Since the termination of the fuel subsidy, Nigerians have been experiencing difficult times. What, in your opinion, ought the Federal Government to have done first before making such a move?
The issue of the refineries should have been investigated by the federal government. It should have started with the refineries being operational. The previous administration had this plan to declare a state of emergency in order to build the refineries, but it never materialised. Step one is finished. Step two is to investigate the issue of workers’ minimum wages. In light of this, I don’t believe a sane person could have predicted that N50,000 would be sufficient to meet all of the needs of a worker in this nation today. They ought to have performed better. The government ought to have started formulating ideas for a strategy that would benefit Nigerian workers.
Thirdly, whether you like it or not, it is accepted that everyone must make sacrifices because this is a global issue. But I’ve lately run across a problem: if you’re talking about making a sacrifice, why should Nigerians alone do it without those in government? All signs point to the fact that even the National Assembly members are increasing their demands daily. Within the levels of the legislative and executive branches of government, none of them are exerting any effort. They don’t appear to be making any kind of sacrifices. Why should sacrifices only be made by the masses? Therefore, let the legislative and executive branches start setting an example.
Let’s start by observing that the governors’ convoy of 50–60 cars has been reduced to perhaps five or six. I don’t know why they use taxpayer funds to fund this convoy they travel in. They ought to cut it back. Let’s start by reducing the large convoy that is currently around the President’s fleet. The National Assembly’s fictitious allowances should then be lowered to a quarter as we start to see or hear it. These are individuals earning more than N12 million each month. Let’s get it down to N1m or N2m. That is sacrifice, and they won’t come up with the concept of using common language to coerce Nigerians into believing it is time to make sacrifice when they simply glance at their faces in an effort to exploit their sensibility. Why should the average person make sacrifices if legislators are unwilling to do the same? They represent whose interests at the National Assembly, right? Therefore, these are some of the things I anticipate them doing to motivate Nigerians to affirm that “yes, this is a crucial time that requires all hands on deck because it takes two to tango.”
Are you concerned about the potential effects of this strike action and the threat it poses to our democracy given the circumstances in the Niger Republic?
Well, some of us who are the offspring of struggles in this nation have witnessed both the military’s actions and their effects. Some of us are involved in the pro-democracy movement, including someone like me who comes from a long line of struggle in the South-West. I served as a foot soldier for NADECO, attended PRONACO conferences with people like the late Pa Anthony Enahoro and Prof. Wole Soyinka, and even led the youth director’s team at that time, promoting democracy. Some of us feel threatened by anything that will prevent a democratically elected administration since we are aware of the struggles we underwent as strugglers.
We are aware of the number of victims during the trying times. Some aspects of our lives have changed since then. We are aware of several of our current coworkers who are still scarred. Since then, they have not recovered. Therefore, any power must consider a country in the 21st century on the African continent that plans to stage a coup against an established government to be a threat. If that is allowed to continue, we must fight against it and vehemently oppose it because we cannot be certain that Nigeria won’t experience the same thing. You can be assured that the same elements exist in your country that may exploit your adjacent country and do the same if you believe your home is safe and your neighbor’s home is on fire. Therefore, I believe that it is wrong for some of us who are Democrats. I believe that any complaints should be brought up for discussion. We only recently started to notice governments being overthrown in Mali and other places.
I’m aware of this with Chad and a few other nations. Due to the close proximity of the Niger Republic issue to us, this cannot be allowed to continue. We are immediately impacted by Niger’s problems. We must immediately take action. As the head of the Economic Community of West African States, I applaud President Bola Tinubu for agreeing with his colleagues not to recognise the coup in the Niger Republic. They have vowed that they will do everything in their power to bring back Niger’s rightful government. It’s a positive development in my opinion since this threatens democracy throughout Africa, not just in Nigeria.
However, the coupists who questioned the legality of the current Nigerian government have challenged President Tinubu and the ECOWAS leadership’s threat to the Niger coupists. What connection do you see between that and our democratic system?
Legitimacy is a separate issue. This Nigerian administration, which was just ousted, was duly elected. Therefore, it is up to the populace to judge if something is popular or not. There is always due process, whether it be to vote him out after four years or to recall him in accordance with their constitution. I have no idea how they manage their tenure. But if they’re genuine, they can always have another election and choose anybody they want. However, it is not a good idea and should not be promoted if someone decides to take up arms and forcibly remove a current president who was democratically elected after simply waking up and sensing unhappiness among the populace.
