damage to the psyche of the country. If the Military had returned the country to Regional and Parliamentary Government they met on ground, we would not have been in the mess we found ourselves today. I have never seen where a forceful marriage conducted between a man and a woman has ever worked. The normal thing is to allow love to naturally permeate between them first, and then allow the two to agree among themselves to stay together for better or worse. But in Nigeria, the sub-ethnic groups were forced upon one another into a marriage of inconvenience without any agreement between them. The Unitary Constitution handed over by the Military in 1999 was never designed to make the country work because it was never agreed to by the people. Rather, it was foisted on us by the Military hoping that things will sort itself out. But here we are today. Nothing is working. Most of our infrastructures are becoming dilapidated. In spite of being a major producer of crude, we can’t refine it because of decayed Refinery. Most unfortunately, corruption has grown to become endemic in both public and private institutions. This has led to stagnancy and blocked the progress of the country. Until we arrange a referendum whereby we agree on what kind of restructuring arrangement we want, nothing will avail much in the country
*Do you think that the nationwide protest achieved its objectives?*
Of course. The protesters have made their point -that things are not well in the country. There is no doubt that the people are hungry and famished out there. People are also losing their jobs in droves as a result of government unstable and unfriendly policies. The sudden removal of Petroleum subsidy has caused undue inflation in the market with almost all food items going beyond the reach of the people. I had thought that the subsidy removal would have been done in phases for the people to adjust gradually and to enable the government put in place adequate measures to assuage the removal. For example, the government would have invested immediately on the repair of the moribund Refineries before removing the subsidy. This lack of planning by the government apparently compounded the problem & made the matter worst for the populace.
*Protesters made demands. Do you think this government is ready to grant hungry and angry Nigerians their requests in practical terms?*
Unfortunately, the government did not get the message. They thought the protest was sponsored and politically motivated. They forgot that a hungry man is an angry man. They’d thought the palliatives they are providing have reached the people not knowing that they never get to the people. Corruption in the land could not have made any genuine intervention to succeed. But then, palliatives do not solve the problems either. It is like throwing foods at dogs once in a week. You want to ask how does it feed after the days feed. Well, I understand the government has put in place some positive measures but like I said earlier, corruption in the land rarely makes any intervention to succeed.
*How would you rate Tinubu’s broadcast on 4th August?*
Of course, the broadcast didn’t address the problems that took the protesters to the streets. You can recollect that few days later, the President had to make some official pronouncements again all in attempt at tackling the underlying problems. But as far as I know, all those measures may not produce immediate result as to solve the problems of hunger and starvation in the land.
*Does the over- bloated cabinet and high cost of governance project President Tinubu as a good manager of resources and a prudent administrator?*
There is no doubt that the cost of governance is just too high and needs to be cut down drastically. I pray the President sees this aspect and reduce these efforts at satisfying party members at the expense of the nation.
*IGP, Olukayode Egbetokun, will be 60 on September 4, and he’s yet to proceed on compulsory pre-retirement leave or inform the Police Service Commission of his plans to quit. The NASS has moved to amend the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 (Amendment) Bill, 2024, into law. The Bill was tabled for the first time on the floor of the Senate on July 23, 2024. It was passed into law swiftly, in record time. It was passed for first, second and third reading on July 31, during the Senate’s emergency session. The IGP and some of his supporters are waiting for President Tinubu to sign it into law. All these are ploy to extend his tenure. Is that a sign of statesmanship on the side of Tinubu? Are there no other capable hands to man effectively the Nigeria Police force?*
Maybe the Amendment Bill contain clauses for the extension of the tenure of the IGP. I don’t think so otherwise such amendments may continue to affect the integrity of our National Assembly Members.
*Some northern groups are reportedly gunning for a replacement of this government by 2027, they’re are eyeing Goodluck Jonathan, against the globally accepted man of honor in governance, Peter Obi, what in your view is their reason?*
Well this may be very difficult to postulate. Maybe we should wait until the candidates get to the polls and Nigerians make their choices themselves. All I know is that nobody can force any candidate on Nigerians.
They are better informed and educated, granted that the Electoral body will be transparent and open enough to conduct very credible elections.
*The release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was among the demands of the EndBadGovernment Protesters, do you think President Tinubu would release him? Some people have said Tinubu inherited Buhari’s enemy Nnamdi Kanu.*
I don’t think this should have featured in the demand of the protesters.
This is because an underground work was already being initiated by the South East Governors and some well meaning individuals to release Kanu and I think Mr President is still looking at it.
*Do you think the 10th NASS would heed to the voice of reason to trash the 1999 constitution as amended, and work with the Chief Emeka Anyaoku -led Patriots for a new People- oriented Constitution?*
There is no doubt that some people are benefitting from the current Unitary or call it Military constitution and one will expect that such people will continually work against it. However, Mr President should not allow these set of people to influence him. He should do what is needful in the interest of Nigerians.
A people’s constitution that will birth a functional Regional Government is inevitable if we must move forward as a Nation. And the President has this ample chance of etching his name in gold if he eventually takes Nigeria through that path.
*As former Director of NBA, do you think the media is living up to expectations in shaping Nigeria’s democracy? Or are we lagging behind responsibly?*
I want to believe that the media in Nigeria is living up to expectations except the fact that a lot of untrained individuals and quacks have moved into the profession. This has brought a lot of aspersions on the real journalists. But such traits are found in all other climes too even in developed countries where not only fake news but deep fakes are generated.
*Your honest opinion, why has insecurity festered especially in the North over a decade? What is the bitter truth we need to know?*
The problem of insecurity in the North is multi- dimensional. That is why it has been very difficult to arrest it. There are the politicians angle to it. Others are the high number of uncatered & unschooled children that become Almajirai. Another angle is the infiltration of mercenaries from neighbour countries to perpetrate unwholly acts. Another angle is the deliberate creation of state of unrest in some states by some foreigners who are interested in mining and carting away the mineral resources of the land.
There are other angles to it definitely
*Would you trust the INEC Chairman, Yakubu Mahmood to deliver free, fair and credible elections in Edo and Ondo? And do you think he will conduct transparent and acceptable elections in 2027 if he remains as INEC chairman till then?*
We can only hope so. Let’s give him the benefit of doubt.
*What do you think would be the fate of Nigerians after 2027 if Tinubu gets second term, either by hook or crook?*
Except he sets the stage for proper restructuring of this country, and by this I mean going back to Regional cum parliamentary form of government, I don’t see anything working for the country. Apparently, there will be more crises in terms of worsening security breaches across the length and breadth of the country. There will be serious loss of jobs as a result of many companies folding up due to instability in government policies. The current hunger and starvation will be a child’s play. But I pray he embraces positive measures as being canvassed by well meaning Nigerians like the THE REBIRTH GROUP that will put the country in a state of peace, Unity, Progress and Development.
(Culled from The Sun)
