An elder statesman, former Secretary General of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and current member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the forum, Mr Anthony Sani has weighed in on what he believes politicians in the country could learn from the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In this interview with NOAH EBIJE, Sani also spoke on other national issues.
What’s your opinion on the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari? What lessons can we learn from the development?
There is nothing new in the death of former President Buhari for our leaders to learn. This is because leaders across the world die just as ordinary mortals would die. And so, our leaders should not think they would live forever. They better take to heart what President Buhari once said – that he came to the world with nothing, and would leave the world with nothing. So why should he steal? He just stated a truism.
The only thing that I can say our politicians should learn from Buhari is how he endeared himself to the masses with his honesty, integrity, discipline, humility, simplicity and patriotism. See how the masses welcomed him home when he left office and came to Daura in 2023. Also, look at the turnout during his burial. It shows it takes more than primitive accumulation of wealth but good character for one to ingratiate himself to the people. So our leaders should know that the core values of humanity matter most. Money is not of limitless fungibility.
Buhari was actually defined and referred to as Mai Gaskiya (The truthful one) among politicians in particular. Can the North ever have his replacement?
I am sure our leaders in the North have now learnt that honesty, integrity, discipline and simplicity as well as vision for betterment of the people matter more. As I said in my tribute to him, the former president may be no more because no one can fill the void he has left behind. But in a way, Buhari is very much around, considering he needs no tombstone to remind Nigerians of his legacies. Yet I dare say, the heavy loss cannot make us trade places with those who felt he did not meet their expectations. Somehow, I believe his values and principles would be inspirational to those leaders who may wish to replace him.
There is this fear among Nigerians that with the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the political permutations, especially in the North, may affect the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC’s) popularity in the North. What is your take on this?
You would recall the former President Buhari told the nation and his supporters that he was not favourably disposed to the coalition because he had no reason to desert APC which enabled him to win elections twice. And if you consider the nature of his supporters, they are not people who can betray Buhari even in the grave. The permutations do not favour the coalition because of many factors. For example, the nation would prefer President Tinubu to complete the eight years for the south because to allow a different southerner would mean the south could have more than eight years. The North cannot risk that with Peter Obi who promises to serve only one tenure. Recall President Jonathan reneged by contesting in 2011 and 2015.
What is more, the South East are not in favour of Peter Obi being the running mate to anybody. Also, the majority of Nigerians want the south to complete its eight years in the spirit of zoning, which does not favour former VP Atiku.
Buhari’s death came at the time the coalition of opposition parties forming alliance with the African Democratic Party (ADC) are making waves and strongly strategising to unseat APC in the 2027 election. From the eyes of an elder statesman, do you think APC can survive the looming political tsunami?
There has been hue and cry that Nigeria is matching towards one party, the APC, and you are likening the coalition to tsunami. So, which is which?
Democracy-which is a contest of ideas and reasons-without viable opposition is a sham. But I do not see the coalition as a viable alternative platform precisely because it has not told Nigerians what the coalition would do differently from what the APC government is doing now. More so, that former VP Atiku, Peter Obi and Bola Tinubu in their campaigns promised to remove fuel subsidies and they all got votes. Atiku got seven million votes, Bola Tinubu got eight million votes while Peter Obi got six million votes. Nigerians never used their votes against removal of fuel subsidy. In the absence of a viable option, President Bola Tinubu merely delivered on the promise of his electoral mandate.
There is ongoing cross carpeting from one political party to another by politicians. Do you think it is healthy for our democracy when they’re supposed to settle down and concentrate on providing dividends of democracy for the people?
Unbridled defections from one political party to another by politicians suggest our political parties are devoid of ideology and principles as well as morality. As a result, politicians use political parties for recycling themselves.
If electoral mandates are for political parties and not for individual candidates, when elected officials defect, they should leave behind, for the party, the electoral mandate. Such practice would reduce the gale of defections substantially and enthrone some sanity into the polity.
Insecurity, hardship and hunger are serious factors affecting the smooth and effective running of this government. For how long should Nigerians wait to enjoy peace and economic stability in the country?
As a third world country, which status is not matter of choice but of capacity, two years is too short to correct mistakes of many years. I believe Nigerians should exercise more patience because revamping the economy is not just matter of mere declaration but of consciously directed efforts to make desires possible and then actual. Adversity is cathartic and productive as well. If animals can hibernate in order to survive winter, and if plants can defoliate in order to survive drought, Nigerians with intellect should be able to device means to survive the hardship brought about by high cost of living. The situation is not beyond redemption.
During the sitting of subcommittee on constitution review across the six geopolitical zones, some of the issues that were on top of demands by the people include the creation of states and state police. Do we need more states now when we cannot adequately manage the existing ones?
I do not believe Nigeria needs more states when some existing ones find it hard to survive. Any additional number of states is not more than mere multiplication of effort centres that is hallmark of managerial imperfections.
As regards state police, it is important to note that if the state police are not enough in number of trained and equipped personnel who are well motivated to secure the nation, they would not be the magic wand.
Also, state police can be abused by state governors reminiscent of what has happened to state electoral commissions which killed democracy at the local government level. We should note the fact that in states which are diverse, state police personnel can take sides during conflicts. All that is required for the Nigerian police to function is enough of trained and equipped personnel who are well motivated to secure the nation.
What is your views about activities of eminent people who want a new constitution?
I do not believe Nigeria needs a new constitution. This is because the 1999 constitution is a clone of that of 1979 that was sired democratically after the fashion of that of America. No constitution is perfect. And unless the eminent people claim to be all-knowing, all-wise, hold all the truth and more patriotic, they should allow the elected legislatures to amend the constitution.
Many Nigerians have observed that the nation’s health sector, judicial system, electoral system, among others are not encouraging, not befitting Nigeria as the giant of Africa. What is your reaction?
There is no aspect of our national life that is doing well – all because of corruption that has stolen our collective empowerment, stolen our opportunity and stolen our future. That explains why I advocate cultural renaissance against our collapsed national ideals and moral values needed for improvement of our politics, sense of what is right and what is evil.
Are you satisfied with the Tax Reforms Act?
Yes, it is good except the exemption of the poor which will make the poor to be indifferent about activities of government. That is to say, non-payment of taxes would make the poor believe Nigeria is a trust fund country financed by oil wealth which is not a result of hard work. I want every Nigerian to pay tax, however small, in order to make the poor have a stake in the government by holding leaders accountable. If the poor do not pay tax,they would not own the government by helping in the fight against corruption.If the poor pay tax, however small, they will make judicious use of their democratic right and vote credible people into public offices. There will be no vote buying. I do not want to think the exemption is a ploy by leaders to escape being held accountable by the poor.
Cases of drug trafficking and influx of illegal immigrants in the country are becoming too rampant. What is your advice on this?
Drug abuse and trafficking are part of the challenges facing the nation that need the attention of the governments at all levels.
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