Razaq Bello-Osagie, who represented the Oredo Federal Constituency, Edo State, from 2011 to 2015, in the House of Representatives, bares his mind on recent happenings in the polity and concludes that Nigerians have so much to look forward to under the current leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he describes as a "God's gift" to the country. (Curled fron TheSun) Excerpts:
As a staunch member of the APC, you must have been quite impressed with your party’s performance at the last general elections, which saw the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as president.
Definitely. To say I was impressed is an understatement. Dislodging a party like PDP, which had been in power for 16 years and had promised to rule for 60 years was always going to be a daunting task. So, it was, therefore, not out of place for us, the APC and the long-suffering masses to celebrate when a deserved change of baton occurred. Yes, we achieved success at the polls by combining forces and really working hard but I should say the greater glory we must give to the Almighty God, who ensured that a potential combustible post-election crisis was averted. I tell you, what is happening in Syria would have been a child’s play compared to what would have happened in our dear country. Because if one took helicopter view of our political space before that election, it was obvious Nigerians desperately wanted change. There was disillusionment. There was disappointment. There was hopelessness. The pervading gloom and hunger in the land contrasted sharply with the criminal opulence displayed by a privileged few in the corridors of power. Add this to the marked deficit in creating the viable infrastructure to support our economy and we, in the All Progressives Congress (APC) were further resolved to chart a way out of what appeared a bleak future for Nigerians. Of immediate concern to us was the issue of insecurity obviously excercebated by the Boko Haram insurgency, rising unemployment, corruption, which rose to cancerous levels as well as a grossly mismanaged economy. We saw a country in its death throes and were thus propelled by altruistic motives to rescue it through sensible issue-based campaigns hinged on the “change” mantra. So, we were not surprised that Nigerians, for once, removed the imaginary boundaries of partisanship to identify with a pan-Nigerian agenda. Nigerians, irrespective of party, were united to embrace ‘change’ and that was the diet the APC prepared and served on that platform. And that was how PMB, President Muhammadu Buhari was swept into power after four tortuous attempts. And I can assure all Nigerians that a man like Buhari whose essence is predicted on certain core values of integrity, leadership, vision and purpose has what it takes to re–position this country on a firm path for a sustained economic recovery and development. God, in His infinite mercy, intervened to halt our country’s ignominious drift by giving us a man like Buhari. So, he is God’s gift to us as a country. At the risk of sounding religious, let me state categorically that any time God intervenes in the affairs of men, He blesses; He brings good tidings and gifts. Because Buhari is the result of God’s visitation to Nigeria, he is a unique gift. Once again, I congratulate every Nigerian for making this possible. For me, I am fulfilled to be a part of the change process, a change agent, if you like, having played an active role in the progress the APC have made today. I can only pray that God gives us the wisdom to manage this success.
No. Not just the APC. I mean all Nigerians. The victory of Buhari translated to a victory for all Nigerians. See, being president of the world’s most populous black nation confers on Buhari enormous responsibilities. Now, as president, it’s incumbent on him to deliver the dividends of democracy to all Nigerians whether they voted for, or against him. Therefore, a man in Katsina or Kano is as entitled to security and welfare, which is the primary essence of government just as the man in Eket or Onitsha. As President, Buhari is expected to break the barriers of party affiliation to deliver the goods. So, when I say God should give us the wisdom to manage the success of ushering in this change, I am talking of support and prayers from Nigerians for the President to succeed.
It’s just over 100 days since Buhari became President. Can you say he has impressed you in any way?
I would have been surprised if everybody hailed him in his last first 100 days in charge as president. Now, let’s be sincere. There’s no action flowing from the table of the President that would be acceptable to all of us. What is important is the commitment to make sure that his actions, policies are in line with the promises he made to the people while campaigning for the exalted office in a very transparent manner. So, it is in this light I, and indeed every other Nigerians should judge him. So far, I find his decisions to move the operational base of the Armed Forces to the North East, the hotbed of the Boko Haram insurgency commendable because it was quite strategic. Then, I also think in the area of key appointments, he has also been strategic in the sense that he is constituting his kitchen cabinet with those he thinks are loyal and forthright enough to buy into his vision. So, those crying blue murder should act with caution and be more patient. The word “lopsidedness” can only be used when all appointments are concluded and certain regions are completely left out. But as I said, change is often a very bitter pill to swallow. Transiting from disorderliness to orderliness comes with its challenges. It’s not unexpected. Come to think of it. If Buhari fails, he is the one to hold responsible. So, he should be allowed to choose the men and women to work with.
