By Ebun Sessou

As the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, takes over from President Goodluck Jonathan on May 29  after 16 years of democracy, the leader of the Odua Peoples Congress, OPC, Otunba Gani Adams advises him to give priority to the implementation of the report of the 2014 National Conference.  

Your candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lost in the general elections. Will the development affect your relationship with him?

As non-governmental organisation, we only gave our support to President Jonathan on personal ground. Our relationship started since he became vice president. We supported him because he was good to us. He is a kind man. Unfortunately, people alleged that we were given N1.6billion to campaign for Jonathan. Even Jimi Agbaje, who contested in one of the most lucrative states in Nigeria, did not get N2billion to campaign in Lagos.

The pipeline contract came because we bidded for it. People have said lots of things about the contract. If I collected N1.6billion to support Jonathan’s campaign, you wouldn’t meet me in this office. People have been calling and demanding money from me since the issue of the pipeline contract started; interestingly, the money for the contract has not been released till now.

You said there is no permanent friend or enemy in politics. What do you want the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari to do to earn your support?

Gani Adams

If he can declare his assets and get members in his cabinet to do so as he has rightly promised, then it is a good omen for democracy and evidence of transparency in governance.  He should also ensure that anyone who fails to truthfully declare his asset gets seven years imprisonment. While leaving government they should declare their asset as well. I believe this will set precedent to those coming afterward.

I think that would be a good foundation for transparency in governance; if he can do that, we would have reduced corruption by 65percent. That is when you will see people who are really ready to serve the country. I know many people will not be interested in political appointment again.

If you are to meet the president-elect, what will you tell him? 

The issue of National Conference is very important to us. He needs to restructure the country. Transparency must be his watchword. He must know that he is a father of all and not a particular political party. Politics is about local interest. He must be unbiased in the choice of members of his cabinet. A good leader must have vision.

Declaring of his assets and his simplicity will be an advantage to reduce the cost of governance. If the president is modest in his spending, his subordinates wouldn’t have any choice than to be prudent.

His ability to reduce the price of fuel to N30 per litre will be good for the country. The major issue is accountability and transparency. If he can reduce the salaries of government officials, that is when we will know that there is real change.

Free health, education and housing for the common man are areas the new government must look into. An average Nigerian needs to be 75 percent comfortable. But if an average Nigerian does not live in a conducive environment, he will be negatively influenced. Even his children will be influenced by criminals. If he can give the Nigerian child free and affordable education up to the higher institution of learning, then his government will be embraced by all. Today, private schools are milking people dry and government is doing nothing about it. There are more private schools than public schools.

He should be ready not to defend crime. He is from the North, I believe he has the power to influence  those behind Boko Haram and convince them to stop insurgency. He is a civilian president, he must be ready to follow due process before taking any decision on issues. If he fails to do the needful, then he should not be surprised that some people in his party will sponsor PDP against his government and leak  information to them.  His objective should be to reduce hostility in the country. He must not be biased in his judgment.

As one of the delegates of the 2014 National Confab, do you think the resolutions that emanated from the confab will be addressed by the incoming government?

If the president-elect wants to solve Nigeria’s problems, he must consider the need to restructure the country. As difficult as it may be, he has the sole responsibility of implementing the outcome of the National Conference so that Nigeria can move forward. A lot of things are expected of him especially his campaign promises.

How do you describe President Jonathan’s character when he conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent?

President Jonathan conceded defeat even before the declaration of election result and that solved many problems in the country. Even though there were  irregularities in the election, from  South to the North, the simplicity of Jonathan played out in the general elections; were it not for that, the country would have been in crisis now. I think African leaders should emulate this gesture so as not to give room for unnecessary war.