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Tag: grassroots

  • Fed Govt committed to grassroots’ economic growth, says DMO

    Fed Govt committed to grassroots’ economic growth, says DMO

    • N2.067b Savings Bond listed on NSE

    The Debt Management Office (DMO) yesterday reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that people at the grassroots benefit from investment and growth potentials in the economy.

    Its Director-General, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, who spoke during the listing of N2.067 billion Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Savings Bond on the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) said the bond created opportunity for low cadre investors to build sustainable wealth.

    Also speaking, NSE Chief Executive Officer, Oscar Onyema who approved the listing of the bond, commended the DMO for its commitment for growing the savings bond market.

    Nwankwo, who sounded the closing gong at the NSE said the approval of the bonds listings which comes with 13.01 per cent coupon, said: “It’s an exciting day for Nigerian and DMO in particular; we were giving the opportunity to introduce a savings bond with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other relevant agencies for supporting our efforts.”

    He said the Federal Government wanted to ensure that progress being witnessed in the economy, benefits the grassroots.

    The DMO boss said out of the 2,555 people that subscribed for the offer, over 95 per cent were individuals consisting of ordinary Nigerians on the street including barbers, hairdressers, vulcanizers teachers, motor park workers among others.

    “These are the people that subscribed for the offer. We are so excited and happy that Nigeria has broken the jinx to make sure that everybody in the country is part and parcel of activities in the capital market. And that is very consistent with the plan of the Federal Government. I repeat that whatever progress Nigeria is making should be inclusive and ordinary people should be part and parcel of it so we are happy that this aspect of the change agenda has been implemented and this will continue every month,” Nwankwo said.

    He said the funds realised from the offer will be used to fund the budget deficit, and refinance matured existing/domestic bonds.

    He said the bond refinancing makes it possible for the FGN Savings Bond to continue in perpetuity, and on monthly basis. “The April 2017 offer will coming up on April 3, and it will continue every first week of the month. Nigerians will continue to benefit from the FGN Bonds. We congratulate the NSE for their continued initiative and operation for helping to make the listing a success,” he said.

    He said the Savings Bond has helped the ordinary Nigerians to participate in the capital market which creates benefits that will accrue to their investments.

    “What the Federal Government has done through the FGN Savings Bond is to make this opportunity not only for the big investors from pension firms or banks to be part of it, but also for the ordinary man on the street to participate.

  • Ex-governor Kalu: we must mobilise at grassroots

    Former governor of Abia State and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Orji Uzor Kalu has urged leaders of the party in the state to work hard at mobilising  grassroots residents to ensure that the party succeeds in the state.

    Orji who was addressing APC leaders and some of political associates at his Igbere country home also used the forum to woo some of his political associates and members of his former cabinets to join forces with the leadership of the party to move the state forward.

    The former governor who also apologised for choosing the immediate past governor of the state and senator representing Abia Central District, Chief Theodore Orji as his successor, alleging   that his successor ruined the state and left it worse than he met it.

    Kalu said contrary to the claims and belief that the Igbos will not be carried along in the party, APC remains the platform that will give Ndigbo the opportunity to be more relevant on the country’s political scene.

    Kalu stressed that the party would make impact and win more political seats in the state and southeast in subsequent elections only if leaders of the party garner support of the people at the grassroots.

    He also reiterated his support for the leadership of the party and President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration whose commitment to move the country forward and also place on the world map is total, even as he commended the anti-corruption standpoint of the president.

    He said, “Let me tell you this clearly, APC is not an Hausa party as they have been deceiving the people, APC is not owned by President Muhammadu  Buhari; the possibility of an Igbo man becoming the president of this country is clearer in APC than in any other party including the PDP.

    “When we formed the PDP, some people were saying it was a Hausa party as they are saying of APC now, but it was the same PDP that produced former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan who are southerners.”

    Speakers at the event, including the chairman of the occasion, Senator Chris Adighije, former PDP chairman in the state, Chief Tony Ukasoanya, Obioma Acho, APC State Publicity Secretary, Comrade Godson Benedict, and Hon. Donatus Nwankpa, Abia State Chairman of APC, among other political bigwigs in the state, said that the good thing that happened to the party is Kalu’s defection to the party.

    “Kalu is an institution, the Field Marshal of Abia politics who we believe will contribute immensely to the growth of APC in not only Abia State, but the South East in general”, Nwankpa said, adding that the decision of Kalu and other “political big wigs” to join the party is a morale booster and a sign that the party has grown to becoming a force to reckon with as far as politics in the state and southeast is concerned.

