No cause for alarm, Buhari is on course- Dr. Odunna

Dr. J.C Odunna is a founding member of defunct National Republican Convention and later national secretary of the All Peoples Party. The elder statesman and member of the 1994 constitutional conference like to call a spade by its real name, no matter whose ox is gored. In this interview with EVEREST EZIHE in Owerri, Chief Odunna who is a chieftain of the PDP assesses the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, and concludes that he is on course. Excerpts:      

Can we meet you formally?

My names are Dr. Josiah Chukwuemeka Odunna (Abamaragu I of Igbo land), I am a medical doctor by profession, a specialist in gynecology. I joined politics as a student in American University and I sustained the political passion when I graduated and returned to Nigeria. I was active in politics in 1979 during the era of NPP and NPN and my participation and contributions earned me some federal board appointments.

Role in constitutional conference

However, I came into national lime light in 1994 when I was elected as a delegate to represent Mbaitoli and Ikeduru Federal Constituency at the national constitution conference. My contributions never went unnoticed and I was popular not only at the conference but before most Nigerians who appreciated my visionary, patriotic and robust contributions. I was one of the backbones of the conference and my constituents were proud of me.

This prompted the entire traditional rulers of Owerri senatorial zone under the then leadership of HRH Eze Onuegwunwoke to confer on me a prestigious chieftaincy title–Abamaragu (A lion can only be castigated in his absence).

Shortly after the constitutional conference which lasted for only one year I was appointed a member of the presidential committee involved in state, local government creations and boundary adjustments. Thus, I contributed immensely in the creation of some local government areas in Imo State. I made sure that Orlu, Oru, Mbaitoli and Owerri Local Governments which were high was split by creating additional local government areas. Unfortunately, the tedious assignment lasted for one year and as soon as we left, the late Sani Abacha, the then military head of state appointed three man committee from his cabinet to scrutinized the work we did, fortunately Chief Laz Unogu, a minister then from Ikeduru in Imo State was a member of the presidential committee, appointed to oversee the work we did and gave final recommendations. It was sad that Chief Unogu who considered himself as my arch political enemy told me bluntly that he has discussed with his political leader in Ikeduru and they have vowed to clip my political profile by rubbishing whatever he perceived as my interest in any of the supposedly to be created local government areas in the state.

For instance, I split Mbaitoli into three local government areas out of animosity he cancelled it, surprisingly all other local government split by my committee was created as an independent local government area while my own local government-Mbaitoli, though split into three because of its population density and land mass was not created. Unogu said to me, it was deliberately done to punish me and reduce my political profile but today Imo State, South East and the entire nation is suffering it. He was parochial, vindictive and never considered the interest of the people and the reality on the ground. He succeeded in creating some political problems for me at home and among my people but it was only for a short while as I have outlived it. My people of Mbaitoli know me as a man of truth and they have continued to respect me.

Contributions in political parties’ formation

It was at the confab we started nursing the idea of creating political parties as the military was signaling their readiness to hand over power to democratically elected government as the global communities were agitating for it. The arrow heads of the political parties then were myself, Chief Barnabas Gemade, Olusola Saraki, Jubri Aminu, the former Managing Director of Guinness Plc from Edo State was also involved and Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, so we were the kingpins in organizing political parties from the national constitutional conference.

Our efforts culminated into formation of National Republican Convention (NRC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP). Those of us who masterminded the political party’s formation where in NRC and following subsequent military and political challenges we later in 1999 metamorphosed into All Peoples Party, APP, and I was elected the national secretary of the party.

Federal appointments

Subsequently, I was appointed a member for the Review of 1999 Constitution. I was a member of National Lottery Commission and have meritoriously served in several other federal government boards. Despite all these, I am still politically active both in my local government and my autonomous community –Ochii Ogwa.

As a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, how do you see the future of the party in Imo State and the national level?

Despite the fact that PDP shot itself in the leg during the 2015 general elections, as some of their members betrayed the confidence reposed in them, by selling out. The party is still strong and futuristic. However, the party stakeholders must wean themselves of this toga of arrogance and unbridled power tussle. Take the case of Imo State during the 2014 gubernatorial primaries, in which 27 aspirants contested for one position. How do you check mate bickering, hatred, sabotage and conspiracy among those that lost out? It is natural; another problem of PDP is lack of internal democracy. We must get it right from the onset. We must jettison hijacking of delegates list and embrace internal democracy.

Imagine! What happened in Imo State during 2014 gubernatorial primaries? They were 27 aspirants in PDP who wanted to be the party’s gubernatorial candidate for the 2015 governorship poll. Can you imagine how 27 men eminently qualified and were desperately eyeing for one position. Their desperation caused ‘katakata’ in the party, to the extent that Hon. Emeka Ihedioha’s group felt they won the primary, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume’s group also claimed victory for the governorship primary, while Chief Ikedi Ohakim’s group also claiming that their man won the primary. The other 24 aspirants became aggrieved as they claimed the election was manipulated to favour an underserved aspirant. Coalition and opposition was formed here and there and within the party. This was the genesis of failure. There was disintegration in all the ranks and files of the party. Many aggrieved members betrayed the party by secretly working against the party’s mission.

