Posted by By EMERSON GOBERT, JR. on
One person who believes that the increase in the rate of violence, especially armed robbery is politically motivated is Rev Chris Okotie, presidential aspirant of the Fresh Democratic Party (FDP).
One person who believes that the increase in the rate of violence, especially armed robbery is politically motivated is Rev Chris Okotie, presidential aspirant of the Fresh Democratic Party (FDP).
Hear him: "I think it is being engendered by disgruntled politicians who want to create a state of anarchy in the nation with a view to disrupting the political process knowing that they will definitely be losers."
Okotie, who recently came tops on the list of presidential aspirants in the Silverbird/Vangaurd newspapers public opinion polls said that his position in the polls corroborates his stand that Nigeria is in dire need of generational change. He also spoke on some national issues. Excerpts:
Your party's national convention comes up on December 18. Is it deliberate that you are the only presidential aspirant? Why is the party not encouraging other aspirants?
Because within the party, there is a philosophy that I have introduced and I identify with and I epitomize and members of my party are confident that I'll be able to demonstrate the leadership, the true philosophy of our party to where it will benefit all Nigerians at large.
The last opinion poll by Silverbird/Vanguard newspapers gave you a whopping percentage above others.
What does that mean to you and your party?
It corroborates our position that Nigeria is in dire need of a generational change and that there has to be a paradigm shift philosophy that will augur well for a new Nigeria in the 21st century. We have again, been vindicated by the Nigerian people that if a free and fair election is held, Rev. Okotie will emerge. That is the confidence that we had since 2002 and we believe it will be reflected in the 2007 election.
But there are some people doubting the credibility of the opinion poll as they wonder how you shot so high.
What do you say to this?
Such people are professional skeptics. They are those who are so cynical that they do not understand that times are changing and they do not understand that the old order has ceased to be and that the geriatric politicians have failed this country both at the state level and at the national level. So, it is an indication that Nigerians are tired of the old politicians and they want change. Rev. Okotie epitomizes a realistic change for Nigeria.
Why should the Obasanjo administration initiate a 25-year development railway plan at the twilight of its tenure?
Well, it is one of those amazing concepts of governance that we still have to deal with. It might be that they are hopeful that there would be a transition from an Obasanjo regime to another PDP regime and so there will be continuity. That is their desire but the Bible says there are many devices in the heart of a man but the counsel of the LORD, shall stand. I am very persuaded that whoever comes in, I mean, when I do come in at that time, if the plans we have are good for Nigerians, we will take them to the next level. We believe in continuity and there are some good things that this administration has done that we will capitalize upon.
How do you see the presidential declaration of Atiku Abubakar which did not receive the blessings of the PDP, his party?
Well, I think it portrays good things for democracy if everybody is allowed to join the fray. The law court has said that the suspension was an illegality and, therefore, ordinarily, he should be reinstated. But I am very sure that neither his being in the fray nor otherwise will affect the Chris Okotie position. If anything, it will create a level-playing field for Nigerians to make a decision once and for all, the kind of leadership that they want and just like the polls have indicated, Rev Okotie is on the lips of all Nigerians.
We are still having the problem of electricity supply in the country.
How can this be solved permanently?
It will take a concerted effort of both government and the private sector participation. We must encourage independent power producers to participate in the process of power supply and working in consonance with government, we will be able to evolve a power supply plan that will take cognisance of the consumption area. I think that one of the problems is that there has not been enough of what we call a schematic, which is a graph indicating the different power consumption rates within each community.
We are going to do that to be able to balance out the power supply and I believe that with all the power plans that are being put in place now, and alternative to power supply, you know, solar energy, gas and all of these, we will be able to find an equilibrium for Nigerians.
Armed robbery and the killing of police personnel are on the increase in Lagos State. What do you think is responsible for this?
I think it's an attempt to create a state of anarchy so as to scare the people from going out to vote eventually and I will just encourage the Inspector-General of Police to make sure that he does not succumb to the aberrations. We believe that the police are able to check the rate of crime in the country with the governmental support because the state of anarchy is a state of stagnation. It doesn't obtain wealth for the nation so, it must be rejected. It's unacceptable and I'm sure that our police will be equal to the task.
Are you suggesting that the armed robberies are politically motivated?
I believe, because it just happens to be that it is at this time when there is so much instability in the political parties that we are witnessing this type of increase in violence, particularly in armed robbery. So, I do not think it is a mere coincidence. I think it is being engendered by disgruntled politicians who want to create a state of anarchy in the nation with a view to disrupting the political process knowing that they will definitely be the losers. We want a state of peace where there is law and order. It is only in such a state that the wishes of the people will be fortified.
But what will make a right-thinking person or groups of people take to organized armed robbery as a
way of disrupting the political programmes?
It is the same case that has been motivating assassinations. You ask yourself, why would anybody want to kill another person because of a public post? That shows how desperate politicians have become and it's because people are not well-grounded in the concept of patriotism. For them, power is just an annexation of wealth. Our politicians have regarded politics as a do-or-die phenomenon because for them, politics is to gratify their personal agenda and when they realize that they are not going to be relevant in the next administration, I think the only option open to them is to cause a state of anarchy. That is what we call satanism because a lawless society will not engender peace and when there is no peace, there'll be no progress.
So for them, it is a satanic alternative to failure. Like I said, all their imaginations have been brought to naught because God is with Nigeria and the greater one is with us and he will see us through and Rev Okotie will emerge as the only viable alternative to salvage Nigeria from this predicament.