By Dickson Okafor
Former West Africa Coordinator of the defunct National Support for Jonathan/Sambo Presidency, Mr NwachukwuTobinson Alakwe, has revealed that the fuel subsidy removal was a trap set for President Bola Tinubu by Northern leaders, which he pointed out that he fell into.
He described the plot as Northern agenda that prompted former President Muhammadu Buhari to remove fuel subsidy from the 2023 budget that took effect from June while he left office on May 29, which he said is the cause of economic hardship in the country.
He commended the Supreme Court for proper interpretation of the Nigeria Constitution by granting financial autonomy to the 774 local government areas in the country, which he said is a step towards restructuring Nigeria.
He called on President Tinubu to do something urgent to cushion the effects of hardship and hunger experienced by Nigerians to prevent the impending nationwide strike.
He said the creation of Ministry of Livestock Development is reintroduction of RUGA, saying it may be dangerous.
He joined in the demand that Nnamdi Kanu be freed. Excerpt:
As an advocate of LG autonomy, how did you receive the apex court verdict that granted councils financial autonomy?
To me, just like many other Nigerians the verdict was a welcome development because it is a long awaited development and very good one for the growth of the polity. It will, indeed, enhance development within the locality instead of going through the usual channel whereby funds do not get to the third tier of government or to the grassroots. What gets to chairmen of the local governments is nothing, but a piece meal, according to their claims. To many Nigerians, local government autonomy is a welcome development hence the Supreme Court has done justice to the expectations of well-meaning Nigerians.
But Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State and his counterparts having accepted the Supreme Court verdict are demanding for the interpretation of Section 162 Subsections (6) and (8) of Nigeria Constitution which allowed Joint Accounts, do you expect any intervention in the apex court ruling?
The Supreme Court which is the final arbiter in Nigeria justice system has given its verdict and its verdict is in consonant with the Nigeria Constitution. So, I don’t expect any intervention from anywhere or from anyone. Even though the governors have accepted the verdict, but inwardly they are in serious trouble. That is why they are demanding for proper interpretation of Section 162 Subsections (6) and (8) of the Nigeria Constitution, which they see as a clause to enable oversight control of the local governments’ allocations. The most obvious is the State Joint Local Government Account as provided for in Section 162, subsection (6) and (8) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Section (6) states as follows: “Each state shall maintain a special account to be called “State Joint Local Government Account into which shall be paid all allocations to the local government councils of the state from the Federation Account and from the Government of the State.” Subsection (8) on its part provides that: “The amount standing to the credit of local government councils of a state shall be distributed among the local government councils of that state on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of the State.” That is what they are pushing for which is not the best for the country’s democracy. Any how they may go about it, to me, it’s selfishness on their part. They have been in control of the local government allocations over two decades, but now the apex court has looked into the constitution and has done justice by restoring proper local government administration in the country which is a welcome development. If you go round local governments areas in the country, you won’t see any tangible infrastructure constructed by the council chairmen to show what local government monthly allocation is used for.
To curb economic hardship in the country, FG has suspended taxes, duties and tariff on some essential commodities such as rice for six months, can this measure reduce hardship and hunger faced by Nigerians within six months?
Economic hardship in Nigeria is second to none when compared to other parts of the world. Nigeria’s case can be referred to as man-made because of wrong economic policies and poor management of the nation’s economy by past administrations. Even government is blaming the immediate past administration, but I would say what President Tinubu-led administration is doing right now is damage control. The damage has been done and there is severe hardship in the country because the agricultural sector is not functioning up to expectation because of insecurity which is the cause of hunger and food scarcity in Nigeria. Farmers could not go to their farms and couldn’t harvest for fear of being killed by Boko Haram or Fulani herdsmen. It is when you sow you harvest. So, for the government to say they want to alleviate hunger caused by economic hardship especially food crisis something has to be done fast to end insecurity in the country. The security architecture has to improve through radical move by the military and other security agencies to ensure that insurgency and banditry are eradicated or reduced to a minimal level that can enable farmers go to their farms. If this is done there will be enough food and the prices will come down. The suspension of taxes, duties and tariff on essential commodities for six months is a good decision, but there is no commodity that is not essential in human history. Unfortunately, suspension of taxes and duties on food associated commodities for six months may have some deflection, which will not reduce the prices of food in the market because of the exchange rate. It will affect the prices of essential commodities if imported into the country with the level of exchange rate in the country right now. Prices of food stuff will not come down because nothing goes up and comes down in Nigeria. If you compare the exchange rate to whatever President Tinubu may have removed which is referred to as taxes, duties and tariff, the prices of imported goods and that of essential commodities will remain high.
