Chief Chris Biose, popularly known as Obidient Daddy, is the Chairman of Delta Obidient Elders? Council who was a Teaching Service Commissioner in the defunct Bendel State. In this interview, he spoke on the Tax Reforms Bill, INEC, Tinubu?s economic policies and the Obidient Movement?s preparation for the 2027general elections. Excerpts:

Many Nigerians are presently of the view that INEC lacks the capacity to conduct free, fair and credible elections in the country. What do you think is the way forward to put our electoral system on the right track?

Public perception of the consistently perfidious conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is quite valid. The real challenge is an entrenched hegemony that pays lip service to democracy but is determined to perpetuate itself in power and prevent legitimate change of government by democratic process. The first line of action in putting the electoral system on the right track is for Nigerian youths and other stakeholders to make it unmistakably clear to the authorities that they would no longer tolerate political plunderers that steal elections to destroy their lives and drive them to forced migration to foreign lands. They must take back their country. A critical mass of Nigerians from all parts of the country need to engage in mental liberation in the struggle to build a Nigerian nation-state that is free from the shackles of neo-colonial and feudal bondage and archaic ideas and structures. Second, the Electoral Act must be amended to make electronic transmission of election results at polling unit, ward, state and national levels compulsory.

In this regard, pro-democracy activists and civil society organisations (CSOs) must join hands with patriotic political formations in the country to renew the battle for electoral reform that resulted in passing the Electoral Act, 2022.

Third, a critical mass of the electorate, particularly the youth population, could establish a trained Pro-Democracy Brigade in each village or community, to stoutly and uncompromisingly resist and expose vote buyers whenever or wherever they come along to purchase the future and destiny of Nigerian youths. The legal framework is absolutely necessary but it is never sufficient to ensure proper conduct or transparency of INEC officials. The fourth line of action therefore is for uncompromising democracy enforcers or Youth Brigades to ensure that INEC officials comply with voting regulations in all polling booths and collation centres across the country. I personally strongly believe that the presidential system is unsuitable to consolidate democracy in a multi-national and under-developed country like Nigeria. It is inordinately expensive and excludes many competent persons from participating in elections. It encourages executive dictatorship and abuse of power. The parliamentary system is less expensive, more participatory and more suitable for grassroots leadership recruitment.

The Tax Reforms Bill presently before the National Assembly has been generating a lot of controversies. What is your take on this move by President Bola Tinubu?s administration?

Taxation is the foundation of public revenue in the modern state. Public comments on the Tax Bill are fine and there is room for public hearing on the bill at the National Assembly. The quarrel in some quarters over the principle of derivation in payment of Value Added Tax to states is uncalled for. Derivation is the most rational and equitable method of revenue allocation. It was worked out in a series of Commissions, the last being Raisman Commission Report, 1959, which was enshrined in Section 140 of the Constitution of the Federation, 1960 and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1963. It provided for 50% to the region of derivation, 30% to the distributable pool account and 20% to the Federal Government. The disagreement between the entrenched Fulani camp and the rising Yoruba faction of the feudal hegemony that exploits Nigeria is of no consequence to long-suffering masses of Nigeria. The critical issue is how the feudal elite ultimately share among themselves, whatever tax they collect.

The Labour Party enjoyed massive support from the Obidient Movement in the 2023 general elections. What do you think are the chances of the party in 2027 looking at the leadership tussle that has engulfed it?

A lot of Nigerians confuse the Obidient Movement with the Labour Party (LP). The Movement is not a political party. It constitutes a category of Nigerians from all walks of life, both at home and in the diaspora who strongly abhor injustice, man?s inhumanity to man, religious bigotry, grand corruption and nepotism and are resolute in fighting these debilitating vices that beset the polity. The Movement includes individuals from all political parties and those who do not belong to any political party, who share the political ideals and values of Mr. Peter Obi. I am not an official of the LP and cannot comment on the state of preparation of that party in future elections.

Is the Obidient Movement ready to mobilise support for Peter Obi if he decides to contest the 2027 presidential election?

Mr. Peter Obi is an uncompromising fighter for truth and social justice. He is intellectually, morally and spiritually prepared to reconcile historical contradictions and checkmate negative longstanding headwinds that threaten the political fabric and corporate existence of the Nigerian state. This accounts for his fervent nation-wide support base. The Movement is currently engaged in vigorous campaigns across the length and breadth of Nigeria for attitudinal change of the electorate against vote buying and selling. This is a gigantic undertaking aimed at major social transformation and value reorientation towards self-reliance and self-worth. The Obidient Movement is irrevocably devoted and unrelenting in mobilizing support for Mr. Peter Obi. This continues today, and in the future.

The Obidient Movement went about the 2023 general election without a recognised leadership structure. How organised and prepared will the movement be for the 2027 elections?

I can tell you with confidence that unlike the situation prior to the 2023 presidential election, the Obidient Movement is currently formalizing and consolidating its organisational structure throughout the country. In September 2024, Mr Peter Obi appointed Dr. Tanko Yunusa, former Chief Spokesperson of the Obi/Datti presidential campaign, as Coordinator of the Obidient Movement in Nigeria and Diaspora.

The Movement is poised to translate its global support network in collaboration with workers and other social movements to ensure unassailable electoral victory for Mr. Peter Obi on whatever platform he chooses to contest the 2027 presidential election.

What is your take on the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu and how far do you think they can go in ameliorating the hardship being faced by Nigerians?

The twin pillars of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu?s economic policy, fuel subsidy removal and floating of the Nigerian Naira, constitute an economic ill-wind that can do the toiling masses of Nigeria no good. It is a rehash of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) which Nigeria?s 6th military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) imposed on the country in 1986. SAP entailed trade and payments liberalisation (or deregulation). This requires the absence of or reduction in state control of trade and industry. Another pillar of SAP is rationalization which entails privatisation and commercialisation of public sector enterprises. As with Babangida?s SAP, the consequences of President Tinubu?s version of deregulation were immediate, economically and socially catastrophic and irreversible. Tinubu submitted the Nigerian economy to the vagaries of the international market without first preparing the country to withstand the shock or even to produce its basic needs such as food. The growth in monetary terms being touted by the Tinubu administration serves to hide ?massive economic decline in real terms?. The purchasing power of the Naira fell drastically.

The increase in minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 per month in July 2024 actually represented a huge decline in earning capacity of Nigerian workers because N30,000 in April 2019 was worth $83.3 (at the rate of N360.1 to $1), while N70,000 in December 2024 was worth only about $45.6 (at the rate of N1,536.5 to $1). The hardship imposed on the masses by General Babangida?s SAP in 1986 was more tolerable at that time because most citizens were able to fall back on their farm produce. In contrast, under the watch of the All Progressives Congress (APC), armed Fulani herdsmen violently drove away and killed thousands of farmers from their farms and occupied their ancestral land. This aggravated mass hunger leading to hunger protests in several parts of the country. Economic productivity cannot be achieved by propaganda. It can only be achieved by rational planning, widening inclusivity in productive activity, prudent allocation of resources and meticulous implementation of development plans within a social atmosphere of security and social justice. (Vanguard, but headline rejigged)

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