DR. James T. Mbachiantim, a gubernatorial  hopeful on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Benue State, was until recently a special aide to the Director General of the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC. A public health expert, Mbachiantim in this interview explains his mission and message.

By PETER DURU

Why did you join the Benue  2015 governorship race?
I am in the race because I am competently qualified and I strongly believe that I am one of the most qualified persons to contest the governorship position. I am from Guma Local Government Area of Benue State and I am coming in with a depth of pedigree that is beyond any of the contestants.

James-Mbachiantim

I’m in the race because I believe that there is need to usher in a leadership in Benue State that will consolidate on the gains of the present leadership of the state and take Benue State beyond the level where it is now. I’m poised to do that because I have the experience, wide knowledge and exposure needed to get the job done.

What makes you think you are one of the most qualified persons for the job?
I have many years of working experience in other countries particularly the USA. I have the educational background, the committee experience and exposure. I come from a political background and I have seen all these things and believe that with the network of people I have come to know the world over, I would be able to tap into their experience and expertise to develop and add value to the state in such a way that the state will be reckoned with in the comity of states.

Some critics say you lack the pedigree and political wherewithal to embark on the project, how would you react to this?
I think political background and experience is not a necessary yardstick to leadership. I can count on my fingers many people who were very good politicians but never occupied any political leadership position. I can also mention many people who were limited in terms of their political participation and yet became leaders.

If I may just look at what happened since 1999, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo came out of prison with limited political exposure to become an elected president of Nigeria; and by all accounts rendered service. I can say this without fear of contradiction that most of the people that contested elections in 1999 were mostly new comers with little or no political experience.

The history is there to show abundantly that one doesn’t have to have a long political history before being qualified to run for an elective office or being elected as a leader. But having said that, I want to believe that of all the people that have been mentioned as contestants, I don’t think that you will count three before mentioning my name in the political development of Benue State.

In recent times I was actively involved in the PDP’s efforts to bring in the current Governor, Gabriel Suswam for a second term in office. None of the aspirants can boost of a political backbone or coming from a family of political participation than me.

What is your take on the zoning arrangement of your party, the PDP with the other zones especially the Idoma insisting that it is their turn to produce the next governor of the state?
I don’t think there is any serious confusion as to which zone should lay claim to the mantle of power come 2015. If you are talking about Zone C which is the Idoma speaking area of the state and zone B which is the Masev, Iyareve and Nongov Development Area, MINDA, axis, it is enriching to know that MINDA which is part of Zone B has not got its share of the pie in terms of the governorship rotation.

So, we are quite positioned in our argument and we believe strongly that the time has come for MINDA to produce the next governor of the state.
Clearly, Zone C people may also have reason to believe that it is their turn. In any society where democracy prevails, democracy is by number and the majority wins.

And if we just use that as a yardstick, the argument is that, it is good that in Benue State we want to zone the governorship and we are rotating it. But we must not lose sight of the fact that in a perfect democracy, the majority carries the day.

Do you believe in zoning?
As far as zoning is concerned and as far as the party is concerned, first and foremost, I have subscribed myself totally and completely to the principles of the PDP. And the party as we know is in support of zoning and as a person who believes in the tenets of the party, it would be unwise for me to deviate from the position of the party.

What are your chances of picking the ticket of the PDP?
I am going into this contest knowing full well that I am the only candidate that the PDP should work with. I say so because I believe that I have what is needed and what it takes to be the next governor of Benue State.

Developmental programmes
I have in my arsenal, developmental programmes and ideas about how to develop the agric sector, educational sector and add value. I have ideas on how to boost revenue, develop tourism and how to ensure that the sector is fully exploited. I have ideas on how to bring people from the left and from the right and unify them for a peaceful Benue State. At the right time I will unveil all what I’m talking about.

On the Tiv/Fulani herdsmen crisis
I think we have to do some introspection about the cause of this crisis and who is aiding and abetting the problem. Of course, we need to use whatever logical means to address the problem, but we also have to do some soul searching to identify ways and means to dialogue and to seek ways of resolving this conflict.

A war that is fought on one’s turf is a bitter problem. It creates psychologically effects because wars are fought on many fronts, with weapons, food as a factor all in order to over power the opponent. And clearly, anyone fighting you on your turf has an advantage over you. That is why we must resolve the crisis and very fast too.