Nigerians are looking forward to a new nation - Aniebonam …Says APC’s body language shows there is a rigging plot

Dr Boniface Aniebonam is the National Chairman of All New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP). As the nation gets ready for this year’s general elections, he spoke to SUCCESS DAMIAN on his party’s preparation for the elections among other issues: Excerpt:

After over 20 years in the Maritime sector as the National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), you are now into politics. Why did you go into politics?

I have always been there. What I have just done is to move away from active involvement in the association activities as far as Maritime transport is concerned. But, I still remain the founder of NAGAFF. On politics, NNPP is the political arm of NAGAFF. This is time for politics and I am into active politics as the National Chairman of the party.

Why did you choose to form the NNPP instead of joining any of the established parties?

We did not register New Nigerian Peoples Party to support any other political party. NNPP is a registered political party. It has the same status as any other party in Nigeria, like the PDP, APC and the rest of them. As I always say, we are not in a hurry about anything. Power is not a small thing, unfortunately a lot of people depending on what they want, garbage in and garbage out, that is why birds of strange bedfellows flock together and that is the confusion.

You must have an ideology, be able to groom people that have the same mindset with you. We are not a new party. NNPP is of the same age with PDP. NNPP was founded in 2001.

As the elections are by the corner, how would you describe the strength of your party across the country?

Quietly, we are going. We have a lot of strength in the Northeast. That does not mean we are not in the South. We have contestants in places like Imo, Enugu states, we are Zamfara, Sokoto and all that. I think what people are looking at is where we are much stronger. There is no doubt that we have the capacity to win gubernatorial elections in some states. We are doing well in Bauchi and Gombe States also. So, we are growing from strength to strength. In politics, a lot is involved, especially financially.

In the Nigerian way, parties spend a lot to buy votes, bribe people, buy bags of rice, which they give to people. These are not what NNPP believe in. Such does not make sense. What makes sense is what you think you can do to improve upon the efforts of other administrations that have been in place. So, logistics becomes a major issue.

For example, if you are contesting the position of Nigerian president, you can see that campaigns are going on now. You can see some political parties like PDP and APC. The candidates visit two states in a day. That means you must have a private jet. Even talking to the media, the print and electronic media takes money. You have to move along with them so that people will know what is going on. All these involve a lot of finance. Then, have to open offices. You do know that INEC is no longer adding any value in terms of funds to the political parties. That is why you see those who may have stolen money behaving as if they have more knowledge. It is not so. But, the logistics aspect of it is funding.

Why are people talking about Atiku? He has the capacity. When you say you have capacity, it means you have financial capacity. It is not a tea party. But, you can still get up and say you want to contest for the position of the president of this country. May be you want to add something to your curriculum vitae. Nobody will stop you. What will it take to print thousands of posters? Indeed, I know I don’t have the capacity. If you want to play to the gallery, go ahead, that is the beauty of democracy.

You said NNPP is strong in the North. Apart from the North, what other areas like the South-South, South-East and Middle Belt, would you say your party has large followership?

We are in all the states of the federation. I told you we are doing well in Bauchi and we have the capacity to pick the governorship ticket there. In Gombe too, we have the capacity to pick some State Assemble seats, House of Representatives seats and Senate seats. In Imo State, we have the capacity, not necessarily to win the governorship. You see, Nigerians don’t want you to tell them the truth. That is why NNPP is different. Every Nigerian today is looking forward to a new nation where things are functioning, where things are done within the rule of law. That is how you build a new society.

Look at what is going on now, the avoidable constitutional crisis. The courts are shut down today (January 28), lawyers are no more there. What about Nigerians who are in prison, those who are awaiting trial, who would have gone for trial today to argue for their bail?

With what is happening now, would you say the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is actually ready to conduct a credible election?

I think we are distracting INEC. INEC is independent. But, with all these problems we are distracting them. They are human beings. That is the truth. You can see all the innuendos about INEC …These are nonsense. They are not adding value by virtue of what is happening. We are putting them into a tight corner. People obtain court injunctions on daily basis. This is happening when INEC is already printing materials. INEC has a master plan and you are distracting them.

How would you react to allegations from some Nigerian politicians that President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), are planning to rig the coming elections?

Their body language says it all. But, it may not really be. I recall he was former Head of State and he was toppled in a military coup and now that he has a second chance, would he allow you? Nobody considers that. He needs to protect myself. However, there should be equity and fairness to all. We should know that whatever we do today will have ripple effect tomorrow. 

The election seems to be centred on Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and President Buhari of APC. No one is talking about the younger presidential candidates. Do they stand a chance?

I have just given you analysis of what is involved. Nigerians have been made to be poor and you know what a poor man can resort to. You may wonder what I am saying. But, I am telling you the truth. A poor man will go for food to be alive before any other thing. That is the truth of the matter. These people, Atiku and Buhari, have financial back up. As a former vice president of the country, Atiku has the capacity. NNPP was formed in 2001. How old is APC that came up and amalgamated with parties and wrestled power from PDP? They have the logistics. People can go ahead and deceive themselves. I have also given you example that as the campaign is going on now, some of them can attend to two states in a day. Can you go by leg or motor from Lagos to Anambra? You have to fly so that in the next 45 minutes, you are in Anambra, finish up, lodge in a hotel. That is money. If you don’t have money, this is a capitalist country, you better shut up.

How sure is your presidential candidate in the 2019 election?

We had a presidential candidate. But, does he have the capacity to do it? Or as you are looking at me, do you think I don’t have the capacity to lead this country? I have.

What is the way forward as far as NNPP presidential vision is concerned?

We don’t have the capacity to contest the presidency of the country now. The young man who wanted to contest the presidential position of the country fulfilled the obligation of picking a nomination form, paid for it. Okay. To start with, you have to set up campaign offices throughout the federation. Do you have the capacity? If you don’t have, then you sit down. These are hard facts.

