Chief Basil Maduka is a businessman and a governorship aspirant of the Labour Party in the 2023 Imo polls. In this interview with BODE OLAGOKE, he examines the President Bola Tinubu administration, the state of economy and why all opposition figures should join hands with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, among others.
Your party, Labour Party lost the 2023 governorship election to the incumbent Governor Hope Uzodinma in Imo state. So, what has happened since then and looking at the national economy generally under the APC?
All over the world, it is a battle for economic supremacy. The big nations in the world thrive on the strength of their economy. It is based on that economic supremacy and the comfort of their people that make them superstars. So these are part of the things that drove my aspiration of trying a way to contribute my quota in my lifetime to Nigerians and my people. Today, by the grace of God, despite the economy, we’re trying to reshape it. So, after the election, I had to go back to my business, to make sure that people working in that organization are happy. Today, looking at what is happening in Nigeria. Mr. President has been elected. Other governors have also been elected. The government has spent one year in office already. They came in with so many promises, because every politician would like to make a manifesto. Mr. President came in with his renewed hope mantra. We know where we are coming from. There was a lot of hardship and the president came on the strength that there will be renewed hope. One year has passed. President Tinubu is our president, Nigeria is owned by all of us. We are all major stakeholders, irrespective of whatever you are doing. You are part of the government. Some people might assume that oh, this is APC government. This is PDP government. And therefore seeing the other party as enemy, or, having a mentality of the winner take it all. That is why we are where we are today. But government is collectivism. Everybody wants to enjoy what you call economic prosperity, including the man driving Okada on the street wants to be happy. As an individual, a businessman and a philanthropist, I derive so much joy when I pay my staff salaries. Because they go home and they and their families are happy. Sadly, there is so much hardship in the land at the moment. This is why I deem it fit to draw the attention of Mr President that he has a very good program for Nigerians. But he needs people to drive his ideas. Only one man cannot do it alone. What makes an organization tick or any government is the team. After one year in office, it is important that it is no longer APC government, it is government of Nigeria, government of the people. He has to put smile on the faces of every Nigerian. Some of us have had wrong perception about party politics. This is PDP government. Therefore, they can do whatever they like. This is APC government. Anybody can do whatever he likes. Look at the prices of commodities in the market. Everybody is suffering. So, the hardship affects every Nigerian irrespective of party of tribe.
How effective do you think the policies of this administration have been? And then what is the prospect that we’ll get out of this economic quagmire soon?
Like I said earlier, Mr. President and his economic team came with the renewed hope mantra. The first thing Mr. President did was to remove subsidy on fuel. He was trying to make sure that there’s a lot of resources accruing to the Nigeria government’s purse. If you look at it, yes, the money is coming in. But the question is, the value of that money in the market. Does it reflect on the people? Like I said earlier, the President has good ideas, but who drives those policies, is another question. Mr. President needs technocrats. He needs people who will not say “I am APC or this APC government. Mr. President has to bring everybody together, irrespective of party. Nothing stops, Mr. President from inviting Mr Peter Obi to say “what do you have for the people. You need to support the government” Peter Obi can also go to Mr. President and say “Mr President I want to suggest this to you so that we can help our country from the current challenges”. Same with other private individuals. Just like myself. If Mr President ask me, “Mr Maduka, what do you have on the table for Nigerians, so that we can create this economic prosperity for Nigerians?, of course, I wouldn’t mind to bring in my private sector experience both in banking and oil sector. If we all come together to work in the interest of Nigeria, it is my belief that within these four years, Nigerians will be liberated.
As a chieftain of the Labour Party, what is your opinion about Obi’s style of opposition which seems to be always about criticism and criticism?
Mr Peter Obi is an individual and everybody has their perception and can only speak from that point of view. But for me, government is about collectivism. Being critical to the government, I think is better when you’re inside the house. I think opposition is better when you are in the house. So that when you are saying it, they will now know that you are contributing. If you are outside, people might not take you serious, because sometimes talk is cheap. “Oh, if I’m Mr. President, I will do this, I would have done this” but when you are given an opportunity, you know that the dynamics will change. Now, since he is not Mr. President, I think his views will be more pronounced, or will yield more fruitfulness if once in a while he visits Mr. President and say “Mr. President, I want you to try to do this or do that” because all these people want to rule is Nigerians. We want to liberate them. But only you must not be the driver. Only you cannot be the best driver. No! Anybody can drive. Some people might have their own shortcuts. Although I cannot speak for Mr Obi. But I think opposition is good when it is well channelled. You can call Mr. President and say “this program, you can add it to liberate the people of Nigeria.” I think in my opinion, it will be more meaningful.
The Labour Party is in crisis. How do you think the president should canvass for ideas from opposition leaders who have been unable to resolve their internal party issue?
Well, I think they are on it. Party crisis is always normal. In a polygamous home, there must be a fight. I think that they are trying to resolve the problem. However, what we’re talking about is Nigeria’s problem. Economic problem is not party affair. Everybody goes to the same market. The inflation is all over the place and does not wear party tag. The issue now is how do we all come together in collectivism, to see to the welfare of the Nigerian people because if everybody’s hungry, and all you are doing is criticizing, nobody will listen to you. I think Labour Party will resolve their problems. But what we’re talking about today is not a party issue. We’re talking about Nigerian people.
