APC a challenge for PDP to work harder - Sambawa
The defection of five governors to the APC has been described as a political tsunami. Don’t you think this is a threat to the PDP?
What you called a political tsunami to me is not a tsunami but a simple political re-alignment. Credible opposition is necessary if we have to have a responsible administration.
In US where there are two dominant political parties, the Republicans will always challenge the Democrats and vice-versa. So, to me it is not really a tsunami but a political re-alignment which is in the best interest of the Nigerian nation.
I welcome it because what is most important to me is the unity of this country and for us to work together as Nigerians for the betterment of this country. I don’t like a situation where you regard a party as being a core North-West or core South-West. A party must be fully national, and that is how we can improve on our national cohesion, integration, orientation and rebirth. So, what is happening will improve our unity as a nation.
As a member of the PDP, is your party threatened by the emergence of APC?
Let me tell you that the national chairman and all the key people in my party said they are not threatened, and I can tell you that they are not threatened because of the belief that we have always worked as one group in the PDP.
Above all they believe that more than ever before, this will
Former minister, Saidu Samaila Sambawa, in this interview speaks on the challenges posed by the emergence of the APC and suggests how the PDP can overcome the challenges. Excerpts:
improve our national harmony and national wellbeing, and that they will be challenged to work harder, both for the party itself and the Nigerian nation.
This will make PDP work harder for Nigeria, be more answerable than when it used to be a dominant political party across the country than before. The interest of our leaders is not to continue being in power, the interest is to make sure this country continues to survive as one indivisible entity and develop for the benefit of all Nigerians.
So, that is why they said we are not threatened by the emergence of APC. Politics is all about choice and Nigerians have been given more opportunities to choose between two national political parties and the choice also comes with responsibilities to question those that they chose to represent them.
Again, that comes with another responsibility, as the people will still come back to ask whether those they chose are working, and if they are not, then you move to another person.
I am not saying the APC is more progressive than the PDP or vice versa, because in Nigeria, politics is not based on ideological issues, we all run as a platform to improve the unity and progress of our nation, but thank God like you
What would you say about the political activities in the country?
To some extent the ongoing political activities are normal, because for the first time in the history of democracy in this country, a serious opposition party has emerged unexpectedly with some minor political earthquakes taking place here and there.
They are supposed to take place simply because this is the first time the monopoly PDP has been enjoying without serious opposition or competition since 1999 is finally being broken with two equal parties about altering the country’s political landscape.
What is your opinion about what is happening in Rivers State and its implication on Nigeria’s democracy?
I strongly advice that the president should not play politics with his responsibility of protecting lives and property because if he does, that will mean anarchy. Being the chief security officer of the country, I know that citizens will never take it lightly should it be discovered that he is abusing his office. That is why he should be the one eager to get to the bottom of the recent Rivers State incidence involving a Senator of the Federal Republic. That is why the investigations should be seen to be free and fair and justice done.
On the other side of the coin, I am of the opinion that Governor Amaechi rightly said, we are now having the opportunity to challenge more of our elected representatives and that is what this opportunity has provided.
If the APC can go to my state or near my state and become a dominant political party or you can go to Kano and see an APC flag at Kano State Government House today, I think Nigerians should be happy.
If you look at some of the APC governors, most of them were formerly in the PDP or they were in the ANPP, the same with some of the PDP governors, some of them were in the ANPP or AD, APGA or other political parties.
So like I said, I wish APGA could also completely join the APC so that we will have two dominant political parties that people can chose from so that our politics will be better.
What is the way out of the crisis in the PDP?
Just like Nigeria, the PDP will solve its crisis and it will come out of the crisis stronger, that I can assure, go and write it down.
The whole world had a financial challenge and came out better and stronger, and so also the PDP will take key decisions that will Insha Allah come out of the present crisis and become stronger, and that is where my confidence is.
The PDP, like the Nigerian government has the determination to come back stronger and like I am telling you now, the PDP, with this challenge will perform better than it has performed in the past.
So, instead of seeing this as a threat, I see it as a motivation for the PDP, and if you have an opportunity, you make good use of it and come out with good results and this is a good opportunity for the PDP to be a better political party, work harder and deliver more to the Nigerian people than it has done before.
Are you contesting in 2015?
I am happy I was able to help a number of presidents. I am still consulting and wherever my people say I should go, I will oblige.