Buhari’s overture to National Assembly not a sign of weakness — APC national scribe

Nigerians are of the opinion that the APC-controlled executive and legislative arms of government are not operating on the same page in view of the controversies surrounding the nonconfirmation of EFCC acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu and the uniform saga of Customs Comptroller General, Hameed Ali, among other issues. Are you not worried?

You see, separation of powers between the three arms of government - executive, legislature and the judiciary - is a key factor in democracy. It’s also a reality that this important aspect was denied a space in our first 16 years of democratic experience under the PDP government. This air of independence is being enjoyed for the first time in a democratic setting under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration which protects the constitutional provisions guaranteeing the independence of the three important arms. New as it is, it is obvious that there are bound to be agreements and realignments on a common cause.

Let me also state without fear of contradiction that the Buhari administration has proudly moved Nigeria away from the unglamorous old practice of government buying its way through bribe or using state apparatus to blackmail and coerce public officers to obtain approval for its policies and programmes to pass through. Under this administration, I make bold to say that the executive has never contemplated buying its way or deploying state apparatus to coerce anyone to key into its policies and programmes. This is evident in the fact that the legislature and the judiciary are not found seeking favour to execute their duties as was done in the past. Therefore,

while The Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently announced a committee led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to iron out differences between the executive and the legislative arms of government. In this interview, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, said President Buhari’s overture was a not a sign of weakness, but showed that Nigeria’s democracy was growing for the first time without the influence of “Ghana must go” money bags or executive use of state apparatus to coerce the National Assembly to submission. Excerpts: some people may on the surface see the disagreement as a setback for the ruling government, beneath the uproar is a major achievement for us in the fight against corruption, which we are all proud of.

On the other hand, the hullabaloo surrounding the customs boss’ wearing uniform or not, has piped down with the explanation made by the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, that there is no law compelling the CG, a political appointee to wear uniform and that while the legislature is mandated to make laws, the responsibility of enforcing such laws falls outside its jurisdiction.

If you say the rancour between the executive and the legislature is not a setback, what of the acrimony within the APC controlled National Assembly, including the recent suspension of Sen. Ali Ndume?

As a stakeholder, the party is and will always be concerned about every political structure of this government and their collective interplay for a dedicated and purposeful governance to improve the lives of Nigerians. And that’s why we adopt many strategies including interactions to understand ourselves on the need to have unity. The party is also concerned that the independence enjoyed by the arms of government is not abused at any level but should be used as a driving force to move forward. I’m assuring you that the party is working closely with the two arms of government and all stakeholders to ensure qualitative and speedy implementation of policies and programmes that are beneficial to Nigerians.

You’ll also recall that the APC Senate caucus, in its quest to build a strong bridge to improve relationship with the presidency, replaced the then Senate leader (Ndume) with Sen. Ahmad Lawan, who was initially suggested by the party. This is not to say that Senator Ndume was sacrificed; his contributions would continue to be appreciated. And as we’ve said repeatedly as a party, the National Assembly has its rules guiding the conduct of its leaders but as intermediary, we always give our input whenever the need arises. Therefore, the party will continue to broker harmony and build strong relationship among government actors to promote delivery of democracy dividends to the people.

The President in his Easter message said the APC-led government has done a lot to improve the lots of Nigerians. However, the leading opposition PDP countered, saying you’ve nothing to show in the last two years. What’s your take?

Like President Muhammadu Buhari has always said, the gains of this government will manifest after two years because of the cleaning exercise of the horrendous atrocities committed by the previous administration. I’m happy to say that true to his words, the achievements are becoming more glaring before the two years’ deadline.

I don’t even agree with you that the PDP is a leading opposition because it’s opposing nothing apart from complaining about the anti-corruption successes of this administration. Do you think the PDP will ever have the gut to ask for anything from Nigerians? Never; look at the monumental discoveries of looted funds the government is making. The fact is Nigerians are wise and they know what is good for them.

And the claim by the PDP that the Buhari administration has nothing to show could not hold water; the APC-led government has done well in terms of service delivery. It’s reconstructing roads and power stations across the country as tools to rebuild the economy. Of recent, the minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has been touring the country inspecting on-going projects. He was received with fanfare in the PDP controlled states of the South East and South-South geo-political zones when he inspected the Owerri-Umuahia, AbaOwerri, Enugu-Port Harcourt, EnuguOnitsha, Ikot Ekpene-Ikot UmuacesianAba, Ogba-Nnewi-Okigwe federal roads among others.

It may interest you to hear that the minister also inspected the OkarkiYengwe-Kolo-Ogbia road in the former President Goodluck Jonathan's home local government area. The testimonies by governors of Bayelsa, Abia, Anambra including Ayo Fayose of Ekiti while receiving the minister, on the commitment of this administration to reconstruct roads, power supply and housing is quite gratifying.

In the North East, apart from the fact that peace and security have been achieved, the Federal Government is working on the Kano-Maiduguri dual carriage way road project cutting across Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno states. The completion of this road will no doubt promote movement of goods and services for economic growth.

Fashola was in Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Damaturu (Borno) and travelled at night from Damaturu to Maiduguri inspecting ongoing housing and road projects which is an unprecedented development.

Looking at the economy, you’ll realise that the Naira is regaining its strength and keeps appreciating virtually on daily basis. Also social programmes like the NPower to assist vulnerable persons have touched the lives of Nigerians.

In the agricultural sector, Nigeria witnessed a revolution since the ban on importation of rice. We’ve successfully improved local production thereby creating jobs and ensuring food security. The Lagos and Kebbi rice projects; Kura in Kano, Ebonyi upland rice, Sokoto, Taraba, Niger etc are all glaring success stories of the agricultural revolution. It’s these achievements that members of the opposition, including those who never saw anything good in the Buhari administration are making confessions that change has really come to Nigeria.

There are speculations that some big wigs in your party are contemplating leaving the APC to pursue their political ambitions on the platform of a proposed new party. Is that not a threat to the ruling APC?

I’m happy you call it speculation. Let me assure you that with the change brought in by the APC government and the acceptance the party enjoys from the Nigerian electorate, there is no political party existing or proposed that constitutes any threat to APC. I think it’s very important for us to appreciate that our experience under the Buhari administration has not only changed the political scene but also made Nigerians more politically conscious, to know how long they’ve been robbed and denied good life for 16 good years; they cannot be hoodwinked anymore. The need for a prudent regime from a transparent political party is obvious for national growth and development.

Again, let me remind you that the APC remains the only political party that respects due process in selection of candidates without imposition. It has regards for the rule of law as exemplified by President Buhari who transmitted power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as acting president when he was on medical vacation outside Nigeria.

This is the first time Nigeria's democracy witnessed and enjoyed rule of law at that level. And clearly many governors are taking a cue from what the president did; you no longer hear stories of vacuum in states. The list of our advantages goes on and on over and above any political party in Nigeria. Therefore, there is no threat to APC.