Tinubu should go for brainboxes in selecting his cabinet members---Umenzekwe

Hon (Chief) Modestus Umenzekwe (Onwa Achina), a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and member, Federal Housing Authority (FHA) in this interview in his office in Lagos, urges the president elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to go for brainboxes in selecting his cabinet members: Excerpts:

After the election, peace has returned to the land, or what do you think?

When you said peace has returned in the land, you made it to appear that there was a time there was no peace in the land. There has been peace before, during and after the election, there has been peace. And there would always be peace by the grace of God. Of course, in every election, supporters of political parties because of one entrenched interest or the other engage in some acts inimical to law, bear in mind that no political party enshrines snatching of ballot papers in their constitution, none, but some personal interests on the part of supporters and candidates unavoidably play out. It has been there, not just in Nigeria, but the world over, even in advanced democracies: America, UK, it is there. But in the last election, the disagreements and skirmishes witnessed in a few states during the elections, were blown out of proportion to give it the coloration of crisis. So there is peace in the nation.

You see, a nation without peace is in crisis, when there is no peace, there would be no development, you wouldn’t be talking about wife, husband, children, business or work. Look at what is happening in Sudan, killings, destruction of institutions and facilities that have taken them many years to build; that is a country in crisis, a country where there is no peace. We don’t want that, and that is why I appeal to those who are aggrieved following the outcome of the last elections to eschew inflammable utterances and wait for the judgement of the courts, but if they can listen to me, which I think is in their best interests, they should withdraw their complaints from the tribunal and appeal court, and joint the winners to move the nation forward.

Do you think Nigerians are going to miss President Muhammadu Buhari as he prepares to depart for Daura?

There is no way Nigerians are not going to miss His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, we are going to miss his calmness, his ability to hold Nigeria as one in spite of these turbulent years, the Covid-19 pandemic, the EndSARS imbroglio, the global economic downturn, remember he exited Nigeria from recession twice, so it is not easy. Let me tell you, criticism is cheap, but when you get there, you discover that governance is not a tea party. Yes, Nigerians will surely miss President Buhari, however the succor lies in the fact that it is the same APC that is still at the helm of the affairs of the country. Nigerians will miss Buhari.

Now, May 29 is around the corner, how prepared is the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to assume the topmost position in the land?

The man, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban of Africa, is 100% plus ready. His coming to the presidency is not an afterthought, he was born to be a leader, he was a senator, a governor, a national leader of a party, and now a president elect. In that presidential election, both in the primaries and the actual election, none of the aspirants were as prepared as Tinubu was, and it showed in the result he garnered at the poll. Yes he is ready to start work. He is not a learner, he has done it in Lagos. The foundation he led in Lagos has progressively propelled the state to greater height of infrastructure development, education, security. Today Lagos is the safest state in the country despite the burgeoning population, of course with its population, many would think Lagos would be battling with high crime rate, but you can see it is the safest, it didn’t just happened, somebody was instrumental for it and that man is Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu. After the election, he travelled, relaxed, and now he is back, he is really ready for the job.

As governor of Lagos he ensured positive political continuity, whereby, Lagos government has been run by members of Tinubu's cabinet since 2007 when he left office. This made it impossible for his adversaries to erase his master-plan. 

Tinubu knows that Muslims are minority in the South, and he is a Muslim, becoming president for him may be too herculean but he didn't give up. Tinubu, after winning his Presidential Ticket, chose another Muslim from the North. This he did to avoid a 100% minority Ticket that may likely end up in disaster. He took the full advantage of PDP's division, raked the chunk of G-5 supports, benefitted from Kwankwaso's stance against Atiku and also, inherited the profits from Labour Party's politics. These are the reasons why the Naira redesign and cash crunch couldn't stand Tinubu's hurricane. The promoters of that Naira policy bowed and pastorpreneurs defeated, EndSARS faded and all evil alliances perished. The Jagaban should be studied by those who cherish success and are determined to fulfil destiny. 

What do you think should be the first assignment of the president-elect when he takes over the reins of power?

For me I feel Asiwaju should first set up a reconciliatory committee to bring people who feel aggrieved following the outcome of the Presidential election, together, if possible bring them into his government to contribute their competence and capacities for the development of the country. I know he will do it, he is a man with large heart, a man that does not bear grudges, whether you vote for him or you did not vote for him, it is not an issue, after all, he is the president-elect. Another committee that should be formed is the one that should look into agitations across the country, to find out why people are fighting, from north east, north west, south east, such committee  or commission should sincerely go deep to reconcile warring groups, and bring amnesty for those who embrace peace. I also expect him to make appointments based on federal character so that there would be sense of belonging for all the sections of the country. When the whole country feel they are part of you, demands, agitations, struggles would definitely go down. He should immediately work on security, stabilize the currency, ensure food security, among other things.

What are those things that should form the basic considerations in the composition of the new cabinet after May 29?