    Nwankpa while assuring that party faithful in the state of all-inclusive leadership also called on Abians and indeed Nigerians to continue in their support for the President Buhari led administration, stressing that the President would justify the trust the people reposed in electing him in 2015 election.

    “Politics is local and for you to win elections, you need to have the grassroots support and ensure that the support is strong enough to match any force. You are all witnesses to what we passed through when we were campaigning for President Buhari in 2015. It was only few of us that believed in Buhari then. Today, we have seen that APC is waxing strong in Abia and Southeast, and in 2019, I can assure you that Abia will produce the governor of the state come 2019.”

     

  • Recipe for successful grassroots administration

    The Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Babatunde Tajudeen Rotinwa has launched a book on local government administration in Nigeria.

    The book entitled Best Practices in Local Government Administration in Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Perspective was presented to the public at the Ikorodu Musical Village.

    The event featured the formal inauguration of the author’s Annual Award for Excellence in Local Government Administration in Lagos State.

    Rotinwa said his experience in service spurred him to write the book.

    He said: “I feel honoured. I must say the experiences I gathered while serving were beautiful ones even though the allocation both from the state and federal levels was very little then. On coming on ground, what I met was very disappointing.

    “I have always wanted to write a book but that discovery motivated me to do it for those who have served to put extra effort. Both the elected and appointed officials are meant to allow people feel the impact of governance. When you look around, it is only the state government that is performing.’’

    Mr Rotinwa further explained that the book is all-encompassing as it contains all that is needed to know about local government administration.

    He said: “We have documented the history of local government administration in the book as well as the interpersonal relationship that should exist between local government officers and the people.

    “Also, budget management is crucial to the success of grassroots governance. Once the budget is approved, you set the target; the daily, monthly and annual targets have to be set aside. As they collect revenues, there is need for continuous assessment. Officers in local governments should remember that they should plan with the people and not for the people. Whether the people are rich, poor, able or disabled, they are meant to be carried along.’’

    Reviewing the book, Prof. Adele Jinadu said the author has showcased in the book that grassroots-based institution mechanism is good for nurturing and facilitating a sustainable and democratic development in the country, adding that the primary objective of the author which he has been able to pinpoint in the book is to proffer solutions to problems of local governments in order to ensure an effective and transparent local government system in Nigeria.

    The Chairman of the event, Senator Oluremi Tinubu was represented by the former Executive Secretary of Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, Mrs Omolola Essien.

    In her remarks, she commended the effort of Alhaji Rotinwa in writing the book from which others would draw inspiration in terms of local government administration. She added that the book will serve as an essential reference in future.

    She said: “The author has been able to provide this so that we can tap from his knowledge. If you read this, you will have insight about local government administration. Also, today there will be an award which will be a motivation for all local government workers in Lagos State. I want to thank and congratulate the author on his efforts. I encourage you all to buy this book and also keep it in the library for reference purpose.’’

    Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Ambode was represented by Mrs Abiola Agunbiade.

    In her address, she noted that the book will sufficiently enlighten people on all issues that bother on local government administration.

    “This seasoned administrator has seen it all. If he had not captured his wealth of experience in this written form, who else would have talked about it? I must also commend the inauguration of the award of excellence for deserving senior service officials. This will motivate others too,’’ she said.

    Representative of Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titilayo Sholarin equally praised the author for his efforts in writing the book, having served meritoriously before retirement.

    She said:  ”I have always believed that the development of local government administration is a catalyst in realising a better country. Therefore, this book will  provide vital information on local government administration.

    The Permanent Secretary Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Mrs, Omobolanle Ogunmola and other dignitaries attended the event.

  • Women seek more grassroots development

    Women seek more grassroots development

    Villages should be transformed enough to attract tourists, and women should be architects of such transformation. People should point to significant facilities built by women to lift the profile of grassroots settlements and the residents.

    That is the aspiration of women of the Southeast who gather every year in their homeland in what is known as the August Meeting.

    One of the leaders of Southeast women in Lagos, Lady Ify Onwubiko, articulated this position in an interview.

    The August Meeting has existed for more than 50 years, being a platform to rally Southeast women to foster good relationship not just among themselves or in their homes and zone, but also ensure that women contribute their quota in developing the region.

