By Chukwudi Akasike

Former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, shares his thoughts with CHUKWUDI AKASIKE on the nation’s democracy and economic situation, among other issues

Things appear to be tough in the country and most people can hardly feed well again. Why is it so?

When there’s no commitment from the leaders to care for their followers, things are expected to be difficult. Nowadays, leaders are there for the sake of themselves, and they don’t even think of anybody. The only time they think about anybody is the time of an election. So, when there’s no justice, there’s no peace and when there’s no peace there’s a problem. The leaders of today are always thinking of themselves. There’s no commitment to their country’s development or anybody else. This is why things are difficult.

Some people may say you’re saying so because the political party in power isn’t the political party you belong to. How will you react to this?

I’m Nigerian and I can be in any political party where I think things will be better. So, it’s not a question of being in the opposition. However, if there’s no opposition, there’s no democracy. That’s why Nigerian democracy is dying because there’s no strong opposition as the political parties, ruling parties, and opposition parties are all from the same father and mother. These opposition and ruling parties are not doing what they’re supposed to do. It’s for the opposition parties to check the excesses of the ruling parties.

At the end of the day, most politicians are businessmen; so, they join politics for the sake of business. It’s just a rotational thing. If you look at the All Progressives Congress, 80 per cent of its members are from the Peoples Democratic Party. So, what’s different is just the name, but they are the same people with the same beliefs. It’s not a question of party now; it’s a question of the country. The people are suffering because there’s no umpire in the game.

The political parties are the umpires for running democracy. The political parties in the opposition must ensure the ruling party sits up and does the right thing for the people. Today, if you’re the president, you’ll become the national chairman of the party, and the governor will be the chairman of his party at the state level. That’s not the way things should be because whoever joins a political party is an agent of that party.

This is because each political party has its manifesto. There’s nothing new and the essence is that when they see that the president, who is seen as the leader of the party isn’t doing well, they go back to their manifesto and remind him that he should not forget the content of the party’s manifesto. I say this because the manifesto is the guide for the ruling party to achieve its aim for the people. The Independent National Electoral Commission is not looking at all these. If what INEC is doing is selection, then the election is selection.

Why did you say the election is selection?

If the leadership of INEC says this is what we’re doing today and there’s no going back. Then tomorrow, the same thing it said would be done was not being done. Isn’t that going away from the promise made? When that is the case, everything will become a total mess. INEC must supervise political parties, most especially the ruling party, because they have submitted their constitution and manifesto, which is what they’re going to do for the people. So, INEC must supervise the activities of the political parties and the political parties must supervise their electoral officers.

You once said that President Bola Tinubu should probe former President Muhammadu Buhari if he wanted to succeed. Do you still stand by this statement?

I still want the Buhari administration to be probed because the mess we are in is caused by Buhari. The probe of the immediate past administration is long overdue, and I think President Tinubu should begin to think along that line, otherwise, if he fails to do so, God will hold him responsible for not doing his job.

How can probing the Buhari administration change the economy and current situation for Nigerians who are facing tough times?

At least, we heard that Buhari borrowed billions and trillions of naira. So, the current administration must find out what these funds were used for. Have they used it for the right things or not? These are the things the current administration should find out. Nigerians need to know all these.

But what quick measures can be taken to ameliorate the pain the people are going through as a result of the economic downturn since palliative failed to solve the problem?

President Tinubu just announced the removal of fuel subsidy; it was the Buhari government that removed the fuel subsidy. Therefore, if it was Tinubu who prepared the removal of fuel subsidy, he would’ve used his common sense to find a solution. But he fell into a trap set by the Buhari administration. That’s why he is now hooked. If he’s the one who had the knowledge and vision of removing the subsidy, he would’ve come out with some options to do it. During Abacha’s era, when he had fuel money, he created the Petroleum Trust Fund and Buhari was head of the fund.

So, Buhari knows the benefits of surplus oil money and when Abacha was getting the surplus, he was putting the money in the PTF. At least, Buhari should’ve copied from what a military leader had done. Being a military leader and politician, he should have done something better than everybody. What (Chief Olusegun) Obasanjo did as a President remains the best so far. I still believe that he (Obasanjo) is the best leader from 1999 to date. I’m not talking about the era of Awolowo and Co. Obasanjo’s administration tried its best for Nigerians.

State governments are now receiving about triple what they used to get as monthly revenue in the past following the removal of fuel subsidy. But most of them haven’t been able to perform to the people’s expectations. What’s your advice for them?

It’s just one year that they’re in office. When we talk about the amount they have been receiving, what’s the market saying now? You should consider that the money is just huge, and it’s quantity, not quality as the money has no strong value. We shouldn’t judge them on what they (state governments) are receiving because of the situation they found themselves in because of the situation created by Buhari.

If the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, comes back to the PDP, who between him and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should be the flag bearer of the party in 2027

The people, Nigerians will decide who the flag bearer will be.

https://punchng.com/nigerians-will-decide-if-atiku-or-obi-will-be-pdps-candidate-in-2027-bafarawa/

Good talk, so let those APC nairaland BATerian continue to guess.

AtikuObi

What they should have done from the outset. But because of their individual political differences they unleashed pain on Nigerians by allowing the drug Barron to take over. Anything to unseat this fraudulent president is welcome by me.

People wey get eyes and use am dey see...

No be people wey one get infected by Bateria then use corn cure am like that nama called Hellineus

I think Wike will decide who'd be the party's candidate in 2027.
-Kiss the truth!

