|
It takes more than two elections to make a party, says Obioha
The National Chairman of the Justice Party of Nigeria (JP), Chief Ralph Obioha told LAWRENCE NJOKU in Enugu, how he thought the Federal Government should share the excess oil sales of N325 billion. The Harvard trained accountant also talked on other political issues. Excerpts:`
THE Justice Party of Nigeria has been quiet since the last election. What is the situation in the party
After the 2003 polls, the party was the second to conduct its national convention. We were able to approve our budget and our financial audited account. We reviewed the state of the nation in respect of the election. We saw the debacle called the local council elections, where state governments returned all candidates of the party controlling the state. That was not an election to us. We are still reviewing the situation despite what happened in 2003, we would remain committed to democracy as the only vehicle of developing this country. We are watching events, but internally we will continue to build our party. There is nothing in the calendar that could make anybody become active in the field. The election is still three years away and any party that has the resources to be daily active, is a lucky one. They must be controlling one local council or state or participating in the Federal Government. The JP did not win any council not because of popularity but because they were massively characterised by fraud. We have two state house members in Delta and Imo states, and we believe that if the elections are free and fair, we shall give a respectable account of our popularity.
What are you making of the speculations that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may de-list some parties
There has been no official communication in that regard. If they want to de-list some parties, they must tell us how they wish to do it. Any attempt in that line will run counter to the 1999 Constitution. We must not be in a hurry to believe that one or two elections can make a party. In Germany, there is a party called the Green Party. It was in existence for 24 years before it made any showing in the German election. Our parties should be allowed to evolve. In Nigeria today, the performance of the parties is not the issue. The issue is the intolerance of those who won some positions and using the machinery of the state to shut out other. Is it in doubt that what happened last year is not a reflection of the popularity of those that won or failed in the election.
How do you subscribe to the campaign of Ohanaeze for a president of Igbo extraction in 2007
Nations are ruled by conventions. Nations that have any prospect of progress are driven by respecting certain conventions. The entity called Nigeria was founded first on two separate entities. But the moment it was called Nigeria, it was based on three entities. The north has been at the helm of affairs for many years, and the West has now been given a chance to pilot affairs. If Nigeria is sincere to its tenets, it thus goes without saying that the next president of this country should be the product of the East.
Conventions more than any other thing, dictate the direction of any nation that believes in equity. Ohanaeze is only carrying out its responsibility to the South East catchment area. This country should see the danger in not maintaining an equilibrium of convention by allowing a candidate from the South East to emerge. After all, a president emerged despite a rejection by its own people in 1999. Of course, by strict calculus, the population in the South Eastern zone cannot produce a Nigerian president. It requires the contribution of other regions to make it possible. I wholeheartedly support the presidency emerging from the South East. If it is the wish of Nigerians.
Britain for instance does not operate any written constitution. It is guided by conventions of people knowing what is right. The Igbo voted massively for President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999. They did the same for the North under Alhaji Shehu Shagari, and equally supported the military heads of state from the north. Why won't Nigerians do the same for the Igbo by allowing them the opportunity to rule the country in 2007. That is the spirit of federalism, equity, justice, and fair play.
The Government announced an excess oil windfall of about N325 billion to be shared among the three tiers of government. What do you think should be the expectations of the people over the windfall
The windfall is a development, which I believe could brighten the faces of Nigerians, if judiciously used. I will make a prescription that again raises a form of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). We could call this one, Petroleum Windfall Trust (PWT), and ensure that it has an equitable distribution across the country. Each of the six zones should have one PWT. Each will receive about N50 billion, and if they are applied strictly to improvement of infrastructures, Nigerians will see real democratic dividends.
The PTF was funded regularly from oil revenue. Do you not see the PWT collapsing as soon as each zone finishes its share
Well, it will be a starting point. If each zone deploys N50 billion to development, it certainly will be noticed. If by next year, this windfall manifests again, the same formula could be used in making more improvements in the infrastructure.
What is wrong in using the present revenue formula to share the money
It is a fact that there is massive mismanagement in how the funds received by some tiers of government for specific purposes have been used. Since this is a known figure, the mistake should not be repeated where the sharing formula that has not yielded result in the past is again used. The National Assembly can quickly enact a law that could make this possible.
Will the enabling laws make the Trust a permanent feature of our constitution or just for the purpose of sharing and supervision of the Fund
There is a law that made the prescription of sharing percentages between federal, state and local councils. The law is dynamic and if there are difficulties in implementing what I am suggesting, we have a National Assembly that could move quickly to put up an enabling law that could make it possible.
There are suggestions that the money should be used to repair the refineries.
The Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) has now become obvious to Nigerians that it is conduit pipe for siphoning money. In the current budget, there are provisions for the maintenance of our refineries. The joke around the petroleum sectors around the world is that it costs Nigeria more to maintain an existing facility than to build a new one. Let nobody confuse the issue about a windfall and about an already appropriated amount. However, we can only pray that this windfall be utilised in the improvement of the lives and living conditions of the people. So using this windfall for maintenance or whatever is not the issue, there are already budgetary allocations for that purpose. Our refineries should have been refurbished, maintained, and repaired repeatedly.`
We must not be in a hurry to believe that one or two elections can make a party. In Germany, there is a party called the Green Party. It was in existence for 24 years before it made any showing in the German election. Our parties should be allowed to evolve. In Nigeria today, the performance of the parties that is not the issue
| 