Don’t you see the creation of Ministry of Livestock Development even though we have Ministry of Agriculture as a measure to produce more food in the country and put an end to Fulani herdsmen and farmers clash?
First of all, I will say that the creation of Ministry of Livestock Development in a diminishing economy is a radical nonsense. Why do I said so? The Ministry of Livestock Development is a duplication of the existing Ministry of Agriculture which has Department of Livestock. It is a duplication of a ministerial portfolio. Again, Ministry of Livestock Development means that they have adopted RUGA which Nigerians fought very hard to stop under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. It is tantamount to RUGA because since the pronouncement of the Supreme Court verdict on financial autonomy of the Local Government, everybody is speaking in one accord which is good for democracy. But Ministry of Livestock Development is RUGA in disguise, just like the defeated Grazing Route Bill, Waterways Bill, And National Livestock Bill. Every Nigerian should understand that Nigerians being the parliamentarians fought very hard to stop RUGA, but this is the reintroduction of RUGA, that is the real meaning of Ministry of Livestock Development. That is why the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBA) quickly hailed President Tinubu for creating the ministry. The sector that is dealing with open grazing and RUGA is hailing the Federal Government for creation Ministry of Livestock Development another means of reintroduction of RUGA in Nigeria which could be dangerous.
Because of the state of the nation economically President Tinubu appointed the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu and Bismack Ruwane and other as his Economic Team with the mandate to find ways to reduce prices of food items which many believe if not done fast may lead to national protest, do you see these entrepreneurs deliver on the mandate soon?
Unfortunately, all that this administration is doing is damage control. Whatever committee or economic team that President Tinubu constitute under this economic situation in the country will not work. The economic team cannot perform magic because they are not magicians even though they are successful entrepreneurs. They cannot conjure foods or conjure money into people’s pockets. Nigeria is in serious economic hardship caused by economic mismanagement. As I said earlier, what the administration is doing is damage control. So, these people you mentioned who are entrepreneurs, yes, they are managers of resources, but in the situation Nigeria find herself they cannot perform magic. Government must be proactive on what they are doing to prevent nationwide hunger protest.
But you are among those who supported Tinubu’s emergence as President of Nigeria in 2023 and you set agenda for him, but after one year in office he has not executed any of the agenda, what would you say is responsible for this?
Some will tell you that the present administration led by President Tinubu is trying to repair the damage done by the previous administrations, but I want to tell you that there is no administration that is run by saints. So far, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) is not living up to expectation in the fight against corruption. We have not seen its reflection because there are those who seem untouchable in the area of the fight against corruption. I had positive view about Tinubu’ Presidency and I had a very big expectation that when he comes into power things will be better, but as it stands things are getting worse. However, I still believe that soon something good will be done to better the lives of Nigerians. They said they met an empty purse, but I recall that I told you in my previous interview that the removal of fuel subsidy is the beginning of Nigeria’s problem and economic hardship. The sudden and non-consulted removal of fuel subsidy is the beginning of Nigeria’s economic crisis. I told you that this was a trap that was set for Tinubu by the Northern leaders and he fell into it, yes, it is a plot by the North to distabilise this government that is the reason former President Buhari removed fuel subsidy from the 2023 budget that took effect from June while he left office on May 29. They knew that Dangote Refinery will not start operation in August 2023 and that is the cause of economic hardship in the country. The past administrations had romanced with fuel subsidy removal, but didn’t remove it. President Tinubu at his inauguration removed fuel subsidy without provisions for measure to cushion its effects or any plan put in place to cushion the effects of subsidy that is why these problems erupted. And as it stands now, it is very hard for the government to do a drastic transformation that will bring visible solutions especially in the area of food crisis except Dangote Refinery begins operation soon. So, the economic team will do their best as entrepreneurs, but I don’t expect them to perform magic. As it stands, many are saying that former president’s administration is better than the present government.
Southeast governors and town unions from the zone have jointly demanded the freedom of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, do you see Tinubu freeing Kanu from detention?
Legally, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been held by the Federal Government for a long period and that is why he has decided to settle out of court. And if you can recall, the Supreme Court repealed all charges brought against him in 2021 and the same judiciary later said no. So, if with the joint efforts of the Southeast governors, town unions from the zone, the traditional rulers and the Ohanaeze Igbo have demanded the freedom of Nnamdi Kanu, that is a welcome development. I’m afraid if their consultation and appeal with the Federal Government will yield positive result because there is no tangible reason Kanu should be detained by the government.
But Nnamdi Kanu has chosen to settle his case out of court, why then did you say there is no reason he should be held?
