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Iheanacho Nwosu, Abuja
Bello Osaretin is the convener of Project for National Accommodation. He’s an activist and an advocate for peaceful coexistence and he speaks on why the South East geopolitical zone should produce the next Senate President.
The presidential election has come and gone what do you make of the election?
Since our return to democratic rule in Nigeria, I would conclude that the just concluded election is the best with high participation because of the consciousness that arose from it. Most of the campaigns were issue based, and you could see that there were lots of alignments and re-alignments and of course the crises that used to bedevil previous elections were highly minimised in this last election. You could see that there was also an improvement from INEC. They were really neutral in ensuring that they give a sense of belonging to all political actors. I think it is a good election and by God’s grace, we shall reap the benefits.
The PDP candidate has gone to court. Some people are saying he shouldn’t go for the sake of national interest. Are you in support of calls that he shouldn’t go to court?
Well, the issue to seek redress in court if the person feels short-changed is his own constitutional right. But to me, if there is a way we can build consensus, we can move together because Nigeria belongs to all of us. I don’t think it will be appropriate, having seen the outcome of the elections, the neutrality of the police and INEC in the conduct of this election which is being adjudged as one of the most outstanding elections in the anal of Nigeria’s democratic history, to say he wants to go to court. If I were in his position, I will join hands with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the dividends of democracy are brought to the people. However, if the person concerned feels that he has some issues to raise that go beyond what the eyes can see, he has the right to go to court to seek redress. The court is the common place for all and sundry.
You are actually promoting accommodation within the system. What would be your advice to the APC- led Federal Government be in terms of sharing formula for the various positions in line with your campaign?
That is a very tactical question. You agree with the fact that in 2015, a section of the country at that time did not align with the APC as it was speculated in some quarters, but in this last election, there is a significant improvement. Mr. President scored almost 25 percent across the 36 states and the FCT. This time around, I will appeal to the government of the day to ensure that all zones are accommodated and carried along. Merit system should be put in perspective and of course you cannot anchor on integrity alone in appointments. You must also ensure that competence is put on the front burner. However, for the sake of national unity and national consensus, all of the zones should be accommodated in terms of principal positions.
Does this also include the positions at the National Assembly? Already we hear some positions have been zoned?
I still believe that it is still speculative. The appropriate thing should be done. I don’t see any reason the South East particularly would not be accommodated in this government because if you see the outcome of the elections, there is significant improvement from the 2015 in 2019 in terms of voter demography. However, the South East deserves a principal position. Like the South South, they are being accommodated by being given the chairmanship position, the South West has the vice president, the North West has the president. The North East has the SGF. These are principal positions and of course the North East as well has the speaker. So, there is nothing bad if the South East is being compensated with the position of Senate President.
We have people who are credible from the area. The South East was left out in 2015 because they never had a senator elected on the platform of the APC, but now we have senators elected on the platform of the APC. We have Rochas Okorocha; we have Orji Uzor Kalu, who is a ranking parliamentarian. Mind you, he was in the House of Representatives before. So, this time around, there are no excuses. The South East rightly deserves that position of the Senate President.
What would be the implications of APC shutting out the South East?
It will lead to a lot of agitations and disharmony. It will look as if a certain party or characters of persons are not needed in a given political space. And I don’t think that is good for our democracy. Democracy is all encompassing. We must have the open hand to accommodate all and sundry. In politics, you work from the position of strength to the position of weakness and we use that as a bait to bring everybody to the centre. Mark you, the South East holds the economic nerve of this country. They have contributed a lot and in 2015, most of these actors that I have just mentioned were not there. Now that they are on board, what are we talking about? They must be carried along.
What do you think the president should focus on in this his second coming?
The president should focus more on the details of the economy and of course a lot has been done in the area of security. He should continue to do more. Finally, he should ensure that the fight against corruption is intensified because the major problem of any country in the world is corruption. If you are to nip that in the bud, and people entrusted with public responsibilities are able to live above board, Nigeria will be on the track to Eldorado.
