Dr George Moghalu is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and also the party’s National Auditor. In this interview, he said the leadership of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, should explore dialogue to present their demands for the development of the South-East geopolitical zone instead of violence. He also said that so far, President Muhammadu Buhari had performed well and urged Nigerians not to expect miracles in eight months.

By Gabriel Ewepu

President Muhammadu Buhari has been in power for eight months, do you think Nigerians are feeling the impact of his administration?

The truth of the matter is that as government we met a very bad situation; a country that was totally run down  coupled with the attendant economic downturn as a consequence of declining oil revenue.

The challenges are economic and looking at it from that perspective, nobody should expect a miracle in eight months. The government has been very methodical in meeting the issues as they  affect us as a nation with bid to meeting the expectations and aspirations of the average Nigerian coupled with the fact that there are some promises we made as a political party which we are working towards to fulfil.

What we need and I will appeal to us Nigerians is to pray for the government and give it the needed support, and there must be level of patience. I am confident that in 2016 the effect of the activities of government will begin to be felt.

On the fight against corruption

George Moghalu

Mr. President has been consist about it because he believes in the rule of law on clear cases of corrupt practices that the agencies in charge of corrupt practices are addressing and he has given them free hand to do what is expected of them, and also allows  the court to play its own part. The determination, commitment towards fighting corruption is there and the action of the President and anti-graft agencies  is very clear and their commitment cannot be faulted.

The change mantra is not a new song in the nation’s political history, do you think Nigerians are in support of this change your party is parading?

It is a gradual process and they need to support and at least the leadership of the government, and our party is better than the other party that was there for 16 years. I understand that for people to change from a way of life they have lived with over the years is difficult but the moment we all key into the change mantra I assure them that our economy will be well  and we will   occupy our rightful place in the comity of nations.

His take on MASSOB and IPOB agitation for Biafra Republic

In a democratic process the only acceptable way to do things is to dialogue. I have told my people, South-easterners that if we had issues with the government there is an opening for us to discuss with government (national, state or local) without threatening the sovereignty of the nation.

You may have a good case and present it wrongly. Feeling we are being marginalised, how? Let us bring up the statistics and we open up a channel and discuss with government.

 Protect our interest

For me is not about fighting or demanding for a sovereign state and is not about that. We are all committed to this sovereign state called Nigeria. What we are saying is let there be dialogue.

Are you saying South East should forget about Biafra?

Biafra is the state of the mind, and Biafra they are talking about now is not the Biafra of the 60s. The point I am making is if there have issues we feel very strongly about as a people let us put it on the table and discuss it logically, so we can protect our interest and not violently.

Many people were expecting you to be appointed Minister in the government, what went wrong that you could not make it?

Why must I be? The right to appoint ministers lies with Mr. President, and those he appointed are very competent, capable and experienced gentlemen.