Retired Bishop of Anglican Communion, Bishop Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi, is a prominent Afenifere leader. In a recent interview, the octogenarian clergy speaks on President Muhammadu Buhari’s six months in office, the newly appointed ministers and the Yoruba nation, among other issues. Excerpts:
How will you assess President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in the last six months?
My assessment of President Muhammadu Buhari administration since he was sworn in May 29, 2015, is that, as a human being, he has been doing well. I know that because of suffering and poverty of the large majority of Nigerian, many people had expected him to perform miracles as if he will use some kind of magic wands to perform miracles and bring about changes especially because of his political party policy to bring change. In fact, change is not so easy to bring like that, you have to plan it, you have to work for it and it has to come gradually and it cannot come just like that, like a miracle. So, he has been trying and I have tried to watch carefully as I pray for him and this country. I have been praying before he was elected asking God to please be with whoever is elected as the president of Nigeria at this time because this period in the history of Nigeria is a very critical time.
Economically, it is extremely critical; because there’s so much poverty, so much suffering in this country. Large majority of Nigerians are living in abject poverty. I’ve been watching and listening to what he has been doing within the country and outside the country and I feel strongly and very honestly that he has been trying.
Firstly, his war against terrorism and violence in this country: As soon as he was sworn in, he went to visit our neighbouring countries like Chad, Niger Republic, Cameroon, Benin Republic to discuss with leaders of these country asking them for cooperation in order to fight terrorism and stamp out and also to stop them from killing people and destroying houses for no just cause.
Also we come to administration. I have noticed that he’s been trying to lead with examples. Firstly, he decided to sacrifice his salary and allowances by half and his Vice, Prof. Osibajo followed his examples, that’s leading by examples and I hope and praying that others will emulate the two of them. I am looking forward to see the ministers, members of the Senate, House of Representatives and other political office holders to follow his examples, by saying because of the economic crunch in the country and in the light of the dwindling income of the country’s resources particularly from oil that we have depended upon so much we have decided to cut our salaries too.
He has also shown self discipline. He demonstrated this by saying I will be the Petroleum Minister, I know he wanted to use his past experience to bring discipline and sanity into that ministry and to ensure that money that comes in through oil paid into our treasury and not to some private pockets and connected with that is what he called Treasury Single Account.TSA In the past the federal government money were being deposited into different accounts and that gave room for terrible fraud and individuals were making billion of Naira into their pockets and enriching themselves and they were improvising our country. The money that ought to come in to federal account, so that they can use it to take care of the need of the people, individual now put it into their pocket, when Buhari came into office he stated my administration is going to operate one Single Treasury Account, this is to put a stop to indiscipline and also to stop people from stealing our money.. I think I’ve stated enough to show that he is trying but I’m not saying he cannot do better than that.
But some of the appointments made recently negate his crusade against corruption, because some of the ministers appointed were perceived to be corrupt and contributed to our present predicament in the country.
Well, you stated some people who are seen to be corrupt. Even people have been crying out over the Senate President who was dragged to the Code of Conduct Bureau and they are trying to try him. If there is enough evidence against any of the men Buhari appointed as minister, I am very sure that the President will not say that they should not be arrested or investigated. This was one of the reasons people are saying that the President should not limit his investigation to the immediate administration but should go back to administration before Obasanjo in 1999 and anybody found to have been corrupt should be investigated.
The division and disunity within the Yoruba nation has taken its toll on the leadership role of the Yoruba people in the country. What do you suggest as way out to reposition the Yoruba nation to take its rightful place in the affairs of the country?
Well one of our leaders, Chief Ruben Fasoranti recently wrote to resign as leader and chairman of Afenifere, one of the leading voices of Yoruba because there is so much in-fighting and disunity and we thank God he had the courage to say that. But later, they went to appeal to him, I understand that even our governor, Dr Mimiko, was there with some leaders to appeal with Chief Fasoranti. He then withdrew his letter and made them to realise that there’s strength in unity. There has been so much disunity in Yoruba nation because of self interest. We have been self- centred instead of peoples centred. Chief Awolowo, Micheal Ajasin, were people centred Their primary concerns was what can we they do to help these people to alleviate poverty and suffering. That was one of the reasons they established farm settlements at that time. The idea was brought by Adekumle Akasin and sold to his friend, Chief Awolowo and they developed it and we have farm settlements all over South West. For instance now, Chief Fasoranti stated what can he get through individuality but believe what they can do together as a group to help the good people of the Yoruba race and cater for the basic needs of the people and make the people comfortable and save them from poverty and suffering. That’s why we have been where we are, but we thank God that it is not altogether passed, there are two or more organizations within the Yoruba nation in the South west who have been working hard for the unity of the country. We had a group called Yoruba Parapo in the early 90s and I happened to have served as chairman of that group for many years and again, it was selfishness that stopped it or even killed it. ‘I want to be Yoruba leader’ and they are still fighting for that now. Well, Chief Awolowo did not ask to be made Yoruba leader. He just lived naturally, using his natural gift, his charisma, his zeal and active concern for the welfare of the people: working hard for the people and so he emerged as leader because of his efforts, hard work. He did not say make me leader.
So also was Chief Ajasin. So, anybody that wants to be Yoruba leader should work hard, faithfully, diligently, honestly and “Please take note of this word that I want to use,” and “sacrificially.”
(He/she must be ready to make sacrifices. Quite a number of those who are struggling to be Yoruba leaders are not ready to make sacrifices for the welfare of the common people. They are doing this because of their personal gains. They don’t want to make sacrifices in other to help common people rather they even want to get from the common people.
And we Yorubas have a term, we call it “Agbalowomeri,” (Cheating the needy instead of helping the common man and thinking of taking away the little they have from them) So, that is the reason Yoruba people are now being sidelined and we are no longer holding the position we used to hold before.
We should make self-sacrifice for the sake of all. If you make self-sacrifice for the sake of all, it will be well for all. When the blessings come, you will be one of those who will be enjoying the blessings.
I, Emmanuel Gbonigi, if I am looking for blessings for myself alone, and I am selfish and greedy or self-centred and I don’t care for the needs of people around me; even if, it had been possible for me to achieve much for myself: blessings, money wealth and so on, the sufferings of people around me will not allow me to enjoy it and I won’t be able to enjoy it because it is contrary to the will of God.
God says: “Love others as you love yourself!” So, I should work for the needs of others as I work for my own needs. That is important.