Former House of Representatives member for Badagry federal constituency, Hon. Idris Kosoko, in this encounter with Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU, bares his thoughts on the Buhari government, especially on corruption war, the Biafra agitation and some other critical issues.
Even a chance meeting with Hon. Idris Dele Kosoko will give him away as someone passionate about the nation’s politics. Discussing Nigeria obsessively when TheNiche met him at his Lagos home, he was frantic at his position on issues concerning good governance.
He is not one that parries a reporter’s question.
When most Nigerians seem to be groaning on the present situation of things in the land, he thinks it is too early to condemn the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s performance under President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Kosoko, there is a lot of rot in the system, contending that Nigerians must be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said the cheery news is that government seems to be on the right track in its actions so far.
“The problem is that the expectation was very high, given that Nigerians were badly battered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership. But all the same, we need to exercise patience.
“The cheering news is that government is on the right track. The President is taking bold decisions and there is this assurance that things will get better. There is global economic downturn. Despite all that, the federal government is soldiering on in the right direction,” he explained.
Noting that Rome was not built in a day and that the problems had been there before the emergence of Buhari as President, Kosoko said: “We are witnessing the rot in the system. We are witnessing revelations of immense magnitude. So you can see the level of damage done and nobody expects government to fix them overnight.”
The former lawmaker believes that God brought Buhari again to fix Nigeria, as it has become part of his destiny to emerge during challenging times to put things right.
His words: “God brought Buhari in 1983 to come and sweep out the rot and he is on the stage again. There is this assurance that God will use him again. You can see discoveries on how they have been sharing Nigeria’s money. Look at the senseless looting of the nation. Look at the shocking waste of the tax-payers’ money.”
He asked Nigerians to commend the bold steps being taken by the President rather than complain.
“People should commend Buhari for what he has been courageous enough to do. Look at those that have been returning their loot under secret cover. Some people don’t want to be disgraced, so they are returning theirs.
“With the cooperation of Nigerians and the international community, we shall overcome. By the time the loots are all recovered, progress will be made in development areas.
“They are returning loots secretly. Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of Daar Communications, seem to have opened up and we are getting revelations. Most of the people that collected money know that they did not use it for the purposes they were meant for and they have no option but to return them or face disgrace and jail term.
“Anybody that collects money, there is always documentations. And it is a bold decision to even return it secretly rather than be messed up,” said he.
Kosoko does not agree that the anti-corruption war is selective, as everybody cannot be in the dock at the same time. “You cannot bring everybody involved at the same time for questioning; it’s one after another.”
The former House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Science and technology told TheNiche: “I disagree with those who said the corruption war is selective. Look if you did not do anything, nobody will invite you. Have they invited me? Have they invited you? If you don’t collect any money, nobody will border you. You cannot collect a contract letter with a mandate and you will not execute the contract; you will be called upon to give account.
“It’s offer and acceptance; when you accept an offer, you must do the job or refund the money. If you are invited for clarifications, why run away? Why be afraid if you are clean? This is not time for sentiment and I think anybody involved should go and clear themselves.”
He advised those who think they can use their influence to distort justice to fear God who gives the final judgment.
“The rich who think they can get away with the war on corruption by hiring senior advocates in law to protect them should know that there is God, the ultimate judge.
“Let their conscience judge them. If you think that because you are a Chief Judge or a senior advocate in law that you can pervert justice and go free, then you should wait for the wrath of God because He is there to judge.
“The world is a global village now, and if you think you are smart for the Nigerian system, the international community will make it uncomfortable for you because it has been documented that you are corrupt. If you escape trial in Nigeria, they will grab you outside the shores of Nigeria and you still face your punishment. You cannot escape crimes easily now because the international community will fish you out.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was carried away with power tussle and they felt nothing will happen. But you can see the hand of God; it does not take God anything to change the probability of actions when He decides. If you are in any position, know that you are just a custodian, a trustee, and that one day you will be called upon to account for your actions. Those in public office must be careful,” he counselled.
On the issue of upsurge in Biafra protest, Kosoko advised Igbo leadership to hold emergency meeting and come out with a position, and then wait to see what government would do.
For him, the best solution was not to call for secession. “I think the leaders in the South East should convene a meeting; let their legal luminaries, politicians, academia, royal fathers, professionals etc. meet and take a position first. What happened in 1967 to 1970 was a sad experience and nobody should pray for a repeat. We don’t need to go to another war.
“No nation survives two wars. Ndigbo professionals and elders must meet to take a position. They must know what they are agitating for, what the cause is and a genuine solution for it, then meet the government and issue a communique.
“It is when government does not accede to their demands that they should complain. I don’t think Ndigbo have taken any official position, no official demand so far. There should be a process, not by fighting.”
Kosoko expressed hope that with the Buhari team, Nigeria will rise again.