Nwabueze Ogoeze is the convener of the Good Governance and Accountability Forum, a non-governmental organisation that promotes and advocates good governance in Nigeria. In this interview with Regis Anukwuoji, he speaks on the call for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction, on President Muhammadu Buhari’s medical vacation, among other issues. Excerpts:
The call for a president of Igbo extraction made by former president Olusegun Obasanjo recently is generating controversy; what is your take on it?
I think the proposal made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo for Igbo presidency is a good development. For me, I feel Chief Obasanjo should be commended for his courage to make such declaration at this period. In making the call I think Obasanjo has shown concern for the peace and continued unity of Nigeria. It is on record that it is only the Igbo that have not been given the opportunity to produce a president of Nigeria despite their sacrifices to keep Nigeria together, since independence.
Ndigbo should be well advised now so that they should begin to strategise and unite toward the realisation of Igbo presidency. This is not the time for rhetoric but action must be taken to get our right because power is not given, it is taken. Obasanjo has set the ball rolling; it is for the Igbos to do the needful, to forge an alliance and broad support to bring the agenda into fruition. It will also be good if Obasanjo can support the agenda to prove that there is no ulterior motive behind his call.
Some Igbo elites are opposed to the Igbo presidency project now; how do you see their action?
It is my view that any Igbo elite, I prefer to call them Igbo socialites, who hold contrary opinion in respect of the Igbo presidency idea is a saboteur. I have heard what some of them said concerning Obasanjo’s proposal that Ndigbo should wait.
Such people are not fit to be called Igbo leader or represent Ndigbo in whatever capacity either at the state or national level. I want to say that such characters are only concerned about their stomach and selfish political interests.
They don’t have the over-all interest of Ndigbo at heart and should not be taken seriously.
The time is due for a Nigeria president of Igbo extraction, the Igbo presidency is an idea its time has come; so no force of sabotage can stop it. I also want to use this opportunity to caution our Igbo brothers who will like to make themselves available to be used against the realisation of the agenda. In the past, we have seen our Igbo brothers playing the spoiler role, such must not recur in our history.
The arguments by some Igbo socialites that South-east should wait is bizarre, there is no sense in it at all. If the South-South had waited, would Dr. Goodluck Jonathan have emerged president? We should be careful with the type of politics we play in the South-east; time waits for no one.
Do you think Igbo have qualified candidates to field for the presidency?
Ndigbo have capable and qualified candidates to be elected president any day. We will not look far to get one because we have tested hands who have run successful businesses, who are good managers of human and material resources. The evidence we have on hand shows that Igbos are good economic managers who can lead Nigerians to the Promised Land.
Again, it is in the corporate interest of Nigeria that Igbo should produce the presidency. I want to add that the Igbo are the most detribalised Nigerians, accommodating and peace loving. Anywhere they are is their home; they build and develop it whether north or south, and such people should not be left in the background of mainstream politics in Nigeria.
I will not like to start mentioning names of Igbos to you for obvious reasons, however, don’t forget that we have the likes of Dr. Alex Ekwueme and Dr. Chuba Okadigbo in large numbers.
Do you agree that South east is marginalised in the present administration?
We are always relegated to the background when it comes to mainstream politics in Nigeria, but some analysts attribute it to the civil war which was decades ago. In as much as we have not produced the presidency, Ndigbo are marginalised.
So, if today Igbo are not found in the top security echelon of the country, or holding any top political office they should remember there was a time they had almost all, yet they could not use it to better the lots of Ndigbo. Let’s forget about marginalisation, in Nigeria everyone is marginalised and fight for our right.
Are you not worried by the way Igbo politicians are decamping to the All Progressives Congress (APC), don’t you think it will jeopardise the Igbo presidency project?
Well, I have said it that Ndigbo need to unite and speak with one voice. There is no gain in jumping from one political party to another, it is bad politics. Even if your party for one reason or the other is not doing well, what you should do is help to build it, not to abandon it. Life is not a bed of roses, so we must stay together and use one platform to actualise the Igbo presidency. United we stand, divided we fall is a wise saying. Ndigbo should unite now.
The issue of President Muhammadu Buhari’s medical vacation, health status is still a serious one, why is it so?
It is my fervent prayers that President Buhari recovers quickly and returns to the country to complete his term in office as president. I’m strongly against the politicisation of the president’s health; it is not good for anyone to make a mockery of it or even to wish Mr. President dead.
I have discovered that some Nigerians are quick to wish their leaders dead. This is abnormal and must not be part of our life. The Queen of England is older than President Buhari, any time she is sick the citizens pray for her good health. We should emulate such gesture and pray for the elderly in our midst.
We tend to forget that life and death are in the hands of God, and that no age group is immune to death. Both the young and the old are destined to die any day. So, I urge Nigerians to pray for President Buhari’s good health irrespective of whatever difference we might have in our political life, for him to come back and implement his programmes for Nigerians.
Do you have anything to say about the acting president?
Really I will like to commend President Buhari for transmitting power to his vice president. The onus is now on the acting president to perform the duties of his office well within this period. If he fails to do what he is expected to do to show good governance, then history would record it against him.
But I’m happy because I understand he has submitted the name of the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria for confirmation as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria. Then they are also working to see how they will bring down food prices in the country. If they can succeed in that it will be good, because the hardship in the country is too much for the common man to bear.
You are the convener of the Good Governance and Accountability Forum, how do you see the performance of the state governors?
Actually, my group has done the assessment of some state governments and will make it public soon. However, it might interest us to know that in Ebonyi State, the governor by our reckoning is doing well, especially in building road infrastructure both in the rural and urban areas. Under this present administration there is security of lives and property in the state due to enhanced security measures put in place. At any rate, we are going to provide the details of our assessment soon.