    It becomes all the more interesting when the intellectuals among them create meaningful projects to market goals and ideas of the platform in the hinterlands.

    The meeting deals with empowerment in various fields; it imparts and enhances knowledge to participants in culinary matters and crafts.

    Such crafts include bead making, clothes making, computer and mechanised farming, and even new methods of fish farming.

    In an interview, Lady Ify Onwubiko said the meeting platform aims to execute more capital projects in the villages and make them tourist attractions for those coming from other parts of the world to be part of the ceremony.

    She spoke about some of the attractions, mentioning various traditional dances and wrestling competitions among various groups.

    Lady Ify also itemised various Igbo delicacies on offer during such meetings, some of which prepared in a contest. The contestants try their hands on how best to make  ugba, abacha and such soups as oha, ogbono, onugbu, achi, achara, nsala, and utazi with pounded cocoyam or ede and white soup.

    In addition, snail entrepreneurship scheme was introduced to them at home. Some talk shows were organised to update the women on cervical cancer, breast cancer, and how they should go for frequent medical check-up.

    A health expert Mr. Obi Nnorim said there is a need for people to go for regular medical check-ups to know the status of their health. He discouraged them from indulging in female genital mutilation, and patronising local birth attendants.

    Also, opticians and experts in blood pressure informed the people that the more they aged, the more their body was prone to ill-health especially during rainy season.

  • Ambode harps on planning for grassroots development

    Ambode harps on planning for grassroots development

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has said the role of local government planners in the physical and economic development of the grassroots areas cannot be overlooked.

    He also saidthe local government system in Nigeria needs reconfiguration for effective physical development, especially in the area of financing.

    Governor Ambode spoke at the public presentation of a book Purpose-driven Plan: A 10-year Epe Local Government Development Plan, 2015-2025 at the Remi Tinubu Hall, Yaba Local Council Development Area Secretariat, Panti Lagos.

    Represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health care, Dr Owolabi O. Onanuga, Governor Ambode noted that the local governments as agents of grassroots development have been discovered to play the main roles of linking popular participation; legitimacy and democratic governance.

    He stressed the need for every local government to have qualified planners in their planning department. He congratulated Adebola Benjamin Adeyemi on his efforts to bring the importance of planning in the local governments to the front burner, so that people would understand that the issue of planning­- whether physical or economic-does not begin and end at the state or federal levels of governance.

    In his welcome speech, the Director of Planning and Chairman Lagos State Conference of Local Government Planners, Mr. Olalere Olanrewaju said Mr Adeyemi’s book on local government planning couldn’t have come at a better time than now that the state government has shown commitment to the development of the grassroots where majority of the people live.

    He said the author had demonstrated sincere dedication to the need for local governments to key into the state government’s cardinal development plans such as economic, infrastructural, environmental, revenue enhancement and social development.

    Mr. Olanrewaju affirmed that “data analysis and collection management is not only for major effective planning but also a means for effective revenue generation for efficient, adequate and proper planning which have been the fortune of Epe Local Government Area whose revenue generation base was N2.8 million between January and June last  year.

    ”Subsequent to production and implementation of the data analysed by Planner Bola Adeyemi, Epe Local Government is now generating N11 million for the corresponding period-January to June this year.

    “This was achieved by the singular efforts of Planner Bola Adeyemi and his team…who is now the Director of Planning and Head of Administration of Oriade Local Council Development Area.”

    Reviewing the book, the Director of Planning and Head of Administration Ijede Local Council Development Area, Mr Adewunmi Ogunbambi noted that development planning is a burning issue.

    “At this point,” he said, “when we intend to move Lagos forward, governance is shifting to the local governments.”

    Continuing, he said: “It is auspicious that a book of this nature is being presented now. As the immediate past president and forerunner of Conference of Local Government Planners, his efforts to integrate the state and local government systems cannot be overlooked.

    “Even though the author had risen to the post of Head of Administration in a local government, his passion and zeal for planning is still burning.”

    Mr. Ogunbambi stressed that only few books have been written on development at the local government level, especially one dedicated to the development of a specific local government-Epe.

    He noted that the author might have written the book in order to bring to the fore its objectives which include a more realistic government growth in internally generated revenue, to tilt capital investment funds towards government key priority areas and to improve fiscal discipline. He described the book as “a compact handy and detailed compendium of statistics of the local government.

