Former ECOWAS Speaker and Senator representing Abia North in the National Assembly, Mao Ohuabunwa, speaks on restructuring, activities of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), his achievements so far in this encounter with Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU.
Issues of restructuring and devolution of power not properly handled by the National Assembly.
First and foremost, let me say that whatever it is and in every situation in life, once the time for anything is ripe and comes to be, you will see that everybody at the same time, simultaneously, independently, will begin to canvass for that position or issue. So whether you call it restructuring, devolution of power, the time has come because for me what we are running today is a democratic system of governance and Nigeria was founded on that premise. Don’t forget that our founding fathers founded Nigeria on the premise of democracy and we started. Unfortunately, it was short-lived. The military came and brought us into the military system of government which is unitary in its command. But today we are back to democracy which is government of the people by the people and for the people. We thought that democracy will not endure but today democracy has come to stay. So, because of what we are practicing, people are beginning to ask questions, people are beginning to ask on what structure are we operating. You find out that we are not operating on democratic structures. That is the reason you see these agitations everywhere and as long as democracy endures, if we don’t devolve, if we don’t restructure, the agitation will grow; it won’t subside. You cannot cow the agitators because democracy gives us the room for people to agitate. That is why they have representations at the National Assembly. Even if the majority takes the position today to cow the minority, it will not stop the agitation.
So what I am trying to say in effect is that the issue of restructuring and devolution must be looked into critically and for Nigeria to move forward we have to restructure. Restructuring is not disintegration. I am a Senator elected on the platform of our constitution. I swore to uphold this constitution.
Nigeria as an indissoluble entity is sacrosanct, so to speak but within Nigeria there must be restructuring and our unity must be based on equity, fairness and justice. So, any body telling you that we cannot discuss devolution, that we can’t discuss restructuring, is only waiting for the evil day because it is a time bomb that must blow. The earlier we begin to tackle it, to thin the headquarters, the better for us.
On what you saw during the constitutional amendment as regards devolution, I believe that most of the Senators that believe in restructuring or devotion did not have enough time to brief and bring some of our colleagues along. So many things were lumped and some people were not carried along and they didn’t understand. Yes we agree and you know that some people believe that when you devolve it may amount to taking some power out of them, they believe it will involve a sort of re-arrangement in power or position that may affect their position in power equation. You know that during the military era, power was concentrated at the centre and some people benefited and are still benefitting. When you talk about restructuring or devolution of power, most of them think you want to take away that power from them. We should allay their fears in some areas especially when you talk about land decrees and all that. So, for me, we will re-visit some of those issues.
To be sincere 75 percent of Nigerians today believe that we should devolve. Don’t forget that even with the President’s (Buhari) speech when he came back, he said ‘look we have the National Assembly to handle some of those issues’, which call to confirm my position when we are discussing the unity of Nigeria.
It was my amendment. I brought the amendment that we should bring the resolution of the National Conference of 2014 to the floor of the Senate so that the National Assembly will discuss it because we are elected representatives of the people. If you look at the resolutions of that conference, you will see that to a large extent, most of the issues that we are canvassing today were thoroughly discussed and resolved and resolutions taken.
For you, what does restructuring mean?
For me, restructuring is going back to the roots from where we started with devolution of power. We took power from the federating units to the centre. Even in our name alone, we are Federal Republic of Nigeria. So, we should act our name which means power should revolve within the federating units. But now you find out that every power resides at the centre which is not good for democracy in Nigeria as we speak.
IPOB movement in the South East?
Well, we cannot have two sovereignties in a sovereign nation. I see IPOB as a pressure group which has brought the marginalization of the South East to the fore, which is okay. There is nothing wrong with that. But I think we should leave it at that point, we should not overstretch it as far as I am concerned. We should applaud those that have brought the issue to the fore because there is need to have pressure groups. We have the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in the South West, Arewa Youths in the North, Egbesu in the South- South etc. and they try to bring the marginalization of their zones in focus and there is nothing wrong if you ask me about it. But they should know when to stop and that applies to IPOB too.
PDP losing power to the APC
It’s good always to test the other side. It’s for the people now to decide which one is better. There is a saying in my place that when you marry two wives, you will be able to appreciate the former. Now I think it’s for Nigerians to say whether it was better under the PDP or under the APC. But I just want to thank God and the Supreme Court for doing their job knowing that if you kill a virile opposition, then we are back to autocracy and it will no longer be democracy. The Supreme Court realised that and gave a proper ruling because some people wanted to annihilate and strangulate the PDP as a viable opposition which is not right.
It now behooves the PDP as an opposition to start checking the activities and excesses of the present government. For me, it’s Nigerians that should decide and say whether they are better now.
Achievements so far for Abia North
First and foremost the primary function of a parliamentarian is law making and I want to thank God that today you cannot find Abia North wanting in the area of law making. Check if I have not moved bills that have become law at least it’s not less than five. If I had not moved motions that a lot of resolutions have been taken, let it be at least 10. Also in terms of oversight and my commitment to the committee which I chair and some which I am a member, I think my constituency, Abia North, to a large extent, is well represented as far as it concerns law making. But in addition, in terms of attracting projects, you know that this is the first budget I am getting involved in. Some people forget that in 2016, I was not there, Abia North was not there because some people who did not wish Abia North well went so far and my election was nullified. So, while the 2016 appropriation was on, Abia North was not there because Abia North had no representation. But I thank God for 2017. I believe that Abia North is properly and well represented and if most of the projects we have been able to attract are being implemented, no doubt, Abia North will have cause to smile. You can talk about the Arochukwu/Ohafia road which has two sections now. We have all the roads in Abia North included. We have water projects, primary health centre projects, the Umunnochi/Isiukwuato power project. We have the former sub-stations in Arochukwu, Ohafia, Isiukwuato being reactivated and reestablished etc. There are several projects I cannot remember to mention now but if you look at the budget today as signed, you will know the depth of what I have been able to do. Also most of the agencies are now advertising, so if you observe properly every day you will see one local government in our constituency whether it’s in water project or in health, in road, in bridge, you must see Abia North. Whether you look in the area of science and technology, you will see that of Biotech in Ututu, today. They are building a laboratory, they are also going to train a lot of people because most people don’t even understand what that project is all about. The benefit to the community is massive. We are establishing a training centre as well as skill acquisition centre in Ututu. We included the building of primary and secondary schools all over the constituency. So, for me, I am proud to say that I have not gone there to warm the chairs. I am a goal getter. I only pray that those projects captured are executed. So, in 2017 I can tell you authoritatively that Abia North is well represented and captured in the budget.