FORMER Governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu has expressed concern over the political situation in the country; particularly the on-going moves to return the nation to one-party state. The Prince of Niger, as he is fondly called by admirers expressed  apprehension over the future of our democracy told Vanguard in an interview that, he did not see “any future for this country’s democracy”.

He spoke on the state of the nation, Nigeria’s 49th independence anniversary and the Uwais Electoral Reforms Panel Report  as well as other burning national issues.
Excerpts:

NIGERIA turned  49 years as an independent nation few weeks ago, how would you assess our progress so far as a nation?

As far as I am concerned, a man of 49 is no more a child, but a full-fledged adult, capable of getting a grand child. But in our own case, I don’t think we have achieved much if  measured by the resources we are endowed with; tremendous resources, misused and misapplied.  The most unfortunate aspect of it all is our misplaced priorities.

Audu

Beside the crude oil, we have other mineral resources, but in spite of this Nigerians are wallowing in abject poverty and the earning per capita is one of the poorest in the world. That is why I said the situation is unfortunate. Compare Nigeria with other countries of the world that are endowed with this kind of resources, one could see that we are far behind.

Which aspect of our national life  do you think is lagging behind?

I would rather say that though we always try to make progress in various sectors, we don’t pursue them to logical conclusion. If we want to provide infrastructure, we start it very well but end it poorly.  This is the pattern in all other sectors. But it is better if we can take one thing at a time and do it thoroughly and conscientiously and let us be renowned for it rather than take to many fronts and at the end of the day nothing is achieved.

Are you referring to the Seven-Point Agenda?

I am not referring to the Seven-Point Agenda; it is too early for me to say anything in connection to that, because the agenda is meant to last four or eight years and we have only spent two years.

Although some steps have been taken but I don’t think we have achieved the desired goals. The Seven-Point Agenda was meant to cover the seven items enumerated by President Yar’Adua within the period of four to eight years., I would say that it is an unfair judgment to begin to fault the programme. All I would pray for at this time is that  there should  be commitment and seriousness on the part of Nigerians.

As a politician, what would be your advice for aspiring politicians who want to rule this country?

As far as I am concerned, there is no true democracy in Nigeria, because a one party system is not a reflection of  true democracy. Again,  except the electoral reform promised is carried out religiously, I don’t see any future for this country’s democracy, because right now there is no oher  party no matter how well organized, no matter the followership it has  that  can win elections in this county except PDP. That is unfortunate; it is not democracy.

Don’t you think PDP has been able to drown the opposition due to their non-resoluteness?

If the PDP cowed the opposition, it means they are weak and this is because they are very selfish and greedy. They always like to manipulate the system to their advantage.

People are in politics, not because of the services they can offer, but for what they can get from the system. So if you can’t win election and it is only PDP that could win election for you to realize your ambition,  the best thing is to move there. You have no choice. This is because power does not flow right now from the ballot box; power is in Abuja; election is undertaken and won in Abuja; campaign is done and won in Abuja without the involvement of the electorate.

Power does not come from the grassroots,it does not come from people, it comes from Abuja, whoever Abuja anoints wins election.

Is it true that you want to join the PDP?

If I am moving to the PDP, it would not be a rumour, I have mouth to talk. I would not do it in a hidden place. People are just speculating to please their whims and caprices. I am a true democrat; I believe in democracy, I don’t believe in one party system. PDP believes in one party system, there is disparity between the two of us.

Can you give a deeper insight into why you support adoption of  the report of  the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Panel?

I believe in Uwais report, but I don’t believe in its implementation. The whole thing has been turned inside out; this is unfortunate. I would commend Justice Uwais for a job well done, but what he recommended is being thrown overboard. It is not what is being implemented.

I am not being pessimistic but it looks like a waste of time, but his committee did a good job;  but the power that be does not seem to recognise it as such. The whole report is being doctored to suit the whims and caprices of some few people. This again is unfortunate. So the committee started very well and did very well, but we have seen what came out from the executive.  We are waiting for the National Assembly. I am not being pessimistic, but there would be no disparity between the position of  Federal Executive Council and that of the National Assembly.

What strikes you most about the  report?

The whole report was very thorough and very conscientious and was designed to enthrone true democracy in Nigeria. You can’t win election without campaigning, you can’t win election without being in touch with the grassroots; Urban guerrillas are the people winning elections now and these people are based in Abuja, which is unfortunate.

