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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Chibuzo Obimma, popularly known as Ebube Muonso, is the Spiritual Director of the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke in Anambra State.
The Parish Priest, Blessed Iwene Tansi Parish, Umudioka, in Anambra State, does not shy away from speaking truth to power.
In this interview, he speaks about the 2023 presidential election, insecurity in Nigeria, and some other national issues. Excerpts:
Recently, the United Nations directed the Nigerian government to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and to stop infringing on his fundamental rights. What is your take on this development?
Nigeria should act fast not to disobey the United Nations. I had continued to say that Nnamdi Kanu’s issue should be handled with care; knowing full well that the arrest of an activist will always give rise to much more agitation. Agitation for the creation of the Sovereign State of Biafra has grown over the years among many people in the Southeast Nigeria, because of perceived injustices taking place in the country. The agitators feel that political positions and appointments are not being shared equitably among ethnic nationalities in the country. They feel there is lopsidedness in the way national cakes are distributed. Again, the manner the IPOB leader was forcibly taken away from a foreign land into Nigeria, received much condemnation. This is why many people, including the United Nations, see the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu as something illegal and unjust. Supporters of Nnamdi Kanu, and his legal team took legal option to secure his freedom; but all their efforts proved abortive. This is why the United Nations has to step in to make sure that justice is meted out to the IPOB leader. So, I will suggest that Nigeria should act fast not to disobey the directive of the UN, or else, it may lead to avoidable sanctions.
Considering the fact that Nigeria is a polarized nation, what in your opinion are the implications of APC’s same religion presidential ticket?
The implication is that the performance of the party in the 2023 presidential election will be abysmally low. They will fail. Same religion presidential ticket in Nigeria has so many connotations. There are in-depth meanings behind such idea. They may have an agenda not known or contemplated by many Nigerians. When a particular religion decides to do everything on their own without religious interests, especially in a multi-religious country like Nigeria, it is a height of selfishness. The recent protest by some Yoruba groups also went further to prove that even Tinubu’s kinsmen have seen the danger behind such marriage. As a multi-religious and multi-ethnic country, any attempt for one religion to dominate the political structure could only widen the gap of mistrust, and destroy the delicate sense of tolerance in Nigeria. Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in APC is a total disregard for the diversity of the country. It also an attempt to destroy and crush the bridges built to connect the religious differences in Nigeria.
Considering the above, would you advise Nigerians to vote along religious and ethnic lines, considering that there are Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba; as well as Muslims and Christians in that race?
Not at all! This time around, Nigerians should not be talking about religion or ethnicity. Nigerians should look out for the individual, who has the capacity to deliver the country from its present mess. As we’re all aware, Nigeria is in a big socio-economic and political crisis. The country and its citizens should not be talking about tribe or religion now. Nigerians should be talking about finding the best person for the position – the person that will take Nigeria to the Promised Land. Nigerians, especially millions of youths roaming around without meaningful means of livelihood, want somebody that will give their destinies a definition. They need a president that will give them brighter future; someone that will give them bigger opportunities and sense of belonging in their own country. So, Nigerians should go for the best. The options are there, and the best is very clear. Going by antecedent and past records of good performance, I am sure, by now, Nigerians know the best option. Nigerians should vote a person that will use his economic expertise to move the country forward. Progress of any country is accessed based on the performance of the country’s economy. There was time that Naira has bigger value than the US Dollar. There is the need for restoration of the good old days. Nigeria and Nigerians would need a president that will bring a policy that will bring a positive turnaround in the fortunes of the country; so that everybody, every tribe and every religion will be happy. As far as 2023 presidential election is concerned, Nigerians should jettison ethnicity, religion or any other thing one can think about. They should come together to vote the best hand into the position for the benefit of all.
For the sake of equity, the Southeast is talking about allowing the zone to produce president; while at the same time, the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu, is also insisting that it is his turn to become president of Nigeria. What do you think about this?
