What is your reaction to comment by Borno State governor that Boko Haram is more organised than the Nigerian Army?
The problem we have in this country are the politicians especially those disgruntled elements who for one reason or the other did not get what they want from the system and they will never see anything good coming out from the system. If not for the military, the governor will not be in the Government House. He has a very big responsibility in the fight against Boko Haram. During the era of militancy in the Niger Delta, our governors and leaders came out with different approaches to engage the youths. I expect the governors to carry out sensitisation programmes in all local government areas, making the people to understand their roles in the fight. In my community when we see strange people we know. The military alone cannot do the job; they need the people who live there and that is why intelligence gathering is a key in the fight. So the governor should wake up and take responsibility or resign.
Aside terrorism war, kidnapping is also on the rise in the Niger Delta. How should President Jonathan and his adviser on Amnesty, Kingsley Kuku, handle this?
The amnesty programme has recorded great success under the able leadership of Hon. Kingsley Kuku; his commitment to ensuring quality in the training programmes for ex-militants is highly commendable; but I feel there should be a review of the programme to address present day challenges that were not envisaged at the setting up of the committee. I would also want Hon. Kuku to have periodic town hall meetings across the Niger Delta region with all stakeholders to ensure continuous communication. We cannot address these issues in Abuja. We need to meet the people at the grassroots; and we need more of sensitisation on non-violence so we can create an enabling environment for multinational investors to operate for our people to be engaged. If proper sensitisation programmes are carried out regularly, I believe it will change the mindset of our youths, and all this kidnapping and other social vices would be a thing of the past.
What is your take on the adoption of the supervising Minister for Education Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike for Governor 2015 by the Grassroots Development Initiative in Rivers State?
The GDI to the best of my knowledge is like Kengema Unity Forum, Network for Defence of Democracy, Good Governance and Main Stream Coalition etc. These organisations are not political parties; they can declare support for a candidate. The supervising minister is the grand patron of GDI so there is nothing wrong with them declaring support for him. But for the issue of the governorship ticket, it is strictly a party affair and I must commend our leader, Chief Nyesom Wike, for his fighting spirit in keeping the PDP family together even in the face of great opposition. The new chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, said that there will be a level playing field for all contestants, but for my candid opinion, the supervising minister is very much qualified and vibrant for the job but the grassroots supporters from other ethnic groups are insisting on equity by allowing other tribes partake of the leadership of the state, owing to the fact that the outgoing governor is from the same tribe (Ikwerre) with the minister and he (Amaechi) have ruled for eight years.
Last year you organised a solidarity rally in Buguma City, Rivers State, that attracted over 5,000 persons. What was it all about?
Well that was the period Governor Rotimi Amaechi defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and it was on the media that APC had taken over Rivers State. So, grassroots politicians and my people needed to know where we stand, the solidarity rally you saw on Channels TV that attracted over 5,000 people was organised by my organisation, Kengema Unity Forum, to make a statement that our solidarity remains with our father who is President Goodluck Jonathan. The forum was also used to declare support for his re-election come 2015 and one cannot support Mr President and not support his party and that is why we have decided to work with the PDP to ensure that Mr. President is re-elected.
You have spent so much on solidarity rallies, sensitisation as well as protests. Why are you doing all this? Do you have ambition for any elective office?
Well, my passion for good governance is my driving force and I have seen in President Goodluck Jonathan the quality of an extraordinary leader, who gives equal opportunity to all! I am a student of his leadership school and there is nothing too big to support his government.
What about your ambition?
I think it is still too early to talk about that. When we get to that bridge, we will cross it.
Tell us, do you enjoy cordial relations with your then colleagues in the creeks, I mean High Chief Government Tompolo, Chief Tom Ateke, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, Boyloaf, and the others?
I have a cordial relationship with all my colleagues in the struggle; to the best of my knowledge there is no rivalry. But my love and respect goes to Alhaji Asari Dokubo, who was my boss. I have no regrets serving him; he taught me how to struggle and mentored me. I would also commend other leaders who have inspired me in one way or the other.
We have seen some benefits in the struggle which are evident for all to see such as the birth of a ministry to address the economic and social needs of our people; the amnesty programme; the re-structure of the NDDC and above all the recognition of the Niger Delta which has given us the number one seat. Like the popular biblical saying of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that a prophet is not recognised in his home town, I think we have a lot to do and we need to prove to our critics who have said the struggle was self-seeking, this struggle is selfless and it is about our people. Let us continue to use the resource that comes to us for the support and development of our people and communities.
