Nigerians Find Excuses When They Lose
Election
…Kosoko
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Former House of
Representatives member, representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Honourable
Oladele Kosoko in this chat with Uzo Chikere, talks about the
elections, his expectations and condemnation of plot to move against Chief
Ajomale, Lagos APC party Chairman among other issues
Excerpts:
Now that the elections are over, what is your
assessment?
Let me join millions of Nigerians to give kudos to
Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Attahiru
Jega and Out-going President Goodluck Jonathan. Both have played a very good
role. They doused the tension of this election. For the incoming
administration, they must have known the problem of the country. Major
General Muhammadu Buhari is not new to the system. So I expect him to take
off urgently and do the right thing. Although we don’t expect miracle within
two/three monhs, the priority of Nigerians should nonetheless be tackled
immediately.
What is the priority you want the incoming
administration to urgently look at?
Security is very important. In an atmosphere of
insecurity, people are not safe, you won’t expect any development because
people will be scared and won’t invest. Unemployment is another disease
which he (Buhari) must address. The third is the aspect of Power. Electricity
complements employment. If you establish a business and you don’t have
stable power, it will affect your work force. Corruption is another
disease. And it can be solved by quality leadership. Let us start with Buhari
himself. He said all ministers that will work with him must declare their
assets. I have no doubt in my mind that he has genuine intention for this
country. I recall in 2011, he wept. The reason for him was, why Nigeria
should be in this position? If you are not corrupt, you are doing the right
thing, people around you will try to emulate you. And they will get scared.
Corruption does not emanate by a spirit. It is by mind. When you establish
corruption, you bring in your friends, relations and give contracts; that is
how corruption starts. And those around you will want to partake in it. You
cannot control them because you are doing it as a leader. That is why I said
that fighting corruption must start by example of leadership to demonstrate
their commitment. For instance, late Yar’Adua, when he declared his own
asset, it was less than N1billion. All his total asset, including that of his
wife, was less than N1billion. I am sure Buhari, from reliable source,
apart from his house in Daura (his home town) and one in Kaduna that is all.
These are the people that have shown commitment to the nation. Fighting
corruption must start from the leadership. Somebody said they should
introduce death penalty for corrupt crimes. Well, all over the world they are
trying to abolish capital punishment. But in a situation whereby you jail and
prevent politicians from contesting elections in at least ten years, for me,
that punishment is enough. I will not support death penalty. I will support
punishment that will deter people to say ‘I will not do it again.’
The PDP is accusing the APC of technically rigging the
election in league with Jega using the card readers, the PVC. What is your
reaction?
That is Nigeria for you. We always find excuses when we
lose election. If we are talking about election, PDP should not say anything
about rigging. For instance in Kano, there is no way anybody can take Kano
from Kwankwaso because he is very much on ground. Now go to Bauchi, look at
the in-fighting in the PDP there. Go to Benue State where the governor
imposed a small boy, an inexperienced person to be the governor. What about
Plateau State where Jang also brought his relation. Let us look at Jigawa
whose voting pattern has always gone the same line with Kano. Will you now
tell me again that they rigged Lamido? Then Niger State. Talk about Katsina,
the home state of Buhari. I can give you example of eight states where
PDP lost because they did not present the right candidate. That is PDP’s
problem. They are crying wolf when there is none.
Recently, Chief Ayo Akande asked for the resignation of
Henry Ajomale, the APC chairman in Lagos State. How do you react to this?
I think the man is under illusion. In the first place,
Otunba Henry Ajomale has in put his best. He is not somebody to be pushed
aside. In the formation of APC, he played an active part. Even where we (ACN)
were only controlling one state, he always coordinated the activities of
other states. It is not our constitution that if you lose your ward,
you resign. Again, in what capacity is Chief Ayo calling for the resignation
of Ajomale. Is he a chairman of a local government? Is he a member of state
working committee? He deserves to be sanctioned for such statement because
for you to say the man should resign, at what meeting was that decision
taken. He must be sanctioned for that statement because I think somebody is
trying to use the man to bring crisis to the APC. That statement should not
be taken lightly because section 21 of our party constitution specifically
mentioned the procedure of party discipline. And then before you can call for
the resignation of the state chairman of the party, you too must hold a
position either as a national officer. For instance, a ward leader cannot ask
LG chairman to resign because of non-performance. There is hierarchy. There
is procedure. If the man is eyeing that position, let him wait after four
years. But the man is a stranger. I don’t know him politically.
Do you think the promises of your party is realizable
like free education, free meal, power, against the drop in oil revenue?
Let me tell you, one of the fundamental issues that we need
to address is the issue ofs constitution. Take for instance; the recurrent
has taken about 75 percent of our budget. When you now look at it, what is
our business having 42 ministers? If the constitution says one per state, we
agree. But what about that regional representation, that is having ministers
of state. It is absurd. If we block all leaking holes there will be enough to
do the job. There is a lot of duplication. So much money is spent where they
should not. Look at the money we spend at the National Assembly. That is why
we were talking about part time legislators. But they argued that because of
oversight and so on. But that gives room for non-performance. Because hardly
you see them (lawmakers) on seat. They just mark register and go away
claiming that they are going on oversight functions. Let us start from
cutting allocation of funds budget for unnecessary things. I am sure with all
these; APC will execute its programmes. If the recurrent will be reduced to
50, capital 50, I can assure you this country will come back alive.
Where do you want to see Nigeria in the next four
years?
I want to see Nigerians in comfort, comfort in the area of
security, power, and employment, in the area of basic amenities and in our
education system too among others.
Don’t you think the action of South Africa is
condemnable?
It is condemnable and Nigeria should pay them back immediately.
We have every right to go anywhere and establish ourselves. If the citizens
of South Africa are not qualified to get what foreigners are getting, their
government should address the issue. Killing our people doesn’t make sense.
We too should retaliate.
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