A Niger Deltan activist, youth leader and member of the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Presidential Campaign Organization,
Comrade Prince Afoke Okporua, has urged President-elect Major-General
Mohammadu Buhari to deliver on his campaign promises or run into
troubled waters. Okporua also pointed out some mistakes Jonathan made
with the Niger Deltans by accepting that some politicians could control
the boys in the region, he therefore urged him to dialogue directly with
all parties in the interest of peace and refrain from repeating
mistakes of his predecessors which pitched the boys in the region
against the government.
Comrade Okporua hails from Ughelli South LGA of Delta State. He was
Public Relations Officer of the Political Science Students Association,
Niger Delta and Vice President of Niger-Delta University, Students
Association as well as Security Adviser to the National Association of
Nigerian Students (NANS).
In this encounter with Daily Sun in Ado-Ekiti recently, he bared his
mind on certain issues affecting the youths and people of the Niger
Delta, expectations from President-elect as well as elderstatesman
Orubebe’s protest against Professor Attahiru Jega during the
announcement of presidential poll results.
Excerpts:
As an activist, what is your comment on the peaceful manner with
which President Jonathan conceded defeat to President-elect, an act many
have said was responsible for peace in the country after the polls?
Jonathan conceding defeat clearly indicate the content of his
political character. A character that depicts patriotism, respect for
the fundamental tenets of democracy, and it also places respect on the
lives of Nigerians and their properties. An attribute which Buhari in
all ramification lacks as evident in his 2011 political statements as
well as statements such as monkey and baboon soaking in blood. We should
all hold Mr. President in high esteem for accepting the outcome of a
lopsided and religiously coloured election.
What agenda would you like to set for the President-elect, given a
situation that the Niger Delta may not really support his presidency?
I can’t set an agenda for a government that is made up of persons I
didn’t believe in, a Party I campaigned against as a member of the PDP
Presidential Campaign Organization, an in-coming government that is
displaying vindictive traits already, as epitomized in Buhari’s action
against AIT until the Party had to step in by reversing such autocratic
and anti-press move.
I can’t set an agenda for an incoming government with the likes of
OBJ, Tinubu, Amaechi, Saraki, and others, with the President-Elect, who
among them is politically upright?, who among them is without
antecedents with insipid content and who among them truely believe in
the Change Buhari represents? You don’t gang up against a sitting
President out of selfish interest and say you are an ambassador of
change.
Many have critizised elderstatesman Orubebe’s protest during the
announcement of the presidential polls results, what is your take?
I am not a fan of Orubebe. Infact, I am one of those in the trenches
clamoring for his removal owing to his shabby performance as Minister of
Niger-Delta until he was finally sacked.
However, when you situate his action within the context of the sham
and conspiracy Prof. Jega conducted as election, you will agree with me
that Orubebe did the right thing.
His protest is not as grevious as the inciteful comments made by the likes of Yakassai, Prof. Ango, Dr. Junaid and co.
Protest is an integral part of democracy and Orubebe didn’t doing
anything abnormal. The Boko Haram menance seriously affected Borno,
Yobe, Adamawa and some parts of Bauchi yet Jega declared 80% of PVC
collection in those areas.
In Lagos States you saw the lopsided and outright denial of voters
their PVCS in areas where Mr. President is sure to have votes. What
Jega in collaboration with some Northerners and south west people did
has dragged Nigeria back but as Mr. President said sacrifice for
national interest is more profitable.
Again it is an outright show of disrespect and an attempt to spark
off another civil war for Mr. President to be stoned in Bauchi, Katsina
and humiliated in other Northern states yet Buhari campaigned
ceremoniously in the Niger-Delta and even in Bayelsa State without any
hindrance.
So, for me when you critically appraise the circumstances surrounding
the elections before, during and after, Orubebe did the right thing and
any attempt to victimize him won’t be appreciated.
It is on record that the famous doctrine of necessity that made
Jonathan Acting President and subsequently President was moved by
Senator Bala Mohammed while serving as senator representing Bauchi South
Senatorial District.
For us in the Niger Delta, certain individuals are very much dewar to
us because of the selfless and patriotic role they played in the the
political career of President Jonathan. The FCT minister, is
one of such outstanding people is p the Minister of Federal Capital
Territory, FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, for the role he played as a
Senator in ensuring that President Jonathan, then Vice President,
emerged as Acting President and subsequently President..
His unalloyed loyalty and patriotism to President Jonathan was
further played out as he stood by Mr. President inspite of the
challenshtges andd conspiracies against the president.
As FCT Minister, he did not fail in his duties as he succeeded in
numerous programmes aimed at developing and positioning the FCT as the
capital of the most populoushhtbTy black nation.
It is on this ground that we of the Niger Delta region sincerely
appreciate him for his political sagacity and legislative agility
towards making the administration of President Jonathan a successful one
and we shall be forever indebted to him.
How would you advise President-elect Buhari on steps he needs to
take in order to pacify the Niger Deltans so that a possible militant
movement is not repeated during his tenure?
All I can say is Buhari made some electioneering promises. I expect
him to adhere to his pre-election slogan and pursue assiduously his
agenda of ensuring that the Naira equals the dollar, stipends are given
to the unemployed, jobs are created in their millions, the price of fuel
comes down and others he promised to do.
My advice to Buhari on the Niger-Delta is that he must see the Niger-Delta as a region that will top his priorities.
Over 50 per cent of the resources used in prosecuting his election
came from the region, the likes of Amaechi, Sylva, Oshiomole, Rochas
contributed significantly to his election despite the fact that the
region has a candidate gunning for a second term. It will be difficult
for a Northern politician to sponsor a southerner when they have a
candidate but all these are made possible because the Niger-Delta are an
egalitarian set of people but we are always united against oppression,
injustice and marginalization.
The President-elect should not attempt to subjugate any politician
from the region because Jonathan didn’t. When he attempts to, he will
run into troubled waters. He should also resist attempts by his
lieutants to settle scores with those from the region. All the promises
he made to the region, he should fulfill.
I also advise him to call Activists, Youth leaders and ex-agitators
leaders from the region and discuss with them on the way forward. He
should not allow himself to be deceived by any politician from the
region that they can control all the boys.That impression was given to
Jonathan but at the end the likes of Kelvin, Togo and other agitators
emerged.
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