    The book is a very useful handbook and it’s recommended for the executive and management of local governments, students, researchers and prospective investors in Epe.”

    He congratulated the author on his tenacity in writing a book that articulates the current benchmark of the local government.

  • Ondo 2016: Ward chairmen get motorbikes for grassroots mobilisation

    Ondo 2016: Ward chairmen get motorbikes for grassroots mobilisation

    The lawmaker representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Dr Bode Ayorinde has mobilised chairmen in the 203 wards of Ondo State with motorcycles to ease transportation ahead of the November 26 governorship election.

    Ayorinde, the founder of Achievers University, Owo is also a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He had earlier donated 24 Toyota Sienna cars to all APC chairmen in the 18 local government areas and other party stakeholders.

    The legal practitioner said the motorcycles and cars were meant to facilitate party assignments at the grassroots in order to ensure victory in the forthcoming governorship election.

    Ayorinde said: “These items do not belong to anybody and they are not for empowerment of anybody, but a provision to aid mobility and mobilisation of people.

    “I am providing these because I want APC to win, not because of myself or any other aspirant. As I said when we were distributing the cars, it is just to know that the party is serious. Let us not under rate the opponents; we should work very hard.”

    The varsity proprietor urged the people to solicit for votes with the motorbikes provided, urging them not to sleep or slumber until APC becomes victorious.

    Ayorinde said: “If the party picks me as its flag bearer, it will be good for us all. I will industrialise the state as it lacks industrial estates that could ginger employment for the people.

    “This is the third time I will be coming here to uplift the party. I want to lay a good example that you can become a governor without the help of thugs. This is how best politics can be practised.”

    The lawmaker appealed to all party supporters, particularly those from Ondo South and Ilaje Local Government Area to remain calm on the anomaly in the appointment at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    He stressed that the development would be rectified, even as he advised party faithful to pray for the success of the party at the polls.

    While receiving the motorbikes, the Chairman of APC, Isaac Kekemeke, said there was no division in the party.

    He said: “You all are representatives of the party anywhere you find yourselves. The vehicles given to the ward chairmen are not for them but for the use of party members in all the wards.”

    Kekemeke said the motorbikes were in the custody of Ward Chairmen, and not their personal properties.

    The former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) commended Ayorinde for his regular assistance to the party.

    He urged other aspirants and party stakeholders to emulate the lawmaker, who was also the first contestant to pay the mandatory N2 million development levy for the party.

    Some of the Ward Chairmen who spoke with Southwest Report commended Ayorinde’s, assuring that they would make good use of the motorcyles to facilitate victory for the APC in the imminent governorship election.

  • ‘SMEs’ll help grow grassroots’ economy

    Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been identified as the catalyst to help reduce the scourge of unemployment and grow the economy at the grassroots.

    The Acting Director-General, Global Centre for Human Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Development (GLOCHEED), Mrs. Rose Gyar, stated this in Ado-Ekiti at a training organised for some youths and women members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the 16 local government areas.

    She explained that the centre has keyed into the Federal Government’s resolve to use agriculture and mining to diversify the economy and create job opportunities for Nigerians with the signing of the 2016 Budget into Law.

    Mrs. Gyar stressed that the Federal Government considers the SMEs as critical to the economic future of the country; noting that the training was aimed at opening windows of opportunities for participants to access credit facilities.

    While emphasising the fact that the era of government dolling out money has gone for good, the GLOCHEED boss said youths and women should key in to policies and programmes to boost their capacity to contribute meaningfully to the economy.

    She pointed out that the centre is collaborating with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) to promote quality raw materials for import substitution.

    Mrs. Gyar advised the youth and women to form co-operative societies to enable them to access loans and other credit facilities from government, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), commercial banks, international development agencies and non-governmental organisations.

    “Government is focusing on agriculture and mining. We need to be aware of how they can partner government in creating jobs and reducing poverty and how they can access funds to boost their capacity.

    “Co-operative approach will allow for mass participation. We also go to the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and they have one local government-one-product initiative.

    “The programme will help reduce poverty because we want mass participation and we are going to adopt co-operative model to create enabling environment for the participants.

    “That is the model we can adopt to make more people benefit from it. It will be a group collateral,” Mrs. Gyar said.

    One of the participants, Olajide Akintunde, said the forum was beneficial in the sense that they were trained on how to access loan facilities provided in the 2016 Budget. He expressed confidence that it will breathe life into local economy.