If you look at the current charges against him, I think there is nothing serious because other agitators from the other geo-political zones had been held and released such as Sunday Igboho the leader of agitation for a Yoruba nation and he was arrested, but he jumped bail and was rearrested in Cotonu, Benin Republic and he was released. The people of Southwest jointly pushed for his release. So, if the people of Southeast have come together to demand for Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom, the Federal Government should listen to them and equally release Nnamdi Kanu from detention. That is if the Southeast governors are sincere because I’m still in doubt of their sincerity towards Nnamdi Kanu’s release. Because if they had wanted to lobby for his release, they would have done that before now except they have repented. Meanwhile, few weeks ago they had a summit in Enugu State and after which they issued a communique that Nnamdi Kanu’s release was one of the issues they discussed. Let us believe that they are now sincere and serious with the issue that bothered on Southeast.
Recently, the former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, had strengthened his political structure towards aligning with the presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, and has been into deep consultations with former president and Heads of State geared towards supporting him to wrest power from President Tinubu in 2027, with the state of the nation don’t you think the North might merge with Southeast to stop Tinubu’s second term ambition?
What Tinubu needs to do to silence strong opposition is good governance to secure second term in office which he has shown by granting financial autonomy to the 774 Local Government Areas in the country and also the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development. What will determine President Tinubu’s second term is good governance and what he gives to Nigerians within four years. And what the people need now is good governance and food. If the administration led by President Tinubu delivers democratic dividends to Nigerians, they will return in 2027 irrespective of who aligned with who or whosoever Atiku Abubakar consulted. But if Tinubu fails to deliver on his campaign promises to Nigerians they will have no other choice, but to look for another credible person to lead them in 2027. What the majority of the citizens need now is food on their table, school fees for the children, enough money to pay bills and rents and security of lives and property. What you should ask is with the level of hunger and hardship in the land, what do I think is the way out that may affect the return of Tinubu for second term? And I repeat, if nothing is done urgently by President Tinubu to ease hunger and hardship in the country, the people may have no other option than to elect another person to lead them in 2027.
Are you saying that power should return to North after former President Buhari had done eight years which elapsed last year?
Our brothers in the North love power and are working hard as you can see Atiku and El-Rufai are seriously soliciting to take over from Tinubu in 2027. But I’m sure that Tinubu will surely give Nigerians what they expected from him within four years. What he promised Nigerians that made them vote for him massively, but if he doesn’t do that coming back in 2027 will be a big problem for him. Power must not go back to the North right now because they just finished their eight years of two terms last year. South must do its eight years for equity and justice sake and if they try to dispose Tinubu in 2027 that might truncate democracy in Nigeria. Therefore, power should remain in the South till 2031. It is not compulsory that power must shift to North at this point in time because they succeeded in 2015 when they ganged up and defeated former President Goodluck Jonathan, but they should bear in mind that Tinubu is not Jonathan. I would expect the North to hold on for the South to complete their turn because Nigeria’s Presidency is turn-by-turn. And any attempt to stop Tinubu from completing eight years’ tenure may truncate Nigeria’s democracy. So, all hands must be on deck to move Nigeria forward. Any plot by the North to stop Tinubu from second term is a plot gainst South and may cause political crisis.
How can Nigeria be unified again as it was some years ago to sustain uninterrupted democracy as envisaged by our heroes and heroines of democracy who made sacrifices to return the country to democratic rule in 1999?
What we have in Nigeria is it democracy? I will still refer to Nigeria’s democracy as nascent democracy because we have not matured. The political class are not sincere to Nigerians because the political parties they formed have no ideology. The political parties in Nigeria are mere vehicles to take you to the Promised Land which is electoral victory. It is made up of persons who believe in individualism and they see themselves as superior to the rest of Nigerians. To me, the sacrifices and sufferings made by our heroes and heroines of democracy to enthrone democracy in Nigeria have not been justified by the present crop of politicians. We have only very few who are playing the game according to the rule. However, the unification of Nigeria should be the primary duty of any meaningful and genuine administration. Nigeria is more divided than ever and I believe that the President Tinubu-led administration is working very hard to unify Nigeria as it used to be. Virtually all the geo-political zones are agitating against marginalization and clamouring for restructuring of Nigeria. President Tinubu should have the political will to restructure Nigeria especially now that the Supreme Court has granted financial autonomy to the local governments in Nigeria. And once he has the political will to restructure the country, there will be unity. So, it is time for Tinubu to heal national wounds through restructuring of Nigeria. The financial autonomy of the 774 Local Governments Areas is a step towards restructuring Nigeria.