So what is it that you want to bring on board that you think those in the President’s current team don’t have?
If someone like me about 15 years ago, I was able to set up Virgin Group. Today I have over 100 employees in my payroll across the globe. With the little initiative I have, I believe we can contribute. Last February, the US govt through the US embassy invited my company including 5 other Nigerian company to Las Vegas for an event that had all the world’s major players in the oil industry. At that meeting, the representative from Iran, when they heard I am from Nigeria, they came and wanted to know what Mr President is doing in the oil sector reforms. I told them what My President was doing. At that point, it was not a party matter. It was the image of my country that mattered. And the image of every country matters. So as an international businessman, when such people are trying to reach Mr. President, it does not mean that it’s only a minister, or a senator, or whatever. We have the opportunity to reflect the image of our country. We also have the right information to tell Mr. President, this is what is happening in the business world, and this is the perception of the international business world about your policies and about Nigeria.
If for instance, such Iranian business interests want to invest in Nigeria, and because we met somewhere and they know the platform where we met, we can tell them come and see Mr President or this government agency. We can attract a lot of direct foreign investment to the country and I’m available for Mr President. It is also important to say that all my life I have never done any government contract. And I’m not interested. What I am interested in is how do we link up Nigeria to international economics where foreign direct investors will see our place as their destination point. So my concern is how I contribute to Nigeria. Because every government comes and goes. The coming generations will hold us accountable someday. Nobody will remember who was in opposition. They will say you people, your generation squandered Nigeria’s economy. This is why I keep saying it is wrong for a party when they are in government, they should see it as winner takes all. Or that it is an opportunity to do whatever they want. In Nigeria, anybody that God has given the opportunity to be in power should see it as an opportunity, a call to service.
You aspired for Imo election under the Labour Party, though you lost out. How would you rate the state and why did you think Labour Party lost?
I think Governor Hope Uzodimma is doing his best. And I wouldn’t mind to say Mr President please help Governor Hope Uzodimma. Because if you check, Imo state is one of the worst states hit by security challenges. The insecurity has in fact dealt with the state. The governor cannot do it alone. It requires President Tinubu must help Imo states. The governor is trying. Imo state is the only state I’ve not seen any federal direct investment.
You were very critical of Governor Hope before the elections, but you seem to have toned down. What has changed?
Well, I aspire to be Imo governor under another platform and governor Hope was running under his party platform, the APC. I had my own ideas because I was thinking that in Imo state, you hardly see companies. You see more of Hotels and Petrol stations. So, I had a different perception of governance. I was concerned with how do I use the wealth of experience and the goodwill I have to attract foreign investment in Imo state to address the joblessness of our youths. I believe the high unemployment is one of the reasons that gave rise to insecurity in the state. And as a major stakeholder in the state, I cannot just fold my hands without my contribution. Yes, he is the governor now. What we can do is to support him to making sure that the people are happy.
After a year in office, Nigerians are of the opinion that Mr President should reshuffle his cabinet and allow the ministers that are not performing to go. Do you share that opinion?
Yes of course, although, I must admit that some of them are doing very well. They are working very hard for the interests of Nigerians. But some see it as a settlement. But Mr. President, knows the capacity of the people he appointed. Because you cannot appoint somebody without knowing the person’s capacity. If they’re giving him what he wants in the interest of Nigeria, he’s the one that will assess them, but I think he need to do more. There are other people who can also do better. But if those people are giving you what you want, I think he knows what to do and if they are not, he knows what to do. He appointed them and knows their capacity. The goal he set for each minister, are they meeting up? He is the one that will assess them and appraise them. This one is not doing well. Here’s the one doing well.
So are you on your way to APC?
Well, at this point I can’t say if I’m going to APC. As I said earlier, what I’m talking about is the the economic and welfare of the people. What I expect from Mr. President is to look at Nigeria as a country where everybody is a stakeholder. He doesn’t have to look at it that the only person that can work with me is my party member. If you believe in your country, you want to liberate your people, you go outside the box. Those people criticizing, bring them. Let Nigerians watch you. That thing you said you have, let us see if it is mere talking. We can see for instance, somebody like the Minister of FCT. If you drive within Abuja, you will know that he is working. So many roads that were abandoned for years have been fixed. If you drive round the city, you will be happy that something is going on. So every government feels happy when the people are happy. So I think it’s high time for Mr. President to look outward and say it is not just party affair. It is not about which persons supported me or the tribe. Nigerians are one and our country is a great country, everybody should be part of it. Even both in appointment, both infrastructure development, irrespective of whatever. Let everybody be part of this. Because we’re Nigeria.
Would you say it’s because you have no stand in any of the parties that’s why Labour Party lost in Imo state?
No, not at all. Remember, Basil Maduka was a major financial of the Labour Party. The slogan back then was our party doesn’t give shishi. But how can you win election without money. When I wanted to run for governorship, I saw that it will be very huge for me to finance the entire 27 Local Government. What I did was I went back and took my Owerri Zone. If you check, it is only Owerri zone that produced a Senator and a Federal House Representatives member as well as House of Assembly. It was a magic done by someone, Sir Basil Maduka. Go to Orlu zone, no senator there. I didn’t have to wait for Mr Peter Obi, I had to do something.