National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, is again in his element. In this interview with Osemwengie Ben in Benin, Odigie-Oyegun, a former governor of Edo State, says all the steps so far taken by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari are in order, as “it will take time to re-build what had been destroyed under the PDP government.” Excerpts:
How would you rate the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari since he came to power?
You and I know that the present leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari inherited a catalogue of problems from the PDP-led Jonathan’s government. And the slogan, ‘Change’, which APC brought, is like an electric switch that can be changed at will; it has to do with people, morality, and basic necessity of life. To destroy is very easy, but rebuilding takes a longer period. The previous government was run on illegality; people did things without caution. Corruption was at its peak. There was breakdown of law and order in the society. So to clean up this mess is not something that will take four years; we need time to put things in proper shape. So for the few things the APC Government has done, we should be commended. President Muhammadu Buhari has done very well despite his health challenges. Nigerians should count themselves lucky that we have a man of integrity at the top. You will agree with me that it is no longer business as usual. Whenever you, as a leader, try to deviate from the existing norms, there is bound to be stiff opposition. What this government is experiencing now will soon be a thing of the past. Yes, we are facing challenges from all angles, but I want to assure you that we will overcome in no distant time. Anybody that posits that APC is not doing well is an enemy of development.
Recently, former President Goodluck Jonathan said the APC was a government full of lies and propaganda. What do you make of that?
Yes, there is an adage in Benin that says when you want to kill a dog, you first of all give the dog a bad name. Most people in Nigeria never expected that a new party would come and take over government from a party that had been in power for good 16 years; so it is still a dream to them. But we must face the reality. We came to power to rescue Nigeria from the hands of those who wanted Nigeria’s extinction. How can you say it is a lie when we found billions of monies stacked in one person’s account overseas; how can you say it is a lie when millions of naira were found in overhead tanks in people’s compounds? How can you say it is a lie? How can you justify the fact that a government spent millions of dollars on electricity, yet we have an epileptic power supply system in the country? The present government inherited multiple problems, which we are taking time to solve. These are the facts on the table. The ‘change’ is that we are rebuilding; we have a President that insists things must be done according to the law of the land. Buhari wants due process and he is a President that believes in the rule of law.
How can you say it is a lie when we found billions of monies stacked in one person’s account overseas; how can you say it is a lie when millions of naira were found in overhead tanks in people’s compounds? How can you say it is a lie?
But people are complaining that, two years on, the APC government has not sent the corrupt politicians to jail …
You do not just send people to jail when they have not been found guilty of an offence. The rule of law must be adhered to. You are aware that a special court has been established to try cases of corruption. It is a fight that must be won. Nigerians must be patient with us; no corrupt politician will go free. We are determined to bring total sanity to Nigeria and we will build a better Nigeria for generations coming to live in.
Nigerians are crying that the APC has brought more suffering to the land in form of severe economic hardship, the type that was not witnessed during the Jonathan era. What is your take on this?
Like I said earlier, change does not come overnight; we are working round the clock to put things right. We are facing very serious problems. Nigerians are used to a particular system, so whenever there is deviation from the norm, people must definitely react. We are very determined to bring the needed change to the people. We must do it logically. Big countries in the world have passed through this stage. We cannot compromise in our fight against corruption; we are committed to building a better Nigeria for all.
What is your government doing to improve on the health facilities in the country, following the First Lady’s open condemnation of the poor state of facilities at the Aso Rock hospital?
I think that the issue is being addressed, and very soon, Nigerians will know the true situation of things.
What are the chances of APC winning the Anambra governorship election come November 18?
In Anambra, our chances are bright. We have a candidate who knows the needs and aspirations of his people. He is politically sound, and has contributed to the development of his people. His choice is the choice of Anambra people. He is our candidate and we will give him all the necessary backing to ensure that he takes over from APGA. APC will win the governorship election. While the two big brothers are busy fighting, APC will be busy collecting the votes. It will be easy for us, because those with electoral values have left their parties to join forces with APC. We have identified ways to victory.
Some APC governors don’t seem to be in good relationship with you as the national party chairman. What, in your understanding, do they hold against you?
Well, I don’t know where you journalists got your information from. As far as I am concerned, I have no problem with APC state governors. Our relationship is very cordial; we are all working to achieve one goal; that is, making sure that APC builds a good, working economy for Nigeria. If we are not doing well, you will not see thousands of politicians defecting to APC. The party is on course and ready to deliver the needed dividend of democracy. My leadership as the party chairman is not in doubt. I will continue to do my best to be transparent in my dealings with people. I’m here to serve and not to be served.
The 2019 presidential election is fast approaching. Would you, as National Chairman of the APC, advise the incumbent President to contest again?
His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari is 74 years and above, and this is not his first time in governance and he is not a new person on the job. He knows what is good for him and the country as well. He is a man of highly proven integrity, transparency and accountability. So the decision to run for a second tenure or not, depends on him. Nobody can take such a decision for him. He is in a better position to say whether he will seek a second term or not. As far as our party is concerned, we will not impose any candidate on the people. APC is a party of due process, and we must follow our Constitution.
Some politicians in Edo State are not happy with Governor Godwin Obaseki, citing some political steps he took which they believe are not helpful for the party. What do you think is wrong?
As far as I am concerned, the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, is doing very well. You know in this part of the world, the moment there is a change from the existing rules, people will react. The era of breaking banks for politicians are over in Nigeria; so when that happens, people will definitely give the leader a bad name. So I’m not surprised that Edo politicians hate Godwin Obaseki. But those who know the worth of his leadership will continue to praise him. When it is no longer business as usual, what you expect from people is that the government is not favourable to criticism. I want to advise the governor to continue with his good job. The masses that voted for him are expecting him to deliver the dividend of democracy. And after four years in office, the same people will want him to continue. APC will build an enviable country for all.
Recently, the Obaseki-led APC government in Edo State brought the party’s woman leader, Dr. Amadasun, to the public domain by detaining her in the cell for a number of days over alleged cases of corruption. Does this action speak well of APC?
You do not need a prophet to tell you what our party, APC, stands for. We are running a government of integrity, transparency, honesty, justice and fairness, and above all, allowing the law of the land to take its course. What Edo State has done is a step taken in the right direction. It has sent a message to others that it is no longer business as usual, and anyone found guilty of an offence has to face the law, squarely, as it is. There will be no hiding place for corrupt people in our land.
His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare 11 just celebrated his one-year anniversary on the throne. What can you say of his reign so far?
Oh, what a great and wonderful Oba (that) God has blessed us with. I call him the great reformist; he’s very articulate, and he is an Oba full of vision and wisdom.
For the past one year, Oba Ewuare 11 has done very well. He has taken steps that show that the future is bright for the average Benin man. He has achieved greatness in this one year, brought great unity among communities within the Kingdom, particularly putting a stop to land use gangsterism, with the establishment of traditional customary courts to settle dispute. And with the caliber of people involved (in the customary courts), it shows that a new dawn has come for us, and the era of injustice is over. So, I congratulate him and wish him a successful, long reign on the throne.
