Senator Mahmud Kanti Bello represented Katsina North from 1999-2011 in
the senate and is now a chieftain of the new mega party – the All Progressives
Congress (APC). In this interview with RUTH CHOJI, the former lawmaker states
that the ruling PDP government is a complete disaster. He also states that, the
only way the APC can succeed is by fielding General Muhammadu Buhari as its
presidential candidate come 2015.
the senate and is now a chieftain of the new mega party – the All Progressives
Congress (APC). In this interview with RUTH CHOJI, the former lawmaker states
that the ruling PDP government is a complete disaster. He also states that, the
only way the APC can succeed is by fielding General Muhammadu Buhari as its
presidential candidate come 2015.
What assurances can you
give Nigerian that the APC has come to stay?
Let’s look at it from the context of why the merger? Some of us who are old
enough to know during the civil war, the part of the country where I come from
have never been in dilemma like now and all this emanate from the lack of
capacity of PDP as the party in government.
give Nigerian that the APC has come to stay?
Let’s look at it from the context of why the merger? Some of us who are old
enough to know during the civil war, the part of the country where I come from
have never been in dilemma like now and all this emanate from the lack of
capacity of PDP as the party in government.
It is incompetent and each time
President Goodluck Jonathan tells us “they are on top of the situation,” it
gets worse. We were never aware of something like kidnapping. If we come awake
in broad daylight and the Emir of Kano is attacked, it looks very awkward.
President Goodluck Jonathan tells us “they are on top of the situation,” it
gets worse. We were never aware of something like kidnapping. If we come awake
in broad daylight and the Emir of Kano is attacked, it looks very awkward.
Then you know that this country is
sinking. So good people have to come along, in a county were you have graduates
and PhD holders and they cannot get jobs excerpt Dangote gives them jobs to be
truck’s driver; not what you have read or you have been trained for. I mean he
is a good man, I have no complaint for that.
sinking. So good people have to come along, in a county were you have graduates
and PhD holders and they cannot get jobs excerpt Dangote gives them jobs to be
truck’s driver; not what you have read or you have been trained for. I mean he
is a good man, I have no complaint for that.
But do you think we are on
the right path?
Every sensible Nigerian, even those that are not sensible know that we are not
on the right path. Look at total lack of discipline in a country with over 160
million people. We import what we wear, we cannot cloth our people. It is a
disaster and we cannot continue this way. Somebody told me that we have
different ideology, but again, there is no question of ideology again.
the right path?
Every sensible Nigerian, even those that are not sensible know that we are not
on the right path. Look at total lack of discipline in a country with over 160
million people. We import what we wear, we cannot cloth our people. It is a
disaster and we cannot continue this way. Somebody told me that we have
different ideology, but again, there is no question of ideology again.
We have one common ideology and
that is, we want to have a party that will stop people from stealing. If
N2.6trn is gone and nothing is being done because at the end of the day,
nothing will happen. The EFCC will catch you, within two minutes, they will
jail you in the hospital; sometimes they will take you to Kuje for some days.
There will be newspaper advert and that will be the end of the matter.
that is, we want to have a party that will stop people from stealing. If
N2.6trn is gone and nothing is being done because at the end of the day,
nothing will happen. The EFCC will catch you, within two minutes, they will
jail you in the hospital; sometimes they will take you to Kuje for some days.
There will be newspaper advert and that will be the end of the matter.
How many people has been
jailed and what have they returned?
Let the EFCC come out and tell us how much these people have returned and how
many they have been able to prosecute. This government is a government of
corruption because I cannot see a situation where somebody will take away
pension funds and elected members will ask him to come and he refuses. Now the
man has vanished and this shows that we are bunch of jokers.
jailed and what have they returned?
Let the EFCC come out and tell us how much these people have returned and how
many they have been able to prosecute. This government is a government of
corruption because I cannot see a situation where somebody will take away
pension funds and elected members will ask him to come and he refuses. Now the
man has vanished and this shows that we are bunch of jokers.
Are you saying that the APC
can end all this?
We have to because that is what Nigerians are looking forward to. No sensible
Nigerian wants to see people being attacked on the street in broad day light,
we cannot go on with this type of corruption.
can end all this?
We have to because that is what Nigerians are looking forward to. No sensible
Nigerian wants to see people being attacked on the street in broad day light,
we cannot go on with this type of corruption.