  • ‘SMEs’ll help grow grassroots’ economy

    Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been identified as the catalyst to help reduce the scourge of unemployment and grow the economy at the grassroots.

    The Acting Director-General, Global Centre for Human Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Development (GLOCHEED), Mrs. Rose Gyar, stated this in Ado-Ekiti at a training organised for some youths and women members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the 16 local government areas.

    She explained that the centre has keyed into the Federal Government’s resolve to use agriculture and mining to diversify the economy and create job opportunities for Nigerians with the signing of the 2016 Budget into Law.

    Mrs. Gyar stressed that the Federal Government considers the SMEs as critical to the economic future of the country; noting that the training was aimed at opening windows of opportunities for participants to access credit facilities.

    While emphasising the fact that the era of government dolling out money has gone for good, the GLOCHEED boss said youths and women should key in to policies and programmes to boost their capacity to contribute meaningfully to the economy.

    She pointed out that the centre is collaborating with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) to promote quality raw materials for import substitution.

    Mrs. Gyar advised the youth and women to form co-operative societies to enable them to access loans and other credit facilities from government, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), commercial banks, international development agencies and non-governmental organisations.

    “Government is focusing on agriculture and mining. We need to be aware of how they can partner government in creating jobs and reducing poverty and how they can access funds to boost their capacity.

    “Co-operative approach will allow for mass participation. We also go to the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and they have one local government-one-product initiative.

    “The programme will help reduce poverty because we want mass participation and we are going to adopt co-operative model to create enabling environment for the participants.

    “That is the model we can adopt to make more people benefit from it. It will be a group collateral,” Mrs. Gyar said.

    One of the participants, Olajide Akintunde, said the forum was beneficial in the sense that they were trained on how to access loan facilities provided in the 2016 Budget. He expressed confidence that it will breathe life into local economy.

     

  • Ogun seeks support of traditional rulers on grassroots development

    Ogun State government has said traditional institution is a key partner in its mission to rebuild the state.

    Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs  Olajide Ojuko made this remark at an interactive meeting with first class monarchs at the Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the state capital.

    He said the meeting was meant to establish a good relationship between the traditional rulers and the government.

    Ojuko said: “Government is fully aware of the roles our traditional rulers play in ensuring that the communities are peaceful. That is the reason we will continue to seek their support, so as to ensure that the landmark achievments recorded by the Senator Ibikunle’s administration is sustained”.

    He added that the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has designed a programme that would enable the traditional rulers, to understand the chieftaincy laws, community policing, and the imperative of security.

    The commissioner stressed the need to build a strong relationship between the local government and the traditional rulers.

    The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Olumide Ayeni, said government was proposing legislations for reforming the  chieftaincy laws and criminal justice.

    He said the reform will curb the voilence resulting from chieftaincy titles and threat of Fulani herdsmen, adding that the traditional rulers have a pivotal role to play in the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in their various communties.

    Speaking on the relevance of community policing, as a tool for curbing the  exess of underworld men, the Ogun State Police Public Relation Officer,  Muyiwa Adejobi, noted that the traditional rulers remained one of the tracks in ensuring safety of the communities.

    He said armed robbery,  cultism, Fulani herdsmen menace and kidnapping would be tackled with the cooperation of traditional rulers.

    The Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Olusola Sonuga, urged the royal fathers to see themselves as stakeholders in governance. He urged them to come up with a private bill, which would  seek  the creation of chieftiancy tribunal to address chieftaincy related matters.

    Other speakers at the interactive session include, the Commissioner for Forestry Kolawole Lawal,  Commissioner for Environment Bolaji Oyeleye,  Chairman, Local Government Service Commission Rotimi Rahmon.

  • ‘APC should open doors to grassroots politicians’

    ‘APC should open doors to grassroots politicians’

    Chief Rex Onyeabor is a former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the party. In this interview with Tony Akowe, he speaks on the ongoing reforms within the PDP, and what APC should do to take complete control of the government and lots more. Excerpts

    You were once the National Secretary of the PDP which has lost power at the centre. The party is presently undergoing reforms and there are controversies about the zoning of offices. Do you think the party is on the right track?

