• There’s so much comedy going on in National Assembly
• I’m worried governors will abuse state police
By Christy Anyanwu
The federal government has been advised to ensure that necessary mechanisms are put in place to prevent abuse by state governors if the state police is to be embraced as part of measures being taken to tackle rising insecurity across the country.
Giving the advice in an interview with Sunday Sun, Chief (Mrs) Oluremi Adiukwu, a frontline politician, former governorship aspirant in Lagos State and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stated that while state police is a good idea, some overbearing state governors might turn the outfit into an agency of oppression against their political opponents. The septuagenarian also spoke about the state of the nation, among other issues.
What is your assessment of the present state of the nation?
I’ve been out of the country for almost three years now. I’ve been in the United Kingdom. I
actually came here to look after myself, to take some rest. At this age, one needs to take care of oneself. When I fell ill, I decided to come and do a comprehensive health check. In the process, I decided to stay back to take care of myself and one or two other things.
So, as preparations are in top gear for the 2027 general elections, you are not going to be part of it?
As a politician, you cannot help but be part of it. I cannot neglect my constituency at home, especially my political group, which I spent money, time, and energy to coordinate since 1987. I’m in regular touch with them, and they report to me from time to time. They keep me regularly informed about political developments in Nigeria.
Even though you are abroad, I know you still hear stories, Nigerian stories. I know you listen to the news and stuff like that…
Cuts in ….Yes.
Can we talk about this?
When they report to us or when we hear what is happening, sometimes we feel unhappy.
We all feel unhappy about a few things that are going on. Men have become boys, and women’s voices are not being heard.
Women are not being given adequate slots in terms of political representation. Female voices are being drowned out in our land. The days of vibrant politics are almost gone.
Why did you say that, that the days of vibrant politics are gone?
I say first of all that men have become boys, and boys can no longer stand by what they believe in. Men of principles are now few. It is more like, what is in it for me? In the days of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party SDP, you stand for what you believe in. But today, it is more like, what is in it for me? Not the people, not my constituency, not my followers, not my state, not my local government, but what is in it for me? They now believe in whatever is good for them to be able to reap whether they have sown there or not. That is what they gravitate towards. They will gravitate towards where they will make
money and have power.
What would you say about insecurity in the country?
It is something that the federal government must take urgent steps to address. I don’t know how they are going to do it, but drastic action must be taken to tackle insecurity. It is so unfortunate that many innocent lives are being lost. Enough is enough. This bloodletting must stop. There is more to it than what we are seeing. I don’t know. I can’t figure it out. I just feel that there is more to it than what we are seeing. The insecurity challenge is not insurmountable. I believe the frightening situation can be brought under control if the federal government takes all the necessary action. Nigerians must also cooperate with the federal government as concerted efforts are being taken to address the problem.
On your own part, what do you think should be done to bring the situation under control?
Many Nigerians have proffered so many solutions, but I haven’t seen any of these being taken seriously. I have read that many people have proffered so many solutions that I feel that these are things that I feel the government should do, but I haven’t seen any steps being taken by the government to implement some of these suggested ideas. Even my own opinion may not really count. I believe that we need more political will to deal with the challenge. The federal government must demonstrate more political will to tackle insecurity.
It is not just talking, talking, talking. When something happens, the government sends condolences, the government says they will add more security personnel on the ground, that they will do this and that, the government says this and that, rhetoric, is that what will help us in Nigeria? We want to be able to see positive action.
What is your take on the creation of state police as part of the solution to tackle this insecurity challenge? Do you think state police can help?
In a normal situation, in a progressive nation, it is very, very important for us to have our local police in the state, even in the local government. There is nothing wrong with having the State Police, but I have some reservations about it.
In Nigeria’s situation, we find out that the state police will become the apparatus of the states and their governments to deal with the opposition. At the federal level, a man will have about ten policemen following him. When it becomes the state police, the state government will use it as an instrument of fighting the opposition. It’s a double-edged sword; we need it for security, for stability in the process of getting us secured. But again, in Nigeria, it will become what I have just told you now. It is a very good way forward, but it is like a double-edged sword.
