Considering the wave of defections across the states in the South East, do you think the PDP still has the structure to remain a dominant opposition party?
The PDP has been on a free fall since it lost presidential election to late President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC in 2015. Having been spoiled by the Nigerian weak electoral system, which allowed them the latitude to retain power at the presidential level for unbroken 16 years, the leadership of the party became lethargic and did not prepare for the role of opposition. Ten years after losing power to the ruling APC, the party is yet to recover from the trauma of that loss, resulting in a continuous erosion of its internal cohesion and disciplinary machinery. The Southeast members of the PDP suffered the loss of all of their massive electoral investments in the PDP due mainly to the party’s utter disrespect and insensitivity to the legitimate demands of the party’s Southeast wing. The fate of the PDP in the Zone is self-inflicted.
Are fears of one-party state in Nigeria real or alarmists?
There is no basis for the unwarranted fear of Nigeria sliding into a one-party state. Nigeria is too large, heterogeneous, multi-religious, and multi ethnic to tolerate and operate a one-party state like China, Russia, North Korea, etc. The founding fathers of independent Nigeria negotiated the terms of our independence on the basis of a multi-party democracy although the multi-party delegations that championed the negotiations for the independence of Nigeria was led by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe who was the leader of the NCNC. Any attempt to railroad Nigeria into a one-party state is a recipe for anarchy of unimaginable magnitude and consequences.
Why are political parties in Nigeria not able to fulfill promises and democratic responsibilities?
The reasons our political parties and elected political leaders do not keep their promises and accountable to the citizens are rooted in the obnoxious 1999 constitution and the weak electoral system that have practically denied the Nigerian citizens their inalienable sovereignty to freely recruit leaders and representatives of their choice and hold them accountable to their social contracts with their constituents. All attempts by the Federal Government and National Assembly to correct the obvious defects in the Constitution and the Electoral Act have been half-hearted and lacking in sincerity.
Is it possible for political parties to return to the era when they operated based on ideology rather than personal or regional interests?
It is possible only if the enabling laws and regulations do not restrain political parties in the formulation of their party manifestos from what is generally considered as no-go areas. The decision to have a national spread should be the prerogative of the political parties and not a mandatory requirement to qualify for registration as a political party by the electoral commission. The first republic political parties in Nigeria were not compelled to wear a national toga. If it was so, parties like NPC, NEPU, and UMBC, which ideological inclinations tilted to address the core needs of their areas of interest, would not have been registered to operate and serve their people.
Has the APC lived up to expectation?
The overwhelming majority of Nigerians are reeling under the unbearable burden of the APC federal government economic and social policies. The unfortunate mismanagement of the country’s diversity has deepened ethnic and religious consciousness to an unprecedented depth, thus promoting a general sense of alienation by some sections of the country.
Can the former Labour Party Presidential Candidate in 2023, Peter Obi, sustain or replicate the political momentum he enjoyed in the last election come 2027?
I believe that Mr. Peter Obi is using the period before the 2027 election to market himself in Nigeria and abroad better than he he did during the 2023 presidential election. He will definitely build on the momentum he earlier established. My advice to him is that he should not delay any further in clarifying the political party of his choice. The gale of defections by political office holders and aspirants should recommend to him that he should not take anything for granted.
What is your take on the agitation for Nnamdi Kanu release from detention?
I am amazed at the insensitivity of the Tinubu administration to the outcry of well-meaning Nigerians across the country and abroad on the unjustifiable incarceration and oppression of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other prisoners of conscience for several years. Many Igbo leaders, including Senator John Azuta-Mbata, the current President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, and my humble self, have variously cried out publicly that any day Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is in prison, it is the Igbo people that are in prison. To those who are quick to say that the mischievous rigmarole in the courts in the matter of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must continue should be reminded that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is aware of some people who are in power today that were beneficiaries of the presidential prerogative of nolle prosequi under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.
What are the prospects of Tinubu returning to power in 2027?
It is for Nigerians to decide the fate of President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. My sincere advice to the National Assembly and INEC is to be mindful of the fragility of the Nigerian State at this time. The expected electoral reforms and INEC that will drive the process must not mismanage the process to save the country from avoidable anarchy.
Do you think the opposition, ADC, can unseat the APC in 2027?
ADC, APC, and Mr. Peter Obi, as well as other presidential, hopeful candidates, are entitled to their claims to the 2027 presidency. The taste of the eating is in the pudding as the saying goes.
Your response seems to suggest that, so far, they cannot? Why is that so?
The 2027 election is very open, any of the three major candidates can win, the reason is simple, all the defections that Tinubu has received and they are celebrating are mostly from the South, the North have not made their move and I’m aware that when the North will move, they are not as loud as we are in the South, that is what politicians must understand. now when they will make their movement, they will move within a space of one or two weeks, all the defections into the ADC will occur almost at the same time, in the National Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate and most of their top politicians, they are getting ready, so ADC is the platform, now Peter Obi is force that will surprise the two of them. All the defections at the governorship level does not interest people like me, the government of Tinubu is very unpopular, these people who are defecting are the people who acquired for themselves political liabilities, I don’t even see how Tinubu will win.
What’s your perception of the new INEC chairman? Do you think he can ensure the commission is independent as he said during screening by the Senate?
I would like to give the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, the benefit of the doubt. The sound bites from him so far have been reassuring. I pray that desperate politicians should allow him to give out his best to a country desperate to witness for once a credible and transparent election that will restore to Nigerians their sovereignty.
The constitution amendment process is ongoing. What critical amendments do you think can make a significant difference?
The critical areas in the Nigerian Constitution that require amendment include devolution power, technology must be mandatory in conduct election in Nigeria, the revenue allocation formula must be reviewed to grant sub-nationals greater allocations to take care of the added responsibilities that will come with devolution of power, citizenship rights and enforcement, including State police and community policing.
Do you have any confidence that this National Assembly will do justice to the issues you have raised?
Yes I have confidence that they may do the most critical of them, what is important is for the National Assembly to make a provision that electronic transmission of results is mandatory and that the court will not have any reason to say that electronic data cannot not be used to determine results. I like the proposal to shift onus proof to INEC instead of the petitioner.
There has been a long debate about whether or not a new constitution should be done because what we have now is not able to make Nigeria work. What’s your position?
I have always been against all these piecemeal amendment but the government of the day is not ready for a holistic constitutional change which can come by way of constitutional reforms. The APC is not disposed to holistic change. When we have leaders that Nigerians have chosen, not imposed leaders, then the aspirations of a new constitution and a new Nigeria may become to play but not now, it is not possible now, it is wishful thinking.
