Chief Emeka Charles Kalu, a seasoned politician and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, is the National Coordinator, Peoples Democratic Party Coalition (PDP Coalition) and Director General, Global Initiatives for Good Governance (GIGG). He spoke to EJIKEME on OMENAZU on the verdict of the presidential election tribunal, among other issues. Excerpt:
A lot is being said and written on the recent Tribunal victory over Atiku and Peter Obi. What is your take on it?
‘Things Fall Apart , The Centre Cannot Hold’ is one of the lines of poetic stanzas written by W. B Yeats and literally retweeted by Prof. Chinua Achebe of the blessed memory in one of his novels, Things Fall Apart. This work of art symbolises how weak our human society has been and the preparedness of man to confront ills. Our society fails because we consciously fail to do the right thing at the proper time. With regards to the disturbing judgment delivered by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in favour of Ahmed Bola Tinubu, it is evident to state that Nigeria’s socio political society has lost relevance because we noticed some loopholes and lapses in the judgment and that is why Atiku and PDP are jointly filing an appeal in the Supreme Court to correct the errors believed to have been made in the tribunal. So, from all indications, one would say that Atiku and Obi were not satisfied with the judgement of the tribunal and their lawyers have been busy reassembling their points of arguments to file appeal within the 14-day time frame given by the Electoral Law.
Would you say that the tribunal victory of Tinubu has some signs of foul play?
As earlier clarified, I do not condemn the panel of judges that handled the presidential election case because one may err in law, but may not be conscious of such an error and that is what I strongly believe is taking Atiku to Supreme Court to enable the apex court determine some technical issues and help clear the coast on perceived errors made by the court of first instance. The decision of the Apex Court will assist us determine the true position of the law on the recently conducted presidential election that declared Tinubu the winner.
A lot of people have been speaking of the possibility of the Supreme Court coming up with a different verdict. Do you have the same belief too?
It depends on the conscience of the Apex Court judges, whether they are committed to defend and uphold our national honour by fairly and critically looking into the case to give judgment on merit. The life of any democracy is in the hands of the Judiciary and the court must understand that if she fails to do the right thing, the consequences of the wrong things she allows to prevail will surely boomerang on her. So, let their conscience, which is the driving point that enables man think fairly, guide them in their consideration and treatment of this matter fast coming to their table. The Apex Court must eschew sentiment, bias by justly standing on the platform of fair play in handling this issue because Nigeria today is having socio economic drawbacks as a result of misgivings and unjust handling of administration by the three organs of the government .
Could you take a hard look at Tinubu’s first 100 days in office? Do you think he made some critical achievements within this period?
In any newly constituted government, it is not always easier to sustain balanced leadership. It takes time to adapt and in handling issues bordering the government and the people. The truth is that Nigerians are suffering and the price of goods and services are increasing astronomically due to fuel subsidy removal. The Federal Government has done marvellously well by allocating N5 Billion as palliatives to each component states in the Federation to cushion the effects of the hardship caused in the face of the subsidy change regime. It is left for the state governments to have a fair platform of distributing the funds to those who are unable to have their daily three square meals. Again, the administration has been slow in tacking sensitive issues, considering the poor state of the economy, decayed infrastructures, especially federal roads in the Southeastern region of Nigeria . Insecurity ranging from banditry in the North central , Northeast has become a serious matter of urgent concern while in Southeast, kidnapping has truly become the order of the day in Enugu, Anambra , Imo States etc that requires the urgent intervention of Federal government towards tackling them.
President Tinubu has visited some countries so far. Do you think these efforts would help to bring in foreign investors?
As a newly inaugurated leader, he is expected by the governed to concentrate on putting things through in his home state than much attention he gives to travelling. It is also nice to enable him to connect to world bodies in discussing investment and international relations. Few days ago, Nigeria was admitted into the membership of G20 during the organisation’s recent meeting in India and it was an opportunity to open a new window of communication with Asian sovereign nations to attract investment in Nigeria. Looting the national treasures and increased insecurity a few years ago drove out oil and gas investors from the Niger delta region with resultant effects on the economy and employment status. These are the things Tinubu is advised to be working on while connecting to the world in this period that Nigeria is going down industrially and economically.
Would you say that members of Tinubu’s cabinet are round pegs in round holes?
One would not expect it to be a round peg on a roundly made hole because nepotism and favoritism played out in the choice of the cabinet members. Political Science calls it ‘Prebendalism’. A system where the elected government officials feel they have the right to a share of government funds and offices and they use it to favour their ethnic, party and religious brothers. This touching issue has been my major point of advocacy in the national space so that things could be reversed for better. In appointing federal ministers, the President must avoid taking sides with his closest allies; rather he should choose based on merits, integrity and wealth of experience. He only did well in including the youths and choosing few persons outside his party, but the truth remains that key portfolios were selected and given to his people not based on their capacity, but on self-recognition basis. In this regard, a government of national unity is not said to have been achieved.
Looking at Tinubu’s appointments so far, would you say that he is running a Government of National Unity as he promised?
What is the Government of National Unity? When you talk about Government of National Unity, you talk about simply dropping ethnic sentiments by bringing in capable hands across party and ethnic lines into the government. Like I said, Tinubu did well in choosing few persons outside his party to form his cabinet, but the principle of Government of National Unity is not yet balanced in his government. Anyway, let’s give him time since all appointments have not been made. Government of inclusiveness is very important in taking us a distance for development and peaceful co-existence. It reincarnates the spirit of love and brotherhood as championed in our Constitution and once sustained, unity in diversities would be seen to have been installed.
How do you think the outcome of the coming Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections will be?
To predict elections depends on time and space affecting the very political environment of that particular area. In the case of Imo State, PDP has greater chances of winning because of the galvanised support for Senator Anyanwu who is contesting under the aegis of PDP. The defection of some respected members of APC to PDP a few weeks ago actually gave Senator Anyanwu an edge and brighter chances. In Kogi State, Senator Dino Melaye has been a force to reckon with despite how APC is fighting dirty to retain power at all costs. It would be a tug of war in Kogi, not by shooting and killing, but in working to win the heart of voters wouldn’t be all that easier for candidates. Bayelsa under Gov. Duoye Diri has been achieving proportionally in various sectors of life, but PDP must work round the clock to ensure the locals are in conformity with her leadership ideology to help compete with Timiprye Sylva. Sylvia in real sense had the youths support in his first tenure as the then Bayelsa State governor and his coming back to run election for the same office should not be taken lightly, else he does the unbelievable. My submission!
How do you see the leadership of the Labour Moment under the current administration? Would you say they are representing the workers well?
They seem to be representing, while on the other hand sneak into Aso Rock to dialogue with the authorities without the consent of their national members. Today, they warn of a strike, tomorrow, their bragging disappears in the air, confirming the fact that their activities have been compromised. We speak the truth when circumstances call for it and that is exactly what is happening in the Labour Movement. Since the removal of fuel subsidy, labour unions threatened strike, asking for reversal in the price of fuel or increase in minimum wage, but no steps have been taken by the Federal Government to handle the situation and the labour unions as snails do return to their shells till date. If the labour leaders have not been compromised, why haven’t they taken action since they warned of strikes while the citizens languish in penury, hunger and lack? The labour movement is advised to stand their ground before the government so that workers’ welfare would be taken care of. But, if they continue voicing and threatening on print media without any formidable action taken , they will remain the same way expecting the flying cargo plane to drop manna from above.
