Buhari must deliver on his promises or…, Niger Delta activist

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.