How do you expect a party whose foundation was destroyed before an election to win the election? The split in PDP was the only antidote the party needed to fail in the election. Agreed, that PDP shot itself in the leg, it is imperative for Nigeria to be a healthy democratic nation, it must operate within the confines of two political parties, such that in governance they will alternate. As a politician and an elder statesman, I advocate for two strong party system and the political parties will alternate in terms of governance and for healthy democratic purposes. I am quite convinced that if we allow the two strong political parties to run the affairs of the nation and by alternating, Nigeria will experience rapid transformation and infrastructural developments.

The smaller political parties will naturally fizzle out, but if they don’t, they will remain there like in Britain apart from Labour and Conservatives parties, there are other smaller political parties including constitutionally approved independent candidature status. The same thing is applicable in America. Despite all that happened, the good news is that Nigeria now have two strong political parties-PDP and APC. Once these party’s are strong, they can always alternate in governance.

It is like the nation is tilting towards two party systems, what are the benefits to Nigeria?

Nigeria is already tilting towards two party systems. It reduces rancour and acrimony; secondly, it is very easy to manage. I may not like PDP today; I may have my grudges for not liking PDP, I have every right to move to APC. In Nigeria, politicians do not believe in political ideology but rather satisfaction of selfish interest. Thus, if I don’t like PDP, I can easily move to APC and be accepted. The more people are in APC, the party will definitely win and PDP people will start looking for why people left their party and joined APC. In so doing, they will build strong and virile political party. The implication is that any party entrusted with power by the electorate will be extremely careful so that in the next election they will not be voted out, and the alternative party will become stronger and controls the vote. It inculcates the culture of checks and balances.

Do you foresee PDP repositioning again?

Yes, I have earlier said that I foresee the emergence of two strong political parties in 2015. The two party systems will be made up of PDP and APC. One party may win today; the other party may win tomorrow. The extent of constructive criticism is for the benefit of the people. No one party will go into comatose forever, if they go into comatose today, you see them resurrecting tomorrow as vibrant political party. If you are struggling over something you, may lie low, close your eyes and sleep, that is what people referred as comatose, when the other political party start making mistakes the perceived docile political party will then resurrect. This is what will bring up PDP. APC at present has as its slogan –change, if they make mistakes PDP will catch on it and run them down.

Talking about change, APC has been in government for over five weeks now, is there any hope that change will take place?

Yes, there are elements of change the government is tackling but people who are not politicians want much more than what we have seen so far, though human beings are different, the president has its own characteristics endless ideas of change. APC as a political party coined the word change and you know, it is what the people wants him to bring about, but it seems to me, that he is taking his time to bring out the change mostly needed. People are of the view that the expected change is not fast enough to enable them enjoy the dividend of democracy. President Muhammadu Buhari has his style of approaching change and he is taking his time, as a politician, if you look inside, you will see what is coming. The president has gone into civil service, the president is tackling corruption in NNPC and other sectors, and it will not end one day. His inputs so far, have forced the civil service to start re-organizing itself. He has set up so many committees for re-engineering, re-organization and re-strategizing and everybody is working to ensure sanity and discipline. These things are strategic sanitization. People are now cleansing their table and doing the right thing. The era of chasing people here and there using EFCC or other anti-corruption agencies are gone. People are conscious now not to be a victim of corruption and this is great.

He has in a subtle way told Hajj Commission to sanitize itself and the commission has toe the line of sanity by being focused and patriotic. These things are not for nothing, look at what he is doing in education sector, it is pure purging and sanitization. I am quite convinced that with time he is going to touch all areas of our political existence and everybody will sit up. He has started fighting corruption headlong and doggedly. It may not be the way people want it, what the people wants to hear is that, today, EFCC and ICPC have thrown so and so into jail, tomorrow EFCC and police are pursuing…The world is now digital and I think the President is on course. He is sanitizing the system without coming after the people but he is directly and indirectly purging the people of indiscipline and corrupt practices. He is strategically putting in all the people he wants to use and achieve his aim. I am convinced the president is doing something to ensure positive change.

He is tactically re-organizing INEC and Directorate of State Security services. Though people are complaining that the head of DSS is from his home town, I asked them? What is wrong about that? Do you hand over your security to somebody you can never vow for?

It is as if you have given kudos to the administration Buhari, let us come home, what is your assessment of the second term administration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha?

Well, it just started. The thing comes from Abuja and landed here at the state. Governor Okorocha has made his administration mantra known. He said, this time around he will focus on industrialization and Job creation. We have to be patient and watch him, since he is not going to embark on too many projects. We are watching how he is going to realize the policy trust of his administration and it will be in the overall interest of the people.

If you were President Muhammadu Buhari what will be your priority?

Honestly, my priority would have been the same things President Buhari have prioritized. These are fighting corruption and instituting probity and accountability, protecting the lives and properties by ensuring efficient and qualitative security. Nigerians must sleep with their two eyes closed and corruption which has been a bane must be tackled headlong. The populace as a matter of right must enjoy social services and social amenities.

As an institution, how will you like to be remembered?

I think this time around, I am at the verge of ending my political career. I would love to be remembered, the way I see myself being remembered now. I am one man if I accept a responsibility; I will do it with the best of my ability and most often that best of my ability is in the overall interest of the people. I don’t tell lies. I am forthright in all I do and people have know me for that and thus why they always say if Abamaragu is here, it wouldn’t have been like that. This is because; I say it the way it is no matter whose ox is gored. I will be pleased to be remembered as one time politician in Imo State that was upright, fearless, that spoke his mind and not partisan in pursuing a course. I worked for the people and see things the way a true elder statesman should see things.