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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Rev. Jerry Nwachukwu is the General Overseer and Senior Pastor of the Bible Base Miracle Assembly International, Nkpor, Anambra State.
In this interview, he speaks on the security challenges in the country, 2023 general elections, and other salient issues. Excerpt:
What do you think is the way out of the multi-security threats confronting Nigeria such as Boko Haram, farmers-herders conflicts, kidnapping, armed robbery, secessionist tendencies, etc?
Security problems in Nigeria are all manmade. Nigerians have been living together peacefully before now. Certain actions, inactions and miscalculations from government at the centre over the years, among other things, led to avoidable killings, kidnappings, armed robbery, secessionist tendencies, Boko Haram, etc. Again, who are all these bandits you are talking about? Where do they come from? Some Nigerian leaders have said that they are not citizens of this country. If their statements are true, who brought them into the country? Where are our customs and immigration officers manning the borders? How did the bandits see their ways into the country? How were they integrated into the Nigerian society? How did they access the weapons they are using that are almost more sophisticated than those used by the Nigerian military? The problem of this country started from the top. They are created by men for purposes and interests known to them. If Nigeria and Nigerians can, at this critical time, especially as the 2023 general elections draw nearer, elect leaders instead of rulers, most of these problems will die down. This is because, if there are no more nepotism, ethnicity, lopsided appointments etc, all these will die down. If, for instance, Fulani herdsman is caught raping women in the farm or killing farmers, and destroying their crops, and they are made to face the law, and there are no calls from Abuja for them to be released, the issue of farmer-herders conflicts will quench. Again, how can security operatives arrest a bandit, a member of terrorist group, release him, and integrate him into the country’s security apparatus? What do you expect from such character, who you have officially empowered with gun? This is why I will continue to say that security issues in the country are man-made. If all these leaders, who had at one time or the other, put Nigeria and Nigerians into one security problem or the other will be removed or disallowed from continuing in the political office, the country will have peace again.
What is your take on the recent call by President Buhari for Nigerians to support the military in the fight against terrorism?
The ball is in the court of the executive arm of government because the military cannot act in any manner without being commanded to do so. I also want to believe that what Buhari is telling Nigerians in the media is what he means, and what he wants his government to achieve; not just what he wants the people to hear. I also regret to say that the Nigerian military that we have today is not the same military we used to know. Something is wrong somewhere. Are they not the same military that went to Liberia for peace keeping and returned with result? Are they not the same ECOMOG forces during the time of IBB that returned with results? Are they still the Nigerian soldiers that all the countries of the world fear their exploits? Today, they are being chased away. They are being killed on daily basis by bandits; something is wrong somewhere. Again, if intelligence report is given to the army by the community, would it be carried out to the letter? There were cases where security operatives were notified about attacks that were about to happen, and at the end of the day, the attacks still occurred without any form of resistance. That is why I say that something is wrong somewhere. Communities can help by providing vital information on the presence of strange people in their communities – like what the governor of Kogi State did recently. The governor made it that every community leader; every local government chairman, should do what is called “know your subjects.” That is to say that any leader should endeavour to know everybody living where they’re in charge of. In this manner, when a stranger comes into the community, members of the community will know that a stranger has come. Again, when security information is provided to the army, can they carry out necessary actions or would they go behind to tell the terror group that this person has reported them? This is what is witnessed in some cases; and the bandits will go after the community leader or members of the community. The military should be sincere so that if intelligence report is given to them, they should work on it; if not, they should allow the communities to be. Again, what Buhari is simply telling Nigerians is that at this critical time, state police is needed to help curb insecurity. He is indirectly telling Nigerians that he is approving of every state to have its own police. This is the time governor of a state will be really the chief security officer of his state. It will no more be situation where information will come to the state police commissioner, and the CP will call the AIG, and the AIG will call the IG before action is taken.
What advice do you have for youths and women of this country concerning 2023 presidential election, considering the fact that they are basically at the receiving end of most political and socio-economic problems of this country?
If Nigerian youths can turn their words into actions during the 2023 presidential election, they will take back their country. Let not the desire by youths of this country to take over the country end as drama on the social media. I will also urge the youths to talk less and act more. They should strategize more, and canvass more for the presidential candidate they believe will wipe the tears of Nigerians, and provide true democracy dividends. I am expecting Nigerian youths and women to be more proactive in what they are yearning for. Let it not be mere Nollywood activity such as ‘Obi kererenke; Obi kererenke,’ and so on. On the day of election, let them come out to cast their votes. Let them also urge their friends to vote right. Youths and women should not sell their votes. They must not allow religion, state of origin or political affiliation to stop them from doing the right thing. They must stand for the truth. They should vote and protect their votes; and must not allow themselves to be intimidated. Let Nigerian youths and women not insult anybody because of their diverse opinions. Let them remove or stop whoever that is not wanted in the country’s political space. Let every youth or woman encourage, at least, ten of his or her friends to vote. If one million youths can bring ten persons each to the polling unit, and they vote for a good candidate of their choice; then, multiply ten by one million – you’ll be surprised at the figure you will arrive at. Nobody can stop any candidate that the Nigeria youths and women will choose to elect if they applied the right strategy. Likewise, if one million women throughout should bring ten voters each to the polling unit; coordinate them properly to vote for the candidate of their choice – whatever it will take, the result will be beyond rigging. That is what the youths and women can do, and they will take back their country. Youths and women should do more of canvassing, reaching out, educating, and so on
Governor Wike of Rivers Sate has become a beautiful bride, who is being court by politicians from across political parties. What is your take about the Rivers governor and his political activities of late?
I got a revelation where I was told that Governor Wike should be warned. I asked why, I was taken to Isaiah 14:12-15. I was told that Wike’s drama is becoming pride; and that pride comes before a fall. From onset, when Wike started sponsoring the PDP, his eye has been on the presidency – to be the one that PDP will make their presidential candidate for the 2023 election. I see Wike falling from the sky, and he will crash his political future by the way he is going lately. If what Wike is doing is for the interest of the country – not for his personal interest, he should stop this drama. If he refuses to adhere to this warning, he will remember that there is a day he read on the pages of newspaper about this warning. The much I can see as a prophet about Wike, it has been all about self! He is not doing it for his party to succeed. He is not doing it for national liberation. Therefore, he should understand that it is God that gives power. His political advisers and friends should advise him right. I will advise Wike to drop his drama, and join the present effort to rescue Nigeria. He should not be quick to do what he will regret tomorrow. He should not be part of building a house that will not contain him.
Recently, the National Assembly initiated a move to impeach Mr. President. How do you see their move?
To me, it is a good step taken at a very wrong time. If they had initiated this move immediately after the 2019 election or before that election, it would have bigger weight. Mr. President is about to leave office. What remains of his tenure? As general election draws closer, some of the lawmakers are seeking re-election. What they are simply doing is to redeem their images before members of their constituencies. They simply want to exempt themselves from the problems on ground; so that they will remain relevant before the voters. They want to boost their chances of returning to the National Assembly. To me, all those multiple tenure members of the National Assembly should not be returned by their constituencies. To me, they have overstayed their welcome; they’re mere pretenders. Before they will be through with the process of impeachment that will last for several months, Mr. President must have gone back to Daura. So, who are they impeaching?
