No cause for alarm, Jonathan is coming back – Omisore

■ Says APC is full of noise makers

Senator Iyiola Omisore recently spoke on the current political is­sues, especially the struggle be­tween PDP and APC for the soul of the South-West. He believes that, in spite of the “noises from APC”, his party, PDP will recover lost states. Among other issues, he also talked on the controversies dogging Gen Muhammadu Buhari’s certificates and the place of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in the coming elections.

He spoke to TUNDE THOMAS.

Excerpt:

The general elections are around the corner, how would you rate the chances of President Goodluck Jona­than and Namadi Sambo getting block votes from the South-West?

For all human thinkers, and those who real­ly appreciate what has been done by the Jon­athan administration, what he has done in the last six years, no past administrations had done such. Look at the transformation in the rail sec­tor. For the first time in over 30 years, trains are back on the tracks. What about the agric sector – look at positive transformation in that sector. Farmers are now smiling to the bank. Fertilisers are being provided farmers without fears or stress. This was unlike the past when some middlemen and syndicates diverted fer­tilizers and prevented them from getting to the farmers.

What about the power sector? We should be honest and humble enough to give credit to whom it is due. I believe common sense will prevail, and Nigerians would re-elect Jonathan for a second term. I have no doubt that Jona­than will win the election.

Those who are using Boko Haram to cam­paign, that is APC, are making a mistake. You don’t use terrorism to campaign. It is wrong. When you use terrorism to campaign, you are not being patriotic. It is very saddening that APC could be using issue of terrorism to cam­paign. Terrorism issue is not limited to Nigeria. United States of America is facing challenges in that area. What about Algeria that is even an Islamic country, it took them about 18 years to tackle the problem.

APC is just trying to cause confusion – you don’t use terrorism to campaign. If you know how to combat terrorism or any advice to give, why not give it to the Council of State? APC is desperate. APC is synonymous with Boko Haram and Boko Haram has endorsed them, and that is why the party is using Boko Haram to campaign. Why do you want to use the lives of people to campaign?

Still talking about the South-West, APC is firmly in control of many states, and with the crisis in PDP, especially the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s issue, do you think PDP still stands a chance to make impact?

Look at what happened in Osun State, the revelations during the tribunal sitting, we had the highest number of votes in all the local government areas, based on genuine votes, there is no way Aregbesola can win Osun State for Buhari; Jonathan will win there. PDP will carry the day, so also in other states of the South-West. After the election of last year, APC had gone worse in Osun State. I don’t see Buhari scoring 25 per cent votes in Osun State. Our people are tired of APC. APC is just making noise.

Some people are saying that with­out genuine reconciliation and taking Obasanjo’s factor into consideration, it will be an uphill task for PDP to make the desired impact in South-West?

I don’t want to talk about Obsanjo. Baba has only one vote to cast on the day of election. He is also entitled to his own opinion. He is not only a leader in his own right but also a statesman.

I think Baba will vote for PDP forget what­ever crisis or grievances. Before the election, I believe all the right things that would facil­itate Jonathan’s re-election would have been done. There is no cause for alarm. Jonathan is coming back. Nigerians will cast their votes for him. Many Nigerians will see the realities before the day of the election, and that at the end, commonsense will prevail.

Talking about crisis, even your par­ty in Osun State is embroiled in crisis between the state chairman and the publicity secretary, what is being done to resolve the crisis?

What crisis is that one? Between who and who? What you are talking about is not an is­sue at all. There is no crisis in our state chap­ter. The differences between two persons you mentioned have been resolved. It is our oppo­nents that are making noise about the matter. It is not an issue at all.

With the election fast approaching, there are tension and fears. What is your take?

What I find disturbing is the attack on the president’s campaign entourage in Kaduna, Bauchi and one or two other states. There is no need for violence. Do your own campaign, and let your opponent also do his own. Live and let live. Don’t force anybody to go your own way. Buhari has come to the South to campaign and nobody has attacked him.

I want to implore the leadership of APC to stop all forms of gangsterism. I don’t know why APC is desperate as if all their lives de­pend on this election. The election is not sup­posed to be a do-or-die affair.

What is your reaction to the post­ponement?

I don’t know what the law says about it. But what I want to tell Nigerians that my party is ready for the polls. My position is that INEC should ensure that Nigerians collect their PVCs.

What is your reaction to the ongoing controversy over the issue of General Buhari’s certificate?

Two things are clear, General Buhari per­jured. He admitted this himself. There is noth­ing like assumption in law, when he said he assumed that result was somewhere. Second­ly, he claimed that he sat for Hausa Language in Cambridge examination in 1961 whereas Cambridge incorporated Hausa Language into its examination in 1964.

This mean that Buhari has been benefitting from this country and ruling it illegally. Buhari is not fit to rule Nigeria, but because he sur­rounds himself with certificate forgers…we all still remember Chicagogate scandal. These people are birds of the same feather, they are not fit to rule this country.

So, what should he do?

Ideally, Buhari should withdraw from the race. But this is Nigeria; people would not do what they are supposed to do when they have been found on the wrong side of the law. It is sad that Nigerians have forgotten so soon some of Buhari’s past misdeeds.

He was the one responsible for brain drain when he proscribed Nigerian Medical Asso­ciation (NMA). Buhari, as Head of State, was a draconian ruler. After NMA’s proscription, many professionals started leaving Nigeria in search of greener pastures abroad. What about retroactive decrees his regime promulgated, which led to some Nigerians being executed? Nigerians have short memory, if not, there is no basis for anybody to support Buhari’s pres­idential bid.

How do you see the peace pact signed by Jonathan and Buhari?

It is a good development. In a country where people are destroying billboards and attack­ing people, it is sad. But the peace accord is already failing because APC is going against it, and by the time PDP reacts, there will be problem. Nobody or group has monopoly of violence. Buhari and his co-travellers in APC should be of good behaviour. They should let Nigeria be. Nigeria will survive all of us.

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