BusinessDay 01 Apr 2018

26
C002D5556
Sunday 01 April 2018
Politics
The tragedy of Nigeria is that we have charlatans
masquerading as leaders – Balarabe Musa
Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa is a former governor of Old Kaduna State, elected in 1979 on the platform of the People’s
Redemption Party (PRP), a party founded by the late Mallam Aminu Kano. He was the PRP candidate for the presidency in
the April 2003 election. Over the years, he has continued to keep the party going and is determined to make it relevant in
the 2019 general election. In this interview with ZEBULON AGOMUO, Editor, Musa spoke on the need for quality leadership
in Nigeria; the tragedy of Nigeria; the consequences of money politics in the country, among other issues. Excerpts:
You once contested presidential
election on the
platform of People’s Redemption
Party (PRP).
It appears the party has
gone into the cooler as
nothing much is being
heard of it. Are you considering
reviving it and
also the possibility of going
into a coalition with
other parties ahead of
2019?
The party is and
has been very
active. We are
in the process
of strenghtening
it. It is not true that
PRP has not been in the
news; it has always been
in the news. We may consider
coalition if we consider
it necessary and if
possible. We are taking
steps to revamp it as I
have said. For instance,
we have established committee
for membership
drive through online and
other means; we have also
established committee
for conventions at ward,
local, state and national
levels. After that, we will
ensure that we take other
steps that we consider
needful. PRP has always
been there in the media
but there’s political machination
that makes it look
as if we have ceased to exist
because they know our
ideals and are not comfortable
with us.
Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa
tion of money politics has
destroyed the system.
You know it is about few
parties that can muster
huge sums of money that
can participate actively in
politics these days. Even at
local level of politics, they
have introduced corruption.
Look at a situation
in Kano State where local
government election has
become so costly that
people find it difficult to
afford. If you are going for
chairmanship, you are told
to pay N200,000 (Two
hundred thousand naira);
for councillorship, you pay
N50,000 (fifty thousand
naira) to the party. Again,
the state electoral body
is demanding N150,000
from candidates. In some
places, people are being
asked to pay N2million to
contest for chairmanship;
whereas the minimum
wage is very poor. The
money politics has ruined
everything. Look at how
difficult it is and we are
talking about grassroots
politics. There is also this
imposition of candidates
where unpopular persons
are foisted on the people.
These are the issues that
have made it difficult for
How relevant is PRP in
the present day Nigeria,
given the type of politics
that is being played.
Again, with big parties
like the PDP and APC,
do you think PRP has a
chance?
PRP is the only political
party that has existed
right from the Second Republic.
It produced two
governors and won 45
legislative positions in
the Second Republic. But
after 2003, it became very
difficult for PRP to win
any election in Nigeria.
You know why? Because
of the money power in
politics. The introducgood
people to take part in
the political process.
How would you compare
politics now and when
you were in government?
The difference is clear.
When we were in government,
it was the time when
saints were in politics,
now it is the time of the
devils. Today, they have
introduced corruption in
the system. The system
is being corrupted. There
is also too much emphasis
on money. Everybody
going into politics now
In some
places, people
are being
asked to pay
N2million to
contest for
chairmanship;
whereas the
minimum
wage is very
poor
is not talking about service;
there is nothing like
serving others, it is about
self. So, the comparison
is that of saint and devil.
The quality of leadership
is gone.
How would you describe
the current government
from 2015 and now?
It is the continuation of
the corruption and poor
leadership that has been
entrenched since 1999.
It is not better than those
before it; it is an extension
of the rot that has become
part of the system. Nigeria
has made no progress.
Quality of leadership has
drastically gone down.
Quality of life of citizens
has gone seriously bad.
The security situation of
the country has also worsened.
In fact, every aspect
of the nation’s life has collapsed.
It appears there
is no government in the
country. Things have gone
from bad to worse.
If you were the president
today; what would be
your area of focus?
Well, I would see myself
as, and also appropriate
the constitutional powers
as the Commander-inchief
of the Armed Forces
of Nigeria; Chief security
officer of the country
and controller of the
resources of Nigeria to
better the lives of Nigerians.
I would realise that
it is for the good of every
citizen of Nigeria that I
have been elected, and
I would ensure that fairness
and justice would
come into play in all that
I do. I would change the
socio-political and cultural
system controlling this
country. Today, whether
you like it or not, there
is a system that controls
all affairs of the country
and the leadership. They
are based on self interest.
My first task would be to
change that system and
ensure that public interest
comes first. And to be able
to do this, I would ensure
that states play a role in
the economy to ensure
peace, security of lives
and property, dignity and
sanctity of life in society.
A lot of things are wrong
these days. Those in government
think only about
themselves; such things
do not promote peace and
unity in the country.
How would you react to
the orgy of killings across
the country by herdsmen?
It is because the political
leadership is practically
corrupt and so the sanctity
of human life no longer
make any sense to them.
We didn’t have it like this
before. What we have
now are thieves and not
leaders. That is why a lot
of things are going wrong
in the country. People kill
others because of this
same corruption; some
people sponsor others for
some selfish reasons, but
everything boils down to
corruption.
President Buhari is close
to three years now in
government; what is your
candid assessment of his
administration?
Disappointing. Quite
disappointing. It has not
performed well. It has
made peace impossible
and quality of leadership
is very low and it brings
about a situation where
no one knows the next
thing that can happen in
Nigeria. As the next election
is coming, we must
see how we can have a
better leadership and
how it is possible to keep
these people away from
coming back to power.
What we are seeing now
is quite disheartening. If
you compare what happened
in 1978 and what
is happening now, you will
agree with me that things
have gone very badly. In
the Second Republic when
we had the likes of Aminu
Kano, Zik and Awolowo,
there was discipline and
you could feel the presence
of quality leadership.
There was a sense
of discipline. At that time,
you could see presidential
materials who were qualified
in every sense of the
word, so much that if you
voted for any one of them,
you would not be said
to have made a mistake.
This is because each of
them was more than qualified
to occupy the seat.
But today, we are saddled
with president that lack
discipline and does not
understand the burden
of leadership and governance.
Today, you see
many people coming out
that they want to contest
for the post of president,
and they have not the discipline
and you see they do
not possess what it takes
to be a leader. This is the
tragedy of Nigeria.
What is your advice to
the Independent National
Election and the
Nigerian voters in relation
to the 2019 general
election?
My advice to the INEC
is to ensure that by all
means there is credible
election that will produce
the choice of the people.