People are of the opinion that these parties that do not have the capacity should have come together just like other parties did to form APC...

(Cuts in): That we don’t have capacity today does not mean we may not have it tomorrow.

For this election?

No no no, we don’t have to do that. It is not a do-or-die affair. Our party don’t want to be polluted. I also want to tell you that NNPP is an offshoot of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF). This is a big organsation. Here (in Apapa), you have the headquarters of the association and the liaison office of the party. It is a family. We are moving on. Don’t forget that I am a logistics manager in the entry point to the nation, the economic routes that cut across state boundaries, sea ports, airports and land borders.

If you want to know also, some of NNPP members are found in other parties. We have identified what is our problem; that is finance. They know their root. They will come back at the appropriate time. You know, when there is a system collapse, tactics takes over.

Since they are in other parties, don’t you think they would have been polluted by the time they come back to NNPP?

No, they are children of God.

Sir, do you think there is any lacuna in our constitution that the president is exploiting in the suspension of the CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen?

You should know that no law is perfect. The only thing that is perfect is God. It is just probably the way some people look at power, the centre of attraction is Nigeria, and the Nigerian people. In politics you are positioning yourself for service to administer the constitution of the country, for the general welfare of the greater number, development of the states. But, the whole thing is turning to be another thing in Nigeria. So, we need a great leader who sees himself as a Nigerian, not as Hausa man or Igbo man.

In terms of market, Nigeria is large, and we have all it takes. Unfortunately, people are just dividing us based on their own interests. But, there is nothing that does not have an end. I would rather tell you that there is hope for Nigeria. Nobody should despair. There is nothing that does not have an end, and Nigeria will be greater for it.

What is your view on the issue of principles of Federal Character?

No law is perfect, all these issues of Federal Character and what is expected in line with the constitution, it is just the operators of the Act, which is human element problem. Things are not working well because the operators of the constitution are meddling with it for their own interests.

Many say the elections might not hold and that APC might not allow it to hold…

ICuts In): People can say anything, especially the online writers. Anybody can type anything and post online. I am optimistic that the elections will go smoothly. That is why I used the words ‘There is hope’. Whether we like it or not, all these propaganda cannot help us.

We need to be very objective. The only thing I can tell Mr. President is to understand that he is the father of the nation. We must apply the principle of equity. When laws have failed, apply service and equity. As it is now, the constitution has failed us. So, nobody is wrong; nobody is right as it is now. What do we do?

What does NNPP intend to do for Nigerians?

Is there anything one would say today that has not been said? The constitution has told you, the general welfare of the citizens of the country, and of course, protection of lives and properties. So, when you begin to see governors who do two kilometer road, people are clapping for him, does it make sense? Did he do that with his money? Or, somebody goes to a village and put two or three boreholes. He carried everybody to go there. What has he done when you are doing your responsibility? It doesn’t make sense to me. I keep telling people these things are not an issue.

Let me take Peter Obi for instance, the role he played in road construction and maintenance in Anambra State is an intangible thing people did not see. Anambra State in terms of performance in education has taken Number 1 from almost at the middle, because the whole schools are equipped with computers, libraries. He handed over schools to the missionaries. Discipline returned. This is the kind of thing that should be done. You do to rebuild a community, state or country.

If you go to Anambra State, it is the most connected state in Nigeria as far as road is concerned. Last Christmas I was in the village, I couldn’t believe it. All the roads, the villages and towns came closer. Asking me what would you do is like asking a father and mother, what to do to train your children properly; training them in good school where they will get qualitative education.

What do you think should be done to move Nigeria forward?

When you to talk about moving Nigeria forward, then we should be looking at the informal sector group. The informal sector is the engine of the economy, as opposed in what you see in the organised sector with their bogus data which confuse government in making trade policies. In other words, we should be looking at what do we should do to. Look at the Chinese and the rest of them, can’t we begin to think of improving the skills of Nigerians? First look at labour, do we have quality labour now? If we really want to search our conscience, we have to go back to technical education, where skills can be developed.

If I were to be a governor of a state for instance, I could go ahead and export labour, and that would mean I would invest on skilled labour, so that if Lagos or Enugu or any other state wants labour, they come to Anambra and take the labour and I would earn a lot of money. So, people need to think.

Then on issue of loans, how much does it cost you to get a loan in Nigeria? About 27 % or thereabout. How can you encourage a starter? So, we need to look at equity participation where banks can give you soft loans without collateral so that you can start something so that all these students coming out from school can start something.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo just endorsed a particular candidate. What is your take on that?

Yes, I am an Igbo man. But, remember that I am a chairman of a political party. I don’t really talk much on issues like this. We have Ohanaeze Ndigbo president, the Igbos agree on Ohanaeze. Whatever they say is the mindset of the greater number. But, there must be dissenting voices. That is the beauty of democracy. That is the way I look at it.

Politically, Ohanaeze is not playing the role they should play. I have been trying to get across that president of Ohanaeze to pass certain information to him. I am in position at the gateway of Nigerian economy and I know what is happening. Things are going wrong. Igbos are losing their investments, and those thing are very dangerous. I want to Ohanaeze rather than these things they are getting involved, that is alright, but there are what people expect them to do.

What is your advice to Nigerians as the elections approach? Again, some sections of the country are asking their people to boycott the elections. How would you react to this?

I don’t believe this thing you are saying. Most Nigerians are agog. Many have begun to see that their votes count. There is no need to stay at home because when you sit at me, decisions will be taken, that means voting will be carried out, counted and they will take over. The best thing now is to go and vote, protect your vote, finish. And I think that message is going down well.