The APC-led Government Is Gradually Rebuilding The Nation’s Fortune

By Ekele Peter Agbo Mr Ade Omole is the APC’s UK National Coordinator. In this interview with Ekele Peter Agbo, he speaks about the achievements so far of the present administration, the newly appointed ministers and much more. After six months in office, how would you appraise the Muhammadu Buhari administration?

I applaud what President Buhari is doing in Nigeria. For you to understand what the President has done to date, I would give you the analogy of a burning house. When a house is on fire, you do not waste time discussing painting and buying new furniture but deploy resources to put out the fire. Such was the case of the nation of Nigeria, under the previous administration, things were so bad. I would go as far as saying that the last 16 years locust rule of the PDP was excruciating for the average Nigerian. Under the rudderless tenure of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, the level of impunity was so high it fuelled so many ills in the country. Many Nigerians could not afford basic necessities of life. Dr Jonathan’s government could not even provide its primary duty of securing its citizens. It should be noted that allegations of corruption, misappropriation of funds, embezzlement and fraud which we now know hindered the fight against terrorism and ran the country aground, have been levelled against the PDP leadership. President Buhari has a tough task ahead but within six months, the threat of boko haram has been greatly reduced, we already have in various states, constant electricity supply and many former colleagues of the previous president being tasked over missing monies. President Buhari studied thoroughly the Nigerian state and made careful ministerial appointments to address our national issues circumspectly and pragmatically. Undoubtedly, there is a new sheriff in town who is determined to clean up the mess left behind by the previous corrupt government and take Nigeria to the next level. President Buhari has set a new standard that we all have to follow which has helped us in the international community. We have regained our standing as the giant of Africa and our soldiers are winning the fight against Boko Haram. Of course, the President should not rest on his laurels; he should continue the hard work with his cabinet.

President Buhari’s frequent foreign trips have been criticised in some quarters. What is your take on this? The President is doing a great job for the nation and I believe he should be supported not criticised for that. As President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari is the number one citizen of the country and in that role, he should do all he can to attract mega-investments into the country though not to the detriment of urgent internal issues. How can the President attract investments if he’s cocooned in Aso Rock when world leaders are meeting on global issues and discussing mega-projects? We need the President to attend these high-profile global events. The queen and David Cameron play the same role in the UK. The President should continue with high-profile foreign assignments that will drive the much needed infrastructural investments into the country but send ministerial delegations to less important conferences. Nigerians are really going through difficult times at home here in Nigeria. We have continued state of insecurity, weakened naira, fuel scarcity etc. Are these not signs of bad governance? I refer again to the analogy I gave in my first answer. The state of the country, after PDP years of the locust, requires tough measures. As we are beginning to see, cronies of the previous President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan did not spare the public coffers. It was a bazaar of some sort; these characters gang raped the resources of the nation and looted at will. Yes, it was bad, corrupt and crass PDP governance at the time that brought us to these difficult times but the APC-led government is gradually rebuilding the fortunes of the nation. The fuel scarcity is nearly over, Boko haram will soon be history and with much anticipated investments driven by the purposeful government of President Buhari, employment opportunities would be created. I strongly believe the glass is half full rather than half empty under the leadership of President Buhari. What is your opinion on the calibre of ministers appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari? It is interesting that there are probably about 11 or 12 lawyers amongst those appointed by President Buhari to be Ministers of our Great Nation. That is reassuring, knowing that lawyers are extremely capable and versatile haven been trained with a unique skill set that is designed to attend to the needs of the society. It is unprecedented in my view and quite laudable. The appointed ministers are quite capable being richly experienced in government, some being former governors and senators. Perhaps they are best placed to know what to do to revive the nation. In terms of performance again generally, the ministers look very capable so let us revisit this question after the first quarter in 2016. What is your agenda for the new ministers? What I want to see is the general government agenda being subsumed into the various ministries. Nigerians want to see that the electoral promises of the APC-led Government are carried out. Nigerians want to know what vision and/or agenda is the government pursuing? How is it to be implemented through the various ministries? Nigerians want to see the individual vision, mission and implementation plans of each minister. Nigerians want to see a timetable. Nigerians want to know what each ministry has identified as real pressing short term and long term challenges which the ministry must address and how it will address it and give a time line. The new ministers have coincidentally the biblical revelatory symbolic period of 42 months left to make a mark. It should be enough by the grace of God. A good number of Nigerians were deported from the United Kingdom recently. You are the APC national coordinator in UK, but you appeared to be silent on the issue? I would never stay silent on any issue that affects Nigerians. On the contrary, I have been very vocal about this particular issue. APC UK alongside the Nigeria High Commission is putting pressure on the UK government to ensure that the appropriate procedures are met before any Nigerian is deported. In addition, APC UK chapter is presently working with two charity organisations to stem the tide of deportations. We are not silent on this issue; we have been working in the background to ensure due process. I am aware of the institutionally racist tendency that afflicts the UK and how this attitude pervades and influences the manner in which Nigerians with immigration issues are treated. It is a real shame. I am very sure that with quality and effective legal representation, some of these deportations could be avoided. There are certainly genuine cases and we would ensure that these genuine cases are taken up by pro-bono solicitors through these charities. However, if you break the law; if you come into a foreign country with an intention to flout your conditions for Stay and are caught; then the full arm of the Law would be applied. This is a change government and we are experiencing the wind of change. We need to be disciplined in our approach to dealing with not just our rights to stay where we are but to be law-abiding and productive members of that society. I am happy that many Nigerians are making significant strides in the UK attaining the highest levels in their fields. Nigeria continues to stand out amongst African Nations in the diaspora. What is your message to Nigerians in the Diaspora and at home? Change does not come in a day. For us to enjoy the change we aspire to see in our beloved country, we must all support President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress in rebuilding the nation. The Nigerian Society is becoming more sophisticated and developed in spite of the bad press and criticisms. The western press and some governments call Nigeria a terrorist-risk nation and publicly advise their citizens not to go there if they have no real need to be there. Yet they send in their businessmen and technicians and have commercial ventures and ties with Nigeria. The only people that truly desire Nigeria to become a World Power and fully developed Nation can only be Nigerians for Nigeria by Nigerians. I think we would be in dire Ostrichian territory with our heads firmly buried in the sand, if we stand back and expect only foreigners to help us build rather than exploit the resources of our God-given, God-blessed and God-nurtured Great Country.