INSIDEPOLITICS Why APC is getting it wrong – Bafarawa
Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa is a former governor of Sokoto State who participated actively in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview, he speaks on various issues including the state of the nation, the imbroglio in his party and 2019 among others. Excerpts:
Daily Trust: Are you satisfied with the performance of the APC government so far? I think we are making a mistake by saying APC government, it is the Nigerian government. So I believe that if the government is sick, it is not the APC that is sick but Nigeria. The problems we are facing is because people assume the government is for the APC. But if people realise that the government is not for the APC but for Nigerians, then things would be better.
DT: Do you think the party is in tune with the aspirations of Nigerians?
The APC alone cannot make it; it is the collective responsibility for all Nigerians to join hands and move this country forward. However, APC should have copied from the PDP. In 1999 when PDP was formed, they had almost two-third control of the Senate, House of Reps, and the governors, yet they were able to have a unity government between ANPP and AD. The reason why Obasanjo succeeded was because though it was a PDP-led government, it was a Nigerian-led government in the real sense of the word. That is the difference. When Yar’adua came, he did the same thing; when Jonathan came, he followed suit. But now because APC members are not politicians per say, they are just political office seekers, they believed that once they were elected, they can have everything. Nigeria is a very complicated country where one has to be very careful.
DT: What is your take on the way government is being run? it wrongly.
DTL Can you explain further, please?
The approach. For example, when we talk about agriculture which they say is their priority, go and check who the beneficiaries of agric loan are. About 90% of beneficiaries of agric loans are APC members; whether you have a farm or not, they will give you loan. But they should have made it open, contact big time farmers, who may even help them find a solution.
I am a farmer; I have almost 10 by 10 kilometer of land in Kaduna State where I grow maize. For the past four or five years, I have not been farming on my farm from where I harvest almost 20,000 bags of maize every year because I am handicapped since I am not an APC member. But I am a Nigerian, I’m entitled to helping to build my country, at least everybody is supposed to be involved. That’s the problem this government has. The system is too weak.
DT: You were part of those who formed the APC; do you regret leaving it?
Yes and no. Yes, because from the foundation of the party, we were the pillars. The APC constitution was drafted in my house but to my surprise after we got the party registered, five governors joined. Unfortunately for me, Governor Wamakko came from Sokoto and he was among those who joined the party. We were asked to hand over the party to them because the governors were the ones who have money to spend for the party to win elections. So, I was forced to leave the party. The way and manner they brought the governors from the PDP to APC did not augur well for people like me.
We, the original APC people, said we needed change because the PDP had failed, and then you bring part of the body and heart of PDP and install into the APC and you believe that it would work well, we cannot just mix things up like that. So I thank God for leaving the party because I would have been part of the mess happening in APC now. Honesty speaking, I was not happy the way I left the party but I am comfortable where I am. I am not regretting leaving APC because I was pushed out of it.
DT: Couldn’t you have stayed and ensured the wrongs are corrected?
What else could I have done? I was handicapped; I was not the only victim. I never dreamt of being a member of the PDP in my life but I was forced to leave APC when the party structure took a decision that we must hand over the party. It didn’t make sense to me; having problem at the national level of the party and back in my state with my junior; he was my deputy. Why should we start quarrelling for no cause? If they had wanted things to be done in a certain way, they should have called us (myself and Wamakko) at the national level, and discuss what they wanted to do but justice was not done to me. Nobody contacted me; we were just asked to hand over the party to them because they were in government, it was an insult for me.
It is not that I am pompous. I recognised the fact that he was my governor; I am not disputing that, but when it comes to leadership of the party structure, because it was our own house, and he wanted to join us, at least courtesy demanded that I should be given fair hearing. There was nothing wrong in asking him to come and see me, and then we can solve our problem at home. I didn’t want to join issues at the state and