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Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has said he is eminently qualified to occupy the office of the President of Nigeria.
In this interview with Saturday Sun in Abuja, the Publisher of Saharareporters recalled his establishment of a successful enterprise, Sahara Reporters, which he says has continued to report news fearlessly and truthfully for over a decade, while also saying that for 30 years, he has been a consistent voice for change in the Nigerian political space.
Sowore further said as the founder of a political party, which is now four years old, he achieved all these without compromising his principles or relying on stolen funds from government.
Amongst others, Sowore bared his mind on issues surrounding the forthcoming general election and the state of the nation. He spoke with AIDOGHIE PAULINUS
How is the campaign going this time?
The campaign is going well and according to plan. We have continued to reach out to the Nigerian people using every means possible. It is interesting to see that the methods of campaigning that we pioneered during the 2019 run, such as the use of interactive town hall sessions, are becoming the norm.
People don’t see you campaigning. How are you reaching people across Nigeria?
We are campaigning, vigorously. We are not PDP, APC and LP who go about staging rallies with millions of paid attendees. We are not in the business of paying N5,000 to each person who attends a rally. Those are corrupt practices that should be banished from our political space. Our style from the beginning has always been to engage in meaningful conversations with the Nigerian people in forums where they have an opportunity to learn about the plans the AAC has for them and to hear back from them about the issues that are topmost on their minds.
If you take out all the paid coverage that the APC, PDP and LP candidates enjoy and look at the actual activities that they have participated in that brings them in contact with the Nigerian people, I dare say no single party or candidate has outworked us in terms of coverage and reach. In addition to our regular campaign efforts, I have made myself available to key stakeholder groups like the lawyers (NBA), accountants, (ICAN), architects (NIA), doctors (NMA), and the likes. I have addressed students on campuses, women groups, done countless media interviews, media town hall meetings and people’s assemblies to engage, to discuss and to debate the way forward for Nigeria. I have rarely seen any of the candidates from the APC, PDP or even Labour Party at these forums. I challenge the press to be more proactive in calling out these candidates who blow off the requests by key stakeholder groups for them to come and talk about their plans and programmes for Nigeria. I also encourage the press to provide a more even coverage of the candidates. If that is done, more Nigerians will learn about the immense work that we are doing around the nation.
What has the reception from the people been like?
The reception has been very positive. Nigerians know me to be a fearless and dogged fighter, committed fully to ensuring that this nation achieves its full potential and that its people are provided an enabling environment for growth. I have felt a deeper engagement with the Nigerian people than ever before.
You have been trying to be president over the years, unsuccessfully. How hopeful are you this time?
This will be only the second time that I have run for the presidency – my first run was in 2019. Perhaps, I should remind you all that the man who now occupies the office of president ran unsuccessfully for the position three previous times before winning. Atiku, the presidential candidate of the PDP first ran for the office of president in 1992 – over 30 years ago. It is interesting that the questions being posed to me now were never posed to them. I believe I have what it takes to lead the Nigerian nation. To make that happen, I will need the support of the Nigerian people and that process takes time. The Nigerian people have seen more of my consistency and doggedness. They have learned more about my plans for freeing this nation from the shackles that have bound it for decades. They have also had eight years of the Buhari administration and witnessed the utter carnage that we predicted he would plunge Nigeria into. I am greatly optimistic that the Nigerian people are finding resonance with our message and that this will translate into victory at the polls.
Some people have asked, but why president? For someone with probably zero experience in governance at the government level, why not start with council chairman, state or federal legislator? Or governor? Why president?
I get amused when I hear these statements. It might be necessary for us to take a walk down memory lane and remind ourselves of historical facts from our own unique history that demonstrate the absurdity of this question. When you ask Nigerians what the lengthiest period of stability and infrastructure development was in Nigeria’s history, most people will tell you it occurred under the government of Yakubu Gowon, from 1966 to 1975 – especially the post war period from 1970 to 1975. Gowon was 32 years old when he became head of state. His rank at the time was Lt Col. He was not even yet a Colonel. He was not a Brigadier. He was not a Major General. Yet, his record as a leader has surpassed that of even those who claim to be Generals today. What experience did Gowon have in governance when he became Head of State? Please note that my answer regarding Gowon doesn’t mean I tolerate military rule in a form or fashion. What experience did Obafemi Awolowo have in governance when he became premier of the Western region? The same question can be asked of Azikiwe, when he took over the helms of the Eastern region. Yet, they led their regions through a period or remarkable growth and unparalleled progress. While they did not have executive experience in governing and had never been local government chairmen or governors before, what they did have was experience in managing people, in forming organisations, in mobilizing resources, in developing ideas and implementing them.
