From IHEANACHO NWOSU, Abuja
Former Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, is spitting fire. For him, what is in place in Nigeria cannot be called government. According to him, Abuja is not fending for the people.
The former governor also lambasted the opposition, arguing that the planned alliance by some political parties, ahead of 2015, may not come to fruition because of selfishness.
He spoke on these and other issues.
Looking back at events that shaped 2012, would you say those in power made the country proud?
Categorically, I will say no. At the end of 2012, we are still in the dark. Not only that, we are still facing instability; we are facing mindless looting and wastages. We always see this in Nigeria after rigged elections. We are at the risk of the equivalent of Arab Spring in Nigeria. We are also facing the risk of social revolution. In other words, we are at a stage where we are witnessing negativity on every front. Something must happen.
In view of the grim scenarios you have painted, will you say this government has no direction?
Which government? Is this a government? What we have today is a situation where most people that are in power came to office, from the local government to the federal level, as a result of rigging and not as a result of a free, fair and transparent elections. Those before this government came through that process too. You and I know that elections, since 1999 to date, have not been clean and clear. Obasanjo never believed in a free and fair election and didn’t pretend about it. PDP cannot win election in a free and fair exercise; that is why they keep manipulating election results. But they cannot continue to do that; they cannot continue to foist themselves on the people.
You have stated that what we are witnessing now is a social revolution. How?
Social revolutions have happened round the world and Nigerians are not an exception to the rule. We all saw what happened at the beginning of last year, where people refused to leave the street because of the fuel increase. Things are moving in a direction where one day every Nigerian will decide that enough is enough. The masses are not happy with the way things are going and I know that very soon they will insist that the right thing be done, that elections are conducted in a transparent manner; that those who call themselves rulers stop looting the national resources.
Many people protested in your home-state, Kaduna, over the outcome of the recent local government elections. What do you make of these protests?
Well, the protest was a sign that there were no elections. In most of the polling stations, there were no elections. In some places, where elections were attempted, everything was bastardised. There were cases where elections didn’t even hold in the whole ward. Nobody saw any election officials or materials; yet results came out. There were places where elections didn’t take place until 5pm when elections were supposed to have ended. Results were declared. I will give one example. Even the state electoral body cannot deny it. There was no election at all in one of the local governments.
The question now is when will the electoral body hold the elections in that particular ward? Yet, election results for the whole local government were declared without any election taking place in one of the wards. The selected local government chairman was sworn in. Now, what do you make of this? No election took place in the whole ward, out of 12 wards. How dare you declare results for that local government? Are you saying that the result from that particular ward will not alter the election of the entire local government? Are you saying that it is an excuse for not holding election in that ward? This is not even the worst example. Let me give you another example. We are bastardising our religions. The late governor of Kaduna had a Christian title which is equivalent to a Sheikh. Such a person was not supposed to lie. In spite of what happened in Kaduna State, he and his party came out to say that the elections were free, fair and credible. He was a responsible and capable person, but he found himself in a situation where he had to treat his social conscience the way he did.
There is an allegation being levelled against those of you in the opposition of always going into election with a mindset to win and crying foul when it doesn’t go your way. What is your reaction?
You should know better about elections in Nigeria, to make that allegation or associate yourself with that allegation. You know very well that election results in Nigeria are products of terror. Nobody will complain if he or she sees that things are done transparently and in line with the rules. For one, members of these opposition parties you are talking about are indigenes of this country; they wish this country well and they have no justification to work against the interest of the country. I have heard people make this type of allegation, but I don’t waste my time responding to that because it sounds stupid. It takes courage to watch all the criminal things that take place during elections and accept to endure them. We have not been having elections in this country.
Have there not been improvements since Attahiru Jega took over as INEC chairman?
What improvement? All public institutions in Nigeria have collapsed. Has Jega himself not cried out about the way elections are rigged. Last month, he made headlines for speaking out on how elections are rigged. I have not seen any improvement in INEC.
Jega is asking for more powers from NASS to disqualify candidates. Do you support the suggestion?
He is wasting his time. Things are very bad. They cannot perform. Disqualifying candidates is not the problem. The problem is that we cannot hold free, fair and transparent elections leading to a legitimate government in this country. The PDP government and all of those in the other parties are all imposed. They are all products of terror. No exception. This is the situation in which we are in this country.
