APC, PDP are two sides of same corrupt coin – Onovo, NCP 2015 presidential candidate

By Daniel Kanu

Chief Martin Onovo, an engineer,  rights activist and presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election in this exclusive chat with Sunday Sun, speaks on critical  national issues, including the 2023 elections, the new NNPC and corruption, President Buhari’s donation to Niger Republic, qualities Nigerians must look out for in the next president come 2023. Excerpt:

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stopped registration of voters, but most Nigerians condemned the  action and wants INEC to extend the period of the registration…?

(Cuts in)  Yes, I expect that. INEC should extend the period for the registration of more voters. General elections are scheduled for February, 2023. Four months may be enough to screen, print and distribute new PVCs. A two-month extension may be feasible today.

The Federal Government has defended the purchase of cars for Niger Republic, citing security reasons. Is the Buhari-led government in order with such spending excuse?

The Buhari regime is notorious for its dictatorial impunity. President Buhari should have been impeached ever since 2016 if Nigerians are vigilant, but we are complacent. So, we are reaping the fruits of our complacency because, “a man will reap only what he sows” – Gal. 6:7. The unpatriotic Buhari regime has not only purchased luxury vehicles for the Niger Republic officials, it is also building a refinery in Katsina State at the border with Niger Republic while our four refineries are abandoned to rot. The regime is also building a crude oil pipeline from Niger Republic to the proposed Katsina refinery. In addition, the regime is also building a rail line from Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic. There are credible publications by ethical Nigerians that Buhari is using Nigerian resources to develop his father’s home country, Niger Republic for the benefit of his relations there who are unlawfully enjoying citizenship privileges in Nigeria. We must remember the EFCC case of Hima Aboubakar, a citizen of Niger Republic and Chief Executive Officer of Societe D`Equipment Internationaux (SEI) that was accused of defrauding Nigeria of over $400 million USD in an arms purchase contract. So, while the Buhari regime acts with impunity and clannish audacity, the Nigerian mass media stay intimidated and the people remain complacent. It is our constitutional responsibility to insist on the impeachment of Gen. Buhari for his unpatriotic and unconstitutional schemes.

Now that NNPC is commercialised, will it bring the needed sanity in the industry and stamp out oil theft?

The NNPC presently is like old wine in new skin. It has the same unproductive and corrupt personnel; it has the same corrupt government as its sole owner. President  Buhari appointed and controls all its directors. The commercialization of NNPC is a cosmetic, expensive and wasteful change. It has brought more complications, corruption and inefficiencies.

How do you see the presidential candidates of,  at least, the major political parties?

It may be too early to assess the 16 candidates. The Labour Party candidate has had a head-start with a strong vice presidential candidate, strong appeal to the youth, serious endorsements from Labour organisations, Civil Society Organisations, prominent former political leaders and regional socio-cultural organisations in all regions. These have established the Labour Party candidate as the front-runner for now. We need to see the other candidates kick-off and see if the Labour Party candidate can sustain his present lead.

Having run as a presidential candidate in 2015 what do you see in 2023?

According to the UK Government, “The rise in conflicts risks destabilising Nigeria’s democracy in the run-up to the 2023 elections”. According to Dr. Mailafia, the Fulani will start a civil war this 2022. In our opinion, the 2023 general elections are a mirage. Free and fair elections have become almost impossible for many reason, including the partisan desperation of INEC, the deliberate efforts of INEC to disenfranchise many Christians, the Islamization and Fulanisation agenda of conquest, the state-sponsored terrorism and the deliberate mines set by the Buhari regime to ensure that there is a national crisis to frustrate free and fair elections in 2023. These mines include; the unjust ‘Water Resources Bill’, the planned Islamization and Fulanisation census, the complicity of the Armed Forces in terrorist activities, etc. If any electoral activity holds, it will be another charade like the 2015 and 2019 charades that brought the Buhari regime to power.  A possible way forward is for Gen. Buhari to resign or be impeached immediately to allow Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to oversee the country and ensure free and fair elections. This will be the beginning of true democracy in Nigeria. This pseudo-democracy we practice presently is worse than military dictatorship.

What qualities will Nigerians look out for in the candidate they should vote for in 2023 elections?

Universally, the principal requirements for effective leadership include; integrity, vision and competence. Comprehensive competence includes; medical fitness, mental fitness and moral fitness. Therefore, all candidates with hard drug cases, corruption cases and forged certificates must be rejected. Visionless candidates with false promises must be rejected. Candidates that are too old and those that are medically incapacitated must be rejected. 

Supporters of Labour Party have been accused of being persistent and intolerant by the ruling party. What is  your reaction to this?

Labour Party supporters have the right to be persistent in their political choices. They have the right to also  refuse to tolerate corruption, violence and deceit. Looking at the controversial “gyration” song used recently by NAS, it is very factual, patriotic and constitutional. Many people do not seem to remember that a president of Nigeria will cease to hold the office if a medical panel established by the Senate certifies the president “permanently incapable of discharging the functions”.

With the way government is pounding terrorists’ camps; do you think the security siege on the country will soon be over?

Terrorist camps are in almost all states of Nigeria. The isolated pounding of very few camps in Katsina State for their attack of the advance team of President Buhari is insignificant and may only disperse the terrorists and spread them further within the country. The ruling party is the direct sponsor of terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria and has no intention to contain terrorism in Nigeria. Terrorism in Nigeria is vital to the Islamization and Fulanisation agenda of the ruling party.

Can Nigerians get it right in 2023?

Yes, we can, but that is very unlikely. We have to work very hard for it. We must not allow the ruling party to disrupt the elections or to manipulate it. “Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom”. We must pay the price if we wish to get it right. We must do away with APC and PDP, the two sides of the same corrupt coin. They must be held responsible for our current predicament which resulted from their corrupt regimes.