What about complaints from the PDP that the President’s anti-graft war is selective?
Well, let us look at this dispassionately. How do you describe a party, which had the opportunity to manage the affairs of this country for 16 years but chose the path of infamy? Performance is the yardstick by which a government is measured. If what we all witnessed in 16 years of PDP’s reign is anything to make deductions from, then on what moral ground do they base their arguments of “selective probes?” They had the chance to build enduring legacies of solid infrastructure, sustainable healthcare, a revamped educational sector, improved power supply, refineries working at fully installed capacity to meet our energy needs, etc. but didn’t. So, it’s nauseating to hear the PDP make noise about Buhari’s anti–graft campaign as being selective. It is very unfortunate that the same people who, through their actions or inactions, landed us all in this mess are the ones crying wolf where none exists. Must we engage in criticisms just for the fun of it? I think we must learn to criticise in very constructive manner for the sake of Nigeria.
No sooner had Buhari been sworn in as president did mind-boggling revelations of corrupt activities in the immediate past government began to hit the airwaves to the point that hitherto inactive anti-corruption agencies came back to life. What can you attribute to this?
You see, as I stated before, leadership carries with it certain responsibilities. A leader must be purposeful, a leader must have vision, a leader must have strength of character, a leader must be able to demonstrate to those he is leading some form of direction to the extent that the people believe in him, a leader must be committed to certain values of fidelity to his principles. When a leader is bereft of these attributes, it is difficult for him to achieve his set objectives. So, what you have seen as the sudden re–awakening of our people as well as our dying institutions is a direct result of the personality of the man in charge – President Muhammadu Buhari! Do not forget that he (Buhari) once said, “If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us!” And it was quite evident the way we were going that something urgent needed to be done to stem our abysmal drift into the abyss. As a student of accounting, it always amazed me how we managed to survive as a country up till now without actually going under. Its only just recently that Nigerians knew they were deceived all along as the government in power kept assuring them that all was well when infact the healthy balance sheet often bandied about was to say the least, cosmestic, choreographed, you like! We were told there was economic growth even when the vast majority of Nigerians could hardly make ends meet. Now, just imagine what would have happened if the PDP had managed to remain in power. Am pretty sure that what is now happening in Greece would have paled into insignificance. Thankfully, God in His infinite mercy has helped us avert that catastrophe by giving us Buhari whose actions and body language so far is ushering in sanity and probity in governance. I can tell you that in no time, tangible manifestations of this goodwill will be too glaring. So, nothing must be spared to retrieve those ill-gotten loot as well as the actual prosecution of those who have been robbing us blind. I support any action taken by the President to stop the hydra headed leviathan called corruption in this country. I am certain that once the President can see through this anti–graft war by actually jailing corrupt people who has led us in various capacity, he would have sent the very strong signal that he means business.
What then would you advise the APC to do now that they have the power, as recent events seem to suggest mistrust and in-fighting in their ranks?
Do not forget that the APC is a young party. A few parties came together to create it. Naturally, you would expect some differences once in a while. However, I should say they have more things that bind them together than those things that separate them. They were convinced the party had the capacity and the wherewithal to deliver the change it promised to Nigerians before identifying with it. There’s no disagreement over that. There’s also a general belief amongst all the members of the party that President Muhammadu Buhari the rallying figure of the ‘change’ mantra can chart a new course for a hitherto directionless Nigeria. Once this is established, then it means they must close ranks for the common good. I see the coming of APC into the governance of the country as a unique opportunity for us to do things differently and in the process endear ourselves to Nigerians, who have carried the burden of bad governance for too long. Nigerians, I have realised, do not necessarily care so much about party. Otherwise, PDP would have won again during the last elections.