Reforms should continue – NKIRE 

From Moses Jegede

President Bola Tinubu is today doing his best to lift  the standard of living of the  average Nigerian through the much needed economic reforms, which many lenders before him dared not. In 2004, about twenty one years ago,  Chief Sam Nkire opined that economic reforms should continue until Nigeria got out of the woods. Below is his interview in The Punch of Sunday, October 3, 2004 when Obasanjo was President. Read on:

Hon. (Chief) Sam Nkire, an Ambassadorial Nominee spoke to Musa Simon Reef on the score card of President Olusegun Obasanjo. Excerpts:

Over five years after the enthronement of democracy, many Nigerians insist that the Obasanjo administration has not done much in bringing the dividends of democracy. Do you share this view?

There is no doubt that the past years, since the emergence of democracy in 1999, have been full of hopes and expectations. While the president has proved his critics wrong in ensuring that the past glory of the country is recaptured through the pursuit of the current reforms, many believe that not much has been achieved. But it is glaring that any one who was in this country before the emergence of the current democracy would attest to the fact that the Obasanjo administration has been up and doing. More than anything else, the unity of the country has been consolidated, giving the various components of the country a sense of belonging.

Nigeria has been admitted into the comity of nations, following the enthronement of democracy. All these are strides attained by the current government. You are also aware that for the first time, it is easy for Nigerians to criticise the actions of government without fear of arrest and intimidation. One of the greatest achievements of this government is the opening up of the country for foreign investment. The privatization programme of the Federal Government and the introduction of the NEEDS Programme are all policies aimed at combating poverty and giving a sense of direction to all the components that make up this country. Of course, the dividends might not have been very explicit but it is equally a fact that many things are being changed for our future.

Many Nigerians are expressing fears that all these programmes may go the way of other past programmes. Do you think the Obasanjo administration is capable of ensuring the realisation of the NEEDS objectives?

One good thing you must say about Obasanjo is that he is a patriot that is irrevocably committed to the economic growth and development of this country. He is a great gift to Nigeria in an era where dearth of leadership qualities has become our bane. One thing I can say here is that the president is fully committed to pursuing all the current reform programmes, including realising the objectives of NEEDS. Even the World Bank and other international financial agencies have described NEEDS as a homegrown project aimed at resolving problems of development peculiar to the Nigerian context. The president himself has expressed his determination to turn the fortunes of the country for good. With the programme effectively under the National Planning Commission, I am sure that everything possible would be done by the Federal Government to attain the dream of NEEDS.

You once nurtured the ambition of becoming a Senator in the past, what has happened to that ambition?

As you rightly said, I once nurtured the ambition of becoming a Senator to represent my people. But after consulting with my people, I realised that they favour a return ticket for the Senate President, The Rt. Hon. Senator Adolphus Wabara. I believe that everything has to take place in its proper time. What may not be possible today may definitely be possible tomorrow. I have, in line with my absolute loyalty to my party, the PDP, decided to remain loyal to the party and the aspiration of my people. We cannot be simply at a certain place together at a given time. We must be patient and be loyal to the aspiration of the people that we are representing.

When your name was forwarded to the National Assembly as an ambassadorial nominee, some persons raised eyebrows over the Honourary Doctorate degree you claimed in your curriculum vitae. Have you forgiven those who were behind that act that robbed you of a chance to become an ambassador?

Honestly, if there were people that orchestrated such scandal, I have forgiven them. I never took it against them. I am happy that all the facts were laid bare for all those who investigated the case. A university has the right to grant honourary degrees to deserving persons. The intention was just to smear my image and portray to the world that I was claiming something that was not real. But the investigators finally discovered the truth. I have put that sordid affair past me. I have forgiven them. As a Christian, I have come to discover that God has a say in the affairs of men and when someone encounters difficulties in this life, there is always a purpose for such trying times. I have put that case behind me and resolved to push forward in the service of my people.

The Southeast has insisted that it should be allowed to produce the Presidency come 2007. The North has noted that the PDP had zoned the Presidency in 2002. What is your view on the clamour for the 2007 Presidency?

There is no doubt that the clamour for 2007 Presidency has pitched the Southeast against the North. Any one interested in the progress of Nigeria should be focused on how to realise the fruits of these reforms to embitter the lives of Nigeria. How do we improve the conditions of living for our people, especially those living in the rural areas? How can we ensure that the person who takes over the Presidency in 2007 continues with the reforms initiated by President Obasanjo? All these questions are crucial to the development of the country and sustenance of democracy. If I were in a position to advise the president, I would advise that anyone person that comes in 2007 should be made to continue with the laudable current reforms. On the clamour for 2007 Presidency, I will advise that since the country was founded by three Senior brothers, (big three ethnic groups) including other junior brothers, (minorities) then we should allow the Southeast to have a go at the 2007 Presidency, I will advise that since the country was founded by three Senior brothers, (big three ethnic groups) including other junior brothers, (minorities) then we should allow the Southeast to have a taste of the Presidency. After that, we must allow the minority groups to also have a taste of the Presidency so as to give sense of belonging to all components in the Nigerian Federation.

What advice would you give to government to curb the incessant crises rocking several parts of the country?

Since the emergence of democracy in 1999, Nigeria has witnessed several crises. While this violence could be attributed to suppressing feelings of age long exploitation, the real issue has to do with realising the expectations of Nigerians. In a country blessed with natural endowments, not many people think that Nigeria has done enough to redress the injustices of the past.

My advice to the government is to try and improve on the conditions of Nigerians. By the time the current hardships experienced by Nigerians are tackled, the incidence of violence would be greatly reduced. I am glad that the Government has initiated moves at resolving the Niger Delta problems through deliberate funding to tackle the issue of age long neglect.