What is your position on the coalition being put together by ADC?
The coalition is good because the PDP has been shredded to its foundation. Every democratic government should have a strong opposition. And if the coalition can come up as a strong opposition to put the ruling party on its toes, it is a good thing. It is a good thing at this time. ADC is a good thing at this time.
How would you assess President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government?
There have been disappointments here and there. For example, the difference between the federal government and the National Assembly is no longer there. The National Assembly is gradually becoming an extension of the executive arm of government. It is not supposed to be so.
You will never hear members of the National Assembly debate properly on any issues that come from the president. Nobody says you should not listen to what he brings to you. But do it decently, intelligently. But today, all they do there is what we call Awada Kerikeri, debates have turned into what some people will describe as comedy shows.
There is so much awada (comedy) going on there (comedy). President Tinubu is working towards making the people happy. From what we hear, people are not as happy as they want to be. No improvement in their lives. The market forces are not regulated. The earning power is not there. Most people’s salary only goes for food and fuel. Most of the salary goes only to feeding. Some only for house rent. There is so much pain going on. To assess the government, we have to look at several areas of government. Infrastructural developments are going on, but there is too much taking of loans. Too much of that. Why did the government take so much? Why are we taking so much? What is the future of our children? We have loaned so much.
Nothing is coming in to repay those things. We are only servicing the loans. We are not even paying the principal.
So many of these loans, it’s frightening. Well, maybe there are things that we don’t know. As I said to somebody, we are not in there; you don’t know what is going on in there. What we see, what we hear, what we read, doesn’t make us comfortable.
What is your position on the present level of women’s representation in government?
Since 1999, it’s not impressive. Women’s representation in government in Nigeria is very poor. We are not well represented. Even at the party levels, you see them going to meetings. You hardly find women in their midst. They are going to discuss issues, but you can’t find women there. It is only men you see there. They will file out in their Agbadas and Babarigas. In those days, at least you found four or five women at the party level who were part of the gatherings where issues were being discussed. You hardly hear women’s voices now.
But there are a few of them in the current National Assembly who are very close to my heart. Like Kafilat Ogbara. Like Natasha Uduaghan in the Senate. They make their voices known. They make their opinions known. They talk.
Those are the women who I think are giving quality representation. The House of Rep member from Ikorodu in Lagos State, Kafilat Ogbara, is showing what stuff she is made of.
In the FCT, my sister, a friend, Ireti Kingibe, is trying to be as representative as she can. She, however, faces an uphill task in the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. Without the cooperation of the Minister of FCT, her efforts cannot really be measured. So in essence, what I’m saying is that women have no voice in this government.
From the Obasanjo period, when we had so many women whose voices we were hearing, to Yar’Adua’s government, to Jonathan’s government. It’s been wonderful. As soon as Baba Buhari came in, the people who were coming were either somebody’s sister or somebody’s wife or somebody’s relation and that trend is floating into this government as well. So it’s a bit disheartening not to hear the voice of women who are in the forefront with men when we started this democracy.
You are in the UK. How did you see the recent visit of the president and his wife to the UK?
Unfortunately, I am not in a position to watch the visit. I didn’t see it on the UK TV. I saw it on the internet. I hope the agreement they had will work out best for Nigeria. I don’t know what it was, but I learnt he came with his wife.
I didn’t know what the bilateral agreements were. Some said it’s just a state visit. Whatever it is, it has gone.
What’s your take on Tinubu’s economic reforms?
The first thing I disagree with was the subsidy removal on his first day in office. It sent lots of people into poverty. Before he left Eagle Square, the pump price of fuel had gone up. There’s nothing wrong with removing the fuel subsidy, but not the way it was done. That was one big mistake. Every government in this world subsidises things. In the UK, their health care is subsidised, the elderly are taken care of, their feeding, and their housing are subsidised. There are so many things that are subsidised in the Western world. We have crude oil, we subsidise the price for local consumption, there’s nothing wrong with it, but we learnt that the subsidy was being abused, it’s either you remove it, or you curb it. In their own judgment, it was removed. It would have been done in a way it will not cause hassle because that was the beginning of our problems.
