Human rights lawyer and activist, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, in this interview with Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU, speaks on the President Buhari-led APC government, contentious issue of restructuring, constitution conference and political situation in Ondo State, among other issues
There seems to be this popular opinion among most Nigerians that the country needs restructuring, do you share in this view?
Well, first of all, the concept of restructuring needs to be defined. Nobody has really defined it the way it will be in the best interest of all. In my view, what I think makes sense is for the nation, the people to come together and agree on how national government and other governments are to be constituted. The important issue that needs to be emphasised is that the people of Nigeria have never met in a conference to agree through their representatives on how they want the nation to be governed.
This nation is uniquely created. It is made up of ethnic groups strategically and divinely put in separate locations. Now, if you have such peoples who want to form a united government, they need to have some kind of agreement. That has never happened. So if they’re talking about restructuring from that perspective, that would be fine.
What about the previous national conferences that had been held. Was there anything wrong with them?
Those ones were not of any consequence. We know there were some held by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It wasn’t for the purpose of making a constitution. What restructures a nation is its constitution and there’s a need to have a constitution of the peoples of Nigeria.
Look at the situation in this country, so many sectors are left in the hands of the federal government and what do we get from them? Largely abuse of national wealth and so many other things! Also, a lot of control that ought to be in the constitution to contain abuse of power, are also not there.
So all those conferences held were not conferences of the people, they were conferences of leaders, constituted by leaders, structured by leaders with reports to leaders. If you look at the last one by former President Goodluck Jonathan, he selected nearly half of the people unilaterally. It wasn’t backed by any law and that’s why President Buhari said he has nothing to do with it.
The duty of a president is to execute the law and the constitution. Except for those specific duties that are conferred on him by the constitution, he cannot do otherwise. In the case of the Jonathan conference, no law enabled it.
Why do you think a lot of people are losing hope in this All Progressive Congress-led federal government?
The reason why people appear to be losing hope is that first of all, the people have been disappointed for a very long time and trusting government is not very easy again.
Secondly, the economy took a downturn during the time of Buhari. Let us remember we have a monolithic economy, principally standing and living on oil revenue that went from $100pb to less than $30pb. That’s unbelievable. The fact that the nation is still moving on is in my view because this government is largely a prudent government. Imagine if the people under former President Jonathan had continued in government and were spending money the way they did, during this downturn of economy, this nation would have crashed clearly. So I think the government needs to find new ideas to revive the economy. The challenge ahead if you ask me, is for government to look for fresh ideas to revive this economy. Of course Rome was not built in a day. But the good thing is that appropriate and reliable steps are being taken. The economy will not change for the better overnight. We need time, we need patience and I am cocksure things will get better. But all of us must put hands on deck and do the right things. A lot of bold steps are being taken and it’s just a matter of time.
Do you think the formation of a mega party as being rumoured could dislodge the APC?
I don’t think so.
There’s nothing special in any political party. Nicollo Machiavelli said human beings are very anxious to change their master, but leave them when they get to the next one, they’ll find out how wonderful the last one was.
So if you go from one party to another you don’t get a whole lot. APC has come to stay and I do not see any mega party that can dislodge it. Where are those people forming the party coming from? It is time for Nigerians to beware of political prostitutes. What are the credentials of those behind the mega party if any?
How do you think Nigeria would fair in the new world order being led by the new American President, Donald Trump?
I think the matter is also simple, let us make Nigeria first. Let us first make our country great. If we do that, there’ll be greater commitment of leaders, less corruption, new ideas to develop with, and compassion for the people. If we make Nigeria first, we’ll be able to lead this nation to the point of regard and respectability and development. America will respect us, we are the largest black nation in the world. Even if we are not the largest black nation our population commands being the largest country in Africa.
It is a question of lifting this nation up. Can America say it does not respect Russia today? Or China? Or a small country like Israel? But you have to be respectable. This nation is not respectable. That has been a great problem for us. The leaders take the money abroad, they abuse their powers. The new world will not respect such excesses. The leadership of this nation needs to think thoroughly. It is not going to be an easy task but the good news is that we are starting somewhere now.
Corruption has been a serious problem but at least the crusade is on and catching up on some people who before now could pass as untouchables.
What should the Ondo people expect from your party now that APC has taken over the state?
They should expect quick development, honest service, vision, new ideas and the triumph of hope. I can assure you that we are going to renew, revive, rekindle hope of the Ondo people. That’s our vision. I see a great future with our people in Ondo.
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