When did Nigerians start deciding who becomes the presidential candidate of PDP? Money has been deciding PDP’s candidate since 1999 and money will decide the candidate in 2027. Atiku used millions of dollars to buy the ticket in 2019 and 2023 and except Peter Obi can outspend him, Atiku will still win the ticket in 2027 and Obi will go back to LP or any other mushroom party that can accommodate him.

Treasure17:
What they should have done from the outset. But because of their individual political differences they unleashed pain on Nigerians by allowing the drug Barron to take over. Anything to unseat this fraudulent president is welcome by me.

Ogbeni, let me Tell you.

PETER OBI won the Presidential election.

INEC Chairman Yakubu Mahmood just gave some Obi's votes to Atiku to reduce Obi's figures and ensure he's 3rd.

In BAYELSA, Akwa-Ibom, Taraba states, Obi/LP won those states but Yakubu gave his votes to Atiku.😒

GoodLuck Jonathan lost his Polling units to Peter Obi but how did Bayelsans now voted for Atiku?
Same with Darius Ishiaku.🙁

INEC saw Nigerians from Different states were Voting Obi and Quickly Altered the results.

Dat's why he announced it by 2am Midnight, like an EVIL Wizard!

Obi is technically out from the 2031 election, Age shouldn't be on the side of Atiku as the presidency should come from North then.

Apc would likely collapse before then, so we are likely going to vote a party different from Apc and Pdp from 2031 election

Vinnie2000:


Ogbeni, let me Tell you.

PETER OBI won the Presidential election.

INEC Chairman Yakubu Mahmood just gave some Obi's votes to Atiku to reduce Obi's figures and ensure he's 3rd.

In BAYELSA, Akwa-Ibom, Taraba states, Obi/LP won those states but Yakubu gave his votes to Atiku.😒

GoodLuck Jonathan lost his Polling units to Peter Obi but how did Bayelsans now voted for Atiku?
Same with Darius Ishiaku.🙁

INEC saw Nigerians from Different states were Voting Obi and Quickly Altered the results.

Dat's why he announced it by 2am Midnight, like an EVIL Wizard!

I agree with you but stop calling me ogbeni.

helinues:


Obi is technically out from the 2031 election, Age shouldn't be on the side of Atiku as the presidency should come from North then.

Apc would likely collapse before then, so we are likely going to vote a party different from Apc and Pdp from 2031 election

He said 2031. Be dreaming there. Tinubu's tenure won't go beyond 2027.

Treasure17:

He said 2031. Be dreaming there. Tinubu's tenure won't go beyond 2027.

Na you people dey dream honestly.

Let's go by una logic. Una said president Tinubu is corrupt and he his a notorious drug Barron.

To be a drug Barron, you must be stinkingly rich.

To be corrupt, that means you know how to buy your way out.

Now add power position to the above for someone seeking reelection and you think any baga can stop him except God.

helinues:


Na you people dey dream honestly.

Let's go by una logic. Una said president Tinubu is corrupt and he his a notorious drug Barron.

To be a drug Barron, you must be stinkingly rich.

To be corrupt, that means you know how to buy your way out.

Now add power position to the above for someone seeking reelection and you think any baga can stop him except God.

I'm glad you added a caveat to it. It's that God that will stop him if we can't stop him.

Vinnie2000:


Ogbeni, let me Tell you.

PETER OBI won the Presidential election.

INEC Chairman Yakubu Mahmood just gave some Obi's votes to Atiku to reduce Obi's figures and ensure he's 3rd.

In BAYELSA, Akwa-Ibom, Taraba states, Obi/LP won those states but Yakubu gave his votes to Atiku.😒

GoodLuck Jonathan lost his Polling units to Peter Obi but how did Bayelsans now voted for Atiku?
Same with Darius Ishiaku.🙁

INEC saw Nigerians from Different states were Voting Obi and Quickly Altered the results.

Dat's why he announced it by 2am Midnight, like an EVIL Wizard!

Baseless lies.

E still far ooo!!
2025 - 2026 - 2027
365 days x 3 = 1095 days
I no add 6 months wey remain for this year 2024
oo!!
We are in trouble

Obi must be extremely careful with these wolfs in sheep's clothing.

Doye Okupe and the likes Daniel Dawa are a prove that most Nigeria politicians are solely for their selfish interest.

Don't trust these criminals one bit.

slivertongue:
AtikuObi

If the two join together again no matter under which party ,
they will surly lose .

It must be Obi, if we truly want Nigeria and Nigerians to progress.

What were Obi's achievements when he was governor of Anambra.

With Obi as president of Biafra, all the streets will be flowing with breweries and beers and booze.

Now I know why obidients love Obi so much, it's because they want free beers and booze.

like they decided last year

Nigerian$ always do

Okay

before is it DOGs that will decide? it has always been Nigerians .. at the end the problem still persist

R

Northerners have realised that multidimensional poverty is their biggest problem which has been a determinant factor in the voting pattern for presidential elections amongst the Igbos.

In terms of political sagacity and ability to take some tough political decisions I give it to Tinubu but when it comes to building a functioning economy and battling poverty you can't take that away from Obi.

The core North is getting apprehensive gradually and the news over here in the North is that if they don't support Tinubu in 2027, Tinubu will throw in regional government and make the central Govt weak, everyone will control their resources and contribute to the centre instead of the current practice which the North is not prepared to let because they depend entirely on federal allocation.

PDP is not stupid to give Obi its ticket

Lol

In as much as Peter Obi and Atiku are both running in different political parties they will keep gifting the presidency to Tinubu

BATaria and his hungry misguided miscreants will start insulting him

Obi

emmabest2000:


If the two join together again no matter which party they will surly lose

12 million votes plus