You don’t know what is happening at the grassroots and that is why only very few governors are living up to expectations.  For instance, I am not a PDP member but  the Governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje, is doing very well.

Also  the Governors of Lagos, Kaduna, Zamfara and Kwara states among others are doing vey well.  I am not saying the rest are not doing their best, but their best is not good enough compared with the resources available to them. For instance, in Kogi State, the place is upside down; it is in total darkness; look at what accrued to the state from the federation account within the last six years. Even maintenance of the facilities we provided while we were in office cannot  be sustained.  But see Gombe with the same revenue allocation as Kogi.

I am not from Gombe but credit should be given to those who deserve it. Maintenance of facilities  is a problem, even with the projects  he executed.  Look at the international market started six years ago; it is yet to be completed and that is s a project of very few million naira. Though it has gulped billions of naira it has not been completed.  The standard and location based on what I saw is very poor.   How can you locate an international market in the middle of the highway, it is unfortunate.

Are you still interested in going back to the Government House to continue from where you stopped?

As far as I am concerned, I leave that to God, because I can’t sit here now and tell you what will happen tomorrow.  Based on what is happening now, the state has no future unless we go back to basics and tell ourselves the home truth.

I don’t have any inordinate ambition to go back; if it is the wish of God and my people, so be it. For me to say I want to go back at all cost would be expression of  an inordinate ambition. I want that to come from the people.  With all sincerity of purpose I have to think over it.

It has become the norm for successors to cover the tracks of their predecessors in office and vice versa; but your successor (Governor Ibrahim Idris) would not give you a pass mark based on  his own assessment

(Cuts in) Look at what Tinubu did and what Fashola is doing.

But they are in the same political party?

What about those trashing themselves despite being from the same party, the PDP.  There is more of intra-party wrangling than inter-party wrangling in the country and this is what is expected from one-party state, because everybody would like to slug it out.

Between my successor’s assessment and that of the public, which one is more important? The whole country is aware that I did very well.  During my tenure I was adjudged as the best governor courtesy of the media tour by journalists under the former Minister of Information and National  Orientation, Prof. Jerry Gana. At the end of the tour there were 12 gold trophies to be won by governors on various projects; out of the 12 I won seven; how can somebody now come out of the blues and say that I did not do well, Nigerians would not believe him.

If you care to undertake a tour of Kogi State, you would see what I am talking about, I am not trying to run him down, but these are statements of facts.

What can you say about the  forth-coming 2011 elections; do you have any fears about it?

I hope the history of 2003 and 2007 would not be repeated. If it  happens  then it would be unfortunate for this country. From all indications, except a serious electoral reform is undertaken, there is no future for politics and democracy in this country.

In  addition to this,  they must stop making a human being indispensable, like they are doing  with INEC Chairman,  Prof. Maurice Iwu. The whole world condemned the 2003 election and the 2007 election yet  Iwu insisted  he conducted the best election thereby  deceiving himself and the generality of Nigerians.  He is doing that and getting away with it because Nigerians are docile; you cannot do that in an industrialized country and get away with it.

The whole nation and the world are saying one man is not good and the man keeps saying that he is the best in the world and yet the people that put him there keep quiet.  They should not make him indispensable. He has destroyed our electoral system; except he leaves there, there is no future for our democracy, because this is not the kind of democracy we bargained for.

Can you comment on Prof Iwu’s position  that  it is the desperation of politicians that is responsible for the political debacle in the country?

He made this statement to cover up. Elections are not being undertaken in the various constituencies, but conducted and won in Abuja. I was a victim of it and I know what I am talking about; I am making a statement of fact.  In 2003 and 2007, the results were announced even when I had not cast my vote.  What kind of democracy is that? It is the same thing in many other states. Before voters  line up to cast their votes, the results are already being announced, because they were thumb printed in Abuja and taken to various states and constituencies for announcements.

What is you your vision for the  country at this stage of its nationhood?

We sincerely hope  that there would be a change of heart on the part of all concerned. What is good is good and what bad is bad. If you take what is bad as good, it is unfortunate.

I have fear for the future of this country, because if we continue at the present pace which  the whole world is condemning and we are not doing something to ameliorate the situation, then it is bad and most unfortunate.

It is important to listen to the hues and cries of people within and outside, because they are not complaining for complaining sake.

They have reasons to complain and it is good to listen to their complaints and look for ways and means of ameliorating the unfortunate situation. Nigeria is not an island in the comity of nations.