All the four parties have
their manifestos; will it be merged to form one?
Nigeria is in a kind of political state of emergency; this is the time where
politicians need to come together and salvage the nation because we are
finished. Nigerians are frustrated and we need to have somebody who can change
the situation. That is why we need Buhari because everybody knows that he is
honest…
their manifestos; will it be merged to form one?
Nigeria is in a kind of political state of emergency; this is the time where
politicians need to come together and salvage the nation because we are
finished. Nigerians are frustrated and we need to have somebody who can change
the situation. That is why we need Buhari because everybody knows that he is
honest…
Are you saying the APC will
field Buhari as its presidential candidate?
If APC is sensible, they will, else we don’t want to win. Buhari is the
candidate that had twelve million votes and everybody knows that Buhari is not
a thief. He is our Mandela, you might not like him, but he is the only one that
can change the tide for this country. Everybody that will say Buhari should not
run is an agent of PDP. In politics you want to win and if they really want to
win, they will field him.
field Buhari as its presidential candidate?
If APC is sensible, they will, else we don’t want to win. Buhari is the
candidate that had twelve million votes and everybody knows that Buhari is not
a thief. He is our Mandela, you might not like him, but he is the only one that
can change the tide for this country. Everybody that will say Buhari should not
run is an agent of PDP. In politics you want to win and if they really want to
win, they will field him.
Has the new party found a
way of dictating moles that might be sent in to destabilize the party?
They are there right now, we know because there is no Nigerian that does not
know that Buhari has the votes of the people. Why don’t you want him to be
fielded? So anybody that will say that Buhari should not be fielded is a mole
and we should get rid of such people because the ordinary man wants him.
way of dictating moles that might be sent in to destabilize the party?
They are there right now, we know because there is no Nigerian that does not
know that Buhari has the votes of the people. Why don’t you want him to be
fielded? So anybody that will say that Buhari should not be fielded is a mole
and we should get rid of such people because the ordinary man wants him.
Nigerians are tired of stealing
and this is the apostle that can stop it. There are lots of moles in the
merger; when we inaugurate the committee of CPC, the mandate we gave them was
to go and merge, then out of the blues, ANPP came in.
and this is the apostle that can stop it. There are lots of moles in the
merger; when we inaugurate the committee of CPC, the mandate we gave them was
to go and merge, then out of the blues, ANPP came in.
I don’t how they did it. The
issue, we need to have an honest merger, but since we are working for the
county not for man, it is an emergency; you will find that some bad eggs will
come in. But they will be sieved as time goes on. For me the manifesto has
already been done long ago by the PDP and President Goodluck. Our manifesto is
to eradicate corruption, provide security, jobs for the teeming population of
youths, improve agriculture to the level that we can clothe and feed ourselves.
issue, we need to have an honest merger, but since we are working for the
county not for man, it is an emergency; you will find that some bad eggs will
come in. But they will be sieved as time goes on. For me the manifesto has
already been done long ago by the PDP and President Goodluck. Our manifesto is
to eradicate corruption, provide security, jobs for the teeming population of
youths, improve agriculture to the level that we can clothe and feed ourselves.
Our manifesto is to have a healthy
nation that can provide good medical care and qualitative education, which are
lacking in Nigeria today. Anybody who is trying to create ideological manifesto
is not being realistic. If I were in that committee, I will tell them that this
is our ideology, write it down.
nation that can provide good medical care and qualitative education, which are
lacking in Nigeria today. Anybody who is trying to create ideological manifesto
is not being realistic. If I were in that committee, I will tell them that this
is our ideology, write it down.
Religion is a major factor
in Nigerian politics, how does APC intend to overcome this?
I know that all these are creation of PDP; let me tell you, whenever there is a
major decision or policy, Jonathan will not announce it until he goes to
church. That is true but nobody complains. What is bothering Nigerians now is
how to eat, yet we are close to God. But when you pray to God, you always ask
him for something to eat, so the question of whether you are a Christian,
Muslim or pagan does not really arise.
in Nigerian politics, how does APC intend to overcome this?
I know that all these are creation of PDP; let me tell you, whenever there is a
major decision or policy, Jonathan will not announce it until he goes to
church. That is true but nobody complains. What is bothering Nigerians now is
how to eat, yet we are close to God. But when you pray to God, you always ask
him for something to eat, so the question of whether you are a Christian,
Muslim or pagan does not really arise.
