By Dickson Okafor
Benson C. Abalogu, Chairman/CEO, Filterland Industries Limited, a subsidiary of Benlock group of Companies has said President Ahmed Bola Tinubu will restructure Nigeria to make the presidency less attractive and for regions to focus on developing their states without running to the Presidential Villa at the end of every month for Federal Allocation.
Nigerians are in a great pain caused by economic hardship they are passing through since President Bola Tinubu was sworn in and so far there is no respite; can the economic policies of this administration bring a turnaround to the country?
Yes, with the economic policies of this administration coupled with the caliber of men that constitute the National Economic Council, there will soon be economic turnaround. Because as a true leader, for you to be the best, you must be able to handle the worst and that is what President Bola Tinubu has been doing since he assumed office. I’m not surprised because I trust President Tinubu even before he became President. I told people close to me to relax and let’s wait, that Tinubu will fix Nigeria and things will be better. I’m confident because I know what he can do; he is an administrator and employment creator and that is why I trust and believed in him. Therefore, I assure Nigerians that before President Tinubu will complete 8 years, Nigeria will become a great country that is worthy of emulation by some other nations. He took a step which his predecessors could not dare by removing fuel subsidy which is the major cause of the economic hardship Nigerians are facing. The reason most Nigerians are not happy with fuel subsidy removal is because there were no measures put in place by the government before the removal, hence, we were taken unawares. This sudden economic decision made prices of food stuff and services to soar beyond the reach of the citizens. Some families can hardly afford a square meal and essential commodities and this is the reason for the economic hardship in the country.
Many have called for restructuring as the only way to reposition the country for greatness, do you think Tinubu is capable of restructuring Nigeria?
Of course, for Nigeria to be united and reposition for economic growth, it must be restructured. Past leaders and administrations paid lip service to restructuring of the country; that is why we are still running around the issue which we all know if done, will strengthen and unify the country. Yes, President Tinubu is capable and have the leadership prowess to restructure Nigeria because he has the guts; that was why he removed fuel subsidy which we all desired before the coming of this administration. He will fix Nigeria through restructuring which we have been clamouring for. A restructured Nigeria will benefit all the regions because all states have known where they are going already. All the regions are blessed by Almighty God with both human and numerous mineral resources and if properly harnessed, will yield economic fortune to all the regions. For instance, Gombe State is agriculturally blessed, so is the other states and they already know where Nigeria is going if restructured. It will make states less dependent on federal allocation and concentrate in internal generation of revenue. Like I told you, I don’t depend on government as a manufacturer in the production process in order to remain in business because I’m competing favourably with China, hence I depend on what I make. What Nigerians need from Tinubu is to give us steady electricity supply, security of lives and property, good road network and the nation will witness industrial growth. As an industrialist, we spend a lot of money to hire security that guides our factories and follow us about just for us to be safe. We are paying a hell of money for it when I am supposed to be using them free of charge because I’m an employment generator. Even in my hotels, I provide security there for our customers’ safety.
Many will disagree with you on President Tinubu’s ability to fix Nigeria because there are tales of woes over poor, non-electricity supply in the country which if not fixed cannot guarantee development and stable economic growth, isn’t that a true fact?
I am a proponent of democratic advancement and enthronement of an ideal governance through equal participation and transparency. No individual or political party can fix Nigeria without allowing the vote of the people to count, obedient to the rule of law and guarantee steady electricity supply. There is frustration in the country because the bitter experience of economic hardship and lack of steady power supply. Take it or leave it, no economic reforms can work with the current power situation. So, when I assured Nigerians that Tinubu will fix the country, I took into consideration all these factors which I believe the government is working hard to overcome. It takes a man with guts to take decisive steps to reposition Nigeria and many toes must be stepped on. I call on Nigerians to join hands with government to right the wrongs of previous administrations which kept us where we are today. If Nigeria is restructured, regions will focus on developing their states without dependence on federal allocation.
What is your take on mass defection and resignation of key members of PDP immediately after the just concluded NEC meeting of the party?
The main opposition party, the PDP was in crisis during the 2023 general election and it got worse after the election in Rivers State between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. So, PDP has been in crisis at the national level before now. And nothing was done to resolve the matter which shows the nature of our democracy in Nigeria. No wonder Benjamin Franklin said “whatever begins in anger, ends in shame.” As it stands, some people have reduced PDP to their personal property and that is the reason key members of the party are resigning in mass especially in Imo State. The cause of PDP’s problem at the national level was because of non-adherence to party constitution which approve rotation of presidency between North and South. It was expected that the Presidential ticket of the party in 2023 should be zoned to the South which did not happen. Instead, the former vice President, Atiku Abubakar went ahead and grabbed the PDP Presidential ticket and that did not go down with Wike and the G-5 Governors, hence, they worked against the party in the Presidential election.
