Two-time governor of the old Bendel State and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Ogbemudia, is not given to seeking cheap publicity. He rather addresses issues succinctly as he does in this encounter in which he analyses the Buhari administration, efforts at repositioning PDP and his problem with the presidential system of government. Special Correspondent, TITUS OISE, presents the excerpts.
President Muhammadu Buhari in first 100 days
When I went to the polls to vote during the presidential election, I was told and I believed that Buhari was being elected for four years. At no time during our discussion did they say the election was for 100 days, the next election for 200 days and the other one 500 days. No. The issue of 100 days was an introduction by those who wanted the head of government or governments to move like lightening. But we have seen in the last few years that 100 days have never paid us any good dividend. And since we have been passing through same road all the years, I think it was time for somebody else to look for another route. I think Buhari is doing the correct thing by getting ready before he comes out to the public.
Buhari’s appointment favouring the North
When the man was elected, Nigerians gave him the impression that they wanted him to perform and as quickly as possible. Even some were talking about 100 days. They did not at any time tell him that his first appointment must come from X region or X zone or A zone. What they want him to do is to succeed in his governance. Therefore they should allow him pick the people he thinks can help him achieve his objectives. That is my view.
Expectations of Nigerians from All Progressives Congress (APC) administration
They should expect, provided they too are prepared, to make sacrifices. They should expect good governance; they should expect increase in our revenue and budgetary system. They should also expect that there is the likelihood that petroleum issue will be decided once and for all and so they will get cheaper petrol than they have ever got.
Measures by President Buhari to tackle corruption
I have said it everywhere. At the risk of repetition, I will say it again that they should first of all define what they mean by corruption and what a man or a woman can do that will make him or her liable. I believe that corruption is not only affecting Nigeria; it is a worldwide phenomenon. There is no country you will go and will not find something identical. So, what Buhari should be doing is what he has planned to do. Let him bring out his plans and we watch him or support him pursue it.
Problem with Nigeria’s civil service
The civil service in Nigeria was at one time in its life the best in Africa. But somewhere along the line, an enthusiastic government came and destroyed it, retiring all sorts of people with a type of statement that either the man was old or getting old or he was having declining productivity. After that, civil servants became afraid to take decision. I remember, before that massive purge, that civil servants would write you a letter or examine a proposal, produce a number of options available and recommend one or two options to you. But after, they were thrown out because they took a decision, because they recommended decisions; they said ‘Your Excellency…’ or whomever the letter is being addressed to, ‘…we have here our report on XYZ and you may wish to direct…’ without making recommendation, without suggestion and without giving sufficient information because they do not want to be thrown out as their predecessors were thrown out.
Revitalising the nation’s civil service?
Well, by giving them confidence. If you give them confidence, yes, they can. That is, first of all, a civil servant must enjoy security of tenure. Two, he must enjoy the security of his office. That is, whatever he does, he should not be held liable, except when he commits an offence. But to say that he recommended XYZ and it was not favoured by certain people, therefore he should leave, I think all those should be kept away from the civil service.
Tackling the problem of unemployment to guard against crimes
First of all, we must convince ourselves that the present administration has its own programmes on the issue of job creation. Governments in this country spend fortune to get people educated, improve the educational facilities and are still improving it; but when these children graduate from the university or tertiary institutions, they do not have industries to apply to. So, we must at the same time, in order to reduce unemployment, improve education and industries, so that people can be appointed to them when they graduate.
Quality of students and performances given the poor results from O’ level exams
The problem we have with education is not the WAEC (West African Examinations Council), it’s not examination bodies; it is the curriculum that produces the graduates. If a graduate is produced as an employer, he won’t be looking for job. Therefore, there is need to correct or to improve upon the curriculum we already have. When the British came, followed by the missionary, they came into this country to train Nigerians to become interpreters. That was over 100 years ago. They continue to upgrade the curriculum without making the people to think about employing others to help them produce. So, if they cannot contribute something new to knowledge, they cannot help themselves. They have to produce something. Therefore, a university graduate must be able to produce something that he can sell to make a living, employ other people to make a living. They ought to come out with their curriculum upgraded or reviewed to make them employers of labour when they graduate.
Knowing Buhari, apart from having so much confidence in his administration
My knowledge of him started from the day I met him as a soldier and an army officer. And we have been working together since then until I retired from the army and he too retired from the military. To that extent, I know a little about him. I cannot say I know everything about him.
President having capacity to lead Nigeria
I believe that he has the capacity to lead Nigeria to the Promised Land. I believe too that he had that in his programmes before he ventured to ask Nigerians to give him their mandate.
