Posted by From ROSE EJEMBI, Makurdi on
Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party and now one of the founding fathers of the Action Congress, Chief Audu Ogbe recently spoke with newsmen in his Gboko road resident in Makurdi.
Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party and now one of the founding fathers of the Action Congress, Chief Audu Ogbe recently spoke with newsmen in his Gboko road resident in Makurdi. In the interview just a day to the April 14 general election, the AC stalwart predicted that the election would not be free and fair. He also describes the PDP as a communist party in the making, stressing that the day President Olusegun Obasanjo leaves, the party dies.
Are you satisfied with INEC's preparation?
I'm afraid I am not. We have said time and over that we are extremely disturbed by very clear signs that the preparation for the elections are thoroughly inadequate. But the more worrying side of it is that this seems to be organized ineptitude to make sure that the matter is settled in favour of the ruling PDP. For instance as I am speaking to you now, in most constituencies you can't find polling stations, you can't find the list of registered voters. In the few areas where they have been displayed people have gone there and not found any name from the community in the list. So, what is going to happen on Saturday morning when people arrive, looking for their names because movement is restricted?
But can you honestly agree that there was rigging in 2003?
There is rigging everywhere but I was the only party chairman who handed a PDP member to the police for being caught with extra cards in my own constituency. Have you heard so? My party members even call me pastor and not a politician. I told him I didn't send you to rig an election. So, if there were rigging in Sokoto or Zamfara or Kebbi, or Rivers, how would I know sitting in my village? Every party was involved in rigging because politicians are desperate and because the economy keeps getting worse. The only industry in Nigeria is government. And that is why it's going to get worse and worse. In 2011 if the economy doesn't improve, this place will not be any better, I assure you.
Most people believe that the public holiday was declared to stop Atiku's case from being heard by the Supreme Court. What is your impression?
We have the same impression. I happened to speak to somebody who was somewhere when they were discussing if this is the objective. Otherwise who needs two days holidays before an election. We have just gone through Easter, Friday, Monday. Is this government aware of what they call the loss of man hours? How many billions of Naira are we losing by stopping work for four days in this country? So, it's part of the mischief, hoping that you can keep stalling until the elections are over. But unknown to them, if a court has already ruled that Atiku's name must be included and they refuse to include it, we go to court and nullify the election. That's simple.
What does this portend for our nascent democracy?
It portends anarchy. It's one of the reasons why some of us left the PDP early protesting against trends that we saw were extremely dangerous and thoroughly anarchic. Because we were beginning to see a communist party emerging in this country. Nigerians can keep clapping and dancing but that is how communism comes in. Communism is not just an economic theory, it's more a political theory of the overrule by one individual or two of the entire populace, and the coercion of these people to do the will of a few. That's the essential ingredient of communism and we are coming to see it slowly this time.
Only recently, one of the prominent politicians in the state said this is not the right time for Atiku to contest as president, that he should wait until next time.
It is his opinion. Atiku doesn't feel the same way, neither do we. And the method of stopping Atiku contesting is the issue that is at stake. And I think it is Nigerians who should decide, not a single politician.
With the situation on ground, what do you think makes Atiku tick?
First of all, he is our presidential candidate and secondly he is a courageous person. Three, he believes that this fight is not for him alone and that is why we are with him. It's not about Atiku necessarily becoming president. If he doesn't, fine, that's his destiny. If he becomes, fine, but we are making a point here. Nigerians say nothing when evil begins to thrive. The Nigerian elite especially, they are too cowardly and too miserably desperate in search of personal well-being. But the general well-being of Nigerians is in grave danger.
So, he stands up and says, I may become president, I may not become president. He said so in London, he said I may even be killed, but I have decided to fight a cause and through Atiku's fight, the courts have come alive in this country. Everyone of you in the media will recognize that. The judiciary has stood up to say we will not stand for anarchy. Even when we are wrong, they tell us too. We haven't necessarily been ruled right in every case, we have lost about two out of sixteen (16) but he is standing up for a cause and we are standing up for that cause too. Not necessarily because we will benefit but because Nigeria will be better.
We have children and grand children and the larger society must also be comfortable. If Atiku did not stand out of courage and conviction, what will happen in future is that a situation will set in where anybody who comes in this country will just do what he likes. We hope that this is the last emperor we have in Nigeria in the name of Olusegun Obasanjo.
Do you think Nigerians have actually enjoyed dividends of democracy?
No, we have been short-changed all of us and the political class including myself are to blame. Politics is becoming quite a disastrous adventure here. It's not changing the lives of our people, it's not creating new wealth, it's just about ourselves, we alone, making ourselves happier, more comfortable and killing off anybody who says no, harassing everybody. It's a disaster. And we will pay dearly in the kingdom of God when its time because we are simply creating more tension and pain than happiness for the people. Go to Abuja, go to any city see youths, no jobs, housing, impossible to pay your rent or even to educate your children. The cost of living is simply out of this world and we are talking about reforms and wonders we have done. Where are they?
Go to the villages, a brother will kill a brother for N50. So, what's the change? You may have read recently where I said I was getting tired and I'll rather quit this thing because I don't see the sense in it. Unfortunately, the political elite will not even tolerate a debate on the issue even within the parties, nobody has time. It is who wants to be governor, senator, president and for which purpose anything is permissible as long as you get there. For yourself, not because you are crazy about any ideas you want to implement but because we just have to get there for the glory of being governor or president or minister.
Mr. President will be leaving office on May 29 if all things work out. What do you think the PDP will look like when he leaves?
The day he leaves the party dies. Just watch out. Most of the people there are just happy prisoners, if there can be such an expression. Take my words, they will just vanish and flee, celebrating their freedom. I am telling you the truth, watch out. The day he is no longer president, this party evaporates.