Dakuku Peterside is a politician and former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). In this interview he takes a look at the major issues in the polity, stressing that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government at the centre was elected to solve problems bedevilling the country. He asserted that for the APC to have a good outing in the 2027 election, the federal government must address the challenges of hunger and insecurity afflicting Nigerians.

Are you satisfied with the way INEC conducted the recent by-election? Do you have confidence in INEC for the 2027 general elections?

Now, note these two things that I want to say. The first problem is not INEC. INEC conducts election based on the electoral framework that is put in place by the National Assembly. Secondly, the by-elections were conducted in 16 constituencies in 12 states, to fill vacancies. Though I was not present, the preliminary reports I got from interactions with people and the ones I read in the media send a mixed signal. We were all aware that there were protests in many areas about the conduct of the election. I don’t think we should be at that stage where people do not have confidence in INEC. It is still obvious that from all indicators, people still do not have confidence in INEC. As political actors, we must do something about that. The reason is that if people lose faith in the institution that has been considered mandatory to conduct elections, they will resort to self-help and that will be the beginning of failure of democracy. This entire concept of democracy insists on people being able to express their choice and their choice being respected. So, elections are fundamental to democracy. They play a critical role In enabling the people choose their own true representatives. The moment the people are not allowed to choose their representatives through free, fair and credible elections, then we do not have democracy. Election is key in terms of representation and accountability. When people do not perform well, you remove them through the instrumentality of election. When they perform well, you reinforce their mandate through the instrumentality of election too. So, election is critical to democracy. It is not something to be toyed with, neither is it something that is as simple as ‘let me go back to office.’ That is not good enough. One is destroying democracy if he must go to the office at all cost or if you must get elected at all cost, not minding the choice of the people. It is a way of demonstrating our democratic value. So, we must guard it jealously.

You said you have stepped aside from politics for now?

Yes, I have stepped aside for now. The reason is literally linked to all that I have said why votes or free and fair election is important. For now, I have exited politics to focus on other things, especially the ones that will benefit the society as a whole. Not things that will benefit a political party or not. I have spent most of my time doing everything humanly possible to enhance awareness among voters on the issues that matter. I want voters to be more informed, to participate more in democracy, play a role In driving awareness. Anything that will promote free and fair election, you can count that I will get involved to empower people to take action. Those are the kind of things I like to do because what has happened with the data available is that more and more people are losing interest in the electoral processes. They do not believe that their vote counts or will make a difference, and that is a dangerous game to play. Therefore, I will get involved in raising awareness, advocacy efforts to process voting rights and promote the interest of citizens to participate in the electoral process. I will get involved in organising citizens to actively participate in democratic process, not just casting their ballot. I will also get involved in grassroots organisation to ensure Nigerians choose their leaders, because if they do so, they will be more accountable to us as a people. When leaders think they emerge through extra-ordinary process, then they owe the people nothing. But If they emerge through a process anchored on the people, they will work and be more accountable to the people. That is the kind of vision that I have.

Recently President Tinubu’s Special Adviser, Bayo Onanuga mocked the opposition leaders like Atiku, Peter Obi, El-Rufai on the poor showing of ADC at the recently held by-election, once touted as an alternative to APC. What is your view?

If it is true, it is unfortunate. It means that the highly respected Bayo Onanuga does not understand how it works. One does not need to make mockery of anybody. ADC has been around for a long time, but ADC as a coalition has been around for only one month. Therefore, you do not expect them to perform a miracle in one month. It will take some time. I don’t want to believe he made that comment, if he did, it was most unfortunate, inappropriate and again, it was expensive in communication and indeed provocative. You undermine the spirit of democracy. These are the things we do that cause tension in the land. I do not expect that to come from the highest point of authority of the government, being the spokesman of the president. It is highly insensitive, all right-thinking people must condemn it and I condemn it unequivocally without mincing words. On one assumption that he actually said this because I have high regards for hm. I have dealt with him on many occasions. If he had ever mocked other political parties, he took the pettiness too far. It is not something that is acceptable in a decent society. It is not something that someone like him should get involved in.

So, what do you think about the coalition?

I think it is too early in the day to assess the coalition. They are barely one month old. Anyone who gives an assessment now is not giving an objective assessment.

Many believe that the hardship and hunger in the land is due to the poor performance of the President Tinubu led-government. What is your take on this?

First, are there hardship, poverty and hunger? My answer is in the affirmative to the three. There is. Now the next question is, is the current government directly responsible? My answer is that they are partially responsible. In, fact I have started dealing with this issue before the current government and we elected him to do a job. Their job is to alleviate poverty, address hunger and the economic hardship. Now, so far, the key economic reforms attributable to government have pushed more people to poverty. I believe that those consequences are unintended. My expectation of government is that they should do something to address this level of hunger in the society. It is biting, not something the people can bear for too long.

Benue state governor, Rev. Fr Alia has accused politicians operating outside his state of being behind terrorist attacks in the state. Please what is your take?

