By Abdullahi Garba
A foremost pro-democracy and human rights activist, Festus Okoye is a constitutional lawyer and Executive Director, Human Rights Monitor. He was a member of the 2014 National Conference, representing the civil society. In this interview, Okoye says President Muhammadu Buhari must dismantle what he describes as the reactionary and conspiratorial cartel holding NNPC hostage and virtually shutting down the nation.

What do you consider to be some of the expectations of Nigerians from the Muhammadu Buhari APC government?

Some Nigerians expect magical and revolutionary change immediately from Muhammadu Buhari as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Those in this group are his fanatical supporters who have stood by him over the years. To them, he is the messiah they have been waiting for and his assumption of office is the validation of their faith in him.

Realistically however, Muhammadu Buhari is assuming office at a period of national drift and confusion. He is assuming office at a time Nigeria is in darkness. He is assuming office at a time that the Nigerian people are sleeping at various filling stations.

He is assuming office at a time when some civil servants are owed salaries of between three to twelve months. He is assuming office at a time when some people are busy looting the commonwealth of the country. He is assuming office at a time of apprehension and trepidation.

The Nigerian people expect so much from him but we must balance the expectations against the economic, social and political realities of the Nigerian state and realize that the change promised may be gradual and graduated and his assumption of office may not translate to a quantum leap in the fortunes of the Nigerian people.

Muhammadu Buhari will live and lead by example. The Nigerian people believe in his integrity and in his Spartan way of life. The Nigerian people believe that he will provide strong and effective leadership and halt the current economic and social drift. The mandate given to Muhammadu Buhari by those who have no other country than Nigeria is to return the country to the path of sanity and progress.

What specific areas do you think Buhari should focus his attention for now?

Every facet of the Nigerian society needs the attention of the new President. However, it is important and strategic to priorities. I think the President should first address the decay and decline in three areas. The first is in the area of energy and power supply. The Nigerian people cannot just understand the continuous and continuing energy crisis given the quantum of money sunk into it. The sector needs urgent and revolutionary approach towards its solution. The President should also and urgently too dismantle the reactionary, conspiratorial and opportunistic cartel holding NNPC hostage. These are the big time bunkerers. These are those doing round tripping with PMS. These are the people that established small refineries in neighboring countries and are running down the refineries in Nigeria. These elements must be fished out and shown the way out while the cleanup of the sector begins.

The Nigerian people are eager and desperate for a genuine change in their lives and fortune. They believe that the new regime offers hope and possibilities for genuine transformation of their economic, political and social fortunes.

Were you surprised that the APC defeated the PDP during the presidential polls and what do you think may have been responsible for the APC winning majority of the states after PDP’s 16 years of leadership?

The objective and subjective conditions in the country guaranteed the victory of the APC in all the strands of elections conducted in the country. For me, the election was a referendum on the competence or incompetence of the incumbent President and the arrogance of the PDP after so many years in power. Furthermore, Muhammadu Buhari embodies and symbolizes the change the Nigerian people are yearning for and he   has the charisma, the integrity and the staying power to deliver.

Do you share the view of some people that the Buhari government should probe the immediate past government of President Goodluck Jonathan especially in the oil and power sectors?

I am of the view that the Buhari administration should first halt the current drift. Nigeria is drifting and the people are in a state of despair. He should reassure the Nigerian people that good times are here again. He should reassure the Nigerian people that Nigeria will be great again and will continue to be great. He should reassure the people that their faith in him will be rewarded.

This he can do by quickly tackling the challenges of power, oil and insecurity. Thereafter there should be targeted, time bound and professional investigation of the commanding sectors of the economy. The Nigerian people are interested in recovering the monies budgeted and not expended on the power sector. Nigerians are interested in genuine recovery of stolen subsidy monies. Nigerians are also interested in getting their monies back from fake arms contractors.

Some people still consider Buhari a dictator. Do you think that he will actually fit in and operate effectively under a democratic government?

I believe that Buhari is a genuine democrat. He has kept faith with the democratic process. He has within the ambit of the democratic process subjected himself to the rule of law and due process. I believe that he is more of a democrat than some of the people accusing him.  He has grown in the process and the fact that he assisted in the process leading to the formation of APC is an affirmation and validation of his faith in the democratic process.

In spite of government’s efforts at tackling the Boko Haram issue, the insurgents still continue with their bloody campaigns. Do you also subscribe to the suggestion of amnesty for them?

I believe that those that engage in criminal activities should face the wrath of the law. You do not begin to canvass amnesty when thousands of families are mourning and internally displaced or languishing in exile.

The regime should quickly resolve the insurgency challenge in the North East of the country. A marshal plan must be evolved to stabilize the North East and give our people hope.

The regime must encourage, empower and motivate the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to fully secure the North Eastern part of Nigeria that has suffered so much from insurgency and insurgency related matters

We urge the new regime to re-establish governance structures in areas already liberated. These places have to be secured for human habitation. Houses must be rebuilt and public places secured while the pervading atmosphere of fear and anxiety must be calmed.

To this end, we suggest that the President should roll out a North East Stabilization, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Plan (SRRP) to decisively take care of the humanitarian challenges of the North East. This plan must include the evacuation back to Nigeria of those who are now refugees in neighboring countries.

He should also set up a Policy Dialogue and Reconciliation Committee (PDRC) to heal the wounds occasioned by the hate and dangerous speeches during the campaigns. In other words, all parts of the country must feel the impact of his presidency and he will no doubt be a President for all. This is the only path to building a country deriving strength from its diversity.

There is also the need to stop the endless flow of arms into Nigeria. The North East is awash with arms, the Niger Delta is awash with arms. The South East and South West are having challenges of armed robbery and kidnapping and siege by cult and vigilante groups.

The new President must stem the flow of these arms into Nigeria by securing our borders, our armories. The National Assembly should also take a second look at our Fire Arms laws to see whether they still meet with the current challenges and realities of our nation. Our people are entitled to feel safe again.

As a member of the 2014 National Conference, do you subscribe to fears that your report may never be implemented?

The new regime should set up a Committee to review the report of the 2014 National Conference. It is possible that the President Goodluck Jonathan government convoked the National Conference for purposes of gaining political mileage. It is possible that the composition was skewed in favour of certain interests. It is also possible that some of the recommendations are at variance with the thinking, realities and dynamics of the Nigerian federation.