All people want is food to eat?
Nigerians wants a new standard of living and only Buhari can provide that.
These are all elite’s style of taking away people’s mind from the reality. But
our industries are dead, our factories, textiles are gone, agriculture is
collapsing, the local government system is gone.
Nigerians wants a new standard of living and only Buhari can provide that.
These are all elite’s style of taking away people’s mind from the reality. But
our industries are dead, our factories, textiles are gone, agriculture is
collapsing, the local government system is gone.
We need to change it. Somebody has
to do it. We brought APC to take care of this headache, it doesn’t matter
whether you are a Christian or Muslim, and you need APC to cure it.
to do it. We brought APC to take care of this headache, it doesn’t matter
whether you are a Christian or Muslim, and you need APC to cure it.
There were reports that ten
PDP governors are planning to defect to the APC, who they are?
I don’t know. I didn’t say it. I heard it like you did. Well if they are
coming, not because of power grip, if they are coming because they are
repenting, I was in PDP; I repented and left because I believe that this
country is sinking. If the governors are leaving because they want to salvage
the country, fine.
PDP governors are planning to defect to the APC, who they are?
I don’t know. I didn’t say it. I heard it like you did. Well if they are
coming, not because of power grip, if they are coming because they are
repenting, I was in PDP; I repented and left because I believe that this
country is sinking. If the governors are leaving because they want to salvage
the country, fine.
But if it is because they have
ambition and Jonathan is saying that he wants to contest, about a year ago, I
stated that Jonathan is likely to contest in 2015. I made my reason because I
was in that meeting at Wadata PDP. Myself, principal officers of the senate and
House of Reps, governors and the party.
ambition and Jonathan is saying that he wants to contest, about a year ago, I
stated that Jonathan is likely to contest in 2015. I made my reason because I
was in that meeting at Wadata PDP. Myself, principal officers of the senate and
House of Reps, governors and the party.
We went there to discuss issues,
but it was me that raised my hand and asked “Mr. President, you know that I
have not been your supporter, but when I go to my people, I will like to tell
them something. Are you going to contest for the second term after you win this
one?” The man did not answer, he kept quiet and nobody pursued that question.
It was after the meeting that Shema, the governor o Katsina State issued a
communiqué, that it is going to be one term.
but it was me that raised my hand and asked “Mr. President, you know that I
have not been your supporter, but when I go to my people, I will like to tell
them something. Are you going to contest for the second term after you win this
one?” The man did not answer, he kept quiet and nobody pursued that question.
It was after the meeting that Shema, the governor o Katsina State issued a
communiqué, that it is going to be one term.
The truth is they are all
hypocrites. Now that they are finished their second term with all the confusion
they have created, Shema is a disaster. When Umaru brought him and he convinced
me, I promised Umaru in front of everybody that for me, I will do my best to
help Shema. If he deviates from people-oriented things, I will be the first to
attack him.
hypocrites. Now that they are finished their second term with all the confusion
they have created, Shema is a disaster. When Umaru brought him and he convinced
me, I promised Umaru in front of everybody that for me, I will do my best to
help Shema. If he deviates from people-oriented things, I will be the first to
attack him.
And I said it in front of all the
stakeholders in Katsina and he deviated. The man has been doing things that are
not correct in our state, even the projects he has been doing. They said that
we are the second poorest state in Nigeria and it is true. When you go to
Katsina, you will see it and know that people are poor because Shema has not
done anything to provide needs of the people.
stakeholders in Katsina and he deviated. The man has been doing things that are
not correct in our state, even the projects he has been doing. They said that
we are the second poorest state in Nigeria and it is true. When you go to
Katsina, you will see it and know that people are poor because Shema has not
done anything to provide needs of the people.
He has been withholding
money of the local government which he spends on himself. How can you justify
what he has done?
Foreign policy is federal government’s own, how does he justify taking our
money and going to Niger to build a house for a woman and he claims to be a
lawyer. This is an impeachable offense, but the State House of Assembly will
not impeach him. He is also trying to create weak emirate to divide the people
more. For me, I don’t care whether he creates twenty emirates.
money of the local government which he spends on himself. How can you justify
what he has done?
