IBB, Atiku, Buhari Are Spent Force
Dr. Samuel Adejare, a two term member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, in this interview with Political Train, bares his mind on the state of the nation and other issues
Concerning the state of the nation, what is your impression of Nigeria at 50?
You cannot call a 50-year-old, a young man any longer. Everywhere in the world, a 50-year old will be the head of his family. He should be responsible, responsive and be able to take charge of his household. So if at 50 Nigeria cannot provide regular electricity supply, potable water, employment and we still have a lot of chaotic scenes, bad roads. Definitely a lot is wrong with our country.
Most of our industries are running at 20 per cent or 10 per cent capacity, can one say that is reasonable thing? Is it sensible? We have always been saying that power is the key issue to development of any country. Nigeria is the heartbeat of Africa, the heartbeat of all black nations in the world. Let us take our rightful position and this power issue is the key.
The likes of Atiku, Buhari and IBB have nothing to offer this country anymore. Let’s stop them. There is no way that they can perform, so, why are they insulting our intelligence?
We have had about 11 years of uninterrupted democracy in this country, how do you rate politics of the 4th republic and how far has democracy improved the nation?
We have always said it that the worst democratic rule is better than the best military government. I am part of the government. I represent Agege Constituency II.
By proxy, they are here. If they feel so strongly about anything that we are doing here and they present it to me, the onus is on me to present it to my members at the Lagos State House of Assembly so that their voice could be heard.
That is something you cannot buy. You cannot equate it with anything. It is called freedom and if we have that we will be able to achieve everything. I have been well trained by this state, they have spent a lot of money on me to be a better legislator. Today, without blowing my own trumpet, it is acclaimed everywhere in the world that we have the best crop of legislators in the Lagos State House of Assembly. Even the World Bank showers encomium on us.
Therefore, what we have achieved in the 11 years of uninterrupted democracy we did not achieve it in the 39 years of military rule.
How will you react to the recent bombing in Abuja, during the celebration of the nation’s 50th anniversary?
Some people are trying to play pranks on all of us, but it is an expensive joke. We are talking of loss of lives, the life of children, not goats or fowls but human beings, then, it is uncalled for, you cannot be playing politics and think that you are right. A blackman, a real Nigerian is not cut out to do what they have been doing.
I regard those behind the bombings as vagabonds’. They are senseless, irresponsible fools, those that were killed are heads of some homes, their children have become fatherless. At the age of 50, we have not learnt how to do things properly and make us look like responsible leaders. Throwing bombs will not solve our problems, it will further compound them.
Government should set up a special inquiry to unmask those that are behind this dastardly act. Those responsible if caught should be shot dead. I don’t owe anybody any apology on this. If you live by the sword, you shall die by the sword.
Talking about the forthcoming general elections. Do you really have confidence in the INEC led by Attahiru Jega, in conducting a credible election for Nigeria in 2011?
The credibility of the man is not in doubt. His integrity is also not in doubt. I will never forget him in a hurry. He fought against the Federal Government when he was the president of ASUU and he didn’t budge in spite of all intimidations. He didn’t budge and that was during military regime.
Having said that though, the man does not equate to INEC. He is the chairman of INEC and he has a lot of resident commissioners. He has workers, but the most important thing here should not be about INEC alone, but our own political will to want to have credible elections. We have done it in this country in 1993. We didn’t import people to come and conduct the election for us but there was the political will that we wanted a credible election that year and we got it.
What is your reaction to the controversies surrounding the election time table?
I would have preferred January as a politician, but sincerely speaking, the time between now and January is so short for INEC to achieve all those things that we are craving for. Those machines that will be used for the conduct of the lection are not manufactured here and I even learnt that the Federal Government approved the contract for the purchase of those machines.
Therefore, the election is not achievable in January. INEC needs more time to put in place all parameters to achieve a credible election in 2011.
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