Chief Athan Achonu, CEO of Mathan Nigeria Limited, was in the United States as a guest at the celebration of 20 years of USAfrica & Class magazine. Dr. Chido Nwangwu, publisher of the journal, spoke with him on various issues as they affect Africa’s most populous nation and he gave a panacea on how to check corruption in Nigeria. Born 51 years ago, Achonu, an indigene of Imo State and an alumnus of John Cabot University, Rome who has established himself as a key figure in the corporate world, began his foray into business in his mid–20s
Nigeria is indeed at the crossroads, buffeted in all directions – insecurity, corruption, infrastructural decay and breakdown of core values. So wither this great nation with the culture of impunity and corruption?
Reflecting on the situation of our country, Nigeria, there are two critical issues. First is structure and the second is the rule of law as regards corruption. You know corruption is everywhere but because of structures in many developed and modern societies, because of the rule of law it is checkmated. It should be no less for Nigeria.
Our politicians steal money, come and dump it in foreign banks and they cannot borrow from the money because they don’t have the credit. But businessmen from those foreign countries where our politicians lodge these stolen monies borrow from the same funds only to travel to intimidate us locally in Nigeria. Of course, they are better placed to rob us of the various business ventures that ordinarily we would have gotten.
When you steal with impunity, blatantly, you abuse the law; and flaunt the money and go free, there are no checks and balances, consequently impugning on the democratic tenets. So in effect there is no true democracy.
My proposal is that Nigeria should adopt the Indonesia methodology where corrupt politicians who have stolen money are compelled to invest it in their country rather than allow the money in foreign banks. The corrupt ones caught are given a period of amnesty. After the amnesty period, anybody who steals public funds thereafter should face life imprisonment and all his assets and those of his family forfeited.
It becomes worse as members of his family would not hold any elective office for 50 years. Nigeria is endowed by nature with abundant mineral resources including human capital. Here in America, our children are among the best in the schools. So what is the problem? It is just leadership.
The issue of insecurity has been very devastating. Never have we had it this bad back home in Nigeria. How do we get out of this?
America, at a time, was run by the mafia. They even installed presidents. The virile American press, journalists said enough was enough; policemen stood up to be counted and collectively they fought for their country. They recovered their country from criminal elements.
Kidnapping was even rife in Italy. Recall it was so bad that the criminal elements had the effrontery to kidnap the then Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro. So there is nothing happening in Nigeria that is strange. But the American and European media hype it up; as if it is something else; as if it is strange. When did bombing stop in England? The Irish Republican Army (IRA)… They hyped up Islamic terrorism as if that is strange. Protestants and Catholics were killing each other. It is not strange, it is politics.
Islamic religion and Christianity came from the same locality. Even in Jerusalem they have boundaries and also areas where they share holy sites for worship.
I think what Nigeria needs are dedicated and patriotic policemen, journalists, judges, and concerned citizens who are determined to fight for the soul of this country and recover it from criminal elements as has been done in other countries in order to have a successful economy.
In Nigeria, the only thing that is lacking is structure. That is what saved Europe and America. We don’t have financial autonomy for the state legislatures and local governments. How can they checkmate a governor when they depend on the governors for their daily bread?
The local governments do not have the financial and political autonomy, so how can they adequately serve the country? How can they give governance to the bulk of the people in the rural areas? If you remember when General Obasanjo became President of Nigeria, the local governments had some measure of autonomy.
I remember very well because it affected me personally. Two local government chairmen gave me contracts; my friend Chime Nzeribe (Chief B.U Nzeribe’s son) and the Owerri chairman gave me contracts to supply transformers. The little profit I got, helped me in planning my marriage.
But now local government chairmen cannot give any contract except Enugu State where Gov. Sullivan Chime has not tampered with local government funds. For example, the great man here (pointing to) President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Ozo Mario Okafor, who was visiting US, has built an asphalt road in his local government in Enugu State.
The only solution is financial autonomy for the entire judiciary, local councils and the grassroots. The judiciary should be given a minimum of five per cent and maximum of 10 per cent of the state budget, and as a first line charge guaranteed by the constitution. This will improve economic activities in the rural areas and security situation will improve dramatically. Otherwise, Nigeria will be sitting on a time bomb and the Boko Haram issue will be a child’s play.
On the President of Nigeria and local governance.
I know the President of Nigeria believes in the rule of law. But most of the people surrounding him are corrupt. I am going to challenge most of them in court to expose them.
The President of Nigeria Dr. Goodluck Jonathan needs our help, our support. He is on ground and he knows what needs to be done. He needs us to support him to be able to change the system. He cannot be the police, judge, EFCC operative, journalist and so on.
State governors have been sacking political party chairmen and over-reaching; it is wrong. We have a dictatorship by these governors.
In a military regime you have only one dictator.
The General…
Yes; the General. But in this democracy in Nigeria, we have 37 dictators; we have the President and 36 governors. The President is not dictatorial. The President observes the rule of law. The governors don’t observe the rule of law. They don’t even obey court orders. They rule with impunity. In Anambra State, for example, no local government elections have been held for almost eight years. The man should have been impeached for violating the constitution. I am going to propose some amendments to the Electoral Act. I will propose they ban speculating on who will run for the next election – at least nine to 12 months ahead of such elections.
Politicians are distracted from focusing on governance while fixated on partisan campaigns. Anyone who runs foul of the law should be barred from any elective position for eight years.
I will also advocate party supremacy; in Nigeria once you are elected as governor, with other governors they remove any national party chairman that they don’t like or disagree. Hence, the party manifesto is disregarded.
What keeps you so energetic and passionate about Nigeria and Nigerians?
My belief in Nigeria knows no bounds because Nigerians are the most intelligent people I have ever met, very resourceful and energetic.
We have all the mineral resources; we have everything. We need to change our structure. We need people who are motivated; who are intelligent. Our organisation Project Nigeria Partnership has ideas to create more jobs and opportunities. Project Nigeria Partnership is a not-for-profit, non-governmental, non-political organisation established to promote the rule of law, sustainable democracy, good governance and accountability, efficient management of public funds and economic development in Nigeria. Through research and advocacy, we raise awareness and stimulate interest in democratic values and action and deepen community participation in democratic system
The National Assembly has established financial autonomy for themselves so they can checkmate the President. Under the same Obasanjo, there was an undermining of the National Assembly. Many of my folks wonder why I am concerned about Nigeria. I love Nigeria and I am ably exposed and qualified like many other Nigerians to make meaningful contributions on how to get Nigeria working once more.