Foreign policy is federal government’s own, how does he justify taking our
money and going to Niger to build a house for a woman and he claims to be a
lawyer. This is an impeachable offense, but the State House of Assembly will
not impeach him. He is also trying to create weak emirate to divide the people
more. For me, I don’t care whether he creates twenty emirates.
But is the creation of emirate our
priority now? When he wanted to build houses, he built them across the local
governments; now the houses are there, nobody wants to enter them. Even Shagari
low-cost is still unoccupied, yet this man out of greed and stupidity went
ahead to repeat the same project. Look, he has been squandering our money in
Katsina and some of us know.
priority now? When he wanted to build houses, he built them across the local
governments; now the houses are there, nobody wants to enter them. Even Shagari
low-cost is still unoccupied, yet this man out of greed and stupidity went
ahead to repeat the same project. Look, he has been squandering our money in
Katsina and some of us know.
How do we end the incessant
attack on Nigerians by insurgents?
Every time President Jonathan comes out to say we are on top of the situation
in security, something worse happens. The way out is to kick out PDP because
these people are incompetent, they are putting this country in jeopardy.
attack on Nigerians by insurgents?
Every time President Jonathan comes out to say we are on top of the situation
in security, something worse happens. The way out is to kick out PDP because
these people are incompetent, they are putting this country in jeopardy.
When you said Shema uses
local government; it brings us to the calls for the scrapping of the system,
would you subscribe to that?
That is rubbish; let us adhere to the constitution for the thing to work
smoothly. The first thing to do in local government to make sure that this
thing is done smoothly is to remove state INEC because a chapter says, ‘from
the day this constitution comes into effect, no part of Nigeria should be
governed out this constitution; which means no part should be governed without
elections.
local government; it brings us to the calls for the scrapping of the system,
would you subscribe to that?
That is rubbish; let us adhere to the constitution for the thing to work
smoothly. The first thing to do in local government to make sure that this
thing is done smoothly is to remove state INEC because a chapter says, ‘from
the day this constitution comes into effect, no part of Nigeria should be
governed out this constitution; which means no part should be governed without
elections.
For two years now in Katsina,
there has been no election for local government and even when you are going to
do the elections, state independent electoral body will not do the elections
but announce results. How can you tell me that because you are in power, people
cannot elect their own councilor? Recently there were elections in Adamawa and
they cleared everything. We need a body that can conduct free and fair
elections. Of course people are accusing Jega; I have no confidence in him.
there has been no election for local government and even when you are going to
do the elections, state independent electoral body will not do the elections
but announce results. How can you tell me that because you are in power, people
cannot elect their own councilor? Recently there were elections in Adamawa and
they cleared everything. We need a body that can conduct free and fair
elections. Of course people are accusing Jega; I have no confidence in him.
Nevertheless I think the national
are better than the state body. Remove state INEC from the constitution and
allow the elections to be conducted by the national body. Then eventually you
educate Nigerians to elect the right people who have the sense. Not the
governor’s boyfriend and girlfriends or his servants which is what is happening
at the state level now.
are better than the state body. Remove state INEC from the constitution and
allow the elections to be conducted by the national body. Then eventually you
educate Nigerians to elect the right people who have the sense. Not the
governor’s boyfriend and girlfriends or his servants which is what is happening
at the state level now.
It is so unfortunate that a state
assembly is there and the governor takes their funds and builds a house for a
lady in Niger and nothing is being done.
assembly is there and the governor takes their funds and builds a house for a
lady in Niger and nothing is being done.
When I was in the senate, I worked
so hard to make sure that the states assembly have last line of charge; their
monies goes to them directly. We lobbied everybody and we managed to have it.
But the state assemblies said no; they don’t agree. It is like you gave your
son his own house, food ingredient and the rest and he said no, he would rather
continue to beg.
so hard to make sure that the states assembly have last line of charge; their
monies goes to them directly. We lobbied everybody and we managed to have it.
But the state assemblies said no; they don’t agree. It is like you gave your
son his own house, food ingredient and the rest and he said no, he would rather
continue to beg.
Going back to the National
Assembly, would you say the senate is on track?
There are people I respect in both chambers and I believe they are working
according to the circumstances they find themselves.
Assembly, would you say the senate is on track?
There are people I respect in both chambers and I believe they are working
according to the circumstances they find themselves.
Source: Leadership
