Which Way Nigeria?

DEPUTY National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Annie Okonkwo spoke to some reporters in Lagos on burning national issues such as the challenges in the APC and how the party can win forthcoming elections, the National Conference, why the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APC must join forces to fight Boko Haram and insecurity instead of trading accusations.

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

On accusations and counter-accusation between PDP and APC over insecurity in the country.

Boko Haram is the worst thing that has happened to this country and we must do something about it. Sometimes, I get baffled that: why can’t we as a nation go in and smoke them out once and for all? Whatever we can do to smoke all the Boko Haram out, let us do it and know that nobody talk about Boko Haram anymore.

The truth of the matter is that sometimes, I wonder how people for so many years would continue to hold the nation on hostage. When there was Biafran war, within 30 months, the war ended and everybody came together and we became one.

Nigerians came together to fight the civil war, so why can’t we come together and fight Boko Haram once and for all? It is so embarrassing and it is not good for our nation.

Insecurity situation

Today, we are talking about our GDP, economy, how can we boost our economy when some parts of the country are in disarray? So, it is something that I think we must come together and fight once and for all.

Don’t you think your party needs to work with the ruling PDP to solve the problem?

The insecurity situation in the country is what everybody must put hands together and solve. Whether you are APC or PDP, no party is happy with the way Boko Haram is terrorising Nigerians. You don’t know who is next. Boko Haram doesn’t spare people whether they are Muslims or Christians. So, we must unite to fight the insurgents.

On APC’s perceived double speak on the National Conference

APC as a party decided that they are not going to be involved but that does not mean that the states are not going to send their representatives to the conference.

APC as a party believes that the conference is a waste of time because previous conferences were not implemented.

Now, a lot of issues are coming up. Some delegates are saying that the outcome should be subjected to a referendum and that it should not be sent to the National Assembly. Some people also see it as Jonathan’s political strategy to win the minds of the people ahead of the 2015 general election.

Political strategy

Personally, I am not against the conference but my concern is for the outcome to be implemented. As a person, I believe that Nigerians should sit down and talk. I support it but my concern is that after this talk, what do we do with it? I am also afraid that there might not be any useful thing that would come out of it.

So, is the APC  right in boycotting the national conference?

As a political party and the major opposition party, it is better for APC to stay aside and watch but that does not mean that the governors would not send their representatives to the conference because they are not representing APC, they are representing the states.

On how the National Assembly can make the outcome of the National Conference yield results

The National Assembly has nothing to do because the truth of the matter is that if there is any amendment the people want, it goes through constitutional amendment and there is a procedure for amending the constitution, which is very rigorous. It is not just for the National Assembly to amend it; they don’t have all the powers to do that. It would still have to go to the states. One of the best things that can happen is if it is subjected to a referendum.

On whether APC can produce a formidable candidate that can challenge President Jonathan in 2015

APC is working towards that. Nobody can predict what is going to happen in 2015 but I can assure Nigerians that APC’s convention will produce a presidential candidate that Nigerians would accept. APC will produce a candidate that has the people at heart, a candidate that will transform the country. APC will dislodge PDP in 2015.

On his assessment of the on-going congresses of the APC

I am not happy over what happened during the ward congress especially in Anambra State. The state congress committee chairman, Chief Ezennia Ogbuehi, sidelined some members of the committee assigned by the party to conduct the congress and conducted the congress without following due process and guidelines of the congress. Honestly, I was disappointed.

The party promised to operate on internal democracy and that equal opportunities would be given to all members of the party but most of the aspirants were not allowed to participate in the congress. I believe it is something that should not to be allowed to happen in our party because Nigerians see APC as the only alternative party that can transform the country.

Nigerians are really looking forward to APC as a party that is going to bring true change.

I want us to use this opportunity to call on all our party faithful wherever they are to imbibe true democratic principles and subject themselves to internal democracy.

Internal democracy

That is the only way we can build a solid party that Nigerians would have confidence in but if we continue to do what other political parties are doing, it is not going to augur well for us.

I was excited when the party came out openly on the pages of national dailies to state the process of the congresses. The guidelines are very transparent and it shows that the party is ready to imbibe internal democracy.

But what happened during the congress especially in Anambra State was undemocratic. Someone who was appointed as the chairman of the congress committee messed up the whole process and despite the party guidelines and good intentions, the congress committee chairman acted contrary

Today, it is on record that all Anambarians are highly disappointed in the chairman of the congress committee, who completely ignored the party’s guidelines and started perpetuating what he was not told to do by the party.

I think it is a lesson and we cannot continue like that. I think this is an opportunity for the party to really look into the state and see that the problem is resolved. What happened in the last election in Anambra is all about disunity and we must make sure that APC is united in all states to be able to confront the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 and the only way to do that is to build a solid foundation.

On how the party leadership can build a solid foundation for the APC

APC is a very big party and there is no doubt that there is going to be some elements who are not ready to abide by the principles of internal democracy but the party should rise up and identify those elements. The good news is that APC has a vision and the party constitution is very clear. They must realise that it is very important that for the party to grow, there must be true internal democracy.

On comments that APC cannot truly be an alternative to PDP because it was built on faulty foundation and is now a dumping ground for people who were rejected in the ruling PDP, who they accept without screening and scrutiny

First of all, you should understand that there is freedom of association, so, there is no question of screening somebody to be a member of a party. The constitution gives you the right to belong to anywhere you want.

A member of the party cannot stop anyone from being a member of a party and nobody can also suspend anybody unless you go against the constitution or guidelines of the party.

And again, the party cannot say that people who want to join the party should not join, but the most important thing is that there is a principle and constitution of the party. I believe the only way the party can be strengthened is when the party works with the constitution and manifesto of the party, especially during the party’s congresses and convention.

I am happy the way APC put up their guidelines, which shows that for you to aspire as executive in the ward you will have to pay at least N2,000 to show a commitment. What that means is that anybody who comes and pays that N2,000 has procured the right to participate in the congress and any attempt by member or some members of the party not to allow the person to participate is undemocratic and that is exactly what has happened in Anambra State and I condemn it with all sincerity of purpose.

Culled: Vanguard