'Why Obasanjo's Reforms're Biting'
Prince Jerry Obiegbu, a retired naval officer is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asian Chapter. In an encounter with Olawale Olaleye, the Anambra State-born politician bares his mind on a number of issues including why President Olusegun Obasanjo's reforms programme may appear hard on the people
For close to ten years, Jerry Obiegbu has lived in Asia where he not only runs his chain of businesses, but also manages the affairs of the acclaimed largest party in Africa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). For him, having to lead the PDP in Asia appears a little more easier and interesting, especially that he has cut a larger than life image for himself, first as Jerry Obiegbu and then, as a Nigerian.
Politics, undoubtedly, a tough turf, but Obiegbu, perhaps because of his understanding of business intricacies has been able to strike a balance such that leaves neither of the two suffering. Besides, while he holds politics as a serious business, he does not seem to rank among those who have made it a sole source of livelihood. As he is wont to conclude, why some politicians have not been able to live above board is because they may have not deemed it fit to strike a balance between politics as service to people and the need to ensure a separate source of income.
For Obiegbu, superintending over a party as big as the PDP in Asia has been made a little more easier through the efforts of President Olusegun Obasanjo whom he claimed has done so much for the country and party in terms of image laundering, thus, PDP is acceptable the world over.
Poignantly however, of all the existing parties in the country, Obiegbu could debate with anyone that there is no rival to the PDP whose desire to take the country to eldorado is keen, put differently its internal wranglings. That, he maintains is applicable to virtually all the party and that the interesting thing about PDP's affair is that it has all it takes to manage crisis while others would wallow in what may end up consuming them. He said, "as a party chairman, it is not new because the world over, there are problems. The AD and the ANPP have their problems too. So, whatever happens in PDP should not be extracted for separate dissection".
For instance, he said because Nigerians are spread all over the world, what the PDP is doing is for it to be established in such countries of the world where Nigerians are reasonably many. And by doing this, he said the sole aim of the party is to ensure that Nigerians in Diaspora participate either closely or remotely in the country's electoral processes, a move he claimed other parties have ignored to their peril. "PDP is the biggest party and has been able to establish outlets in almost every part of the world in order to ensure that Nigerians in Diaspora are aware of the party's affair are carried along in the scheme of things.
"Establishing the PDP in Diaspora is to make those abroad have a sense of belonging. We want to encourage Nigerians outside the country to have interest in their electoral system and participate, God-willing in elections. The last time we had PDP foreign conference, we discussed this issue so that by 2007 and beyond, Nigerians and party supporters can vote in general elections because if you look at it, it is as if we are being abandoned. If you want to build a house, you must start by clearing the ground. So, whatever the party is doing now ahead of 2007 is in preparation for the forthcoming elections which is not against constitutional provisions. But if we must be fair, the government of Obasanjo is trying and I urge us all Nigerians to support the government to be able to survive just as I said of Ngige".
Beyond this, he explained, is the economic underlining factor of attracting foreign investors who would help in building the country in different economic ways. He said the brain behind having the PDP in Diaspora is to use the parties as points of contact with the business world which is expected to yield investment. Interestingly, Obiegbu said the PDP in Asia has been up and doing and have ensured that interested investors are convinced on the need to invest their money in Nigeria's economy, which he claimed is a big one for any investor. "We have made a lot of efforts. And we are doing a lot to have investors come to Nigeria. But the only area we appear to be having problems is the infrastructure here. If only government can improve on them, you can be sure investors would invade Nigeria soon from Asia. But ultimately, we are doing so much in this regard", he stated.
Commenting on the July 10 incident in Anambra state which was largely regarded as a manifestation of the problems of the PDP, Obiegbu who disagreed with some of the comments then explained that as members of the same family, Governor Chris Ngige and his estranged godfather, Chris Uba were not above having misunderstanding over issues of principle, adding that what happened on July 10 was nothing different from that. He however said the resolution of the crisis would have gone a long way to convince people about the oneness in the PDP. "It is not a big problem like people regard it; it is a family affair. I am therefore congratulating Ngige for the marvelous job he is doing and I hope he would be given a chance to show that he can perform. If in one year, he could do so much, then I have no fear in my mind that he would do even better in years ahead. I will also assist the state by getting investors in, however if the governor desires and is ready to work with me.
Obiegbu posited that the government of Obasanjo is doing well to reposition Nigeria's politics on solid democratic soil such that would entrench a genuine and lasting structure in the country. "I think the government of Obasanjo is trying its best and doing so much to take the country to greater heights. Reform, the world over, requires hard tackling. It is not liberal anywhere and ironically, it works well over time. So, when the reforms are being implemented, it would appear hard-biting on the people and often times, people are usually impatient with such programes. And I tell you, this is the trend the world over. Nigeria is not an exception. So, it may be painful at inception, but we will get there with time.
Obiegbu therefore described as a welcome development, the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) new guidelines stipulating N25 billion capital base requirement for banks . "It is a good initiative but just a little too high as a starting point. It would be better if government can place, may be, N15 billion as the capital base requirement, then over time, increase it. I am totally in support of the reforms, but the standard is too high and I am worried because it would affect the masses a great deal. Government should make efforts to classify the capital base requirement in accordance with the strength of the banks in order to be able to accommodate as many banks as possible. But on the whole, the initiative is a resounding one and would solidify the country's economic base.
Consequently, the boss PDP, has his interest in the privatisation exercise of the Obasanjo regime. He is of the view that privatisation is also a good initiative just as the on-going reforms. But the problem he has with privatisation is that it does not appear to be working well when compared with other countries of the world. "For instance, how can you talk about privatisation when one or two people are seen as buying all that is put out for sale, yet they are people in government buying government properties. So, government as an institution should make efforts to buy some of these things in the interests of the people. Look at the telecom sector too, things are not being handled properly for their real purposes. The GSM thing, as far as I am concerned is a fraud in Nigeria. Ironically, these things work in other parts of the world. So, why is our case peculiarly different?", he queried.
Obiegbu said his desire is to see the government of the day introduce another indigenous airline. He said traveling to Asia for example has become embarrassing at times when there would be no seat for people to travel since many people are jetting out at the same time. "Government must try as much as possible to establish another airline so that Nigerians can be relieved of the embarrassment and burden inherent in the present situation", he stressed.
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