Human rights lawyer and activist, TunjiAbayomi, in this interview with Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU, speaks on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government, the contentious issue of restructuring, Ondo politics, among other issues
There seems to be this popular opinion among Nigerians that the country needs restructuring; what do you think?
The concept of restructuring needs to be defined. Nobody has really defined it the way it will be in the best interest of all. What I think makes sense is for the nation, the people, to come together and agree on how the 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 people 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.
Was there anything wrong with the previous national conferences that had been held?
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 is 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 many people are losing hope in this APC-led federal government?
People appear to be losing hope because, first, they have been disappointed for a very long time, and trusting government again is not very easy.
Second, 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 prudent. Imagine if the people under former President Jonathan had continued in government and were spending money the way they did, during this downturn of the economy, this nation would have crashed clearly. 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 and 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 mega party to be formed, as being rumoured, could dislodge the APC?
I don’t think so.
There’s nothing special in any political party. Niccolo 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?
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 great Nigeria first. If we do that, there will be greater commitment of leaders, less corruption, new ideas to develop with, and compassion for the people. If we put Nigeria first, we’ll be able to lead this nation to the point of regard, respectability and development. America will respect us. We are the largest black nation in the world.
It is a question of lifting this nation. 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 and rekindle hope of the Ondo people. That’s our vision. I see a great future with our people in Ondo.