Lost opportunities by Nigeria at 55
Well, my view point goes beyond 1960. I realised, like many other Nigerians, that Nigeria became a country through the amalgamation of the Northern and the Southern protectorates. At one time, we were doing parliamentary system and this time we are doing presidential system. Now, there is no set rule that says in the first, second or third year of Nigeria’s independence it must achieve A, then after 10 years it must achieve B, after 20 years it must achieve C. In the absence of that set target and taking into consideration all that we have seen either here or overseas, I think we have made tremendous progress because when I was a boy in the early 1940s, I traveled to Lagos by road; it took us four days – from Benin, Ilesha, Ife, Ibadan, Abeokuta then Lagos. Four days! And there was no single part of the road that was tarred. Then came the four miles tarred at Moore Plantation, Ibadan. That was the only area where we enjoyed tarred road. Then in 1962, the Lagos-Ore Road came into force and we were able to do Lagos before five hours. At one time we were doing it in three hours. So, we have been working with the available resources within the availability of the knowledge we have and the capacity that we have to be able to bear the responsibility. So, in my view, we have made progress. That is not to say that here and there, there are no challenges. There are. As in any other country, there will always be challenges.
Agitations against presidential system from various ethnic nationalities and geo-political zones
As a person, I would say that I am not in favour of presidential system of government because it is too expensive and it is a waste of revenue meant for development. We have 36 states, there are 36 governors, 36 deputy governors, 36 secretaries to state government, 36 times and the number of commissioners. If the aim is to reduce unemployment in terms of politicians, I think, to some extent, we have achieved something; but if the aim is to reduce recurrent and spend more on development and capital, then we have not achieved much.
Are you calling for a review?
Well, if I am called today to suggest, I will ask that we go back to parliamentary system where anybody who wants to be a minister must first of all be elected into the House.
Expectations of Niger Delta leaders from the government
The present government has not put together a national conference to decide the future wellbeing of Nigeria. If they do, then the issue of resource control will resurface because many people, including my humble self, want true federation – a federation in which every component is independent, autonomous and able to do things according to its will.
Problem with elections and electoral system
That was why I told you we have had tremendous improvement. Many years ago, all that a Nigerian politician had to do was to climb the soap box, sing and dance without reference to any project or anything that the government of the party would do. But today, Nigerians are beginning to feel that their votes count. Therefore, you have to go, persuade them to believe in what you want to do. If you give them superior programme, you get it. If they don’t believe in your programme, then you are far from them.
Efforts at repositioning PDP
What you are asking me to tell you and through you to the public is PDP’s guarded secret for its own survival. If I tell you what we are doing and how we are doing it, then there is no more secret; so, tomorrow somebody else will copy it and they will catch us halfway through or ambush the programme and then you can never get there. The aim of any political party is to be in government and PDP is not an exception. The PDP lost election and it wants to come back again to power. So, it has to do some research to find out what the public wants and what they can give to the public and if the public accepts their programme then they are through. If not, they remain in opposition till God knows when.
PDP losing presidential election despite the preparations and campaigns
Everybody who is a genuine member of PDP felt that the party lost power and therefore the next port of call is going back to the drawing board, re-establishing your faith and getting in touch with the public, telling them you made a mistake if you believe and you have something better for the future. If they are convinced that you mean well, they will come along with you.
Ongoing re-registration in PDP
I don’t know how much it costs. I believe that the party is on the right track by re-registering its members, know them and let them be satisfied that they are appreciated and they will be there to help the party succeed.
Quality of candidate to succeed Governor Adams Oshiomhole in 2016
I, like any other Edo indigene, want a governor who believes in development, advancement in all aspects of human endeavours. Once you get such man, the state will support you.
Fond memories while in government
As a military governor, I had both legislative and executive powers. So, every word that I uttered at that time could be made into law and could be assumed to be law. But as a civilian governor, there is this separation of powers. The executive is the government and the legislature is the parliament. The two must work together as a team to move the state forward.
Words for Nigerians and people of Edo as they move on
Not so much, but one thing I want to say is that I personally appreciate the efforts majority of them are making to assist the government of the day to move the state forward. But we cannot stop until we arrive a given destination. Every government that is set up in this world has the aim of making the state, the people satisfied, happy and having enough to eat. When God created man, He, first, gave him a companion and shelter. Every other thing revolved around them. So, our governments are required to give us shelter, good road, communication, everything and enough food on our tables; for our children, good and improved quality education, good healthcare delivery and every other thing that will make people feel wanted and happy to belong to the community.