The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Chief Ralphs Nwosu, clears the air about his party’s membership of the Coalition of United Political Parties, saying ADC’s membership of the coalition is not to support a particular political party but to ensure Nigeria is rescued from the ruling All Progressives Congress at the presidential polls. He also speaks on other issues of national importance in this interview with ADELEKE ADESANYA. Excerpts:
ADC is projecting to win massively in some states of the federation, especially Ogun State. How do you intend to achieve this, considering the incumbency power of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state?
The most important thing we are trying to do is to sell our brand, our vision and why our party is different and what we are going to do differently if we have power. The power of incumbency will not have much to do about it because the people are buying into what we are selling to them 100 per cent. This incumbency wants continuity and you ask yourself if you want continuity of impunity, continuity of failure, continuity of poverty, and so on. So, the people will not be deceived again. It is a different ball game, we are not disturbed with that at all, our victory in not negotiable.
The credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission has come under questioning of late, especially on recently-conducted elections. Do you have confidence in the commission as regards the forthcoming general election?
INEC’s performance in the last two, three years didn’t portray them well in all ramifications. At times, it appears they have an agenda to go and deliver some results during some elections, especially in Rivers State and what happened in Ekiti State governorship election recently. But it is left to the people of Nigeria to contain the Commission, and I think the people are ready. People have been taken for a ride for too long in this country and we are warning INEC not to set this country on fire in the coming general elections. They have to redeem their names, and the more they do, the more it will be good for them.
We are working very hard to consolidate our gains and participate very actively in the CUPP so that the grand coalition will form the federal government
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reportedly turned his back on ADC. How true is this?
There is nothing of such. Moreover, let me tell you this, Obasanjo is not a member of ADC and he has always said so that he is not a member of ADC, but he is a guide and a mentor to all of us in the party. We usually consult him to clarify the things that are not very clear to us and his wealth of experience is helping us to navigate well, but he doesn’t interfere in the things we do and knowing the man, Obasanjo, he will never because he is committed to Nigeria and he has deep passion for the country and he knows that is what ADC stands for.
Your party is part of the Coalition for United Political Parties, which the Peoples Democratic Party and Obasanjo are also interested in. How do you intend to manage things if Atiku Abubakar eventually emerges the PDP flag bearer?
The Coalition of United Political Parties is not about PDP. CUPP is about grand coalition of over 40 political parties in Nigeria. All the parties that are involved in CUPP are like the allied forces concept, they are all independent parties of their own. Then, coming to who emerges, in the true spirit of CUPP, everybody who has signed that Memorandum of Understanding is committed to supporting one candidate that emerges from CUPP, not from
PDP.
There is no agreement that anybody has signed to support PDP. Everybody who signed agreement is that we are working as CUPP so, it is important that you highlight that because this misconception is disturbing to everybody. I don’t see any issue coming out of whoever emerges the candidate of the CUPP at the end.
Some circumstances surrounding the 2019 general elections are making some people to doubt the possibility of the election taking place. Do you see the election taking place as scheduled?
The election will take place, nothing can stop it. The Nigerian people are more determined than ever to ensure that the elections happen and the election will happen. You can understand the tricks and tactics being manufactured, all are the results of the fear they nurse towards us, but I tell you, whatever they like, let them do, the election will take place and we will defeat them.
Nigeria is about to celebrate another Independence Anniversary. How would you rate this country in terms of development, especially under the current administration?
It is unfortunate that the All Progressives Congress and President Muhammadu Buhari have succeeded in dividing the country more than ever before .
And it is unfortunate, anybody will expect that for somebody who was in the military and attained the position of a General should be a patriot and that they will base their judgment on what is the best for the majority of the Nigerian people. So, this independent anniversary will give a lot of Nigerians the opportunity to do deep reflections and see how to deal with APC and Buhari. I believe that, in the spirit of patriotism, when all Nigerians do that deep reflection, they are going to come out with something that will salvage this country.
How is ADC planning to maximise the opportunity to score big in the forthcoming general elections?
Definitely, we have our short-term goals and objectives; we have our medium term and our long term goals. On our short term objective, we are working very hard to consolidate our gains and to participate very actively in the CUPP so that the grand coalition will form the Federal Government. The medium term is to grow our party to become the leading political party in Nigeria, which we can see is already taking that
shape.
How would you react to the perception of ADC as the Third Force?
ADC seems to be the main force but for now, we are struggling, we are moving up the ladder very fast. We happen to be the fastest growing political party now and we are taking time to restructure and re-frame our system so that we are able to contain the rapid growth. It’s not in dispute who is the third force. As we speak now, we have about five senators and over 130 persons elected across the nation. So, it’s not in dispute where we stand. By the time this election ends, we are going to turn up quite some numbers. So we are very
comfortable.
