Dr. Tunde Elebute, Deputy Director, Crime Victims Foundation of Nigeria (CRIFON), Lagos State chapter, is a development economist, human rights promoter and public affairs commentator. In this interview with EJIKEME OMENAZU, he speaks on the recent security clamp down on the NLC President Joe Ajaero, arrest and detention of peace, the Edo and Ondo governorship elections and the crises in the nation’s oil sector, among other issues. Excerpt:
How do you see the persistent arrest and detention of the NLC president Joe Ajaero by security agencies? Why do you think the government has continued to persecute and intimidate him?
I believe the government wants to break him, or weaken him or make him afraid so that he will begin to dance to their tune. Short people like Ajaero are known to be tough. They want to box him in a corner. The real opposition to the government now is not the opposition parties, but the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).The political class has lost respect for Nigerian politicians. People jump from one party to another, especially from PDP to APC and from APC to PDP. So, to Nigerians, there is no difference between the two political parties. Thus the so-called opposition parties cannot provide viable opposition to the government. So, it is only the NLC that is the real opposition. The NLC is the only friend of the people. Besides, the opposition parties are all in crisis. It is possible that these parties have been made not to be real opposition. It is only the NLC that can call people out and Nigerians will respond. No wonder the government and security agencies are intimidating the NLC president to create fear in him and bring him to submission. It is on record that the NLC supported the recent nationwide peaceful protest. So, the government is not comfortable with the NLC and its president. However, due to all these intimidation and persecution, Ajaero deserves compensation. The Federal Government should know that if Ajaero eventually takes the Federal Government to court for the beatings, harassment and intimidation he has been receiving since the attack in Owerri till date, he will defeat the government and get a lot of compensation. .
Over 2,000 youths who took part in the recent nationwide protest are reportedly being detained while some have been charged to court for treason, as a human rights promoter, don’t you see this as a clear descent of the Tinubu administration to fascism?
I hope that Tinubu is not aware of these arrests and detentions. Tinubu himself was a protester. He led protests against Jonathan. Even Buhari was involved in protests. Tinubu is seen as a democrat. He should order the release of these detained youths and call off the trial of those one being tried for treason. When does peaceful protest become treason in NIgeria? We are not practising dictatorship. Why is the government arresting people who protested against hunger and poverty which are prevalent in the country? I hope the security agencies and those in the corridors of power are not trying to destroy the image of the president by ordering the detention of these youths to make people believe that Tinubu is anti-people. While no one supports destruction of properties, why arrest peaceful protesters against hunger? I want President Tinubu to know that those behind these arrests are not his friends. He should order the release of these young men and instruct the Attorney General of the Federation to withdraw the cases of these youths in court. It is very wrong to charge people protesting against hunger and seeking a better life for treason.
The government has so far failed to address the issues raised by the youth protesters. Rather, they have continued to tell Nigerians to be patient. Don’t you think this government and its economic team are clueless?
The truth is that the government was expected to have responded to the demands of the protesters, even if he meets them half way. Tinubu needs to rejig the Economic Team. Hey should rereview its performance. The economic team is not effective. The government should re-engineer and come up with policies that will bring a change in the economy, both in the short and long term. Things are not easy. People are not convinced that they should be patient when the government and its officials live in affluence. It is baffling that Nigerians are told to tighten their belts when the stomachs of officials are bulging. Some no longer wear belts. Government should be more frugal, spend less, conserve resources for what will benefit the generality of Nigerians and should not be spending money on things that are not important to the generality of Nigerians, and frivolities, cars, huge earnings for lawmakers.
A cross section of Nigerians have been calling for a new constitution which will provide for true federalism while others are calling for a continued review of the current constitution passed to Nigerians by the military. Where do you stand in all these?
A new constitution is better. There have been several constitutional conferences like the one convoked by Jonathan. Let the government set up a committee that will look at all these recommendations and come out with an acceptable constitution for Nigerians. The North may not want a new constitution because of oil in the south. But, they too have oil and other minerals which could be exploited for their own interest. We need a new constitution that will restructure the country and provide for resource control so that Nigeria will move forward. There should be a new constitution that should be more democratic than the current one handed down by the military.
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There are fears that the federal ‘might’ may come to play in the Edo and Ondo governorship election. With the crises that greeted the 202 general elections, don’t you see these fears as real, moreso as in the case of Edo State, the Edo Police Commissioner and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) are suspected to have been compromised?
The fear is real. No one trusts INEC headed by Mahmood Yakubu. Nyesom Wike has already threatened to cause trouble in PDP states amongst which is Edo, the other political parties which do not have federal might should work hard if they want to win. INEC should convince Nigerians that it is impartial. If not, Nigerians will lose interest in elections being conducted by this current INEC under Mahmood Yakubu.
How do you see the allegations concerning the Edo Police Commissioner and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC)?
That is what the federal ‘might’ can do. But, the people and political parties should work hard so that the election will not be stolen. If Fintiri did not fight in Adamawa, he would have lost the election due to the connivance of the state Police Commissioner and the Resident Commissioner of Police. Now, no one knows what has become of the matter. INEC and security agencies should allow free and fair elections especially in Ondo. The police and INEC should remember what happened during the Ajasin and Omoboriowo period. Ondo people are stubborn and are not to be toyed with. If their mandate is stolen, there is no extent they cannot go for it to be restored. In Edo, the APC should call Oshiomhole to order. Why should he be so abusive? At his age, why should he be so insensitive in behaviour and utterances, casting aspersions on Governor Obaseki and his wife because of their childlessness? If the APC candidate has no wife, he should get one and present her to the people before the election. That should not warrant Oshiomhole insulting Obaseki and his wife for their childlessness. If APC loses the Edo election, Oshiomhole should be blamed. He does not allow the candidate to speak to the people.
How do you see the disagreement between the Dangote Refinery, the NNPCL and oil marketers bearing in mind the recent hike in price of petroleum products?
They are playing politics with the Nigerian problem. The cabals in the oil sector are playing politics with Nigerians. They should allow Dangote to sell his oil in Nigeria. They should buy his oil and sell it to Nigerians. Nigeria is bleeding. The oil sector operators are selfish and unpatriotic. They should love. They should show love to the masses
The outpour of urchins into the streets of some Northern states brought to the fore the issue of the Almajiri. Do you think the Northern leaders are handling the issue of the Almajiri well?
The issue of the Almajiri is a shame. It is a shame that in this era, we still have the Almajiri. It is a sign of incompetence and lack of political will by Northern governors. Why can’t they be sent to schools to better their lots and the lot of the North? The Northern intelligentsia should wake up and ask their governors what they are doing with the monies and all allocations they are getting.
What is your advice to Nigerians at this period?
I will advise Nigerians not to fold their hands. They should find something to do to take care of themselves. Our people abroad do more than one job. We can do that in Nigeria. Anyone who can do more than one job should do so here in Nigeria. They should do legal things to generate income. There are prophecies and assurances that tough times do not last, but tough people last. This tough time is a battle we must win. Anyone who can employ people should do so. Some of our people abroad do odd jobs. Let Nigerians embrace odd jobs here. Work is an antidote to poverty. People should sit down and think about what they can do to defeat poverty.
