Ayodele Kusamotu is a barrister, chairman and principal counsel at Kusamotu & Kusamotu Law firm (The Greenfish Chambers). He is a public affairs commentator and takes interest in discussing political matters. In this interview on the State of the Nation with ZEBULON AGOMUO and INIOBONG IWOK, Kusamotu takes a serious look at the political activities in the country in relation to the preparations towards 2019 general election, expressing fears that the polls, if held at all, would witness massive rigging because of too much desperation to stay in power. Excerpts:
One of the most serious criticisms many people have against the current government is on the economy. They believe that nothing much has happened in that aspect in the last three-and-half years; may we have your perspective or your rating of this government, economy-wise?
To be very fair, Nigeria is a very complex country; and it is very difficult to govern. And there are very many challenges. We thank God that at least for the almost 20 years, we have been able to have smooth-running democratic government, which is an achievement on its own. But it is a learning process. I think Nigeria has greater potentials that have not been actualised and we need a catalyst to help us actualise it, and it doesn’t seem that this present administration is able to do that. I think Nigeria deserves better than that. So, after almost four years of being in government, we have not seen any significant change that can give one the comfort of saying that this government is the kind of government one would like to continue in power.
You know, the opinion you are canvassing may be different from what some other people hold. So, are you saying that in all departments of governance, the present government has scored zero?
To be very fair, I am struggling with that. General Buhari who is actually a military general; very experienced general at that; we thought that his major attribute is his ability in the area of security; and we thought that Nigeria would be a lot more secure with him coming in. But since his coming, you can see what has been happening in the country; firstly, we have the issue of herdsmen/farmers’ crisis which is a very serious matter. In fairness to them, the problem has been going on for a very long time, but the way this issue has been handled and the way people feel about it is quite saddening. Secondly, every day we are reading about Nigerian soldiers being killed; every other day they are saying they want to buy arms and ammunition. But security was one of the major reasons for which we voted him in. Also, in the North, places like Zamfara State, 20 policemen were recently killed there. In Kaduna State, the cases of kidnapping have increased.
My very good friend’s wife who was a Buhari fanatic (I was also a Buhari fanatic to be honest with you); but when we were discussing issues about the country the other day, she had to agree that kidnapping cases in Kaduna State have gotten to another level. So, we can’t say he has done well in security, right? Can we say he has done well on the issue of corruption? Well, I struggle again on this issue of corruption. You will see a politician who has a case with the law enforcement agents; as soon as he crosses party, the next thing that will happen is that you don’t hear about it again. So, you see those kinds of things happening; it looks like double standard. And I always say that there are other things that are even worse than corruption. Corruption is not the worst thing we can think of; there are worse things than that. Can I talk about the economy? When this administration came in, the exchange rate was about N150 to a dollar, now it is N360 to a dollar.
So, what areas can we say government has done well? Even in the area where they are trying to promote economic activities, say in the mining industry, government will tell you that you will bring in your items duty-free; but as a lawyer, I have seen that when people do that and they apply, they don’t get these waivers. So, I am struggling to see the areas that I can score government good. I am sure there might be some areas where government may have done well; but from my own perspective; as far as I am concerned; there is nothing; even in the area of legal reform where we have a very eminent Professor Osinbajo as the Vice President; I as a lawyer cannot tell you that there is serious reforms in the administration of justice as well, which is a pity, because rule of law is so critical but many lawyers in this country today cannot safely tell the client that if this and that happen, and you go to court; there is the likelihood that it would go this way.
Yes, there’s separation of powers in the country, the Executive is separated from the Legislature, but part of the administration of Justice too is these enforcement agencies and what have you.
What is your view on the controversy over the trader moni as a means of empowering people?
To be quite candid with you; I think any way that Nigerians can get the dividends of democracy, I don’t have any issue about that, as long as the money you are talking about gets into the hands of the people and it is not about inflated amount that is being looted, I have no problem with that.
The card every presidential candidate is playing is restructuring; may we know your own idea of restructuring?
Well, the major issues have to do with the distribution of resources in the country; the allocation of powers within the federal and state governments; I think this is the major problem. Again, when people talk about restructuring; they talk about justice, fairness within the system. It requires our constitution to be amended. It is one of the most important things that need to be done in Nigeria, because we do not have any other country. So, Nigeria must really be restructured. Our constitution has to be amended to bring equity and fairness.
Already, there appears to be apprehension in the land over the 2019 general election. Again, some people are raising concerns over the role of INEC and security agencies in the conduct of the elections. What advice do you have for the arbiters in relation to the discharge of their duties in the election?
