Mr. Charles Harry is the newly elected president of the Ijaw National Congress. In this interview with ADELEKE ADESANYA, the new INC president, who was also the Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in 2015, says former president Goodluck Jonathan has the key to ending militancy in the oil-rich Niger Delta. Harry also speaks on the need for the restructuring of Nigeria and other issues. Excerpts:
With your election as the new national president of the Ijaw National Congress, what are your plans for the Ijaw nation?
Ijaw National Congress is a collection of great people with great vision. The Ijaw nation and its people should expect conscientious, dedicated, focused, and accountable leadership, committed to the directives, principles and policy objectives of our congress.
This congress, under our watch, will work relentlessly to obviate the degradation and dehumanisation of Ijawland and its people. We shall intellectualise and internationalise the struggle for self-determination and restructuring of the Nigerian Federation in order to afford our heritage and posterity required loyalty.
In addition, we will also sensitize, mobilise and propagate the Ijaw persona in the real politik of Nigeria and assert our God-given right to life, liberty and freedom in line with the dictates of equity and justice. We shall responsibly respect the laws of the nation, but we shall not shirk in our inalienable duty to defend and protect the welfare and wellbeing of our people, if and when the need arises.
The Ijaw nation is among the communities facing the problem of militancy, which Nigeria has been battling with for quite some time now. What do you think Nigeria is not getting right about this issue?
Militancy is an aberration in terms and substance as presently construed with regards to the anomy of violence in the Niger Delta. As far as the Ijaw National Congress is concerned, what is prevalent in the region is a struggle for self-determination and self-preservation.
Yes, there are some inevitable excuses resulting in brigandage from frustration and abject poverty in the midst of plenty, not to mention the criminal approbation of the “commonwealth” to state the compulsory acquisitive inclination of a privileged few in complete non-challance to the welfare of the aborigines. Nevertheless, I must state here categorically that the INC is committed to a resolution of the anomy on terms and conditions that bring the subjugation of our lands and people to an equitable end.
Looking at the stand of the leaders from this region over this issue, how will you rate their contributions so far?
To be sincere with you, I don’t think I am in a position to judge the actions and even the inactions of the elders of Ijaw nation. But I will say that let conscience and posterity be the judge of whatever they have done. I dare say and without prevarication, that the hottest places of hell, I presume, will be inadequate for those leaders of Ijaw nation and indeed Nigerians, who betrayed their people for pecuniary and other untoward considerations at the expense of the critical destiny of their people.
On the part of the Federal Government, how will you assess its disposition and handling of the issue of militancy in Niger Delta region?
On the part of the Federal Government, they may think and believe their approach to the issue is right because they have sovereignty and authority of power.
Of course, we all know that the action of the NDA so far is as good as challenging the government, and for this, the government, therefore, may become impervious to reason in terms of their action, but the INC advices caution. Let not a storm in a tea cup escalate into a tsunami due to lack of attention to details.
INC, though aggrieved and perturbed, believes that “peace has its victories, no less renowned than” and we are committed to resolving the Ijaw/Niger Delta crises and conflict, if justice and fairplay are allowed unfettered reign. So, government in their approach should not consider taking hard stance on these people because they are Nigerians that I am sure will not wish the country evil. Peace will surely reign if we approach the case peacefully.
But with the method adopted so far by the Federal Government in dealing with the issue, don’t you think the desired result will be achieved in checking the militants?
The Federal Government, so far, has also been waging war against these people. I will tell you that no responsible government wages war as a first option in a case like this, and no government goes to war against its own citizens, unless it is inevitable. Nigeria as a nation must appreciate that all human benefits and prudent accomplishments are founded on compromise and barter.
After all, in Barry Goldwater’s words, “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Can you fault the Avengers? Though, some people may not believe and agree with this methodology but we cannot fault the ideology. I strongly believe that we can bring this unfortunate attrition to an amicable resolution without needless human sacrifice and untold suffering to innocent inhabitants of these communities who have been battling with the equivalent of economic genocide.
Lately, some Nigerian leaders have been clamouring for restructuring of the Nigerian Federation. As leader of Ijaws, do you support this?
The problem we are facing in this country should be brought to an end with an ideology like this. And you should unequivocally know, the Ijaw National Congress is in complete support of the restructuring of the Nigerian Federation along ethnic lines. We do not subscribe to a situation where our people are Balkanized as ethnic minorities in five or six States when our people are homogeneous, and our lands are contiguous.
In as much as we appreciate the efficacy of a united Nigeria, and at this time, are not calling for or are associated with, disengagement, we are no doubt of the contention that restructuring the nation and the introduction of fiscal Federalism are sine qua non for peaceful co-existence and rapid development. We strongly believe that the solution to many problems Nigeria is currently facing is in quick restructuring of this nation.
Former president Goodluck Jonathan was in Aso Rock last week and one of the issues he reportedly discussed with President Muhammadu Buhari was how to achieve security in the Niger Delta. What is your view on this and do you think Jonathan’s intervention can help in restoring peace to the Niger Delta?
Former President Jonathan is a man of honour, a true patriot and distinguished alumnus in the comity of leaders of Nigeria, despite his being the most vilified president of the country. As a congress, we are proud of him and his achievements. On his mediation in the crisis, I strongly believe he can help to play a pivotal role in dousing the present tension in the Niger Delta through the Ijaw Youth National Congress. He is regarded as the voice of wisdom, vision and truth. The present administration would benefit if they listen to him. Despite his travails while he was in government, we are solidly and unequivocally in his support, and we will always do, because he is a true son of our nation.
What is you assessment of the current administration and what do you think they are not getting right?
I will refrain from comments on the Buhari government because I believe this is not the time we need to judge one another, but a time to consolidate and see how we can defeat the problems we are facing in this country.
However, I will like to let you know that my mandate is clear and unambiguous. The Ijaw National Congress has no business eulogising or denigrating governments at any level. Our agenda is simple and concise, the best for the Ijaw nation to the best of our abilities. That onerous task is daunting enough. In addition, I will like to tell all Ijaws to remember to uphold the fact that Ijawland is one nation and Ijaw nation has one people and Ijaw people have one destiny.
