Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi, a public affairs analyst and renowned social activist, is the Convener, Apostolic Round Table, as well as Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Project Victory Call Initiative, aka PVC Naija and CEO, Masterbuilder Communications. He spoke to EJIKEME OMENAZU on the recent Presidential Tribunal ruling, Bola Tinubu’s 100 days in office, and other crucial issues in the polity. Excerpt:
A lot of Nigerians have been commenting on the recent judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on the applications brought to it by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) against the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the 2023 presidential election. What is your comment on the tribunal ruling?
Go to Court! The rhetoric of the public crowd emanated from him, it was actually quoting his reaction to the displeasure of the world over the shameless jamboree of our elections. Since by our constitution, the Judiciary is the hope and thus commonly referred to as the last hope of the common man. Unfortunately, it isn’t in this instance. We must, however, accept that this has robbed the mantra ‘Renewed Hope’, of its hope! Take it or leave it, the pronouncements of subsidy removal by this government from its very first moment at the Eagle Square is suggestive of a government divorced from the people. The day ahead will tell, good or bad, whether or not a mandate was gotten or snatched!
Parties to the case have been alleging foul play by some of the stakeholders close to the tribunal. Do you suspect such too?
There is no smoke without fire! PEPT smoked its screen, it was cloudy. Anyone who saw clearly must have belonged to the side watching from the other side. Jackson Ude raised an allegation that Justice Mary Odili was running Judiciary errands for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. She came public to deny the same in August. By September, a few days before the pronouncement, she was the guest at a colloquium delivering a paper with the content of Ude’s claim. Complicated by acknowledging Olanipekun and Fagbemi as some of the most brilliant minds on the topic slated for discussion which unfortunately was the matter before the Tribunal on which pronouncement was being expected. The two led the BAT defence. Is that not suggesting that the query that the pronouncement was written on BAT Team letterhead by the public is not out of place? Civility shouldn’t allow us to be speculative or prejudicial in such matters. But, our reality is that of a buried trust. Have you forgotten Senator Bulkachawu’s confession of his errands to his wife with respect to election matters heard by the Appeal Court?
Would you say that the Supreme Court may come up with a different ruling bearing in mind the long presentations by the Tribunal Judges?
I don’t know where that thought is coming from? The most powerful President in the world is that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You are expecting the Supreme Court to remove the man to whom the CJN administered Oath of Office? It has never happened in the history of this country and I dare to say it will not happen! Our cart as a nation is before our horses on this and I am not expecting any movement.
Legislatively speaking, there is work for us to do. But, unfortunately, we have elected representatives and senators who are prepared for the pay, but not the work. Sadly, the idea of concluding an election petition before the swearing in will not become our reality before 2027.
Would you say the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government under President Tinubu has made a significant positive impact among Nigerians in its first 100 days in office?
This question is needful, but you know the answer! Please, let us wait. BAT-led APC received a badly damaged country from Buhari-led APC. He needs time. Nothing will change in four years. If you don’t mind, the campaign for BAT.s second term has started from me. He needs our understanding. We should be suffering and smiling. Is the price of eight years needed for our hope to be renewed? You see, Dave Umahi is the best Minister of Work we may ever have. He travelled from Abuja to Benin, spending 14 hours only to know how bad the road is so it can be fixed. He obviously will need the first 365 days of this government to know how bad our roads are before planning what to do in the second year, meeting with contractors in the third. And in the fourth year contractors will report to sites. So, we can use the huge construction sites the country will become to campaign and win the second term election for APC. If you doubt me, study our trajectory with the Blue Rail. How many elections have we used to win? The rumour of the Fourth Mainland Bridge to Ikorodu has kept the electorate in Lagos State enslaved for how many years? But, is it our fault? The opposition in the state since 1999 are the laziest set of people intellectually that I have ever seen. They are not funding Governance Impact Assessment Research. They have been in opposition at the Federal level since 2015. Have they been involved in any critically structured Governance Impact Assessment since then?
How do you see the few outings of President Bola Tinubu on international fora? Would you say they are attracting investors’ interests in Nigeria?
Ask, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) to provide data to support PBAT adventures for investors! Do we need to arouse investor interest in Nigeria? We are naturally endowed to be any serious investors’ destination. The question is: Why are investors shunning us for less attractive destinations? Insecurity, economic stability and the ‘Ease of Doing Business’. I have been at the mercy of Polaris Bank over a memo raised on my corporate account. It has taken me to several agencies of government without a solution. For two months, we couldn’t access the money we worked for. Does the government care about how easy it is for us to do business? BAT should sit down to improve indices in those two areas and investors will be here falling over each other and local businesses like mine will compliment economic growth in our own little way.
Could you take a critical look at the federal cabinet under President Bola Tinubu? Do you see them as round pegs in round holes?
Our failure is systemic; more from constitutional lacuna, federation structure than the individual attitude that often becomes our chase. Godwin Emefiele is our chase with regards to CBN. But, there are 29 Departments at the Central Bank of Nigeria, with four Deputy Governors. That institution should stream from 29 channels and pooled for decision and recommendations on four tables; of the Deputy Governor Corporate Services, Economic Policy, Financial System Stability and Operations. The collapse of 29 Departments and failure of four Deputy Governors translated to the overbearing ego driven personality we are prosecuting. The President has appointed a new Governor and Deputy Governors, but their table will be served by what the 29 Departments will supply. Who must rejig the system?
Would you say that President Tinubu has so far followed his promise of running a Government of National Unity?
To the best of his ability and that of my knowledge, I think he has. But, the South East being the weeping child of our union as a nation, the President must further assure that they have a future in Nigeria.
Going by feelers from Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa, could you predict the outcome of the off season governorship elections that will hold in these three states in November?
I am too deep and committed to right leadership evolution and political activation for good governance. I will rather concern myself and all the interests I represent with what should win elections in those states than predicting the parties and persons that will likely win. It’s our responsibility to intelligently frustrate failure from winning any off season election. A public Governance Impact Assessment is key and we will give our best to it in partnership with the electorate in those states.
Would you say that the Labour Movement as represented by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) are representing Nigerians well under the Tinubu administration so far?
We unfortunately still live in the historical context of the Labour Union in Nigeria. Hallucinating for a Michael Imodu-led kind of Labour Movement. I will leave your judgement to whatever the experience of Adams Oshiomhole’s transformation from labour leader to a political leader has served us. We are gagged by a leadership structure across boards who are enemies during the day and friends at night. Nigerians must take responsibility and bear their fate in their own hands.