First of all, there is this ongoing issue about the Electoral Act amendment. From my own investigation; I think it is quite important that the President should sign that particular Act. It is very, very important. All these issues about incident forms and things like that should not arise. When that is signed, that gives us one step forward. The role of the INEC and security agencies, I worry a lot about it, especially the role of the police and other security agencies. I think they need to be properly indoctrinated to have loyalty to the Nigerian people above the people who are in government. They should serve the people and not politicians.
That brings us to the issue of institution. From what you have seen so far, is it possible to have institutions that are detached from the apron strings of government in power?
I really think that those amendments need to be made in the constitution so that those who should be neutral in their job would not be overtly indebted to those who appointed them; which is usually the Executive.
You find such people behaving like puppets. That is why people keep talking about restructuring the system; some of these things are actually taking place in other countries too; how are they being done in other countries? We must need to urgently do something because it is clearly not working as it is right now.
Lets come to Lagos politics. Why are you not contesting any political office this time around?
First of all, you know I am from Osun State. In 2011, I wanted to go to the National Assembly. I got my form, but in our locality, they decided they wanted a particular person and they asked all of us to step down. Although we were not happy about it, we did. Then in 2015, when the election was coming up, I actually paid for the nomination form but they didn’t give me the form; I went to court and my case is still on at the Supreme Court. Judgment will be given a day before the (coming) election.
So, when I look at everything; I said it would be weird for me to go and pay for another nomination form when the last one I paid for they didn’t give it to me. And I can report to you that even in the 2018 primaries they did, they did not hold any primary in APC in my own constituency. They just picked one person and simply gave him the ticket. I think some other people have gone to court now. But the good thing about this is that people who criticised me for going to court in 2015 are now all going to court because they suffered the same fate. So, I am saying that nothing has changed; it is the same people and I have decided I won’t run; I will just face my own career. That’s the first thing.
Secondly, I thought what really can I bring to the table at this point? I realised there is nothing I can bring to the table the way things are done in the system. If I go to the National Assembly, I am not going to make any significant change or difference. I also question our mentality that everybody believes that the only way you can make a change is by being in politics; that’s the first thing that troubles my mind. That you have to be in politics to make any impact, I question that and I question myself for that too. Certainly I ask myself; am I really the best person to even do this thing? What makes me that person? I am not convinced I am. That’s the second issue. The third issue is that, the way it is being done today, it is as if that things are not working properly; they are not following the rules; they are not following the way it should be.
My senior friends and mentors who have gone into politics came back with a bad story to tell. These are some accomplished people in their careers. Some of them Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) who went into politics; today, they are being tried, for money-laundering just because they went into politics and if you read the whole story, very unfair. People who have been doing very well in their individual careers, in practices, to offer the country good service, but they are today having serious problem by just going into politics. They have a lot to offer the country and quite distinguished compared to other people, but just going into politics has caused all sorts of things for them.
We are interested in Nigeria; we love this country; there’s no other place for us to go; but we have to sit down, think very well, and form a critical mass of people and fashion our way forward. I am not convinced that this set of politicians is the one to take Nigerians out of the woods. I am not convinced. Also, there is that spiritual aspect that God will punish you when you steal money that belongs to the people.
What concerns do you have for the 2019 general election?
I personally, I don’t think there will be any election or anything like handover in May next year. I think we may end up with, an interim government. That is my reading of the signs. Electoral bill is not signed; many things are happening – people are moving from one party to the other; so much crisis in the land. In this kind of atmosphere, I am afraid. Even if elections happen, there might be so much crises that at the end of the day, everybody will just be screaming, ‘stop all this mess’, ‘let everybody bring their own representatives to make up a government’. So, I foresee serious crisis.
There is quite a number of presidential candidates going in for the election in 2019. Two are prominent – Buhari and Atiku. Could you please attempt the chances of each of these two major candidates against the backdrop of the recent adoption of Atiku by some members of the CUPP?
I am going to talk about what the wishes and what the realities are. My wish is that the will of the people be done and I think we are in-between the devil and deep blue sea in Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar. But I have a feeling that people would rather want Atiku for change. But from our finding, it seems that there have been significant change in the voters’ registration and numbers, about 84 million, and the way, elections were conducted in Osun State as well and in Ekiti, I am afraid that the people may want PDP, but the figures may reflect APC. That is my own fear. If elections happen and this is where the crisis may take place.
So, you are saying that elections may not be credible?
I really believe that there will be massive rigging because there seems to be a serious desperation to stay in power.
Where does this leave the INEC? You don’t believe that INEC will deliver free, fair and credible poll?