Another area to look at is the prices of things being controlled. You can go to this market and buy your food for 20 naira, and at another market it is 30 naira. Everyone is just taking advantage of everyone because the government is not looking at the economic impact of that, but something has to be done about that.
What do you miss about not being on the ground in Nigeria as preparations for the 2027 general elections are gathering momentum?
Oh, I miss a whole lot. I miss a whole lot, because if I were on the ground, I would be able to assess what you are asking me now, truthfully and honestly. And you guys know me; I will say it as it is. When I read, and I hear, one’s got to be very careful, because what you read and hear, sometimes might not be true. So I’m being very careful in making my comments as we are speaking.
But I miss being on the ground, to assess what is going on, and say it publicly as me, Remi Adiukwu, and damn the consequences. Because the truth is, whether you say it or not, you will die one day. So it’s best to say what you see. But unfortunately, so many write-ups are not correct. So many narratives are not correct. That’s why I’m being very careful. But I’ll be back, I’ll be back. But thank God, I’m able to take care of my health. I’ll be free soon. I’m getting better by the day. Hopefully, I’ll be back before the elections. I’m planning to come back before the elections.
Do you mind telling us which party you are now? Are you in ADC, APC or PDP?
I’m in APC because APC has been my home. I was in PDP with the government of Jonathan. When the unending problem started, a few of us tried our best. And again, my ex-boss, do you remember I served in the government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu? When it was obvious he was going to run after Buhari, a few of us were contacted. And we joined the APC to actualise that dream. Shortly after, I came to the UK to take care of myself. In the process, I did lots of testing. A few things came up. I grew old. A few things would come up in the future. I said to myself, it’s better I take care of everything once and for all. I’m enjoying my grandchildren as well. I’m in APC as of today. When I come to Nigeria, I don’t know which party I’m going to. I’ll look at the plus and minus. I’ll look at what is on the ground. I’ll check what they are doing, who is being honest with the people? And who is not.
I know everything is still the same – the same old people. Even if it’s the Labour Party or the Sowore party. I’m actually tired of all this recycling of ourselves.
The APC, the ADC, and the Labour Party are the same old people. But who is more honest with the people of Nigeria is something we should look at. It could be the APC itself. It could be the ADC. When I come back, I don’t intend to say that I must be in this particular party. I will look at the activities, the manifesto.
I was in an Uber taxi two days ago, and the guy was telling me what was wrong with Nigeria.
He is a black man from Somalia. And his father was asking, “Why is Nigeria like this?”
There was a time Nigeria was giving loans to the UK, he said.
And there were many cocoa trees there. With all that Nigeria has, why are they still suffering? Why do they have so many Nigerians in the UK doing odd jobs? He was asking me, and I said to myself, how do I answer this guy? I said, well, it is corruption at the highest level.
We once had a military man called Idiagbon. Yes, Idiagbon. When he was in power with General Muhammadu Buhari, even dropping an ordinary orange peel on the ground, you would think twice. Because he was indeed very stubborn about fighting corruption, Nigerians sat tight and avoided corrupt practices. He was serious about it. He was a die-hard about it. I said, “Well, God will take control over Nigeria.”
He said, “No ma. God will not take control. Nigerians should take control.” He said Nigerians should take control.
When I said God will take control. What can I say? As soon as we got to where I was going, I quickly came down with my cousin. The guy was hitting me so hard, he was giving me a headache with his talk about my country. He was not happy with Nigerians coming to the UK to do odd jobs. He said, “We have no business being here doing odd jobs. When Qataris come to this country, they finish their education and go back home. That should be the same thing with Nigerians. They finish their education and go back home.
“In fact, our education should not be in this country. We have the best schools in Nigeria, we have the best and the most wealthy nation in Africa. That’s the way he put it. I was so ashamed that I had to just quickly drop and go to my destination.
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