    I am a foundation member of the PDP and when we set out to form the party, the chief promoters were people like Adamu Ciroma, Alex Ekwueme, Abubakar Rimi, Solomon Lar, Jerry Gana, among others. We were just coming after them and we toured the whole country. The whole idea was to build a political party that will be all inclusive, with all levels of people participating. We wanted the party to be so strong that the Army will not be able to intervene because it will be a mass movement. If you know the history of Tagayyika, now called Tanzania, when Julius Nyerere came to power, the Army suddenly decided that they want to take over power without going into election. They ceased power through a military coup and Nigeria send troupes there to help bring under control the uprising there. After that, Nyerere decided that the Army and the people will be one and the same people. If you want power, you join politics, and by so doing, the Army became party members. Since that day, there has been no coup in that country. The idea of the PDP was that of Adamu Ciroma who suggested that we form a populist party which will be on ground at the grassroots and be so strong that the Army cannot afford to over throw it. That is part of the mission and vision of the PDP and we set out to do that. In spite of everything, the PDP is still a populous party and is still on the ground. People started doing things that is not in our mission and vision. Impunity and all manner of vices became the order of the day, godfatherism took the place of election, internal democracy mechanism was thrown overboard, people selected whoever they want and we knew that it was only a matter of time before the whole thing will crumble. PDP has not crumbled, but the misbehavior was of such that we lost the last election and the leadership was being warned that this thing they are doing can put us in trouble. They said no, instead of winning by 11 million, we can win by 3 million and instead of winning by 3 million, they lost by 3 million. That shows that you cannot be nonchalant, but consistent and moving forward. With that background, everybody now knows what got the PDP into where they are today. It will be nice to reform PDP, but we are still looking for that leadership; the type of Ciroma, Ekwueme, Solomon Lar. Maybe eventually, it will evolve, but right now, PDP has a long road to go.

    The PDP and many Nigerians believe that President Muhammadu Buhari has not done much for the country since assuming office. Do you share this opinion?

    I cannot join the group that say he has not done much. Certainly, everything is very difficult. Nigeria is a very complex country to rule and expectations are very high. He cannot be expected to do magic. We were there for 16 years. It takes people and time to develop that kind of acumen to produce on time, have people on ground, civil servants and everybody working in the same direction to ensure that things are done timely and in an efficient manner. This is the situation and I think the man is trying his best and it is only a matter of time. But there is something I need to say at this time. There is the need for the APC to develop a grassroots followership because they have not done that yet. There is some kind of scare within the APC. They should open their doors and admit people who will help them to build the party. The people they use to win a very marginal election and get a small majority, if they want to stay with them alone, PDP will catch up with them. But if they open their doors and bring in the people, there are people willing to develop the party, a real genuine grassroots party within the APC. But people who have power in the APC are not in a hurry to bring in those people. I look around and I don’t see these people. They need to mobilise.

    What do you have to say about the allegation by your party men that the fight against corruption is selective?

    Well, anybody can have his own view on these things. If somebody is standing on your feet, you will think you are the only one. You don’t know who else he wants to stand on his feet; you don’t know who else he wants to checkmate. So, those people who have been hit by this anti-corruption campaign will ask why only me? That is the attitude of human beings and I believe that in the fullness of time, the anti- corruption crusade will spread and become all inclusive. I don’t believe that people are being targeted selectively. Statistically speaking, maybe more people are in PDP. But with time, I believe it will reach people in APC who are also corrupt.

    There is this notion that if election is conducted 100 times, the South-East will still vote for the PDP because of the sentimental attachment they have and the belief that it is the party for the zone?

    I don’t think the PDP is a south eastern party. It is not an Igbo party. But under Jonathan, he convinced a lot of people in the South-East to vote for him and they did. If you want to talk of a party that is founded mostly in the east, it is APGA and not PDP and the Igbos did not gain too much from the PDP to say this is our party. Further to that, the South-South voted for the PDP. So, would you say that it is the party of the South-South people? More than 40 percent of the people from the South-West voted for the PDP. If the PDP had won, the South-West people will say it is our party because that is the way it is. The only people I know that voted against the PDP were North-East and North-West. Even the votes in the middle belt were shared between PDP and APC. There were places where the APC produced the governor because they had a popular candidate and the person produced by the PDP was not acceptable to the people, but PDP went ahead to win majority of the House of Assembly seats like in Plateau and Benue and to a large extent, Nasarawa State. So, if you look at it one on one, in terms of popular bites, it is still more of PDP. So, you can’t say that PDP is the party of the middle belt. Sometimes, people were quite selective in voting for individuals instead of party.

    Do you have plans to join the APC?

    A man my age and experience cannot make his plans public.