Ifeanyi Odili, renowned to have been in and out of detention during the military era, is the General Secretary of Campaign for Democracy, and Convener of Conference of Nigeria Civil Right Activists. In this interview with KAYODE FASUA, he gives hard knocks to the President Muhammadu Buhari administration on its handling of the nation’s affairs . Excerpts:
Why is it that the human rights community has suddenly gone to sleep in the face of various problems besetting the nation?
One thing I want you to get clear is that, back then when we had the military as a common enemy, our vibrancy was noticeable. But today, interests have been divided along party lines. Some of us who engaged the soldiers in fierce battles went to sleep immediately we put democracy in place, believing that all our troubles were over. Alas! The music is still not yet uhuru (freedom) because these politicians are worse than the soldiers we sent away, candidly speaking.
I regret that I took active roles in the struggle for the democratisation of the polity. But I noticed it then and I called some of us who cared to listen, that it is extremely dangerous if we allow these political gladiators to continue to steer the ship of Nigeria without our close monitoring. I also advised that we must do everything humanly possible at ensuring that we keep them under watch.
But now, that is impossible because some of us have fallen into their contraption, and continue to do things in their own (politicians’) way. In fact, some of us are tools in their hands.
Perhaps, you read or heard that one of us, Chief Mike Ozekhome, who was highly respected then, was prevented from making a speech at 2019 Chief Gani Fawehinmi Memorial lecture by some irate activists. What was their reason? They alleged that he is a counsel to corrupt politicians who are facing prosecutions for what I will describe as “destructive corruption.” Yes! It is destructive because they stole our money and starched them away in foreign banks to remain there forever and ever. Now, they cannot access those monies, neither can they use them to develop Nigeria. So, it is destructive.
For the very first time, I want to tell you that this is the reason I keep fighting for Otunba Gbenga Daniel, because they say the man was corrupt when he was Ogun State governor, but I want you to move around the country, you will see his investments everywhere and Nigerian graduates are working and well paid there. Yes, he may have stolen, but he is using the money to create jobs in Nigeria for our teaming unemployed graduates to work there. It is also the reason I am angry with the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, who sent his men to seal off OGD’s hotel at Abeokuta, because that hotel has the capacity to offer jobs to over 500 youths.
So, if all of them who stole our money are like OGD, they would have saved this country from all forms of social disorder, and there will be less cases of unemployment, destitution, thuggery, kidnapping and other social vices, including the Boko Haram thing.
In fact, I give the entire government red card because none of the arms of government…is living up to the expectations of Nigerians. It is in this country that I see senators keeping silence in the face of insecurity and unwarranted deaths
Could you review the almost three-year administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and come up with your impression of the government?
Is there anything to review in his administration other than that he is wasting our money on his family’s health? Before, it was on his health that the country used over two years out of his three years in office to battle with tax payers’ money; and today, it is his son’s turn. Obviously, there is nothing to access or review in the extant government, apart from the fact that bloodletting is on the increase. The one that is most skull-touching is the diabolical activities of Fulani herdsmen that are fast spreading across the country. Is it not irritating and annoying to see cattle on the streets of Abuja, the federal capital, under the watch of Buhari? Since this Fulani-born Army General (Buhari) came to the Presidency, there has not been any remarkable achievement, save hunger, mass poverty, unemployment, social disorder, fuel price increment and scarcity. He has toured all over the world and came back home with nothing.
In fact, I give the entire government red card because none of the arms of government or tiers of government is living up to the expectation of Nigerians. It is in this country that I see Senators keeping silent in the face of insecurity and unwarranted deaths. It is in this country that animals’ life is more valuable than human life! Apart from Shehu Sanni, not a single Senator is coming out boldly to face Buhari’s anti-people government. Some of them have turned themselves to Michael Jackson and Sunny Ade. I wept when I watched a video clip where Senator Dino Melaye was dancing like a poor man who has just won a lottery and another Senator from Osun…in fact, that one dances regularly like a clown on the floor of the red chambers and other members regale in laughter.
I remember that a former Senate President, Chuba Okadigbo, walked out a senator for not dressing properly, but today, look at what they are doing.
Some people who reason from their anus give kudos to Buhari’s anti-corruption war. But the question that keeps coming to my mind is that, is Buhari not corrupt and undisciplined like his predecessors? Let us come off sentiment; he is worse than Jonathan. Okay, we sent Jonathan away for insecurity because it was after his exit that his government’s corrupt practices became known to the whole country. Is there no insecurity in Nigeria today? General insecurity in the country is now far worse than it was in the Jonathan era. When I brought up this issue of Fulani herdsmen before Baba, Chief (Dr.) Olusegun Obasanjo sometime last year, the old man with his experience said, “I use to know Fulani herdsmen going about their business with knives for domestic purposes; Fulani carrying AK47 is a new phenomenon.”
Let us ask Buhari, who made Fulani men heads of all the security agencies in the country, where these Fulani boys got AK47 from. I even learnt that there is now a gun called AK49. Who gave them the guns they are carrying about? How many of these Fulanis have been arrested and prosecuted?
But here is PMB who declared IPOB (Indigenous Peoples of Biafra) a terrorist group for charting a course for self-determination, leaving Fulani herdsmen to be walking and killing innocent people freely in the country. Not insensitive to the fact that the agitation of the IPOB is a direct consequence of lopsidedness in all appointments he has made so far. My brother, I heard of one former president saying at this stage, “If the country would break, let it be so”. If our being together is now a major threat to lives, then I rather suggest a Biblical quote, “To your tent, O Israel”; unless he relinquishes the presidency in 2019, because I am sick and tired of all this rubbish.