I’ve said it before, and I want to say it again; as far as 2023 is concerned, Nigerians should not be talking about whose turn it is. Nigerians should not be discussing ethnicity now. In the actual sense, if Nigerians will consider fairness and equity, it should be the turn of Southeast to produce president, because 40 years ago is the last time a Southeasterner is found at the corridor of power as vice president. In Nigeria today, somebody is being made to believe that there is a conspiracy that presidency may never come to the Southeast. Why should Tinubu, whose brother, Osinbajo, is presently occupying the position of vice president, and whose brother, Olusegun Obasanjo, was president for eight years in this present democratic dispensation, say that it is his turn to be president? Under this democratic dispensation that started in 1999, the Southwest where Tinubu comes from, has produced a president and vice for 16 years in the last 20 years. The South-south has equally produced president for six years, and a vice president for two years within the same period. The Southeast remains the only zone in Southern Nigeria yet to produce president for this country in the present democratic dispensation and, of course, since the end of the civil war in 1970! Again, why should Atiku Abubakar from Northern Nigeria, whose brother, Muhammadu Buhari, will complete his eight-year tenure next year, insist on succeeding him? What this shows is that Southeast is not important in Nigeria’s political equation. Nigeria and Nigerians need to be reminded that Southeast is equally a stakeholder and shareholder in Nigeria, and should not be relegated to the background. The Southeast has played supportive roles in the PDP and APC to other candidates from some other regions; and those parties still feel that the Southeast is not worth producing Nigeria’s president? As far as I am concerned, what Southeast is experiencing in Nigeria today is pure marginalization. It is obvious! However, I still maintain that this time around, Nigerians should not vote along ethnic or religious lines. They should consider credibility in hiring their new president in February, 2023. Considering at the political atmosphere in the country today, it is obvious that Nigerians have already known the credible person that is needed to fix the country. Nigerians should hire the best hand, even if he is coming from a relatively unknown platform. Nigerians have seen the best of the cabals and their political parties. Nigerian voters, should, therefore, not continue to reinforce failure!
There is a recent allegation that the electoral umpire in collusion with some powerful politicians are planning to use systematic means to disenfranchise the majority of voters in certain regions of the country in order to give undue advantage to some politicians. What is your advice to INEC?
That rigging strategy must be vehemently resisted. Let those planning this be prepared to meet the worst. In 2023, Nigerians are prepared to get it right! It can no longer be business as usual. Enough is enough. The wave of political revolution blowing across the country is enough warning to INEC, the Federal Government or whoever that may be involved in that plan that the coming presidential election cannot be business as usual.
In one of your recent crusades, you prophesied that killer herdsmen would invade the Anambra Government House. You also warned about impending epidemics because of refuse dumps that almost took over Anambra State. How did you feel about Governor Soludo’s reaction to that prophecy?
Actually, there was a written reply after that prophecy, which was attributed to Governor Soludo. However, the governor said the write-up did not emanate from him or his office. The prophet of God is ordained to convey the message of God to the people. It is left for the person to accept the message. The governor has no reason to call me a fake man of God. It was my prophecy that enthroned him as governor of Anambra State. Before the election that saw to his emergence as governor, he visited the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry several times. In each occasion, I prayed for him. In one of the occasions, I took him to my inner chamber, prayed for him, and anointed him; and that anointing catapulted him to the Agu-Awka Government House. I also encouraged our people to vote for him. I am not after their money. My prophecies are not meant to make money from politicians. God has enthroned me as a person. I don’t need politicians’ money. I have sons all over the world that take care of me and my needs. I have more than enough to take care of myself. Even as an individual, I have scholarship schemes more than the Anambra State government. So, whatever I do as a man of God has no monetary connotation.
What is your advice to the Nigerian youths, as the country prepares for the 2023 general elections?
I am very happy that Nigerians, and the Nigerian youths in particular, are becoming matured politically. Considering the trend of events in the past few months, I no longer see the youths I used to know, whose only interest in every election is to collect peanut from politicians, and sell their rights and future for the next four or eight years. Today, I see Nigerian youths that are ready and prepared to take over the country that rightfully belongs to them. I give them kudos for that. I also wish to advise them to maintain that tempo till the election day. Youths, and of course, Nigerian women are at the receiving ends of bad leadership in Nigeria. They should be wise this time around and enthrone the right leadership.