I am not an intelligence officer and I do not leave in Benue State, which means I have limited knowledge. However, I do not see how politicians in the National Assembly can be responsible for the terrorist attacks all over the country. That is not something that is believable. I believe he was quoted out of context. Maybe what he meant was that perhaps, they adjudicated their roles in making laws that will stem terrorism. Perhaps that is what he meant. If he said it in that contest, again, that is debatable. Do we have laws in place to curtail terrorism, I think we have. The issue is the operationalization of the law. We must also find the link between terrorism and high level of out-of-school children, then between terrorism and economic situation in the country. We must find a link between the economic situation of the country and widespread poverty. One thing that happens with wide spread of poverty is that it makes many people available to be used by the terrorist gang. When people face food insecurity and hunger, they become available. If they are starved, they will die. If they join terrorist gang, they may survive. So, hunger and poverty can make people available for terrorism. Perhaps, what he meant was that if people in the National Assembly work with Mr. President to address the issue of hunger, it could have enhanced or improved insecurity in the country, but if he says they are directly responsible I do not see the relationship between the members of National Assembly in Abuja and the rise with terrorism.

ADC members have also argued that another four years of APC will be catastrophic for Nigerians. What do you think?

One can say that in context, but we must look at it this way. Are they saying it in social, economic, political and cultural? What do I mean by context? It helps put issues in perspective. If they are saying it in economic context, are they saying that if APC government continues in the implementation of their current economic policy, it will be devastating for the country? Are we saying that if they continue with their policies, it will have Enormous social consequences like insecurity for the country? Are we also saying if they continue with their policies, education would have been destroyed, meanwhile education is the foundation for any society to grow. So, it must be in context. What I can say is that if we can desalinate the policies of the current government, we can now say what the next four years will look like if they are given opportunity by Nigerians or if Nigerians must choose a different path. All these, we must put in clear perspective.

There are moves to draft former President Goodluck Jonathan into the 2027 general election following the zoning to the south. What do you think about this development?

What I can say is that I do not deal with conjecture, things that are not verifiable; not factual and not viable. I deal with things that are factual. If you say there is a move, former president Jonathan is an adult. He has to make a decision whether to contest or not. Nobody can deny that. It is his right. So, he has to make that decision himself. We cannot continue on the path of dragging a reluctant person to come and lead us. My position is clear. I acknowledge the fact that Jonathan is a unifying figure capable of bridging divisions in the country. I have no doubt about that. I also believe that he showed statesmanship in year 2015 transition when he conceded. In an alternative opinion, that might even jeopardise his status as a statesman. Some Nigerians accused him that he was not able to tackle Boko Haram when he was president and that his return may not change all. Overall, the point is that it is his right to run; let it be his decision. His chances will be determined by the Nigerian people, not by any tribe. For me, these are the critical things. Let it not be that they pulled a man who is not willing. An unwilling horse could be taken to the river, but will not be forced to drink water.

What is your take on the Senate approval of President Tinubu’s external borrowing?

The first thing to say is that I am generally worried about the billions the government is borrowing. Another thing to ask is, is there anything inherently wrong about loans? The answer is no. Then, the question is what are we taking these loans for; where are we investing them? Are these loans sustainable? If it is in critical infrastructure like railway, one can be sure because railway has multiplying effect. But if we are taking loans for things that we cannot defend and explain, then it will affect our fiscal sustainability and it will balloon our debt servicing cost, especially when these debts are denominated in foreign currency. It has the possibility of devaluing our currency overtime, especially when it is not used for critical infrastructural project that had multiplying effects. It could also be a source of economic stimulus by funding critical infrastructure and social spending. For me, the most important thing is let the reason for the borrowing be justified, appropriate and interventionist in critical infrastructures. But Nigerians are entitled to know because you are borrowing on behalf of Nigerians and not your family. That is one area government should be more forthcoming. They need to let Nigerians know why they are borrowing, where they are Investing it, and how they intend to pay back. What are the multiplier effects of the borrowed money? This borrowing is the future of Nigerians, not for today.

What do you think about the menace of kidnapping that continues to reign supreme all over the country?

We all know that kidnapping is not good for the image of the country. It is worse in the northern part of the country than in the south, but I think it has subsided in the South-East. It has reached a crisis situation driven by complex socio-economic issue escalated by hunger. Those in the northern part of the country cannot go to their farms. In the eastern part of the country, we have compulsory sit-at-home on Mondays. All of these affect the economy, socio-cultural setting of our country. Even in terms of education, there is a study that shows because of kidnapping, most families in northern Nigerian withdrew their children from school. The dimension of it is the ransom. There was a year that Nigerians paid trillions of Naira as ransom. So, it is not a criminal network, but an enterprise built on criminality. I think the government should mobilise the whole of government and state to tackle the issue of kidnapping because of the multiplying effect on agriculture, hunger, infrastructure, education, healthcare and virtually all facets of our lives, including our universities. It deprives Investors. So, it is something that we need urgent attention of our lives. Until we do that, it will affect various status of our economic life. So, I condemn it in its entirety.

What do you think APC must do to win 2027 general elections?

What determines how Nigerians will vote in 2027 elections is the ability of the current government to address poverty, hunger, negative impact of the economic reforms because hunger level is too high. Nigerians are disenchanted. So, for me, the issues are well known. Address the economy, insecurity, power. In education, government is doing well, I must acknowledge that, but sustainability is key. They must also get the sub-nationals to also do well. If APC wants to be re-elected, I believe they know what to do. Fix all fixable, address all addressable. They are not rocket sciences; it is doable.

Do you think Peter Obi has a chance in ADC, because he said he would be there for one term?

I learnt to believe people until they prove themselves otherwise. If Peter Obi says, if elected, he will serve one tenure, I do not know why I should doubt him. A man should be honest. (Sunday Sun)