Senator Mohammed Salami Ohiare represented the Kogi central senatorial district of Kogi state in the National Assembly from 2003-2007. In this interview with OYIBO SALIHU, the former lawmaker speaks on the social degeneration among Ebira youths , the lack of political direction in Ebira land, alleged crisis within the APC and also describes the national confab as self- serving
Decadence among youth in Kogi central senatorial district
I discovered that there is a serious problem in the central senatorial district where I hail from. This was as a result of accumulated deficiency in the society. That is deficiency in cultural degradation and lack of respect for our societal values. In any society, there is what we call customs and tradition. The custom goes with moral standard and anything that goes against moral standard is taboo. But in our society today, all those values have almost completely gone because during our days as youth, there were standards and it was the parents that would rebuke you if you went against those standards, one of which is respect for elders. But today, there is gross breakdown in morals where elders are denied their rightful position in the society.
Addressing political crisis in the senatorial district
When I am talking of political development in the central senatorial district of Kogi State, we are at the lowest ebbs as a result of gradual degradation process right from the time of Igbera Tribal Union (ITU). After that, came the military and then the emergence of NPN, GNPP and the rest of other political parties.
During these periods, our people never properly regulated themselves.
They were copying the happenings in other states and those states we are busy copying are more civilized and politically conscious. They also have very rich traditional values. Our paramount traditional institution is more or less an aberration to our culture because we don’t have permanent ruler in our area before the coming of colonial leaders.
Attah Omadivi was the first paramount ruler, followed by Attah Ibrahim Onoruoyiza preceded by the Ohinoyi of Ebira land, Ahaji Muhammed Omolori, whereas, in some ethic groups, they are talking of 15 to 20 descendants.
There are strange cultural incursions into our society today. These tendencies have started affecting us negatively. Even our cultural values in the recent time, have ruptured to the extent that outsiders have noticed that we don’t have respect for elders in our society.
All these tendencies have really taken us backward in all aspect of life beside politics. We cannot come together to form a formidable force because of pride, which to me is nothing other than empty pride that cannot lead us anywhere.
Even those who do not have any thing want to rival those that have. This therefore makes it very difficult for a typical Ebira person to come together with his other kinsmen to fight a common cause and that has brought us to the level where we are today.
However, some us have seen it and we believe we can remedy the situation. The level of decadence in the political arena of central is so high that to re-activate and to re-energize the battered land, it requires a lot of effort and God’s intervention. But for those of us who are really disturbed and concerned, we are making a concerted effort which is why I am still in a political voyage. Though some people see me as one who is causing problem in the land, but I don’t think so because the people who are really causing problems know themselves.
Agenda for our people
We need unity of purpose and this cannot be done without getting the consent of well meaning Ebira people. So my intention is to bring traditional rulers, the political class together to form a united force so that we can have a rethink. And secondly, in this political period, we need to have a political plan and objective because right now, our political foundation has been broken and we need to go back to the drawing board and build a political structure through the will of the people and the financial strength to back it up. If we can put all these together, we can have a platform through which we can easily address our problems and difference. Once we do that, we will definitely restore our hope and dignity. Once this is done, we can talk of marginalization in the sharing of political offices, civil service and allocation of projects to our senatorial district.
My plan for youth
I have always been a man of crusade. The youth are our future. I will bring the youth together to ensure they have solid foundation in education. We will instill into them cultural values and once they grow with it, they will be like our great leaders of yesterday.
Cause of division in Kogi APC
There is nothing like faction or division in Kogi APC and even if there is, it will soon fade out. Whenever people are agitating for one or the other, I think there is the possibility of having divergent positions. But I am assuring that whatever problem we have now in Kogi state will be resolved before the convention. Barrister James Ocholi (SAN) has no group, he is an APC member and I am also an APC member. We are one working toward one objectives.
On confab as solution to national woes
Well, may be President Goodluck Jonathan wants to use it to know much about himself, that is why he decided to divert our attention to that, otherwise this is a critical period of politics. How can a right thinking person bring a controversy into already heated polity of this country? May be he wants to test his popularity, he wants to know whether he can dare contest the forthcoming election. I am sure the proposed conference is about himself not for the nation.
Insecurity in Kogi central
The insecurity and silent killings in the land in recent time may have political reasons, but I don’t know how people will do this kind of nefarious act and believe they have political gains. What is needed to be done right now is to set up a serious vigilante groups. Since information dissemination is very powerful, those whose ears are on the ground should come out to give security agents and the vigilante group information to track down the perpetrators of these killings and kidnap.
Any suspect at all no matter how highly placed in the society should be arrested and be allowed to face the wrath of the law. A good number of these acts may not be completely political. Some may be from criminals who want to derive some material benefits. So it is now left for the society to device means to fish out those people and ensure that the peace that is trying to elude us is being brought back to the land.
Assessing Captain Idris Wada’s administration
I did not partake in bringing him to power and I don’t expect any good things from him. All I want to say here is that we should have a kind of sober reflection, look at the challenges we have on our hands and ensure as human beings we develop our selves to overcome those challenges by setting objectives and pursuing it to a logical conclusion.