… Says those who dumped PDP for APC are not democrats
Interview by Kingsley Abavo
Prince Musa Braimah is a successful business magnate, politician and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
. Recently our correspondent pinned him down for an interview to bare his mind on current political situations in Edo state in particular and Nigeria in general.
In this interview with Kingsley Abavo in Benin City, Edo State capital, Prince Braimah expressed his worries for the APC in the 2016 governorship election, scoring the Adams Oshiomhole administration 50 percent in performance.
He also bared his thoughts on other critical political issues both in the State and national level.
Excerpts:
Q: You have been known to be a renowned and active politician right from your days in the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] but since you decamped to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which later joined other parties to form the APC, you have seemingly become so quiet and withdrawn. Please what is responsible?
A: Well, I am still very active in the day to day politics of Edo State. I am still a chieftain in APC. The truth is that maybe, in the media, I have been very quiet but that is not to say I have not been very active. I have been very active and very efficient dealing with matters that affect my party, APC.
In the last Presidential, State House of Assembly and National Assembly elections, I was very much involved, I did a lot for my party; I practically campaigned for the President today. I am happy he won. I can say it without fear or favor that whether locally, nationally or internationally that in three countries of the world I pasted posters; in Germany, Holland and Greece.
That also shows my stewardship determination in ensuring the change mantra actually is materialized. So, I am still very much active in the daily activities of the APC, my party.
Q: Now, let’s look at the administration of comrade Adams Oshiomhole. It’s winding off and people are scoring its performance. So, what are you scoring the APC government?
A: First and fore-most let me say that I am an Edolite, then secondly, an APC card carrying member. So, if I want to speak from the aspect of an Edo man, I would say that in the first dispensation of comrade Adams Oshiomhole, he did performed exceedingly well.
But in his second tenure, I observed that he worked to consolidate on what he started in the first tenure as there is no new project that he has introduced.
However, having said that, put together the seven years that he had governed Edo State; if you want me to score him as an Edo person; I would give him 50 percent.
Q: All – right, what particular area do you think he has really excelled because out there, a lot of critics have scored him poorly in the area of human capital development , attraction of investors to the State and establishment of industries to create employment and make life comfortable for the people. What is your opinion?
A: If we want to look at it from that angle, we will be talking about development. How good he has been able to use his government to develop the people and the State.
I would say, in the area of industries, he is not an industrialist perhaps that is why he didn’t look at that area very well. In the area of providing roads and renovating schools, that is what he is known for.
Then looking at gainful employment for our teeming youths, I remember in his first tenure, he gave employment to about 6,000 youths through the YES scheme.
But maybe, due to critic against the government, he has since collapsed that scheme. So, if we look at that, comrade Adams Oshiomhole really missed his track.
In terms of human capital development, he has really not also done well. There are many phrases to qualify a leader that has performed particularly as a governor, the first citizen of Edo State.
For me, as a party man, I am not a sycophant, I believe in the facts and that is why the Comrade himself has relegated me to the background playing the actual politics in his government because I have always remained steadfast for the truth.
If there is anything, the comrade governor knows me for, it is for telling the truth. Where he failed, I tell him, where he has done well, I tell him.
But often, we do have leaders in Nigeria who don’t want to hear the truth and I believe , with the kind of national leader we have today, as we popularly call him; PMB, President Muhammadu Buhari, I believe that his change mantra is going to be absolutely different from what we are seeing.
When you promise the people as to what you want to do, as your manifesto to them, you should be able whether or not at least do some that will be able to give you a good scorecard.
Just now, I think the score – card for the Comrade Governor is not more than 50 percent and again, for the fact that he doesn’t like listening to critics, I expect that as a person coming from a comrade background, he should entertain every critic, listen to them, note their suggestions and be able to adopt and work with the ones necessary. But he has not established that so far, so good.
As a party man, if I speak this way, it means that; there is still time for him to make amends where possible because I want my party to remain on top in the State at all time. Looking at what is happening through his policies and implementation just now, I am worried.
Q: Well against the background of being worried about the policies of the comrade governor going into the election year 2016, he is being roundly criticized too that instead of concentrating on the business of governance, he’s been busy attacking personalities even as some persons say it was a ploy to hide away from failure of non-performance. What is your thought here?