If that’s the standard we are to use, I am heads and shoulders high above anyone else in this race. I have established a successful enterprise, Sahara Reporters that continues to report the news fearlessly and truthfully for over a decade. For 30 years, I have been a consistent voice for change in the Nigerian political space. I am the founder of a political party which is now four years old, and is growing and thriving. I have done all this without compromising my principles or relying on stolen funds from government. Which of the other presidential candidates can claim that same pedigree?
When I was in my 20s, I was a student and youth leader in the pro-democracy movement fought against the annulment of the 1993 elections and eventually led to the emergence of democracy in 1999. When I was being shot at, arrested and detained for fighting for democratic rule in the early to late 1990s, no one told me I was too young or inexperienced then. But I am now not experienced enough to vie for the highest office in the land, in a democratic process that I fought to help emerge?
What was Mandela’s qualification in government when he came out of 27 years of confinement to lead his nation? And if I may ask, what good has Buhari’s so-called experience done for Nigeria? Are we not worse off than we were eight years ago in every sense of the word? We fear to travel for fear of being kidnapped. Our people are afraid to go to their farms for fear of terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers. Why do we conveniently choose to ignore or willingly forget our past?
Are you satisfied with the way the campaigns are going on now, the rallies, town halls, etc.
Yes, I am very satisfied with the way my campaigns are going. As for the other parties and contenders, I will let them speak for themselves.
Are the candidates addressing issues?
Not in any meaningful way. It is not surprising that they are not addressing issues, because they have all been part of the problem. Tinubu, Atiku, Kwankwaso and Obi are part and parcel of the rotten political system that has brought us to this point. What do you expect them to say? What issues do you expect them to address? They cannot indict themselves and their parties, and so they will avoid speaking about the real issues plaguing Nigerians. Is every state in this nation not run by either the APC or PDP or LP/PDP or NNPP? Is the APC not in charge of the federal government? Is the national assembly that is charged with making laws not full of APC and PDP stalwarts? It therefore stands to reason that what plagues Nigeria are these two parties, and the candidates of these parties cannot have anything positive to tell or to offer to Nigerians.
Can Nigerians vote for another Northerner after Buhari’s eight years in office? What would that portend for Nigeria’s unity?
It is my fervent hope and belief that the Nigerian people will be focused on competence, health and preparedness of the candidates when they vote. I am confident that if those are the considerations, they will be voting for me.
What’s your take on INEC? Are you confident they’ll perform creditably?
If INEC is committed to ensuring that we have a free and fair election, they can make it happen. We saw that happen in 2015 under Prof Attahiru Jega. My message to INEC is that they should realise that they have a sacred duty to deliver to Nigerians, the leader that the people truly want. Anything short of that would be a massive betrayal of trust, and the wilful sabotage of the dreams and aspirations of 200 million Nigerians. And that could attract dire consequences.
Do you think INEC can refuse to be influenced by the political elite?
Of course, that’s possible. As I mentioned previously, we have seen that happen at least once in our political history.
What are your thoughts on the general insecurity across Nigeria? What should the government do to tackle the problem? Do you believe the government is overwhelmed and helpless?
You cannot solve a problem that you deliberately created. The insecurity serves this government. When the government felt threatened by my legitimate calls that Nigerians should demand more of their government, I was swiftly arrested and thrown in jail. The government has been swift to arrest and detain those whom it is opposed to politically. But when it comes to terrorists and bandits, they are treated with kid gloves.
Nigeria has a powerful military. We were the backbone of the forces that brought peace to war-ravaged countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone. Before that, our military served with distinction in Lebanon and the Congo. Don’t tell me that a rag tag army of terrorists and bandits can subdue the Nigerian military. No army can fight with one arm tied behind its back – and the Nigerian security forces have been forced to fight with one arm tied behind their backs because the terrorists and the bandits are all aligned with people in high places.
Why do you think terrorism, banditry and kidnapping are thriving in Nigeria?