The government said the level of corruption recorded during the Jonathan era has left the incumbent with a mess that will take years to clear. What is your reaction?
Don’t mind them, because it is the same old story. Now, you say Jonathan was corrupt, fine, I agree with them; but in the days of Jonathan, the level of poverty was not as high as it is today. Do you realise that many families go to sleep without food in their bellies today. Pragmatically, I will say Jonathan was a disaster and a curse to this country but for how long shall we continue to tout this slogan? As a former head of state, elder statesman, member of council of state, who is availed of up-to-date information about his country, was Major General Buhari not aware that Jonathan had destroyed this country before he jumped at contesting and winning the presidential contest? Let me come out straight to you, the man has no single idea with which to move the country forward. He only came to governance to take vengeance on certain people he perceived to be his enemies; that is why Dasuki is still in detention till today. In fact, that self-styled evil genius, General Ibrahim Babangida, would have been in prison by now if not for his poor health condition and public outcry. I will infer at this juncture that he respects himself and the glory of this country by not contesting the 2019 presidential race. Doing otherwise will tear the country into fragments because he appears like an agent of war.
My brother, there is no serious restructuring that can take place before 2019. The only restructuring I see now is to remove Buhari in 2019 by our votes. Period
How do you think the country can overcome this spate of incessant attacks from armed Fulani herdsmen?
The only way out is to put the right person, who has the fear of God there, not a devil. In the days of Jonathan, it was Boko Haram and today under Buhari, it is Fulani herdsmen. Maybe when we have the next person, it will be another form of insecurity. I want to let it be known to all that government has hands in the killings going on in the country. The late General Sani Abacha had said, ‘Any insurgence that lasts for more than 24 hours has government hands in it.’ So, they (the Presidency) have hands in it; they should search themselves with the fear of God, else they will all die shameful death like the Biblical Zenacherub, Saul and Goliath, because they are waging war against the people of God.
Nigerians are the people of God, including the Muslims and Christians, or are you not aware that God destroyed Canaan for Jews to inherit it because of their sins? In Canaan, they killed innocent people and used little children, new born babies for sacrifice to their gods and God decided to carry out genocide there, and they were wiped out of the surface of the earth.
Do you think the series of economic reform measures embarked upon by this administration have had positive effects in the last two and half years?
Well, I have not seen any serious economic reform on ground; perhaps you are referring to fuel increment and scarcity as economic reform, or to all the dead bodies we bury every day, or to the Nigerian masses that have become hunger-stricken.
Well, I want to agree with them that they have really “reformed” us. And I pray for them that may their families also witness Nigerians’ type of reform. They have reformed us to the extent of having no blood in our bodies.
Pastor Tunde Bakare recently called for the restructuring of the country before the 2019 elections. Do you share his views?
What type of restructuring is he talking about, when the man has less than 16 months to quit, when the man has jettisoned the serious business of governance for second term campaign? My brother, there is no serious restructuring that can take place before 2019. The only restructuring I see now is to remove Buhari in 2019 by our votes. Period.
Why has it been impossible for critics like you to come together, form a party and get elected to put your agitations into practice?
You are aware that in the past, coalition of civil society organisations floated a party, National Conscience Party, led by the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi. But what was the outcome? Apart from the harm some of us did to the party and dictatorial tendencies that set in, the political gladiators did not allow it to work. Even in the Western world, where democracy is practised to the fullest and people’s rights are respected, it did not work. But now, I think we are doing something in collaboration with some of our foreign friends in that regard.
We are mapping out plans and strategies to move into mainstream politics with a view to playing key roles in the governance of our nation. Leaving the future and the destiny of this country in the hands these political marauders will be a great disservice on our part, very unpatriotic. They will totally ruin us as a people. For that reason, I have decided to harness every potential and machinery within our disposal to fall into one of the newly registered parties that will be suitable for me to contest the 2019 presidential race with President Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
You mean you want to contest in the 2019 presidential election?
Yes! It is certain already that I am contesting because, for how long shall we be agitating? These politicians are not ready to change from their wickedness. The moment I am voted and sworn in as the next President, our troubles are over. As it is today in Nigeria, I am the only solution to our problems. We need a president that will face these murderers, eyeball to eyeball. We need a president that will be at the warfront with them. Not just a president that will be dead drunk and allow things to continue to be in ruin.
My own administration will not take that shit from any one, and any nation, no matter how powerful. My government will have a very robust relationship with the international community, but not to the detriment of our nation’s integrity; the sovereignty of the country will be well protected.
With the attitude of our people towards election, how do you intend to go about it financially?
Thank you for that question. When David was set to fight Goliath, King Saul asked how the young boy would confront the giant, but he sharply answered him that the Lord God, the Holy one of Israel, who delivered a bear and a lion into his hands will deliver Goliath into his hands. David could not walk with all the garment of war put on him by Saul, he put them away and faced the uncircumcised Philistine and killed him with his catapult. Please take note: I am not telling you that I am David or God sent me like other pastors would say, no. I am simply telling you that the God of those days is still there on His throne. Besides, I have my friends and brothers around the world. I have consulted them widely, and I have been told what they are going to do for me. Nigerians abroad see this project as their project. It is no longer Ifeanyi Odili’s project. They have been resolute to give me their full support. Come 2019, PMB will hand over to me and the moment that is done, Nigerian will become a haven
of peace.
