Raymond Dokpesi, emeritus chairman of Daar Communications, operators of RayPower FM and African Independent Television, is a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party. As his party plots how to bounce back to power after losing to the All Progressives Congress in 2015, he maintained that the PDP should pick its presidential flagbearer from the North just like it did in 2019, to the chagrin of some Southern politicians, especially the South East. In this interview with AUGUSTINE AVWODE, the media mogul maintained that he is unapologetic about his suggestion and that for the PDP to win the Presidency back in 2023, it should allow the candidate to come from the North. Excerpts:
You have come under severe criticisms for saying that the PDP should look to the North for its presidential candidate in 2023. Are you not worried about the criticisms?
No, I am not worried. People are free to say what they want to say. I am only a messenger. I have delivered the message and all I can say is urge people to focus on the message and not crucify the messenger. There was this article published in the ThisDay newspapers last Sunday with a rather cynical headline, “Is Dokpesi suffering from inferiority complex?”. You can see in that article how the author and perhaps, the sponsors tried in vain to interpret my statements pertaining to the PDP’s best chances of winning the 2023 election. My position is that if the PDP is serious and really wants to win the 2023 presidential election; its candidate should come from the North. They feel it was because of my longtime friendship and ties with prominent northern businessmen and politicians and therefore, have an inferiority complex about Southern Nigeria’s political ambition. Well, such cynical remarks are to be expected from people who will naturally feel incensed by my position and they would say and do anything to discredit me just so they are able to also continue to protect and promote other aspirants’ interest from their zone. Personally, I can understand and I make bold to say I have no love lost for any other southerner who takes a similar position against my conviction.
Could it be they misunderstood your point?
Well, it could be. One thing is clear, as a nation we are passing through a very trying time. And for those of us who are in the opposition party, that is the PDP, we must be very frank and sincere to ourselves, ask the bigger question that has to do with Nigeria before our personal or ethnic interests and have a frank conversation about what we need to do as a party to win back power from the APC in 2023. I believe strongly in one Nigeria and unapologetically so. And I also believe Nigeria can only remain united and in peace on the basis of fairness, equity and justice. I believe like-minded Nigerians understand the ideological principle of zoning as a form of affirmative action to guarantee the opportunity of leadership to every part of the country irrespective of the geographic and demographic dominance of any regions’ size or population.
“The South South and South West regions have already produced PDP presidents in the Fourth Republic, so we have had 14 years in the presidency, while the north has only had two years under PDP. The nomination of President Goodluck Jonathan at the 2014 PDP presidential convention weakened our support in the North and ultimately led to the APC and President Buhari taking over government in 2015
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Can you expatiate on your call for a Northern candidacy in 2023 for the PDP?
Clearly, the politics that have governed how leadership is determined under both military and democratic systems of governments have been unfair to both the North East and the South East regions. I have both the belief and the confidence that both regions have more than eminent and capable sons for the leadership of this country, as indeed all regions. However, based on wide consultations across the country, I have found that going into the 2023 elections, the North is in a better position to negotiate victory for the PDP in 2023. At this age and level, I have nothing to fear in saying what so many others have not the courage to tell you. I have said the truth in the past and paid heavily for it. But that will not deter me from saying the truth as I know it and as I see it again. Like I said earlier, I’m just a messenger. But I will tell you the truth if you like to, take it and if you don’t like it, leave it. It may not sound palatable but neither the South South nor the South East has the votes combined to determine the presidency on their own. We have to negotiate with other regions. The question to ask, therefore, is what PDP should do to change this narrative. The PDP must take a realistic, pragmatic and strategic approach towards supporting the North East zone for the presidency in 2023.
If the former vice president and the party’s candidate in 2019, Atiku Abubakar, indicates his intention to seek election again, do you think the South East will welcome it?
The South East should know that in Atiku Abubakar it not only has a friend but also a thoroughly detribalised Nigerian who understands the pains, frustrations as genuine aspirations of the people of the South East. And importantly, he is a believer in the restructuring of Nigeria. This is without a doubt very necessary and critical to the growth and development of Nigeria, and in particular to the minorities either in the long term or in the short term.
The South East and in particular, Ohanaeze Ndigbo seem to be offended by your suggestion….
I didn’t intend to offend the South East or any of its eminent sons who are more than qualified to lead this nation. The South South and South West regions have already produced PDP presidents in the Fourth Republic, so we have had 14 years in the presidency, while the north has only had two years under PDP. The nomination of President Goodluck Jonathan at the 2014 PDP presidential convention weakened our support in the North and ultimately led to the APC and President Buhari taking over government in 2015. We need to retrace our steps as a party. We need to consolidate our base in the South South and South East and we need to reach out across other regions of this country presenting a detribalised Nigerian that will be accepted and trusted to build the best “all-star” Nigerian team to get us out of our present quagmire.