These evils thrive because it serves the interests of the political elite. Corruption thrives in chaos. Terrorism allows them to spend funds on security without scrutiny. Banditry and kidnapping allows the political elite to victimize and terrorise their opponents. Furthermore when a people are scared for their lives and live in terror, they become too busy trying to keep themselves and their loved ones safe that they have no time to ask their leaders tough questions. Nigeria’s current state of insecurity is exactly what our political elites want to see.
As ordinary Nigerians, what should we do to save ourselves?
Our salvation can be gained at the ballot. We can save ourselves by voting the right set of people to lead this nation. All of our problems as a nation have resulted from voting people into office who have no interest in moving this nation forward and who do not care about the Nigerian people. Salvation begins with the rejection of all those who have been part of the rot and decay in the Nigerian political space over the last two decades – and that would include the candidates of the APC, PDP and those who might have moved to other parties, but have historically been part of the machinery of these legacy parties.
Is this redesigning of naira notes by the CBN necessary at all? And is the extension of the deadline by the CBN good enough?
What Nigerians need are well paying jobs, an economy that is growing. Good schools, reliable power supply, good roads, good healthcare, security. That is what Nigerians needed. Changing the colour of naira notes – that was not something that was done for the Nigerian people. It was and remains a game by the political elite. What is sad is that they did not plan or think their ill-advised plot through.
Unfortunately, ordinary Nigerians are now feeling the pain of the poor execution of a plan that was not designed to help them in the first place. Whatever time is needed to ensure that the pain is eased should be provided.
There is fuel scarcity and an incredible rise in the price of fuel across the country, yet we’re still talking of fuel subsidy. Your thoughts please?
My position on these issues has been clear: fuel subsidy is a scam. Do the Nigerian people deserve to benefit from the petroleum resources that they have been blessed with through subsidies? The answer to that is an unequivocal YES! By the way, almost every OPEC nation offers some form of subsidy to their people – so we are not unique in this regard. What we have in Nigeria is a scam. If administered correctly – which I pledge to do – fuel subsidy will bring real relief to Nigerians and lead to a lowering of the pump price of petroleum products.
What’s the solution to the fuel crisis?
It is simple. Eliminate the corruption in the oil industry. Cut out the fraud in the subsidy programme. Ensure that Nigeria’s refineries are operating at full capacity and open up the market to competition. Have we ever stopped to ask why nations around us that have no oil have no fuel crises, while Nigeria, which in many cases supplies them with oil is always plagued with scarcity issues?
How can Nigerians survive this hardship in the land?
In three weeks, Nigerians will have the opportunity to throw away the shackles and chains that have bound them for so long, by voting my party, the AAC into power. Nigerians should not only be surviving through hardship. We have all that it takes to be a thriving nation. We are blessed with industrious people, we have immense resources and therefore, we should not only be thinking about survival, but about abundance. However, our path to progress goes through the ballot box.
Many communities in different states in the North are still in the grip of kidnappers, bandits, Boko Haram, etc. How can all these be stopped?
Insecurity thrives only because those in positions of authority want it to thrive. Without the collusion of top political players and elements in the security forces, insecurity in all its ramifications – banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, etc will not thrive.
Do you think the insecurity we have everywhere will allow a free and fair election?
Insecurity has always been used as an excuse to introduce fraud and corruption into the electoral process. Sadly, we have been a nation grappling with insecurity for the last two decades. INEC has managed to operate under those circumstances in the past. What all Nigerians want to see is a free and fair election, and I urge INEC to provide the Nigerian people with an election that is devoid of fraud.
Some people say you’re too combative in your interventions on public issues. What’s your response to that?
I have no apologies for my style. I feel an urgency to right the wrongs in our political space. I believe Nigeria is a critical care patient. When a patient is in the emergency ward, doctors are not sitting down cross-legged, writing on forms and being cordial with the patient. An emergency care health practitioner is moving with urgency, speed and purpose. Nigeria is plagued by vary many aliments – unemployment, insecurity, poor educational opportunities, corruption, kidnapping, the list goes on and on. My attitude is reflective of the urgency of Nigeria’s situation. The question should not be why Sowore seems to be acting in a combative manner, instead it should be why the others who want to lead this nation are not showing any urgency in their actions or their plan for the transformation of this nation