Well, I have this conviction that Tinubu should go for brainboxes in his appointments. What do I mean by brainbox? The brainbox is the seat of intelligence, initiator of the body movement and controller of behavior. So by brainbox I want him to appoint men and women of capacity, competence, consistency, men whose antecedents stand them out. Let me tell you, Mr. Journalist, the situation in Nigeria now does not need trial and error. Look, I was having a discussion with some people the other day and I mentioned the name of a certain minister, and all the people there asked me, is he a minister? Many are ministers but they are not visible, they are not working.

I have always said it and I will continue to say it, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is a hero of Buhari’s administration, good enough it is still the same party. Take a look at the Housing and Road programmes of the present administration, he was not found wanting, he delivered beyond expectations. He did not give out contracts and go and sit down and wait for reports. No. He is always at the project site to ensure contractors work according to specifications and terms of reference, and you all can see the results. All the six geopolitical zones felt his Midas touch which he did in a detribalized manner. Now do you think such a person should not be in the list of first three people in this administration’s cabinet? Answer me. He is a multi-talented, multifaceted individual, his input in the Federal Executive Council is critical and must not be missed at this time. What Fashola did in Lagos when he was governor is legendary, he has also repeated that at the national level, so a man like that who has shown immense capacity deserved to be encourage the more, he has done well. Most importantly he is still young and vibrant, the country still need to tap from his immense capacities and competences for the development of the country.

We need the tempo of development to continue; we need to tackle insecurity; we need the economy to be on top gear; there are expectations and Tinubu can’t afford to disappoint his teeming supporters who overwhelmingly voted for him, infrastructure should enter the next level of development, we need robust human capital development, education, inclusivity in governance, women, youths, we must reduce discordance and policy summersaults, the government must think through any policy before and not thinking after policy has been announced. As a nation there should be sincerity in governance. Officials of government must be transparent and accountable to the people, image management is key, I am sure that the only people that can do all these are the brainboxes, not just any kind of persons. Tinubu needs people like Fashola in his cabinet.

Chief, I am still interested in the current minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), Nigerians will really miss him, what are you telling Asiwaju, what role do you think Fashola can play in the incoming administration?

You see, when you say Nigerians will miss Fashola, I begin to wonder what you mean. How can Nigerians miss him, while Nigerians are looking for him? Nigerians are looking for him. The six geopolitical zones of this country are looking for him, why because of whom he is, why because of what God has used him to do in this country, why because of the confidence reposed in him by the outgoing president, President Muhammadu Buhari, why because the confidence reposed in him by the incoming President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, why because he is a great achiever, a very calm man, you do not see him on pages of newspapers every day,  you don’t see him on Television every day, he is not involved in controversies, he would always tell you the truth and nothing but the truth whether you like it or not. And I am seeing him as another human developer after Asiwaju, a talent developer; though that will be an interview for another day.

So there is no way we will miss him because I believe unless it is him that says no, but if he says no, not to participate in this administration, Nigerians will feel bad; the downtrodden will feel bad. And I can tell you, the Southeast will feel bad, and if for any reason Asiwaju decides not to retain him in his administration, it will be a very serious mistake. It will be a very very serious mistake, and I advise him to pick him. Yes, he has been in government at a stretch for 24 years as Chief of Staff, as a Governor, Minister, but you see him very vibrant, except the grey hair which is normal, looking so young. This is a man that would talk to you without writing his speech, this is a man that would give you the account of his stewardship right from his days as Chief of Staff, his days as Governor of Lagos, and as Minister of Power, Works and Housing; and now Minister of Works and Housing; he is a perfect gentleman. When you call, he would return your call; send him text message, he would return your text message. So he cannot run, he cannot hide any more, if he hide and Nigerians will go and sieve him out and say come and serve us, come and give us succor, come and stabilize this government. So for me, he is another political giant, a silent achiever.

You see the man is endowed with the principle of knowing something about everything and not everything about something, his profession is law, but if you call him in the area of economy, he will supply you with answer, if you turn to Engineering, he will supply you with answer, you turn to Agriculture he will supply you with answer, so he is a multi-talented individual, and that is why I said he knows something about everything and not everything about something. Therefore, I recommend and I insist, whether anybody likes it or not, that Fashola should be retained in government, in whatever capacity they deem fit, he should be retained there. And I want to appeal to him, you know his nature, he may say he doesn’t want, but I am appealing to him, to please take up any job given to him by the incoming administration, it will be good for this country, it will help to stabilize the administration, it will help Nigerians to have more hope in the renewed hope agenda of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

It is obvious some part of the country did not vote for the president-elect, just like other candidates in the election; as the winner, how would you want Asiwaju to relate with those sections of the country that didn’t massively vote for him?

I have said it in different fora, as the President-elect he is going to be the president of all, and not just the president of APC. Every part of the country is now his constituency, remember that even the area you refer to as not having voted for him, thousands of people indeed voted for him there. So if you abandon those who did not vote for you, are you also going to abandon those that voted for you? Or do you have separate roads, electricity, hospital, schools for the different groups, just tell me how possible that would be? You cannot punish all because some did not vote for you.

Nigeria has gone beyond vindictiveness or revenge, and Asiwaju is not such a man. He is bigger than that. I see his administration as a beacon and symbol of good governance in Africa, Tinubu will follow the principles of Federal character, everybody will certainly be a winner in his administration, let’s give him a chance.