We’ll expose how ACN captured South-West soon– Akinjide

By CHIDI OBINECHE
Chief Richard Akinjide, (SAN) was Nigeria's Minister of Justice and
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) in the Second Republic. He
was also in the parliament in the First Republic. Today he is a leader
of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP). He speaks to Sunday sun on key
national issues, including President Goodluck Jonathan's government,
the crisis in Rivers State, the power configuration in the south-west
amongst others.
Excerpts:
A lot has been happening recently, especially within the ruling
Peoples Democratic Party. Many years ago, some people especially
prophets of doom said the party would implode. Do you think this is
the time the prophecy will come true?
No. That is not true. The PDP is the strongest political party in
Africa, and also in Nigeria, and I have no doubt that it is going to
be the most successful political party in the wholeof Africa. All
these clouds wars, and predictions will never happen. When we were in
Balewa's government, they said the same thing. But for the military
intervention, such a thing would never have happened. We have passed
the era of war; look at what happened in Egypt.The military coup in
Egypt is not accepted. Nothing is greater than democracy; democracy is
the best form of government. Those crying war and disaster, they
better go and think again. They are wrong, and will continue to remain
wrong.
When you were in government during the First Republic, there was also
a similar prediction. It didn't explode; but the military intervened.
Do you think the military will come innow to right the wrongs and
arrest this drift?
No. I don't think so. We have finished the era of military
interventions. Lookat what happened in Egypt. The military staged a
coup. They were deceiving us saying it is not a coup, and the OAU and
African leaders rejected what they did. Any country that has military
intervention is wasting its time. The best form of government is
government of the people, by the people, and for the people, and that
is what we stand for in Nigeria.
But in spite of the rejection by the OAU and other sovereign
governments; the junta is still in power in Egypt.
They are not empowered, but they are in office. They are not accepted
bythe Egyptians, and if you look at the rally, those who oppose them
are by far greater than those who appear to accept them. And I believe
that their term there is temporary. What they have done is illegal. If
you are employed into the army, paid with public funds, wearing
uniform, and using government gun, you have no right or power to use
those instruments to overthrow that government. It will never happen
in America, and other democracies. That's what we are following.
What is your antidote to this crisis within the ruling PDP, the Rivers
crisis, and all kinds of crises withinthis dispensation?
Politics is conflict resolution. Politics without conflict is not
politics. I have no problem with PDP, it's a strong political party.
You have arguments; you have debates, that's normal in democracy. All
of you cannot sing from the same page, or verse. It's never done in a
democracy, and it willnot happen in Africa.
I want you to look at 2015 now. The incumbent president is from the
south-south, but there appears to be a determination by the northern
power bloc to ensurethe transfer of power to the north in 2015. I want
you to look at 2015,viz-a-viz the presidential aspirations of the
incumbent, and the northern aspiration for power?Those who are saying
that the north are infesting the minority. The North has ruled this
country for eighty or eighty-five percent of the life of Nigeria, in
democracy and through military interventions. Democratically, they are
very nice people, and am sure they will have a good democratic leap.
It is time for usto allow other parts of the country to have a chance.
Looking at 2015, if the agitation bythe North fails to come through,
do you see any problem for this country?
I don't accept sectional agitation. You want a president who will rule
and represent the whole country. That is why we have universal adult
suffrage for the whole country. We don't want Igbo president or Yoruba
president orNorthern president. We want a president who is a Nigerian,
elected by Nigerians and truly loves Nigerians.
Are you satisfied with this present government?
Of course, I am satisfied. He came in ata very difficult time, to a
difficult situation, and to solve difficult problems. I must say that
he is doing extremely well. Recently I was in Port Harcourt, and I
have no doubt that the people are trying their best to put things
right, and he will do it very well. Am quite pleased with the
president, and am sure when he comes for the second term, he will even
do better than what he is doing now.
There is this crisis in Rivers State, which has been lingering for
some time and people are saying that the hand of the president is
involved. So I will like you to comment on that?
I was in Rivers State two weeks ago. I went to the Federal High Court,
and I was in Port Harcourt when the crisis started. Twice, I tried to
go through a particular road because I had to go to the airport to
go to either Abuja, or Lagos. I took another route trying to go out to
the airport. On these four occasions it wasn't easy. Conflict
resolutions are part of politics. People are exercising their rights.
