How do you see the just concluded presidential election?
It was a very good election, people were enthusiastic as they came out en masse; they were not rowdy, they were disciplined as they endured the scorching sun and remained on the queue. It was the demonstration of Nigerians’ commitment to democratic culture and democracy in general.
Secondly, the conduct of the election by and large was free and fair but I don’t know whether it is time for me to call it a credible election yet because I have some reservations and observations to make.
Why is it not time for you to describe the election as credible while others including foreign observers have since done so?
Because I still feel that the pattern of voting in some states is questionable. It will require analytical investigation to find out why. I have a fear that the rule of the game was not nationally enforced, in some places stringent enforcement was employed and in some places the authorities looked the other way, while the violation of the rule was being perpetrated. I wouldn’t tell you where.
But where are these areas, North or South?
I will not tell you until analytical investigation are conducted and I’m going to address the press on it.
As one of the ardent supporters of President Jonathan, how do you see his defeat by General Buhari?
I congratulate him for setting a record, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, a sitting president to concede defeat which has contributed in the preservation of peace and harmony in the country. If he had not conceded by now honestly only God knows how many lives would have been lost. So he deserves to be congratulated for that because of the courage he summoned to do that. I’m still his ardent supporter. I’m a democrat and one of those who fought for the independence of Nigeria and democracy in the country.
As a democrat, I know when you are going to an election, you must go with an open mind, whether to lose or win. If you win, that is good and if you lose, you look for the next opportunity. Jonathan is still young; he can still try again, because he is just about 60.
You supported him when others in the North are against him, do you have any regret doing so now that he has been defeated?
Not at all, I supported him based on principle. You know at the time when I wanted rotation which was adopted by the PDP to be sustained, I was seen as an anti-Jonathan. I don’t play politics on the basis of personality issues; I do, on the basis of principle.
I wanted rotation to continue then to enable the North to complete its second time when God took the life of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. It was constitutional when God took the life of Yar’Adua that Jonathan who was his deputy should take over. I thought when the next election comes, he would allow northerners to complete their second tenure in continuation of what Olusegun Obasanjo has started.
However, the scuttling of that experiment nearly put the country into trouble. Now I’m supporting him in the interest of national unity, I don’t think it is wise for you to say you don’t like somebody because of his ethnic background, section or his religion. I support people based on what they stand for and I will continue to do that until I’m no more.
What are the things that you are expecting from the President-Elect?
What he promised to do. Let him fight corruption proactively; let him fight Boko Haram to finish and let him create jobs for the multitude of unemployed Nigerians.
Source: Daily Trust
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