Bishop Joseph Ighalo Edoro is an Edo State-born cleric and public affairs commentator. In this interview with EJIKEME OMENAZU, he speaks on the recent arraignment of minors over the August 1 to 10 nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests, the coming Ondo State governance election and the Rivers State crisis, among other crucial issues. Excerpt:
How do you see the outrage that greeted the arraignment of 144 protesters, including 32 minors on charges of terrorism and mutiny over the August 1 t0 10 #EndBadGovernance nationwide peaceful protest?
The outrage was justified. The features and characters emanating from the arraignment made it look highly obnoxious. It was obvious that somewhere, somehow, mistakes were made. Good a thing that following the outrage, the government and its agencies listened to the outrage of the people. I give kudos to the President and the Attorney General of the Federation for listening to the people. I give them a plus for they did not allow the matter to linger. Nigeria of the past government could have been recalcitrant and stubborn and might not want to retrace their steps. But these agencies, having realised their mistakes and the magnanimity of the president, I implore the Attorney General of the Federation to convince the president to invoke the prerogative of mercy and release all the detained protesters. Let it be like a warning to them like a father. I want the government to stem the tide of protests. Government should devise more acceptable and polite ways of handling issues that bother the people. There is so much hunger, suffering and frustration in the land. There is so much hate. There is mass injustice, man’s inhumanity to man. Now, people want to cheat each other because they want to survive. So, the government has to be more polite in dealing with the people. In Lagos, during the #ENDSARS Anniversary, the State Commissioner of Police was sharing for the people. That is a human way of dealing with protesters. My appeal is for the president to instruct the Attorney General of the Federation to enter a nolle prosequi for the other detainees in different parts of the country. No government will entertain treasonable felony as long as these features are inherent in the action. But the president should show mercy.
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It is said that about 2,000 youths who took part in the August 1 to 10 protests are still being held In parts of the country or are being charged for treason. What is your view over this development?
I am not aware that they are up to 2,000.that is colossal. But, if it is so, the same way that the president has stretched his hands to the minors, he should stretch his hands to the other detainees across the country. Hardship should not be an excuse to be atrocious.
What is your take on the frequent collapse of the national grid within this year, thereby putting the nation in total darkness?
When the national grid collapses, the first thing to look for is sabotage. It is a serious matter for the national grid to collapse. The national grid has collapsed for between seven and nine times this year. This is serious. There must be sabotage somewhere. Although people feel that the government is bad, there are people who want to sabotage it. You cannot ascribe it to negligence of the government on lack of budgetary provisions. This is sabotage. The question is: Who is sabotaging the agency and to discredit the government? People should explain why the national grid is breaking down. This is treasonable. So, the government should fish out those sabotaging the national grid. The national grid should be a no-go area. If you sabotage it, it is treason.
What is your take on the controversies in the oil and gas sector since the coming of Dangote Refinery and the continued rise in the prices of products?
The issue of fuel hike, Dangote Refinery, NNPCL, oil marketers, oil cabals and their surrogates is too sublime and too esoteric for me to comment on it is a case of abracadabra, the more you look, the less you see. Personally, I do not understand it any more. What I understand as a fuel buyer is that it is too painful that the amount I used to buy almost 20 litres is what I use to buy only five litres now. I would like to call on Mr. President, not only to allow the proliferation of refineries, but also ensure that the existing four refineries owned by the country should work. The idea of a monopoly in a critical sector that would be likened to the national grid, should not be allowed. Mr. The President should use his office to cause a renewed turn-around of the existing refineries. They have given several dates, which they could not fulfil despite all the funds pumped into the repairs. I know the president can do it. I would like to call on Mr. President to use the same way and manner electricity efficiency could be credited to him with the different Bans and provision of energy, let him use the same way to take the issue of oil and gas to save Nigerians from more hardship.
You are one of the citizens that were worried about the Edo State governorship election. Now that the election has been on and lost would you say you were disappointed by the outcome?
I want to say the outcome was a disappointment. I said then that God knew the winner. All I wanted was for peace to reign before, during and after the election. I am happy that there was no fighting, no rancor. A winner was declared and the aggrieved has gone to court. The outgoing governor is cooperating with the transition committee. I believe that the handover will be peaceful. That does not mean that the agrie ed will ot go to court because that has become the norm in the country.
Would you say the coming Ondo governorship election will go the way of the Edo election?
I am too disappointed with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the conduct of elections. I have told myself not to be making comments on Nigerian elections. I watched the American election. There was positive conduct of officials and the efficiency of their machines. Both the Democrats and Republicans has problems. They did not escalate them. Rather, they resolved the problems. They were together. In less than 24 hours, the result is known. In Nigeria, it is either the ballot boxes are snatched, or the BVAS or IREV are not working. Papers and figures are manipulated. iNEC has to learn and the politicians too have to learn. I know we are still learning. But, we can do better. I appreciate hard work. But, INEC can do better. Danguje, the APC National Chairman has said they will take Ono. Let us see how the election will go.
How do you see the results of the local government elections in parts of the country where the ruling parties in the state always sweep the polls, except in Rivers and Abia?
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It has always been the tradition. It is the governors that constitute the State Independent Electoral Commissions. So, there is nothing spectacular about the ruling patties in the states sweeping the council elections. The victory of the Action Peoples Party (APP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in Abia State are political arrangements made by the governors. The reasons for those arrangements will soon be made visible as we march towards the 2027 general elections. For mushroom parties to wake up one day to sweep local government elections in states where they were unknown are political arrangements.
Talking about Rivers State. Do you think the political crisis in the state could be resolved? If so, how?
There is no issue that cannot be resolved. It is the Rivers people that are suffering the brunt of Nyesom Wike and Siminalaye Fubara crisis. The fight is due to power and resource control. But, I just wish that Wike will remember that Rivers is his home state. The finger of Wike that is deliberately seen in the problems associated with Rivers State does not tell good of Wike and his people. There Is no substitute for peace. I call on Wike and Fubara to make peace. I urge Rivers elders not to take sides. Wike should allow Fubara to rule. Whatever is due to Wike should be given to him. I call on clergymen in Rivers to pray for the state. Only prayer can stop the Armageddon that is about to happen in Rivers.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which both Wike and Fubara claim to be members, seems helpless in the Rivers crisis. Why is it so?
It is sad that we do not know which party is in control of Rivers State. wike is still claiming to be in PDP, although he is working in the APC federal Government as a minister. PDP knows that legally, Wike is still their member. That is why they cannot sanction him. So, PDP is helpless and handicapped; absolutely helpless.
Do you think that the Rivers crisis can be resolved through judicial pronouncements of the courts?
It is all about the political fight. It is unfortunate that the court judgements are not coherent. Anyone that approaches the courts, the courts grant the requests without considering the effects of their judgments or rulings on the people. So, court judgments cannot resolve the Rivers crisis.
What do you think the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) should do about all these conflicting court judgments on Rivers State?
The fate of Rivers State is now in the Appeal and Supreme Courts. The resolution of the Rivers crisis is not only on political and judicial platforms. It should also be on tribal platforms. Lt statesmen in the country rally round Rivers and resolve the matters out of court.