So, after the National Executive Committee Meeting, Atiku camp was unable to remove the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum who is loyal to Wike. Even though a replacement for the national chairman will be appointed from the zone of the immediate past occupier of the office. So, PDP is being controlled by one person who is also above its law. Recall that the APC’s decision to favour a southern candidate was aimed at fostering national cohesion and ensuring equitable representation of the six geopolitical zones. This move was supported by a cadre of influential northern politicians within the party. Their support was crucial in aligning the party towards a united approach to retaining the presidency by promoting Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a seasoned politician from the South, as the consensus candidate. However, PDP could not do the same for balance of power. Tinubu’s candidature was an essential step towards maintaining APC’s dominance in Nigerian politics. The 2023 elections served as both a test of party unity and integrity as well as a competition for national leadership for the ruling party.
What is your agenda for this administration?
I have told you already that Tinubu is the first businessman that has become the President of Nigeria since 1960. He doesn’t have godfather or sponsors that enabled him to become the President of Nigeria. The first day Tinubu was being sworn in, I knew that someone who has a strong heart is on the throne. Because Nigeria needs someone who has a strong heart to lead the largest black nation in the world. Tinubu has the muscle, the ideas and he is an administrator. Just imagine somebody who governed Lagos State and after he left office, he has continued to bring those he discovered could improve on the template he set and today Lagos is far better than Tinubu left it because his predecessors have continued with the agenda he set. My request from Tinubu is to restructure Nigeria and he can do it . I also believe he will deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians because I trust him and believe he will fix Nigeria whether we like it or not.
As an Igbo, do you realise that there is power struggle between the South East and South West as many thought that the Presidential candidate of Labour Party in the last election, Peter Obi would have won because it was the turn of South-East; do you expect the Presidency to shift to South East after Tinubu?
It might not turn out to be the turn of Ndigbo in 2027 because Tinubu may want to seek reelection and unless Tinubu after 4 years decides to allow Igbo complete his 8 years. But if Tinubu stayed till 8 years, power will shift to the North because from North, it came to the South. But I believe that before Tinubu finished 8 years, the centre will be weak because he will make it weak through restructuring. He has the muscle and power to do it so that there will be no more struggle to be President of Nigeria. My advice to Igbo is to concentrate in what we know how to do best which are commerce and industrialization; and when the time comes, Nigerians will beg us to come and govern the country because they will soon be tired of recycling leaders. That was what happened in the last presidential election when Nigerians came out in large number and voted for Peter Obi because they wanted a true change. Yes, it was our turn to produce the President, but that did not happen. So, there is nothing we could do, but to wait till 2027. If you take a look at how the three major candidates were voted for, Peter Obi came third, Atiku Abubakar came second and President Tinubu came first. And politics is a game of number, whosoever has the highest number of votes is declared the winner.
Do you see Igbo coming together as they did during the last election in 2027 and speak with one voice with their votes?
Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo can help prevail on Igbo to remain politically united even in 2027, but the real reason it may not be possible is because the Presidency rotate between South and North. We need the right person to lead us and Peter Obi was the right person in the last Presidential election to many Nigerians. In this situation,Tinubu is the President of Nigeria and we must follow and support him because majority voted for him and he won whether we like it or not. So, we must follow him till after 8 years.
Do you see Tinubu release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention?
I believe President Tinubu will release Nnamdi Kanu from detention before the end of his first 4 years in office. Quote me, even though I’m not a politician, but I’m talking out of my instinct.
What is your expectation in the Anambra guber in 2025?
We don’t have two Soludos; Governor Chukwuma Soludo will be reelected for another four years. The way I preferred Tinubu to be the President for 8 years, so also I prefer Soludo to be governor of Anambra State for eight years. He is one of best governors Anambra State has produced. Of course, let us be sincere, Anambra is lucky to have someone like Soludo to govern us. He told us that since he became governor, he has not taken a loan and you can see the marvelous work he is doing in Anambra within four years. I’m among those telling our youths that Ndigbo are capable to do better and live better, hence, they don’t need the help of the government. Let them use the gift Almighty God gave them to become what they are created to be. We want Anambra State to be China of Nigeria not Dubai because Dubai doesn’t have factories. We are talking of manufacturing and trading. To me, all these shops they are building everywhere or markets are enough, rather let us go into manufacturing which I’m into. I’m competing with China, 5% duty and I have a friend who is producing high quality cable. Because I’m the only one producing filter in Nigeria, I won’t go and tell government to make it contra ban. I can’t meet the need of Nigerians right now because filter is like food. Other manufacturing companies closed because they can’t compete.