A: Well, the comrade is coming from a certain background that we all know in Nigeria. He knows how to protest against the people and at the same time protest against himself. He has done it, he has exercised it; we have seen protest and counter protest.
This is the only State that can attest to the fact that the people who employed him as their steward find reasons to protest against his administration.
Rather than the governor of the State to call the people to a round table talk and listen to their complaints and grievances, he instead organized a counter protest. For me, that indicates a sinking governor that indicates a government that has not provided the desired needs of the people.
There are always two sides to a coin looking at issues. So, the government right now, I speak as a party man and Edo indigene at the same time, who has a stake in the politics of the State as it affects the people. I should stand at all time to tell my party the truth.
Though, I still remain a party faithful, I have not derailed, since 2007 that I joined Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and we have metamorphosed into the All Progressives Congress (APC) today.
APC under comrade Aliyu Oshiomhole has offended me severally, but I still remain with the party. That shows my sincere stewardship and loyalty to the party. It shows my belief in the manifesto of the party.
But again, the governor is one person that has been trusted by the people of Edo State to provide the needful; to bring about impactive policies and better implementation.
So, if just now, the governor is busy attacking prominent people in the society who he supposed not to be attacking abi nitio; he is doing all these because he has checked his own score- card.
Therefore, I think this question about whether the governor has done well or not, should better be directed at him because the people are seeing, and hearing what is happening.
So, I’m worried that if this whole thing is not well harnessed early enough, I do not know where we might end up but suffice it to say that APC still remains the party to beat in this State.
Q: Now, against the backdrop of the Nigerian electorate believing more in the person standing election instead of the political platform on which he is standing, going into the 2016 governorship election in Edo, what is the assurance that your party, APC has a capable replacement for governor Oshiomhole to win the votes?
A: Well, this depends on the outcome of the party primary; if a genuine primary is held and all aspirants are availed a level playing field, I think the party will definitely actualize victory at the poll.
But having said that, it beats my imagination from the speculation making the round that the governor is still in search of who succeeds him, having served the State for seven years now, I would have been expecting that the governor should have put a better mechanism in place to search for who succeeds him.
There are a lot of aspirants we have just now trying to succeed the governor; about nine of them. When you look at all the nine, they are all qualified to be governor of Edo State.
But my worry is that having nine aspirants in one political party that has a sitting governor, makes the task of choice a bit difficult.
I think before now, the governor ought to have had about three persons in mind that he could zero on but if we are at this time having so many persons, then it gives me cause to worry.
But having said that, it then means if they would be granted free, fair primary and let me now use this medium to suggest to the governor; I think the best thing he should do, is to embrace all aspirants as his, rather than just adopting one in the crowd of aspirants.
It rather portends danger that it would be too risky and he may not be able to manage the precarious situation.
So, I think this is the only danger ahead. Looking at the opposition party in the State, it is having just about three aspirants and that could easily be managed. One would have expected that the PDP should be having more than 20 aspirants but just only three which makes it easy for the party.
Q: But many of them have crossed over to your party (APC)?
A: You see, in my opinion those who have dumped the PDP for the APC are not democrats because if I want to draw comparative analysis as to what is obtained in the developed countries, I have not heard because the Republicans are not in government, members will begin to dump the party for the Democratic Party.
It doesn’t happen. If you are in opposition, you should bear the pain, criticize the government where it is not doing well and proffer alternative ideas and solutions. While you are criticizing the government, people are there, they are listening.
But in this part of the world particularly Edo State, you hear often; once the tide changes, the party is out of government, everybody begins to jump ship. So, for example if PDP wins the 2016 governorship election, it means even Oshiomhole will also decamp to PDP.
This is not how it should be. I have remained on the platform of the APC even when we were not in – charge at the national stage. I have always believed that with the kind of policy implementation that we have in terms of infrastructural development looking at it from the perspective of basic amenities, it was clear, that where I am, that one day, some day, we will clinch victory at the national level and today, by the grace of God, we are there.
So, I want to use this medium to also advise those men and women that now sees politics that ought to be a game as a market, to have a change of heart. Politics is about what you believe for your people through a certain political party. You don’t just start changing.
Q: But some of them have explained that the reason why they dumped the PDP for APC is because of the need to join the winning team and contribute their quota especially now that the APC is at the helms of affairs at the national level, therefore alignment holds the prospect of attracting more goodies to the State. What is your thought here?
