Prof. Ihechukwu Madubuike, a respected scholar, author, and two-time minister, discusses the 2023 elections and its disappointments, Dr. Alex Otti’s task as Abia State governor-elect, and Nigeria’s leadership load in this Sunday Sun interview. Excerpt:
Rate the 2023 elections and your satisfaction.
Nigeria’s democracy reached a new low in 2023. It disappointed me, many locals, and our international friends. Unfulfilled promise, electoral umpire charged. It will take time to rebuild this country’s excitement and anticipation, especially among youth. The regression is unsatisfactory, with a 10–20% voting turnout. INEC’s unconstitutional election has eroded trust and credibility. I have never seen such voter suppression, ethnic profiling, outright threats, violence, and intimidation. I assumed the great BVAS would bring about a free, fair, and transparent election, boost voter confidence, and unite this country. Another hope varied.
How do you feel about Communication Minister Lai Mohammed accusing Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi of treason?
Accusers must justify. Our money cannot be used to promote a political agenda worldwide. Minister Lai Mohammed is not a member of the DSS, Directorate of State Services, or any intelligence body that investigates and punishes crimes. His platform? INEC’s attorney-at-law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria spokesman explains what transpired. He and Prof Yakubu Mahmood sold their goods at Chatham House, London, to win global acclaim.
It’s pointless. They accomplished it without Lai Mohammed. The President-elect, Tinubu, walked to Chatham House without the Hon. Minister of Information. Treason is attempting to assassinate or overthrow a sovereign. Treason isn’t propaganda. It’s harmful. Accusers should offer facts and proof. The Hon. Minister has done none of them, and the Federal Government is still navel-gazing.
What should the next government’s agenda be?
In judicial hesitation, I have no advice for the new administration. Rushing where angels dread would be foolish.
Senate president is heating up. Should it be zoned Southeast?
The seat should be designated to the Southeast if the proper senator can be found. The zone has four Senate presidents under Obasanjo. The zone’s verdict? Positions aren’t for boasting, and Senate Presidents should not be tokens.
Finally, Abia’s governor-elect is Dr. Alex Otti. Can he change Abia?
Sure. Alex Chioma Otti can revive Abia State. Every good Abia citizen expects that. He must be combat-ready to resist entrenched interests that will infiltrate his government and insist on doing things the old way. To clean up years of mismanagement, we must all back him to stay on the noble path of transformative leadership. No blame game or nitpicking.
This work is time-sensitive, so focused leadership only has time for that. We’re behind. Youth are eager to channel their energies. Aba needs startup infrastructure. Tech infrastructure requires broadband optics. I’ve seen several IT people on his transition team that can assist in driving the manufacturing revolution. He’ll uphold his promise of a lean, wise government. Make Aba smart. And generate enough internal revenue to fund its renewal projects, including energy infrastructure and other growth variables to attract foreign direct investment and inflows. We’re told Ulona Farm can be profitably renovated.
Palm output earns more than crude oil on the global market. Isuochi cashews grow easily. Otti raises the bar. Aba gives our traders a sea route, making trading more straightforward. Abia State higher education needs emergency treatment. The Abia State University and Polytechnic are often in the news, usually for undesirable reasons. Both have lost certification many times and have not paid salaries for months. Recently, those who should know better have unilaterally raised school fees. For individuals who respect education, this is unacceptable. The Abia State administration’s rot affects our schools. To improve national education achievement, I suggest a summit.
Are Nigerians criticising the courts lately?
The esteemed late Judge Chukwudifu Oputa said justice must be fair and even-handed. Partiality defies fairness. Perception is extremely close to reality, and the prevailing perception is that some temple of justice output is unfair. Two competent courts rendering opposing verdicts on the same matter? We sing “As the Court pleases” as we exit the sacred rooms. We continue to believe that the Supreme Court is infallible, although the justices are human. That position presupposes justice, a moral principle of right and wrong, cannot be cast on marble. It defies belief. I’m a layman who’s sought legal redress.
Delays in judicial judgements are another criticism. Justice delayed is justice denied is a cliché. The public is powerless. Nigeria’s slow judicial procedure tends to undermine its integrity and credibility. I urge our judges to be well-educated and moral. Their judiciary must be honest. According to the Socratic dictum, even when people think the law is an ass, they must not perceive bad and pretend it is good. Even if “ass” is pejorative, nobody wants to be one.
As I stated above, some contradicting assessments need to be clarified for the public and should not. The hen’s confusion is like the sky fart.
How do you feel about ethnic profiling in some areas?
Ethnic profiling sets up genocide. Hate speech fuels it, degrading the devil without elevating the traducer. Tarzan, the King of the Jungle, would resort to ethnic bloodshed.
Thus, to remain indivisible, we must fight ethnic profiling and religious bigotry. What occurred in Lagos during the previous election is a path to perdition and must be stopped. In the absence of dialogue, violence reigns. “In a period of widespread lying, stating the truth is a revolutionary act,” wrote George Orwell. We must be honest with ourselves and the persecutors. We may avoid Baldwin’s “Fire Next Time” or The Road to Kigali.
1884, like Animal Farm, is Orwellian. Dickens’ realism masterpiece, A Tale of Two Cities, predicted the French Revolution. State takeover threatens citizen liberty and fundamental rights.
Ultimately, a German protestant pastor, Martin Niemoller, warned against apathy in a motivating poem:
They targeted Communists first.
As a non-Communist, I kept quiet.
I didn’t speak out when they came for the socialists because I wasn’t one. I didn’t speak out when they went after trade unionists because I wasn’t one. I kept quiet when they came for the Jews because I wasn’t one. They took me, and no one spoke for me.
What’s your take on the nation’s leadership crisis?
Leadership entails morality. Nigerian leaders must be moral. Morality governs right and wrong. As I said, anyone who sees good and chooses evil is degenerate and should not lead. Setting goals and standards to avoid a dystopian society is difficult. Power acquisition and management require constant improvement.