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‘Nigerian military can defeat Boko Haram’
What is your take on the re-election ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan?
I don’t see anything wrong in the president nursing ambition for re-election. We all have ambitions but there are parameters for us to measure; what qualifies an individual for re-election. So, if I may ask, has the president performed very well? If the answer is yes, then what are we talking about? The Transformational Agenda of Mr. President speaks volumes. For a country to develop all the sectors of the economy, you will agree with me that four years is not enough to correct the ills of over 50 years; the government will need to formulate policies and make laws whereby creating an enabling environment for the economy to thrive. That is why the constitution allows for a second term making it eight years in office and I believe with eight years any focused leader like Mr. President will be able to lay a good foundation for the economic transformation and industrialisation of the country so that the next administration can build on that foundation.
How will you rate Jonathan’s administration in terms of delivery of good governance?
I rate this administration 90 per cent, which is excellent. We have seen massive roads construction and rehabilitation; nine new universities have been established to address admission challenges; our local and international airports now have a new look. What about power and the revamping of the railway system; the almajiri schools, the Second Niger Bridge that the foundation was laid recently. One must not forget the rule of law; in fact, the list is endless; the Transformation Agenda of Mr. President deserves accolade as it cuts across all the geo-political zones of the country.
What is your assessment of the security challenges and how government has responded so far?
The issue of insecurity is not peculiar to Nigeria; it was not manufactured by the present administration. One will agree with me that it is a global situation but to us in Nigeria it’s new. We have never experienced it like this but the achievements of the government to me is under publicised and the media have helped the terrorists group more by publicising their activities which is their trade to instill fear in the people. But I can assure you that the security apparatuses are working and that is why most of us can sleep with our eyes close and go about our business. So, I think the situation is not as hopeless as many will want to make it look. Nigeria will surmount the challenges.
How do you see the alleged snipers hit list against President Jonathan?
The allegation is a threat to national security; those allegations are too weighty to just be over looked. The ex-president should be made to face the law. President Jonathan for as long as I have known him from Bayelsa, is a man of peace; he doesn’t believe in bloody politics and that is why in his administration we have not experienced high profile assassinations compared to others. He believes in the rule of law, that is why the 2011 elections were declared by international observers as free and fair because Mr. President doesn’t believe in “do or die” politics.
What are your fears about Jonathan’s presidency?
Instead of expressing my fears, I will say a prayer that God should not allow disgruntled politicians infiltrate President Jonathan’s camp and cause disunity that will destroy the hard work of our president. I know that President Jonathan loves this country passionately and wants to make sure it grows and takes its rightful place in the global community. But I cannot speak for everyone around him.
Do you foresee rebellion in Nigeria and how do you see to the prediction that Nigeria may likely disintegrate?
I don’t foresee rebellion; Nigerians are civilised and better informed and as for disintegration been predicted by the U.S., it would have been a food for thought but for the prompt response of Mr. President in convening the National Conference, which will enable all ethnic groups as well as stakeholders iron out issues that are militating against our unity. With this development I believe that different issues will be addressed and Nigerians will forge ahead as a strong indivisible entity.
How do we control the influx of illegal aliens into the country and boost government war against insurgents?
We need a holistic approach in checkmating our porous borders to curb the uncontrolled influx of illegal immigrants. The immigration and other related agencies should step up their game by organising a proper database of all immigrants; periodic investigations should be made about their business dealings and financial transactions. Proper checks should be made before granting visas into Nigeria like it is obtainable in the U.S. and other developed countries. We also need state of the art border control surveillance equipment and lastly the national identity card scheme should be used to create a database for all Nigerians so that security operatives can carry out investigation on individual thoroughly, if some of these measures are put in place, it will boost the war against insurgents.
How would you advise the Federal Government to take steps against members of the Boko Haram sect? Should international peace keeping force be involved in this fight against Boko Haram?
The fight against Boko Haram is complex in nature; it can be likened to guerrilla warfare, and this is why we need a lot of intelligence gathering. I believe that is what the security apparatus is engaged in; these individuals live in the midst of the people; they don’t have special looks whereby you can identify them. It takes me back to my previous response on our porous borders. The federal government needs to tighten the security in our borders; as for international peacekeeping force to be part of this fight it is uncalled for; the Nigerian military are capable of dismantling Boko Haram.
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