A: I am not in that school of thought. I don’t believe in that line of argument because any government without opposition is not government. Even if it does not have critics, it should manufacture critics. When everyone says you are doing well, you could be heading towards doom.
I am not in that school of thought that when a party is out of government, everybody should be moving to join the party that just gained power, a party that was yesterday in the opposition.
Suppose the part in government loses election, what then happens? It means they would again move to where they came from? It does not just make sense to me rather; I think it is all political madness.
It is like a man while marrying his wife, he saw her as the most beautiful amongst women on earth but sooner than they became married, he sees another woman as more beautiful.
It doesn’t just work like that. You make do with what you already have and build on it. It is only this way that we can take this country to the next level. Politics is really not working here the way it works abroad, in developed societies.
Q: Now, let’s look at the national stage. President Muhammadu Buhari has always said Nigeria is suffering from corruption disease and evidences are beginning to emerge with the Dasuki-gate. So, what do you think this tells of the out gone administration of the PDP?
A: Well, it is known to the blind, and clear to the deaf that the party that just left government was a corrupt one looking at the antecedents coming into revelation.
I have heard in many fora where people said President Buhari ought not to be saying in the international community that Nigeria is corrupt. They argued that statement could scare investors away from Nigeria but I don’t think that is what the President meant.
Rather, he is travelling from one country to the other looking for ways to better his country knowing very well that some of the monies stolen from Nigeria are domiciled abroad.
What do you expect him to say? So, I think the statement that his people are so corrupt is in order, and that has nothing to do with attracting foreign investors to Nigeria.
Q: In this change mantra, I can assure you that there are many foreign investors indicating interest to come and invest in Nigeria knowing very well that the man at the helm of affairs has zero tolerance for corruption. So, right now, the man is fighting corruption and there is none arrested that has not been found wanting and I hear that some are saying that his fight is selective, that it is not right. Tell me who has been indicted that has not been found culpable?
A: That is the way we should look at it right here; if you don’t report or complain to the security agencies, they cannot just start originating charges against suspected persons.
For example, if APC governors are having smooth ride it doesn’t mean they are not also corrupt. How do you identify a thief, it is only when a thief is caught. So, those that are free now, are not thieves until they are proven to be culpable.
So, it behooves on the people to alert the security agencies on the hidden atrocities of those they entrusted with power over them. So, I think, this government is out for total change.
Q: In the resolve of the federal government to attract foreign investors to Nigeria, critics have argued that the economy will not grow that way as the investors are business men out to maximize profit. You as a successful businessman what do you make of this argument?
A: Truly, there has not been any society that has not tried to grow its economy through foreign investors. Investors at whatever level are all businessmen but it behooves on the government to create an enabling environment by proper policy implementation that would favor the citizens because in many other countries, if you are bringing investors, there are rules.
So, I think what the government should also do, is create a template for a small, medium scale businesses so that university graduates that cannot be absolved by government can go start their own businesses.
If I draw my comparative analysis from most countries I have been to, it is government that encourages the citizens to establish business. For example, government allows the businesses to be tax free.
But in Africa, Nigeria particularly Edo State I hear of land Use Charge, that would not encourage SMEs and these are the businesses that actually grow the economy of the country. So, government must look inward, given this synergy between the people and government.
Q: Finally, what are we expecting from your end especially as a grassroots politician, and crowd puller towards 2016 governorship election in Edo State?
A: Well, I am a party man, a loyal party man for that matter, though I speak here not as a party man right from the beginning but as an Edo person. But right now, I am loyal to my party; directions have not been given, however, I particularly am studying all the aspirants because I desire the best for my people.
I desire the best for my State knowing very well that the comrade governor has set the template upon which whoever is coming should emulate and strive to surpass his achievements. I am watching, I am reaching to my people and followers so, we are all watching.
So by the time we have a clear cut direction, we will have known who to actually support amongst the aspirants as it concerns 2016 governorship election. 2016 is in the hands of God, He already knows who will best govern this State even better than Oshiomhole. Even Oshiomhole what he should be praying for right now, is to have a candidate that would do better than him.
For me, I am also looking at that and by the time we have that person, then I will pull out my crowd and with my little resources, I will support that person.
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