Following the current socio-economic and political pressure in the country, some Nigerians have expressed doubt over President Muhammadu Buhari’s ability to bring the much desired change. But Chief Chekwas Okorie, the presidential candidate of United Progressive Party (UPP) in the 2015 election, thinks otherwise. He told Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, that Buhari has what it takes to succeed
BARELY 49 days to the first anniversary of President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government, Nigerians are battling with harsh socio-economic pressure, a development that has led critics of the administration to express doubt over Mr. President’s ability to actualise the much desired change in the country. But one of the presidential candidates, who contested with Buhari in the last election, Chief Chekwas Okorie of the United Progressive Party (UPP), in an encounter, told The Nation that the current challenges notwithstanding, he still has confidence Buhari will deliver democracy dividends at the end of the day.
“Let it be appreciated that the Buhari administration is one that has transited from a ruling political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to an erstwhile opposition political party, the All Progressive Congress (APC). The PDP did not prepare for a defeat. It was taken unawares and therefore caught napping. Handing over power was not smooth. Grappling with taking over the reins of power from an unprepared and an unwilling loser was a major challenge that the Buhari administration was confronted with. This took its toll on the new administration. It was understandable if Buhari’s presidency often referred to this as part of the reason for their late start. The startling discoveries of monumental corruption, sordid and messed up records, could dislodge a new and inexperienced administration. Since government is a continuum, Buhari is further saddled with implementing the already appropriated 2015/2016 Budget of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan administration,” he said.
He added however, that “with nearly one year down the line, President Buhari can no longer be granted the benefit of further excuses. It is time for him to begin to prove that his government has something to offer to Nigerians. I however remain confident that he will be on record as a great president. He has the integrity, will-power and courage to take hard decisions that will ultimately lift Nigeria high on all fronts, socially and economically. He needs everybody’s co-operation at this time.”
Expressing disappointment with the current state of politics and politicking in Nigeria, he said, “politics used to be robust and vibrant and the electorate used to look forward to the next election when they could renew the mandate of those who have served and represented them satisfactorily or vote out those who failed in delivering on their mandate. The implication at the early period was that the electorates, who were the sovereigns, reserved the power to decide who was in power on their behalf and who was not. Over the years, our politics and politicking began to deteriorate so rapidly, that at this point in time, our politics and politicking can best be described as rudimentary, pedestrian, uninspiring and nightmarish. Politics and politicking in Nigeria have become dangerous, brutish and do-or-die exercise.”
He blamed the military coup of 1966, which he said halted the development and growth of our politics and revised the gain already recorded in deepening democratic practice and culture in Nigeria. “The quasi federalism that Nigeria enjoyed, based on regional structure was destabilized, and indeed replaced by the military that introduced a centralized government.
Cry for self determination
Okorie, who holds the traditional title of Ojeozi Ndigbo, also commented on the pressure that led to the rising cry for self determination in the South-East zone. As he puts it: “The Biafra-Nigeria War formally ended in January 1970, about 46 years ago. The victorious Nigerian Government declared that the war ended on a note of No victor-No vanquished. To further give the impression of magnanimity in victory, the then Head of State of Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon, also declared a policy of Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation (3R) in favour of the former Biafrans, which covered the people of the defunct Eastern Region: All the aforementioned federal government postures were largely observed in the breach. To make matters worse for the defeated people, obnoxious policies were enunciated and in some cases promulgated into laws to marginalize mostly the Igbo people of present South-East geopolitical zone.
“As these policies and laws began to take their toll on national development, unity, economy and security, the people of the South-South, South-West and recently North-Central geo-political zones joined the South-East to clamour for the restructuring of the Nigerian polity to allow for true federalism. Calls for national or constitutional conference to address these issues were unheeded or in some cases truncated. Twenty nine years after the end of the civil war, some restive youths, mainly of Igbo extraction, embarked on the clamour for exit from Nigeria back to Biafra. Their agitations were ignored and scorned derisively. The failure of subsequent Nigerian governments to address their grievances resulted in the emergence of several variants of the agitation, resulting in violent clashes with government forces in some cases. The protests have been carried out in about 180 countries, thereby internationalizing the agitation for a separate state of Biafra from Nigeria. The agitation for a separate State of Biafra and the clamour for self-determination by other sections have become wide-spread and sustained.”
Asked if realisation of the Biafran dream will not make a mockery of the efforts of those who fought for the unity of the country, he said, “the efforts at unification will certainly be in vain unless such efforts lead to the unity of Nigerian nation states and their peoples. It is a big fallacious provision in the Nigerian Constitution that Nigeria’s unity is indivisible and indissoluble. No human contraption can ever be indivisible and indissoluble. Even marriage, which is the oldest institution established by God, can only be sustained if it is serviced by love predicated on mutual respect, fidelity, trust, sacrifice, tolerance, etc.
“National unity in a country as diverse and as heterogeneous as Nigeria can only be sustained and nurtured as a nation if there is equity, justice, fairness, equality, security, welfare of its people, etc.
The way out
Acknowledging the unfortunate situation Okorie however believes it is not beyond redemption. “I dire say time appears to be running out on Nigeria, unless the Buhari administration is able to rise to the occasion. I strongly recommend the implementation of the recommendations of the previous national conference and the convocation of another one to continue from where that one stopped.
“I believe our politics and politicking can only be sanitised and moderated if and when eligible voters who are the true sovereigns are restored their inalienable right to freely vote into various elective offices men and women of their choice: This can be facilitated by adopting the Electronic Voting System in subsequent general elections. Already, Nigeria has acquired Electronic Voters Register and Electronic Voters’ Cards. All that is required to smoothly transit to Electronic Voting System is the enabling legislation.
“Restructuring the Nigerian federation into definable federating units and devolution of powers to make the control of the centre less attractive is another way to elevate our politics and deepen our democracy.
On what he would have done if he was the one occupying Buhari’s seat today, he said, “I will dig deep into my 2015 Presidential Manifesto which I robustly canvassed during the presidential campaigns and at the 2015 Presidential Debate where I squared up with former President Goodluck Jonathan and others. I will tackle corruption with the same zeal and passion President Buhari is confronting it. I will without delay initiate the convocation of a national conference with a view to restructuring Nigeria to make the country more accommodating, devolution of power and permit the federating units to develop at their own pace. I will introduce state police and community policing to make every citizen a stakeholder in security matters. I will declare a state of emergency in electricity supply and provision of road and railway infrastructure. I will revisit the post-war policy of reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation. I will embark on comprehensive electoral reforms with a view to going electronic and restoring confidence in the democratic process.”
