BEN NWOYE, Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State and Chairman of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), talks to Special Correspondent, CHUMA OGBAJE, on the on-going national conference, Boko Haram insurgency and Igbo leadership, among other issues
Ben Nwoye
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fresh registration and distribution of voters’ cards in 10 states including Enugu
Our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), had since slammed INEC for deliberately sidelining opposition parties, ahead of the 2015 general elections. I made my disaffection public during the recent stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Enugu State office of INEC to commence distribution of permanent voters’ cards and fresh registration of voters in over 600 polling units in the area. I warned the commission not to be partisan in the distribution of permanent voter cards in the state. The call became necessary because APC was not invited for the forum. I maintained that it was undemocratic because all opposition parties are to be carried along. What is happening is not a reflection of a democratic process, but a meeting between INEC and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Our people were not there. The market women, students, okada (commercial motorcycle) riders and other stakeholders were not there. I still believe the three days timeline allotted for the distribution of the permanent voter cards is grossly inadequate.
National conference as change agent
We are watching a PDP administration hoodwinking members of the public, using the national treasury to engage in political jamboree and label it a national conference. The constituted body, in the first instance, is unconstitutional. It is an aberration and the product of deliberations of what they may be having will be of no consequence, or have legal effect or capacity of making any meaningful change to an average Nigerian’s life. They are already being exposed, going by the manner of selection of delegates to the conference. From North to South, East to West, majority of them are members of PDP inner caucus drawn to deceive the people and confuse the nation into believing that somehow what an incumbent president cannot do, which is providing a good life, safety, security and economic stability to the people they govern, some folks drawn along party lines will now be able to make that particular decision for President Goodluck Jonathan. To worsen it all is that he said whatever comes out of the conference would be subjected to referendum, as if he does not understand the process of referendum. I ask Mr. President: how are you going to achieve that? If anything, they are usurping the powers of the National Assembly. Why did they not put the vexed issues before the elected members of the National Assembly to deliberate? No matter how we look at it, they are our representatives cutting across ethnic nationalities. Why do we have people that are tired and retired sitting down and deliberating the fate of this nation; the fate of my own generation? If we follow the law of natural progression, most of them will not be around to feel the effect of the decision they will reach at the conference, yet we have bright minds being wasted. Mr. President wants to wash his hands and that of his party, PDP, like the Biblical Pontius Pilate; so that by tomorrow, he will lay blame on the 492 delegates for not being able to proffer solutions to the nation’s woes.
Confab, product of popular demand where the country’s vexed issues such as equity, justice, fair play, resource control and true federalism could be resolved
First of all, Mr. President has not explained why he suddenly turned around to support the national conference. At the time the Igbo and Christians were being slaughtered on daily basis in the North and there was mass movement of Igbo and Christians back home, there was an agitation. Are we supposed to be one Nigeria or a divided Nigeria? The president did nothing. When the issue of oil subsidy removal took turn immediately his election as president, agitation occurred, he disagreed completely on the need for a national conference. When groups started to mount pressure on him to deliver the so-called transformation agenda and when his ministers were being caught up in overwhelming corruption and when people began to defect from the ruling PDP, then all of a sudden, after Independence Day, he woke up without explanation and made a 1800 turn. The reason he convened the conference was because of fears of the opposition. He never believed that Nigeria was going to be a two-party state. He thought he had the grip of the country. These are factors that you put together and you see that the approach is to rule by confusion. The idea is, let them chase the smokescreen while we come with something.
Military solution to the Boko Haram insurgency
It has been said over and over again that military solution is not the answer to the insurgency in the North. Every war in history has not been won solely by military action. At some point, there is need for dialogue. But the way they are dragging THE military to the war against Boko Haram is an indication of surrender. It is a sign of weakness. The federal government declared state of emergency on three states; after six months, they went back and gave them another six months, and if you look at the score card, it is getting worse every day. I am not a military strategist, but a civilian. But we can see it is a colossal failure. We can see that we lack capacity to deal with these evil people.
Our security apparatus has shown failure. They have failed to protect the lives and property of innocent citizens.
Preparation for Enugu East senatorial race
I strongly believe that APC will resist any form of electoral manipulation by the PDP. The ruling party has failed the people of Enugu East district, and Nigeria in general. That is why they should be shown the exit door come 2015. Regrettably, Enugu has had only two senators since 2011 because the third senator that represents my zone is a misfit. Enugu East senatorial seat has been empty. I want to go there and give the people quality representation. I believe I am the most qualified. It is unfortunate that we have two senators and one vacant seat, and we will not like that to continue. I bemoan the lack of political activism in the state. Enugu people do not believe true elections can be conducted in the state. Hopefully, 2015 elections will be different and better than that of 2011. People have now come of age and will stand to let votes count. We will match PDP ward for ward, local government by local government.