Let APC Caucuses Reconcile Now For Good Governance

 – Onabis
Francis Onabis is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with Uzo Chikere he advises the APC caucuses in the National Assembly to reconcile their differences in order to ensure robust relationship between the executive and legislators.  Excerpts:

What should be the top priorities for the new government in your view?
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government left lots of baggage of problems for the new government in terms of corruption, debts in trillions of dollars, insecurity in the North East, massive unemployment, and declining economy, among others. I believe all these problems would be tackled by President Muhammadu Buhari. It is obvious the president has prioritised security of the citizens of the country. That is what a reasonable government will do because a country that is not secured basically can't move forward. We have to have internal security for foreign investors to come to Nigeria to invest and for the citizens to feel safe. So, personally the first thing I think the president should do is to secure the country and I am proud of President Buhari’s early steps in achieving a secured country.

What about the issue of corruption, which is endemic in the system?
We have to create the situation where people have to understand that corruption is not the way of living or a way of doing business. There must be certain laws that will make people understand that there is consequence if you take money or bribe from somebody to do what you are paid for or if someone steals public money and people should be prepared to face the consequences. The moment people know that there is a consequence for their actions; they will stop taking things that don't belong to them. Most people who were digging hands into the public purse did that because of the posture of the country’s leader. Today public office holders are sitting up because a no-nonsense President is in charge and people will be amazed with the manner of people who will make the cabinet and it is not going to be business as usual. Nigerians will not be disappointed.

In the past many people were not tried for corruption-related issues because they are members of the ruling party or associates of the power brokers in Nigeria. That will not happen under President Buhari. If you rob from the state you must be punished, no matter who you are. The state should be run like business. There are situations that 74 per-cent of the national budget is used for recurrent expenditure. This is not good for the country.

President Buhari and his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo have declared their assets, but many governors are yet to make their assets public. What is your take?
That is the leadership I am talking about. The president and his vice have already declared their assets, so I believe all governors and any person who is going to hold public office must also declare their assets public. I am sure governors who have not declared their assets will be forced by the president’s commitment to ending corruption to do same.

What is your take on the salaries and allowances of the National Assembly which many Nigerians have condemned?
I think the federal lawmakers should know the change Nigerians wanted is here, so they must stop doing things the old way. The present economy of the country does not give room for wastage and that is why some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors across the country have cut their own salaries. I think the leadership of the National Assembly must toe this line. APC lawmakers in the National Assembly must advocate for reduction of the lawmakers’ salaries and allowances in line with our party agenda. So, I am expecting our respected lawmakers to ensure that our party agenda on reducing cost of governance in the country is implemented.

Now that APC is at the helm of affairs, what should the party do differently?
APC will do many things differently in terms of infrastructure, unemployment, internal democracy and insecurity in the country. We told the electorate before election that our party would stick to its blueprint to develop Nigeria and we will do that. Our party must support the government with its activities. I believe if the party is peaceful and devoid of internal rancour, the president will be more stable to govern the nation very well. I am looking forward to a peaceful reconciliation of our members in the National Assembly because this will ensure our party’s agenda and ensure robust relationship between President Buhari and the National Assembly.