Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam is the Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), one of many leaders of the opposition events. On this interview on Channels TV monitored by Biyi Adegoroye, he speaks on the latest assembly of some politicians with former governor Nasir El-Rufai, and different nationwide points
You and a few celebration leaders met with former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai just lately. What precisely was the agenda? Are you planning a form of political alliance?
I don’t know the place urgent the pink button is coming from, politically, as a result of we determined to return collectively to debate nationwide points. This can be a new yr, and we have now reviewed what occurred in 2024, the turbulence the nation went by means of, and naturally, the form of intimidation and harassment the residents are going by means of due to expressing their views which might be at variance with the coverage of the federal government. I occurred to be a sufferer, as a result of a few of my safety aides have been withdrawn and no purpose was given.
Since when?
It occurred nearly two or three weeks in the past. I reached out to the best authority, as a result of I utilized for it and I’m entitled to it, and it was given. However there was no letter written to me, respecting why they have been withdrawn.
Do you assume this smacks of a political witch hunt?
Undoubtedly, as a result of there was no justification for that.
So, you had this safety attachment permitted for you, because the nationwide chairman of the SDP, however this has been withdrawn due to your voice of descent?
Sure. Naturally, I’m not a gutter individual. I take advantage of diplomatic language in channeling our concepts and recommendation to the federal government. I used to be not designed to be a hostile or boisterous individual when I’m passing my message. I’m a career-trained individual in politics. Those that taught me politics, just like the late Abubakar Rimi and the Cicero of Esa-Oke, Chief Bola Ige, after which Solomon Lar, all of them that I’ve met in the middle of constructing a profession, I picked the most effective out of them.
We have been skilled to be conscious of our language, and be skilled. We will disagree with the federal government. Nigeria is our nation, and we must always do every little thing so as to add worth to governance, if the federal government is prepared to hear.
Do you assume this authorities is hostile to opposition voices?
It’s shocking to me as a result of the least individual I count on to be hostile to opposition voices is the present President. They’re hostile in the true sense. If they don’t seem to be hostile, have a look at what occurred to Dele Farotimi, as a result of he raised points in a e-book, you possibly can see an aged man shedding tears, crying. It’s fairly touching. It’s unbelievable.
However Chief Afe Babalola took Farotimi to courtroom?
Look, as residents, we all know how our nation is being run. We all know the affect of presidency in a number of issues that occurs. I’ve given you my very own instance. No one ever discovered me concerned in something that’s dangerous or unlawful, possibly utilizing foul language on the chief of the nation., as a result of for those who do that it’s going to have an effect on you. It’s a must to pray on your nation; it’s a must to pray on your leaders. However you possibly can what we undergo, and all through, our contribution to this authorities have been optimistic. It’s on report.
However let me say this, the current President, let me remind him, was elected senator on the platform of the SDP in the course of the late MKO Abiola period. Two, he went to exile throughout Sani Abacha period, he got here again and have become the governor of Lagos State for eight years. So, he’s the least individual anticipated to permit some surrogates in his authorities to make use of instrument of state to harass residents. I would like the federal government to permit Nigerians to specific themselves and to not use state equipment to suppress the need of the folks.
Let’s discuss your assembly with former Governor El-Rufai…
The assembly, strategically, was to evaluate the state of affairs of the nation in 2024, and SDP was referred to as as a celebration, as an opposition celebration, with elected members within the Parliament, within the state assemblies, within the native authorities councils. So, we owe it as an obligation to have a look at areas the place issues are usually not going proper, and in addition to open the area of the celebration, and attain out to lots of people.
It’s the similar factor the All Progressives Congress (APC) did when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was misbehaving some years in the past. They regrouped they usually shaped a merger that led to the defeat of the PDP. We aren’t doing something that’s improper and I’m wondering why the brouhaha about it, as if that is the primary time we visited Nasir El-Rufai or Segun Sowunmi is a good friend who occurred to be one of many spokesmen of the PDP.
Sowunmi and I’ve fought internally to make sure decency within the PDP however we didn’t succeed. So, a few of us exited. Additionally, Al-Mustapha has been a good friend as properly. We’ve got been on this battle for a greater Nigeria, to not undermine the nation. So, inform me, any particular space the place there’s a change from Buhari’s coverage in Tinubu’s coverage? A number of the contracts with the Chinese language folks being talked about within the nation now have been signed throughout Buhari’s authorities.
Do you’re feeling that the one method the APC authorities could be challenged is thru a political alliance?
