A former member of the House of Representatives and one time National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party before his defection to the All Progressives Congress, Bernard Mikko, spoke with Punch on the rift between the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and Senator Magnus Abe, among other issues
The defection of most members of the Ali Modu Sheriff-led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress seems to have lent credence to claims that all of you were actually running errands for the APC then. What is your reaction?
In politics, one is guided largely by interest and conviction of purpose. The issue of errands for a paymaster in political calculations has been undermined by the conflict of interest and feud between various political godfathers and their godsons. If you look at the history of the emergence of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the PDP chairman, you will understand that he acted in good faith and in the belief of democracy for our dear country. He is not a political lackey. The allegation that he nursed a presidential ambition has now been proven wrong with Senator Ahmed Makarfi picking the PDP’s presidential nomination forms. We left the PDP after we were unfairly treated following the Supreme Court judgment that put the Makarfi people in charge. The rest is now open for political analysis and debate. Our reason for seeking another political platform is legitimate and in consonance with the extant laws in Nigeria, contrary to the defection of some National Assembly members that is currently raising some legal ripples.
That means that your group would have sold the PDP to the APC by now if you had been vindicated by the Supreme Court verdict?
Politics as a behavioural system might not be too easy to speculate, particularly posing this type of hypothetical question of whether Nigeria would have been better off without oil. Or that one geographical part of the country would have been better or worse off without the other. If the judgment had gone in our favour, the situation today in the party would have been otherwise, stronger and more grassroots oriented without the kind sole proprietorship that is evident today.
Which of the APC factions in the state are you backing to produce the APC governorship candidate?
In the run up to PDP governorship primary in 2014, I advocated a power rotation as entrenched in the PDP party constitution and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) that one Senatorial District can neither hold nor switch the two most important offices of governorship and ministerial positions under any rational guise. While the PDP is still unrepentant and will continue with the impunity of foreclosing the governorship ticket, there appears to be a glimmer of hope for the APC in Rivers. This is because the aspirants that have collected and submitted their nomination forms for the APC governorship primaries in Rivers are from the senatorial districts other than that of Governor Nyesom Wike and the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi. But beyond that, there are allegations that the duo (Magnus Abe and Dakuku Peterside) may dictate, enhance and facilitate the pace of the emergence of all the elected and political office holders within and outside the state. An allegation if true, pundits will see and condemn as undemocratic, unfair and repugnant to the laws.
Between Dakuku Peterside and Senator Magnus Abe, who do you think deserves to fly the party’s ticket?
Both Senator Abe and Peterside are from the South East Senatorial District that has never produced a governor since the creation of the state in 1967. I am also from the South East Senatorial District running for the Senate. Both of them are eminently qualified. Dakuku ran on APC ticket in the 2015 governorship election and if anything in the social media is to be believed, Peterside has thrown his support for another candidate from the West Senatorial District being promoted by the Minister of Transportation.
Does the APC actually have any hope where you have an incumbent that has been described as ‘Mr. Project’?
The claim of the incumbent being Mr. Project is a ruse. A media stunt to obscure an apparent failure. Was the struggle by the ANC and the incarceration of the late Nelson Mandela for 27years in South Africa about the debate on projects in that country? Impunity and lack of respect for the rule of law is the bane of our development as a nation. As you know, human dignity, self worth and value system is beyond self-aggrandisement of individuals as moral icons and representatives of our basic political institutions. This must stop and our political systems should revolve around institutions rather than individuals or groups if we are to progress positively as a state. The Ogoni agitation for a sustainable environment has taken a global dimension that cannot be obliterated with brigandage, mischief or local politics. Shell was declared persona non grata in Ogoni land because of environmental degradation and injustice, not for non provision of ephemeral amenities brandished as projects. Are the children or family of the governor or his commissioners attending public schools, hospitals or drinking from the water borehole they constructed?
What has Rivers benefited from the APC Federal Government since 2015?
APC is in opposition in Rivers State and the ruling PDP in the state is doing everything to paint the efforts of the Federal Government in dark shadows. For me as an Ogoni man, the issue of environmental degradation is very crucial to our survival and the APC led Federal Government has demonstrated encouraging capacity to address the concerns raised in the UNEP Report on Ogoni land. There is the commencement of work on Bodo/Bonny littoral road that the PDP started since but was completely abandoned by the last PDP led Federal Government. Sometimes, political benefits that will stand the test of time may be largely intangible. Upholding the rule of law is one important benefit of democracy and the last PDP led Federal Government is known for impunity, brigandage and recklessness.
What roles are expected from Rotimi Amaechi in the state as elections draw nearer to facilitate victory for the APC?
To my knowledge, Rotimi Amaechi is not contesting any election and his role is nothing than what is provided for any senior party official or leader. He is expected to invigorate party spirit and enthusiasm among party faithful through inclusive consultation, equity and justice. He should ensure a transparent election process and refrain from imposition of any preferred candidate. As a leader, he should be fair to all without malice.
