By Tony Nwankwo

Dr. Sylvan Ebigwei (MON) is immediate past chairman, Federal School of Dental Technology and Therapy, Enugu, president emeritus, Aka Ikenga and board member, Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi. He was recently honoured as Member of the Order of the Niger, MON, by the Federal Government. In this interview, he takes a look at the issues affecting the country. Excerpts:

You were recently honoured by the Federal Government. Tell us about it?

The government of Jonathan decided to honour me with MON – Member of the Order of the Niger, this year, because of my contributions to the society, in sports and in health care delivery and in academics. They looked at my profile and my contributions to the nation, and said I am eminently qualified to be there. I am not a governor, a minister, an ambassador, or in the military, but just an ordinary citizen who has contributed positively towards the emancipation of this nation. They found me worthy. Out of 170 million Nigerians, to be among 300 people, to me, it is the greatest honour. It is beyond money, it is beyond anything, especially when I am from a very humble background.

This cat and mouse game between the Nigeria military and Boko Haram. What do you think?

It is very embarrassing that the almighty Nigeria Army is being disgraced by the rag tag army of Boko Haram. It is unbelievable. Nigeria Army is well funded and they have armament beyond the capacity of Boko Haram people. So, why are they losing grounds? To me the government should probe what is happening in the North-east. It is very disgraceful when we hear this community has been taken, that community has been taken. That Nigerian soldiers run away leaving all their arms and ammunition, including APCs.

What sort of thing is that? First and foremost, the Federal Government should probe and possibly bring some intelligence agencies from abroad. Let them probe what is happening in that place. Even if it is politics, bring those people to order. No President of a nation will like to lose part of his territory to a rag-tag army. Let them set up a high powered probe involving intelligence agencies like the CIA, MOSSAD, M15, put them together with Nigerian intelligence people. That is the way tto know how to check Boko Haram. Then Cameroun, Niger and Chad, because we can see that these people are coming and getting their arms across the borders. Why should Cameroun border be so porous, for instance?

You have visited other democracies around the world. Should Aminu Tambuwal remain Speaker after defecting from PDP?

He shouldn’t, because the position of the Speaker of the House constitutionally should be the special preserve of the majority party who are in control of the House. So, to decamp to the minority party and still hold to the position, granted him by the majority party, I think there is no justification. It is politically immoral. Tambuwal, should make himself a statesman by resigning so that he can retain his credibility and political relevance in this country.

If I am in his shoes, I would throw in the towel. Afterall, how many months is remaining for him in that position. If he did, he will go with a greater glory than all the crisis he is generating. He must relinquish power to the ruling party. Look at the U.S. Look at England? Those who hold such position are the majority. America just had their mid-term election, and the Republicans took control of both Houses. Imagine Speaker Boehner joining the Democrats, will he still remain in that position? He cannot. He will resign, as a mark of honour and political decency. But in Nigeria here, anything goes.

There are people who say, Northern leaders are not well disposed to democracy. Do you agree?

The problem is that they don’t want power out of their hands. And democracy means that every functioning group within a geopolitical entity, such as Nigeria, is entitled to power. The southerners believe and maintain that the North has spent more than 30 years and the South has not held power for up to 20 years. And this rotation is not between North and South. If it is between North and South, it is not between certain oligarchies of south, it is between nations that form the federating units of this country. So, the federating units of Nigeria must have access to power also. For example, Jonathan, is from a minority area. Now is it fair that people will be up in arms to ensure that he does not return to power again? How about the Igbo, how about the people in the Middle Belt? What of the Urhobo, the Efiks, and so on?

All those who make up this country, has any of their sons or daughters tasted power at the centre. What we are saying is that the northerners should allow Jonathan the opportunity to govern Nigeria and serve out his full terms. Now you have to think, how about the Igbo, East and West of the Niger, have they ever tasted power? No! Ironsi’s regime was less than six months and he was killed. Can you call that a stay in power? How about people in the Middle Belt, who also form the bulk of this nation? What we are saying is that the Northerners should give opportunity to other ethnic groups to have a taste of power at the centre. And that is the only way that Nigeria can have peace. But if the people feel that they are the only people who have been destined by God to rule this country, to me, to is not fair.

There is the coming of Tony Obuh as governorship aspirant for Delta North. You have been in the forefront agitating for the position for North North in 2015. How do you react to this?

Since the creation of Delta State, Delta Central has been in power for eleven years. Delta South through Uduaghan has controlled the state for eight years. A tripod cannot stand on two legs. Because of this, people believe that for political equity, Delta North should be given a chance to control. Unfortunately, our political class in Delta North, have come en-masse to vie for one seat. Delta Central and Delta South have aspirants for that seat. So, what Anioma people (Delta North) did was to try to harmonize the interest of our sons and daughters who were questing to become governor of the state.