Well, going by their track record; from what we could see in the recent elections it conducted, I have my fears.
The issue of generational power shift has been on the front burner in recent times. Do you see the youth take over power in the next 10 years the way things are going?
Let’s define youth. Youth is meant to be from 35 years downward to 20. What baffles me the most is that our population is predominantly made up of the youth. They are in the majority, but I don’t know why it doesn’t translate into political power for the youth. I can’t relate it, but organisation matters. If the youth want power, they have to organise themselves very well. They have to shun those material things of life; those acquisitive tendencies.
I think that’s the honey that is used to take the eye off the ball; if they can do that, there is a good chance. But the problem is this poverty mentality. When we talk about poverty, we are not just talking about material things but mental poverty. For instance, how many youths read in this country?
What is going on in the universities? University is the bastion of intellectualism, and everything noble; but what is going on in our universities? Most of the time, they are shut. So, our youths have remained mentally retarded; so to that end, chances of the youth taking up power in the next 10 years are almost zero. Majority of them have been mentally retarded by the system. Our greatest assets, ordinarily, should be our youths but they have been incapacitated by the system.
Given the level of youth unemployment and the likelihood of many of them being recruited by politicians as thugs as we go into the election; do you foresee possibility of widespread election-related violence in 2019?
Again, you can see that there has been a lot of infiltration of arms into the country, from all corners. Today, because of the crisis in some parts of the country, some natives in those parts of the country have some arms to protect themselves. The only thing is that the financial inducement may overshadow the violence; what you may actually see is massive deployment of cash. The people may have a choice, they may drop the guns and use their money and pay the highest bidder. The money may take the role of arms.
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has made his stand known on what he wants in this election. How in your own opinion may his support for Atiku impact the presidential election and its outcome?
In all honesty, General Obasanjo is an enigma of sorts. He has been a military head of state, a civilian present for two times, he is renowned around the world. The international community usually seeks his opinion; I think he would have an impact. His role will have impact in some quarters and this is someone that had been at loggerheads with Atiku, but he has had to make an about turn because of the situation, which tells us that something is fundamentally wrong with the direction of this government and I think that no matter how things are, for him to turn round to say we want to support Atiku should make us come to the reality that something is definitely wrong with the current administration. It reinforces my own view point that there is need for change.
So then, what chances does Atiku have?
For me, I think Atiku will win on the Election Day, but the result will have Buhari as the winner. Atiku would win the election but the result would reflect something else, unless of course, our Electoral Bill is signed and those necessary things are done before the elections. That’s also reminds me of one of the reasons I left politics. I realised that you can’t impose yourself on people. When I was in APC, I saw that this is the way my people want to conduct politics. Whenever we help party meetings with the bricklayers, the plumbers, the drivers, mechanics, the ward leaders and all of that, and when they don’t hold primaries the party members don’t mind; they say ‘Ok, this is the way they want to conduct it.’ I now go back to the point that you have to accept what the people want.
You followed the governorship primary that took place in Lagos APC and what happened to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; if you were Ambode what options would you have adopted- leave the party or hang in there?
To be sincere with you, if I were Governor Ambode, I would quietly leave government. This is because even among thieves, there is honour. That is just a quote. Ambode, we all know, was assisted into power by Asiwaju Tinubu, therefore, he has no other choice than to toe that line. So, you don’t bite the finger that fed you; just quietly leave government and go your way.
What is the chance of Jimi Agbaje in Lagos State?
I have sampled opinions and there is a strong belief that the APC will carry the day in Lagos in a free and fair election. This is because I am not really sure that the PDP can do the necessary campaign and the work that will be required to win the governorship election in Lagos State. If you want to take over power from APC that has been in power for years in the state, a lot of work needs to be done.
There is this concern in the polity- the increasing incursion by clerics into political matters. Rather than being apolitical or neutral, they are now campaigning for politicians from the pulpit. Does this portend many dangers for the country?
The church, the mosque and other worship; centres should be sanctuaries. I think they should try as much as possible to stay away from political fray. I think they should encourage their members to go and exercise their franchise and not they now getting involved in partisan politics. It is not proper. We need to have a place where we go to talk to our God and receive his words and others. These clerics are supposed to be a compass for the people. But when they leave their spiritual calling and start dabbling into politics two things could happen – one, they lose the respect of their members; two, they cause divisions among their members. So, it can’t be in the best interest of our nation.
What advice do you have for the electorate as the country goes into the 2019 election?
I want to encourage people to have their cards ready and I want to encourage them to vote with their conscience and what they believe will make Nigeria great.