They should not beat each other, theyshould not wound each other, they
should only debate and argue. And I have no doubt that they will
succeed.
What do you hate and like most about this government?
Democratic norms, fairness, and people who have never tasted
powerbefore and for the first time in this country are tasting power.
We should encourage that, and like that. I pray for them everyday that
we should be part of them.
The PDP has been swept out of power in the entire south-west. Right
now, they are contending with lingering crises. They can't even hold a
zonal congress that is acceptable. Why is PDP in the south-west in
disarray and the ACN or APC is having a leeway all the way?
How the ACN came to power in the southwest will be exposed when the
time comes. I don't want to debate that now; I want to leave that to
other people to write, and to say at the right time.
Looking at your credentials, why are you not laying claim to the
leadershipof the Yoruba race because I have seen people who have less
credentials laying claims that they are Yoruba leaders. But you have
never said that you are a Yoruba leader?
I have never aspired to be a political leader of the country of any
section. I am a Nigerian for Nigerians, and I support everything that
is Nigerian. Whether it's from the north, or from the east, or west,
to the south. I don't want to regard myself as a sectional leader.
Those who are sectional leaders never rise above their sections. I
like to go to Yobe, Calabar, Sokoto, etc and believe I am a Nigerian,
working for Nigerians.
Looking at the scenario we have now,this country needs the expertise
or the experience of some of you, but you are not readily availing
such experiences or advice except when consulted. Five northern
governors have been criss -crossing the country,meeting leaders on
what they claim is to rescue the nation from drift. But people like
you are not saying anything. So what do you have to say to the five
northern governors who have met Obasanjo, IBB, Abdusalami and others.
I have done a lot, night and day. Those who are also trying, who we
see in the papers, I praise them. I givemy heart to them, and I wish
them success. But what I do, I don't put them in television or radio,
or magazines or newspapers. But am making the right contacts, with the
right people, and the results are going to be positive.
The future of APC?
How do you se it? Lets wait and see how they are going to fare. I
don't see them doing what they want to do. The PDP is too powerful,
too strong in all parts of the country. The PDP is total and
democratic, and that is what Nigeria and Nigerians want.
I want to go far to the North.The menace of Boko Haram. Much has been
done in that direction and yet we have gotten no result in resolving
that conflict. What is the vision of the leaders of this country
towards arresting the menace of Boko Haram?I think they are doing very
well. A lot of arrests have been made and they are still making
incursions in many areas. Those areas, that are still making trouble,
are under survelliance, and I like to indulge in the belief that
before long, peace andharmony will be total throughout the country.
The Senate just passed an amendment of the constitution recently on
child marriage.What is your view on it?
Frankly, I don't know about it, and I don't see the country accepting
it, because if its going to be a constitution, it has to be passed in
a particular manner and I dont see it working for this country. It
destroyedthe Middle East and some parts of the world.Why should we
follow something that has failed somewhere else and we should accept
it?
Looking at the crisis in the PDP, the party has set up a reconcilation
panel,and there is a forthcoming mini convention of the party, do you
think it will work?
I hope they do a clear work, and whentheir report comes out, and is
implemented, everything will fall into place.
You are a constitutional laywer. The National Assembly is making
efforts to do some alterations in our constitution. What is your view
on thenew constitution?
I say the constitution we have now is pretty good. What is critical is
how you implement the constitution, not the volume of the
constitution. Look at China, how big is their constitution? Britain
has no written constitution.
And America, they have written constitution. What is critical is the
way you implement it, the way you work it and your honesty of purpose.
Those are the things we need in this country, and those are the things
I support.
The inclusion of the six geo political zones in the constitution, is it proper?
The whole country is one unit, whether you have four zones or six
zones or ten zones, we are moving forward. Within the last few days, I
have sent papers of call to the bar with many Nigerians who come from
all parts of the country. Whether they are from north-east, or
northwest or north central, we are moving together and we continue to
move together.
What are your final words to Nigerians?
Be loyal, be law abiding and be patriotic.