The trial is a very interesting thing that has happened to our political system. Bukola Saraki had tried to stop the trial and that was the first thing he did to disappoint his admirers because of the saying, “clear conscience fears no accusations.” Why would Saraki want to stop the trial if he has no skeleton in his cupboard? The attempts have failed and more revelations are coming out in the course of his trial. We have around us some shameless leaders. If not, Saraki should have resigned as Senate President. Notwithstanding, Nigerians will not accept Saraki coming from his exalted office to a cage in court. He must resign and face his trial squarely. It will be too shameful for him to continue to preside over the Senate while he is facing trial. He should resign and save Nigeria’s image in the international community.
Some observers believe that the Senate president has enormous support at the Senate, and that removing him may likely favour the opposition PDP.
The APC should be very careful in the event that Saraki loses out. Of course, it is very imminent that he will not survive the trial. But it should be noted that his emergence as the Senate president was by simple majority, and the gap in the membership of APC and PDP senators is not much. So, I foresee a situation where a PDP senator will emerge as Senate president if the APC as a party and the caucus in the Senate do not put their acts together. Whether we like it or not, APC senators, who are Saraki’s supporters, would want to support the PDP to take over the Senate presidency. Remember, Saraki was a member of the PDP before his defection to the APC. The PDP senators are one and very powerful united force, whereas the APC senators are divided into two groups. This, if not resolved on time, will be detrimental to the ruling party.
Some Nigerians have challenged the APC administration over the prevailing inconclusive elections under its watch. What is your view?
Conduct of inconclusive elections is not the fault of the ruling party. APC is not controlling the electoral umpire known as INEC. Any complaints, errors, failures on the part of INEC should be squarely blamed on the commission and not the APC.
Do you think the PDPs convention coming up on May 21 in Port Harcourt will change the fortunes of the party ahead of 2019?
The PDP convention is one convention that will make or mar the party. PDP bouncing back to power will depend largely on the emergence of its new leaders, who will pilot the affairs of the party. However, I don’t think Nigerians are in a hurry to have PDP back in power at the federal level in 2019. Presently, the PDP is badly mutilated and divided into several groups, but they are managing the internal crisis that will bring about implosion very soon. Mark my words, PDP will break up after the May 21 convention in Port Harcourt.
But there are rumours that the APC will also break up before 2019?
It is just a political hallucination of the opposition party. The APC remains a very strong and indivisible party. Although there may be little political disagreements in the party, they will be resolved and make the party stronger and unbeatable in future elections.
Former governors, who are now senators, are collecting double pay. Is this healthy considering the prevailing poverty in the country?
Former governors who are presently senators earning double salaries are not at fault, it is an issue that cuts across board in Nigeria. What about former governors who are presently ministers and board members? What about retired civil servants, retired Generals in the Nigerian Army, who are now ministers and senators? Our system is designed to be corrupt and it is revolving around the same set of people in our country. An outgoing governor will go to the Senate and an outgoing senator will either become governor or minister. This cannot be easily corrected as the benefactors are doing it for their selfish interest. The economy of the country is collapsing but private pockets and economy of individuals at the corridors of power are growing speedily.
There is still blame game between the APC-led federal government and the PDP over the state of the economy. Do you think this is healthy for the polity?
The present state of the country’s economy should not be blamed on the ruling APC. It is as a result of the 16 years satanic rule of the PDP. The economy of Nigeria was totally battered and satanically destroyed under PDP and it will take some reasonable period of time to correct the damages. There is no need for any blame game. We should believe that the PDP is staging a very serious come back and they must stage a very formidable propaganda machinery to deceive Nigerians. But, I know Nigerians won’t fall for their antics.
Do you see the formation of new parties as panacea to the country’s challenges?
The Peoples Mega Party (PMP) and the NPCAG if registered may benefit from the instability in the APC and PDP. I know that some political heavyweights are behind these two parties seeking registration. But, both the old and new parties will not help the country because those corrupt individuals that have been operating the existing parties will still be in the new parties without clear cut ideological beliefs. To be patriotic, a new party is not what we need now. What we need are changes in our individual and political value system.
Some Nigerians have started losing faith in the APC government because of the present state of the economy. What is your view?
To be sincere, our present economy is not friendly and conducive for all, and Nigerians are losing faith in the ruling party. But, I will advise Nigerians to be patient with the present administration, knowing well that there will be tremendous improvement. President Buhari is rebuilding a very serious foundation for a new edifice called a better Nigeria. We should all be hopeful.
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