The insurance policies and programmes of the federal government will decide how the 2027 election will go. It has nothing to do with persona.
You imply that President Tinubu has the facility to alter the tide, however some folks consider that the recognition of the APC has dwindled over time due to a few of its insurance policies?
I do know that no President that was elected to serve 4 years that had points inside two years into governance, survives. Within the tenure of Jonathan, opposition began two years into his election and he misplaced re-election bid. So, the President has a crew that assesses the efficiency of this authorities and I’m certain he has the report and the President admitted that the state of affairs could be very dangerous, because of his personal insurance policies, pronouncements and so forth.
And like I’ve stated, it isn’t simply the President however when you might have cupboard members that haven’t any capability to drive a few of your insurance policies and all of that, you can not drive a nation alone because the President. It isn’t potential.
So, you assume President Tinubu doesn’t have the best folks to drive governance?
He doesn’t have them. This isn’t the primary time I’m saying this, and I’m saying this as anyone who is aware of him and who believes him when he was governor of Lagos State. I do know the form of crew he had, the crack crew that he had that had the capability to advise him and generate concepts and he succeeded, and he was proud to say he reworked Lagos State. What is occurring at present? It’s a uncommon privilege for anyone of his age to be a president of Nigeria, as a result of by assumption, anyone of about 80 years shouldn’t be searching for a automotive to drive, shouldn’t be searching for a home to sleep; shouldn’t be searching for a particular mattress of meals.
Those that are near the President say he has no want for cash, however desires to construct a legacy, and needs to be the Lin Quan Yu of Nigeria…
It isn’t about saying that. Let me remind him that Nigeria has by no means confronted this sort of financial hardship we face at present in our historical past. Nigeria has by no means misplaced their lives in quantums, in historical past the best way they’re dropping it at present. Nigeria has by no means gone by means of this uncontrollable excessive meals inflation that we’re going by means of at present, as if we don’t have a nation. Nigeria has by no means confronted a system of lack of deterrence like we’re having at present.
No less than, we noticed Obasanjo’s authorities; when it got here in, the economic system was dangerous, there was insecurity, however he was on high of the problem. Once they began in Zaki Ibiam, he crushed it and in Odi, he did the identical and the nation grew to become secure. Now, what we’re saying is that it’s a uncommon privilege for anyone of his age to be President, which signifies that his total life on that seat is to reside a legacy. Nothing greater than that and people legacies are such that may converse for him when he leaves workplace.
President Yar’Adua had a short while in workplace. He stated he got here in by means of a defective course of, admitting that one thing was improper. However this similar President knew that he inherited that has introduced us to its knees. He campaigned to right these techniques, however the resolution he took was to convey huge pains to Nigeria by eradicating subsidy.
Come to think about it, there isn’t a nation on the planet that doesn’t apply subsidy on varied sectors of the economy- on training, well being, infrastructure, all nations pay some subsidy on these. In Nigeria, subsidy was faraway from the product that God has given us.
Now they’re even speaking about a rise within the telecommunication tariff…
Sure, which the Presidency has stated it will approve of. Even the Cyber levy is there, so whenever you see all these items which might be taking place, you retain on questioning that was it that the President shouldn’t be conscious, or that some folks behind the scene are dealing with this?
I’m fearful that you’re saying this, as a result of some folks have recognized a few of Ministers like Dave Umahi, Olubumi Ojo, Wale Edun, Nyesom Wike as some progressive cupboard members which might be doing properly…Do you assume there’s a hazard concerning the crew he has?
Look, the President is aware of there’s a hazard. I’m certain he attempting to make a cupboard reshuffle.
However he has executed that…
Sure, however there are some ministers that aren’t doing properly…What Nigerians have been anticipating was that he would rejig some insurance policies of the Buhari administration, or change them. Personally, as a person, I had a number of hope for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that he would carry out significantly better than President Muhammadu Buhari, and he’s anyone that I do know and respect.
What I’m saying is that all of us want him properly, we don’t need him to fail, as anyone who has been examined and voted for. What we count on of him is to construct that legitimacy base, bridge the belief hole. There is no such thing as a coverage this authorities will convey that shall be accepted due to the belief deficit hole of this authorities.
He ought to take care of that. He ought to present Nigerians that he’s a father who desires this nation to maneuver ahead. You may’t focus every little thing on a regional foundation to create confusion, mistrust and chaos in Nigeria, that you just most likely don’t consider in constructing a cohesive nation. Your total appointments are tilted in the direction of one area. It has by no means occurred within the historical past of Nigeria.
Please observe and like us: