Retired Army General and prominent South-south leader, Don Idada Ikponwen, speaks with special Correspondent, TITUS Oise, on problems of the Niger Delta region, challenge of governance, among other issues.
Nigerians in 2016 and 2017
Without doubt, the Year 2016 was a very turbulent and worrisome one for Nigerians. The economy was at its lowest ebb, with the Naira going down to about N500 to a Dollar. Simple food item needed by average Nigerians was unaffordable, our roads did not experience any noticeable improvement. This caused a lot of worries for Nigerians. In terms of security, though the fight by the military against Boko Haram appeared to have yielded substantial dividends with the insurgents completely living underground for which we must give kudos to the President and the military, the truth is that security in Nigeria remains very worrisome.
The problem in the East, the agitation by Biafra, and militancy in Niger Delta remain issues of concern.
The activities of the militants in Niger Delta have kept oil production below the standard that was expected. We have also heard of so many kidnapping and gruesome murders in many parts of the country. On the whole, we cannot say the security of Nigeria has reached the level that anybody can say we now sleep with our two eyes. It is the same with the state of our economy.
In 2017, we at best wish the administration of Muhammadu Buhari the best and must urge Nigerians to cooperate to solve the problem of this country. The problem we are experiencing is not problem for government alone; it is not problem for APC, PDP or Buhari alone. I believe that it is only sincerity and political will, eschewing the spirit of selfishness that will make this country move forward.
FG’s plan to reward whistle-blowers with 5% of recovered loot?
Quite frankly, I think it is a measure government felt it has to adopt because incentive is a factor that must have its inter-play. It is true that every Nigerian owes it a duty to expose corruption and wrong doing but we also know that people are afraid to speak up. A lot of them don’t even trust that the Police in giving out information. The fear is that it could be will treated in such a way that will jeopardize the life of those providing this information. To provide information about wrong doing on anybody involves a lot of risk and therefore some incentive must be needed in order to prompt those who otherwise will sit on the fence to do something and this will yield results. Even beyond Nigeria, some investigating organs pay money to get information because information is not free.
If stolen funds are returned voluntarily, such persons should be left off the hook
Personally, what I don’t like about this idea is that when you bring out money that was stolen and you are completely left off the hook, it is bound to attract reaction. Some will say, well, enough as long as you get the substantial part of the money that was stolen it will go a long way to fund government agenda. On the other hand, people will say those found guilty of corruption should be punished because an established offense deserves punishment. But if they are left unpunished, other people will say they can steal and get off the hook by returning part of it. The state has a duty to punish every offender.
Nigerians worried that they are yet to see government put into use recovered funds?
I will not say I am not aware that Nigerians are complaining that they are not seeing exactly what the monies taken from Abacha and other loots have been put into. The truth is that government has not told us what amount it has received and for what? I recall very clearly the disappointment of many Nigerians during the Independence Day broadcast where people sat before their television listening to Presidential broadcast to listen to the names of those who were returning stolen money and at the end of the day no names were mentioned. In any case, that has come and gone; government knows better because they are more informed about issues of governance. It is in government’s position to balance individual interest and do certain things that the ordinary person may think is unacceptable. We can’t deny the government the right to rule because that is what it is voted in for. There is a lot of power in the Presidential system. An America Professor was quoted to have stated that the presidency is such an institution that can do virtually anything so far as it is in the best interest of the nation. So, the only thing presidency cannot do is what the constitution and statutes prohibit.
The President in search of genuine Niger Delta leaders for dialogue
I am a pioneer in the struggle for Niger Delta’s right from 1998 when we had South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA) and so on. I was a major player all along even in the renewed efforts to improve the economy of the nation and to stop the blowing of oil pipelines and theft in the region. The truth must be said; if I am the President, I will be worried by the situation in the Niger Delta. Time was, when people said there was nobody to discuss with in Niger Delta. Because of too many groups and organizations parading as leaders, we came up with the equivalence of Afenifere, Arewa and Ohanaeze Ndigbo – Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF), was born. One would have thought that that would be a relief. But what did we see? Different ethnic groups, traditional rulers, different people coming out to rubbish the whole idea of PANDEF as a spoke organization for Niger Delta! Some, maybe speaking what they believe, some may be saying what they believe for selfish reasons. One would have expected that since unity has always been the problem among this people of the Niger Delta of various background and cultures everybody should at this stage recognise the need for the evolution of a group that can speak for everybody so that the whole arrangement of having one group as a spokesperson would work and guide and monitor the leaders. We are not saying other groups have no right but there is need for leadership.
The sad thing about Niger Delta is that even after the formation of PANDEF and the President gave recognition almost immediately, other groups who are part of PANDEF were going to see the Vice President and President. I think this is completely deplorable. For us to behave in a way to rubbish the group we formed, is not good at all and even for the traditional rulers. Traditional rulers are not supposed to be card carrying members of any party or guided by politicians. Rather, they are supposed to be neutral. Ideally, traditional rulers are not supposed to carry placards to the villa to protest that Niger Delta is not being treated well and also not to be struggling for power over who leads people to the President.
Pipeline vandalism in Niger Delta
On the issue of how to end this pipeline vandalism, I think a lot of our people need to get out of this slave mentality. Until we learn to unite, they will always remain a tool in the hands of those who want to use them. In this country, the idea of divide and rule has always been there and effort must be made so that the people of Niger Delta do not continue to fall prey because there is no substitute for unity.
Those people who continue to frustrate the need for dialogue, I believe, should come under this umbrella because you cannot be preaching de-militarization in one breath and in another breath you are still blowing up pipelines. We must understand that the federal government has the duty to maintain law and order.
As an insider in the struggle for Niger Delta when we are crying that federal government is marginalizing us, we equally know very well we are marginalizing ourselves. Many of our governors carted away with huge sums that could be used to develop the region and empower our people. Are they not part of the problem? Did we not also have a President who is from Niger Delta and refuse to complete the East West Road? How was his empowerment programmes? Is it enough to be empowering those who were criminals? And that is why I am against dialoguing with militants because the more you empower them, it creates more rooms for others to come out.
Identifying genuine leaders to engage in the Niger Delta
How do you identify genuine leaders other than their antecedents – men who had served in their chosen spheres of life whether in government, business or military and have left impeccable marks? It is what you have done, what you have said that will indicate whether you are a genuine leader. A good leader must be trained, educated and visionary. Today, people don’t care how much you have stolen. For how long shall we continue to give awards to people who don’t deserve them? Crooks and criminal politicians get awards at federal government, state, local and traditional level. We have said it that nobody should be given honour when he is serving. People who are criminals have streets named after them everywhere. How then do we preach virtues and uprightness? A lot depends on the leadership
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