A legitimate government is one that was elected. It is legitimate if they were chosen by vote. I’m not sure how or when they came to the conclusion that the government is not genuine. There is no vacuum in front of Nigerians today, whether you like it or not. The Independent National Electoral Commission declared someone to be the president, and he took up residence in that position. Some of us who were present when the election took place were aware that it had been held and that a candidate had won. So, if you think it’s not legal, go to court and argue that it is; otherwise, it’s legal in our eyes.
This nation has a problem with losers who never thought they could lose: awful losers. Either they went to their local physicians or they were advised to win an election by a bogus prophet, and they left with that attitude and the conviction that they would not lose. As a result, they said that Nigeria would never have peace because they lost the election. Any attempt to push us into a crisis from any direction will be resisted.
What actions do you want the North to see from President Tinubu?
He needs to consider the region’s unemployment rate as well as ways to lessen the number of Almajiri living on the streets of the North. Because you don’t expect our political leaders, some of them are just there to find an opportunity to make money and construct mansions, to do much, I see them as a threat and a time bomb ready to burst in the future. You now drive your children around in your expensive vehicles, thinking that you are doing yourself a favour. There will come a day when you are unable to drive that car freely, and there will be a time when the mansion you constructed will be destroyed. I frequently warn them, therefore, that if they don’t work to create a society that is fair, in which their neighbours’ children will live, attend school, and achieve better lives for themselves, then these same abandoned children will become a ticking time bomb that will prevent you from spending time with your family in the future. That’s what we’ll probably encounter.
As opposed to Buhari, who would designate a minister and then completely forget about it for the previous seven or eight years—nobody questioned the appointment—Tinubu should keep people accountable for any appointments. In his situation, Tinubu must keep an eye on ministers and other appointees who have been given duties so that, if they don’t live up to expectations, he can fire them and choose another employee instead, allowing you to compare the unemployment rate across the country at the end of the day.
Children who are not in school must also be taken care of. In order to gain the support of state governments, let him develop strategies, work with them, and have discussions with them. There are schools that will accept street children as students. For individuals who cannot attend school, this administration must implement skill-acquisition initiatives that will also benefit the populace. This is required so that they can be effective and contribute to the region’s well-being, and we will have fewer issues. If things don’t change, more Boko Haram organisations will probably start to appear soon.
What specific measures do you want the government to take so that young people would have more faith in the process of constructing the country?
The government must bring them to the fore, hire new individuals, and give them responsibilities so that they can also be given specific tasks to play in the government in order to prevent a national catastrophe. These are some of my opinions because I believe the country will not benefit if he keeps promoting the same old individuals just because they are his buddies. Some of them ought to be retired by now, but you are still giving them appointments because you think some of them have anything to contribute. He can work with many of our young, talented, and clever people, and they will perform better. Some of us saw hope in him since, in addition to being the product of hardship, he had occasionally been the key to the success of many members of the younger generation.
There isn’t a leader in the nation right now, in my opinion, who can openly claim to have accomplished what Tinubu did by giving many young people the chance to develop and become who they are now. No one in the nation can match that accomplishment. He appointed several of them as governors, senators, and even a vice president, as we clearly recall. Even during the election, he was kept alive by the many relationships he had created. So that he can be remembered for doing it, we hope to see him do it more often in the future.
What specifically is your forum doing to lessen the epidemic of banditry, drug misuse, etc. among young people in the North, other from activism and pro-democracy struggles?
We started sensitization campaigns to educate the majority of these younger members. However, even if you put in your best efforts, they might not be noticed if you lack the assistance and collaboration of the government, either at the state or municipal levels. We are working with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to create a forum as part of our efforts to lessen the scourge of drugs. We recently conducted one in Kano State, and we continue to work nonstop in other regions to inform people of the risks associated with drug misuse before they become a serious threat to our younger generation, particularly in the north of the country.
If you look at the types of foods that young people are eating in the north, you won’t find them in the south. You start to wonder when and how it all began. When did things come to the point where that hazard exists nearly universally in households? But we are making an effort, and the NDLEA is helping us, under the guidance of Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retired), who has been leading the organisation admirably since he is a man of action. His lineage is known to us. We are receiving some assistance, and the desired outcome is being attained. We are trying our best, but it isn’t enough since we still want the government to improve upon what we now receive from them.
