Ambassador Gabriel Chukwuma Oyibode is the President/Founder of Gabriel Oyibode Foundation, a non-governmental organization established many years back to give hope to the hopeless, needy and the less privileged ones in the society. Since its inception, the foundation has been able to assist many Nigerians particularly Deltans through skill acquisition programme, human capacity building, job creation and scholarships, among others. In this interview with SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Sam Akadoro, Oyibode speaks on various issues like the epileptic power supply and President Goodluck Jonathan’s alleged second term ambition. Excerpts:
You canvassed support for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for 2015 presidency in a recent publication. Why do you feel he should remain in power despite the clamour by some Nigerians that he should not contest the next election?
Against all odds, the President has performed creditably well in the area of power, infrastructural development, youth empowerment/job creation, like in YWIN initiative, SURE-P and others. I believe he should be given another opportunity to complete the good works he has started.
The recent change in the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, is it a good omen for the party come 2015 general election?
Yes, because the world is dynamic, therefore change is constant and the recent change in the leadership of PDP would be a good omen for the party come 2015 general election and beyond.
How do you see the continued Boko Haram insurgence in northern Nigeria?
The aggrieved Boko Haram sect and perpetrators of insurgencies in the north are not spirits but humans. They should be courageous enough to put their cards face up on the table of dialogue. I, therefore, urge every Boko Haram member to embrace peace, and if there is anything they are agitating for, they should speak out to the government about it reasonably. The current administration under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, being a man of peace and integrity, would be ready for dialogue when approached.
The crisis in the national level of the PDP if not nipped in the bud would lead the party to lose the presidency, do you agree?
PDP is a strong political party and will forever remain strong. However, challenges faced by the party will make the party stronger and better. God willing, PDP under the leadership of President Jonathan will win the presidential election in 2015.
Your humanitarian activities across the country are the talk of town. Do tell us why you came out with such a decision to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians?
Gabriel Oyibode Foundation was set up to reach the unreached, change lives and foster hope. I went through a lot of pain growing up as a result of lack, this motivated me to help the poor and the needy and impact lives positively from the little resources within my reach.
Looking at the timetable for the 2015 general election as announced by the INEC Chairman, Alhaji Attahiru Jega, do you think he still has the credibility to conduct credible elections given the recent Anambra governorship election?
Alhaji Jega is a seasoned professor and a man of integrity. I know he is very credible and has the obligation and passion to handle any situation with regards to elections in Nigeria. Though, there might be some shortcomings, but nobody has the monopoly of knowledge. I trust he will improve by the day.
PHCN has been privatized, yet the epileptic situation of power still subsists. Will this situation ever improve?
Of course, there have been tremendous improvement in power generation, transmission and distribution in the country. I believe that with time it would be better and supply would be steady with the full cooperation of Nigerians in all facets.
Do you see Nigeria breaking up in 2015 after the general election as predicted by some pundits?
No! Nigeria will remain united; because united we stand and divided we fall. Nigeria remains one indivisible entity since the amalgamation in 1914. No matter the dispute arising from various ethnicities, we remain one Nigeria.
Gabriel Oyibode Foundation is a non-governmental organization. When was it established and what impact has it had on the lives of Nigerians?
It was established to bring succour to the downtrodden and to empower the Nigeria youth through skill acquisition and training/workshops for human capacity building and sustainable development.
Please comment on the administration of Uduaghan since assumption of office; has it affected the lives of Deltans positively?
Delta under the administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has done well and still hopes to do more before the end of his tenure. Most applauded is the Bursary Scheme to Deltans and the Delta Beyond Oil initiative and the government’s three-point transformation agenda.
There is the clamour in some quarters that you would become the next Delta State governor. What is your view on this, especially with the magnitude of persons coming from Delta North Senatorial District where you hail from? Can you match their strength politically and otherwise?
I strongly believe that with God on my side nothing shall be impossible. Power belongs to God and is only God that can enthrone his own government in Delta State by 2015.
Politics is said to be a game of survival of the fittest. How would you advise Nigerians not to see it as a do-or-die affair?
Politics should not be a do-or-die affair. In life some lose and some win. Nigerian politicians should eschew the politics of bitterness and violence without which there can be no desired peace for sustainable development.
Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the new PDP chairman, has asked the five PDP governors who defected to return. How do you see this request?
It is good; I also urge the defected governors and party members to come back to PDP if possible; a kingdom that is divided against itself cannot stand. Therefore there is an absolute need for reconciliation.
What is your message to Nigerians at this critical and forthcoming election year?
The Nigerian state is a project instituted by God. Therefore we should learn to love and tolerate one another. Nigerians should eschew violence and politics of bitterness and seek peace for sustainable development. Everybody must realize that we need to build a united country because what we have now is an agglomeration of nation states.
There is strength in unity. Therefore, we should all put aside our racial differences and ethnicities and pursue a common goal one great Nigeria.
