Usman Adams is a veteran journalist, public affairs analyst and media consultant based in Abuja. He started his journalism career with the Jos-based Nigeria Standard Newspaper in 1972. He later joined the Federal Ministry of Information and served in various capacities before retiring from the Federal Civil Service as a Deputy Director. The Benue chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in 2013 gave him an award as a recognition for his immense contributions to the growth of journalism in the state. Recently, he spoke with our correspondent, Bode Olagoke, on some national issues and the situation in his home state, Benue. Excerpts:
Let’s start with what you think about the general situation of the country?
Since I started my journalism career in 1972, I have been writing about certain issues that have transpired in the country and I have always believed our respective political leaders whether at the federal or state levels, have always tried to do their best to contribute to the improvement of the lives and general well-being of the citizens. But it does appear, as most Nigerians, can see that their best has not turned out to be good enough for the country. However, today we seem to have a unique opportunity in the current leadership for the country to have a new lease of life.
Can you please explain further?
The general election of 2015 must be regarded as the turning point in the life of this nation. Firstly, this is the first time in our political history that an opposition party has been able to defeat a sitting government which gladly and gracefully conceded to a defeat.
Secondly the head of this new government has been adjudged by most meaningful and reasonable Nigerians as a man of integrity without a tinge of corruption. At the age of 72, this is a man who most reasonable Nigerians believe that does not seek anything for himself and that he has come to salvage a country that was heading for a precipice and this has also been acknowledged by members of the international community who are ready and willing to help the country in overcoming its political and economic problems.
But let us talk about the current situation like the ministerial nomination. Do you think President Buhari has got it right in the people he has chosen?
It must be pointed out that even if President Buhari brings angels from heaven as nominees those who see nothing good in him as a person or by an extension in his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), will still criticise him. I personally do not see what is wrong with people nominated in that list. I must also say that I am worried that people from a certain part of the county who vehemently opposed him before the election are still vigorously opposing his government and I must say that the media are not helping matters.
The press for example is being manipulated by some politicians through where views are taken as licence to castigate the government in whatever steps it takes without thoroughly digesting such steps. For example, some radio stations through their presenters in the name of certain programmes have continued to get all manners of opinion which are mostly expressed by some callers against the government of the day. Many reasonable Nigerians are worried that certain questions being asked by these presenters in such programmes are aimed at a pre-determined views be canvassed by these callers. In the name of press freedom, people are being continuously maligned and slandered.
It does appear that many of these presenters are not always fair-minded in the way and manner they handle some of these programmes. For why some callers are allowed to call several times and sometimes giving enough time to express their views others who express opinions favourable to government are not given similar treatment. And I don’t know how long this type of situation will be allowed to continue.
What do you foresee will happen on Tuesday (today) when the Senate begins the screening of ministerial nominees?
All reasonable Nigerians expect that all the nominees will be passed without exception. These are the people the president believes that he can work with. Many people are criticising the president for the long wait. But I believe, as most knowledgeable Nigerians do, that the period of the long wait was used to enable the president think more deeply the antecedents of these people. In any case, most of the nominees have been known to him for quite some time now and he believes they will help him to carry the country to the next level he envisions.
Are you happy with the nominee from your home state, Benue?
I have personally known Chief AuduOgbe before he was even appointed minister in 1982 by ex-President Shehu Shagari, He is a man of integrity and impeccable character and probably one of the most qualified in the group of the nominated ministers. It would be recalled that when the military overthrew the government of President Shehu Shagari in December 1983, Audu Ogbe was the only minister that was not found wanting and, therefore, was not detained like others. Anybody who has any misgivings about Chief Innocent Audu Ogbe perhaps does not know him or may not have met him before. He has all that it takes to assist President Buhari in all his notable programmes in all he may be assigned to do.
But many people have expressed concerns about nominees like Ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi who, despite all the corruption allegations against him, still got on the president’s list. What is your opinion?
In my humble and candid opinion, I believe that if anybody deserves to be a minister under president Buhari Chief Rotimi Amaechi should be number one. It is obvious to all Nigerians that a certain group of people from a particular part of the country Nigerians are vehemently determined that Amaechi must be humiliated for no other reason than the fact that he has committed a mortal sin by supporting President MuhammaduBuhari from the onset.
These groups of people used all kinds of evil machinations to opposite the candidacy of President Buhari and they are still determined that Buhari must fail in his quest to salvage the country.The President of the Senate Saraki also has allegations of wrong doing against him and he must be seen to be innocent until proven otherwise.
Consequently, no matter what quantum of allegations Governor NyesonWike may pelt Amaechi with they remain mere allegations and, therefore, should not constitute a barrier to his screening. It is obvious that the new political leadership cannot imagine a Rotimi Amaechi as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They want to see the man reduce to an ordinary citizen who cannot wield any influence in Rivers politics.
The Benue Governorship and State Assembly Election Tribunal has reaffirmed the victory of Ortom as the winner of the April 2015 polls, but the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said that they are dissatisfied with that ruling that they are heading for Court of Appeal. What is your opinion on this development?
We are in democracy and the rule of law must go full circle. If the PDP strongly feels that they have the chance, nothing stops them from going even to the Supreme Court if they so desire. But they should look at their performance under ex-Governor Gabriel Suswam and ask themselves pertinent some question: Could they have won that election given the fact that civil servant, teachers, lecturers in tertiary institutions were not paid salaries for months on end, and no meaningful infrastructural development were embarked upon by that government?
Before the election of 2015 did you foresee the APC victory in your state?
Many people strongly believed that all elections in the state before the 2015 elections were characterised by rigging until the Card Reader was introduced into the system. It was obvious to everybody who had followed the politics of Benue that the PDP was beatable at the last exercise and that was exactly what happened. But the APC should not rest on its oars because the PDP has only been scotched and not yet killed, as evidenced by the boastfulness of its members. I am just a journalist and there is a limit to what I would like to say, so that I may not be misunderstood by many of my friends and relations in the PDP.