Are you saying that the opposition parties are also guilty of imposition of candidates? Does that not lend credence to the view of some PDP members that the opposition taking over power will not bring a change in the political arena?
First, what we should be praying for is that the opposition parties should come together to challenge the PDP. If they come out, that will be a new situation. If they unite, either by merger or a democratically elected alliance, at least, we will achieve one thing and that is getting the PDP out. PDP is directly responsible for all the negative things happening in this country. There is no possibility of correction or reconstruction or even the possibility of any reforms as long as the PDP is in power. I will give one example. The PDP believes in the leading role of the private sector in the economy of Nigeria, as opposed to what we had known, up to the end of the Second Republic. As a result of their leading role of the private sector in the economy, we now have this bad situation. We now have poverty, hunger, unemployment and insecurity because everybody is for himself. We have a situation of a leading role of private interest in everything. We are in a situation of free-for-all today. Today, if you have no money or power, you have no value of any kind. Not even to your family.
You have stated that even in states where the opposition parties hold sway, it has also been balance of terror. If this is the situation, where will the hope come from?
If the opposition, which is not better than the government in power, doesn’t change the system of development all in the country and the particular leadership produced by the system, which is the leadership made up of corrupt people, if this is not changed by the government or the opposition, then something might come in. We have experienced this before. We have experienced continued instability; we have experienced military coup. Now, we may experience something more decisive, a social revolution. Take the case of this election and what the government, at the federal, state and local government, will always say after their elections. They will say that if you are dissatisfied, go to tribunal. Now, can anybody go to the tribunal other than the person who is in control of the government and can steal government resources to cover the legal cost?
Let me tell you; we have just had the local government elections in Kaduna State. Do you know that any aggrieved candidate for councillorship, who wants to go the tribunal, will have a minimum of N5 million? In 2011, we wrote a petition against House of Assembly election. When we went to the tribunal, we were told that for every petition, we have to pay N400,000 to the tribunal. Now, who can go to the tribunal when he disagrees about elections? For this local government election in Kaduna State, do you know that the conditions are prohibitive because the electoral body required N200,000 each from every local government chairman and N50, 000 for every councillor?
Now, let us start with a councillor. Who can contest as a councillor? If you are not from a rich party, can you afford N50,000? The worst part of it is that if the opposition parties in Kaduna State unite, they can defeat the PDP, but they will never unite. I will give you an example. In Kaduna State, we are the only political party that is active and has the resources to oppose the PDP. It is either PDP, CPC or the PRP. But attempts were made to bring about an alliance between the CPC, PRP and other political parties, which can defeat the PDP and check the consolidation of reactions in Kaduna State. If that is what we can do, it is an achievement. The state will be open for real competition and performance. But the political parties won’t agree. The CPC wants complete take-over of the political parties. They don’t want alliance. They are not satisfied with a democratically elected alliance to defeat the PDP. The same thing is happening around the country.
With this scenario you just painted now, do you think an alliance between the opposition parties is possible?
It is not possible. If we want to defeat the PDP, whether we like it or not, all the opposition political parties, whether they control state governments or not, should come together and rally behind ACN. ACN has advantages that no other political party has. In the first place, if we assume that ACN developed from the Action Group to what it is today, we know that there is articulation of politics. We know there is relevant performance there. We also know there is a record of combativeness. We also know that there is a control of a base from which to fight. Which other political party in the opposition has that advantage? If you really want to defeat the PDP, you have to put emotions aside. Whatever happens, ACN is the true opposition. ACN is the alternative government we have, as of today. Now, if this talk will result in that, it will be better for Nigeria. For instance, if CPC says no, even when they have only one governor or if the ANPP says no, even with their three governors, can they defeat the PDP? If we really believe that the PDP is not performing or we believe that we have to get the PDP out, then we really need to come together. When you come together, you must have a rallying point and have a leader, because you cannot create anarchy. Whether you like it or not, it is the ACN. Now, are they prepared to rally round ACN to encourage us who don’t control anything to rally around them and get the PDP off our back? If we are prepared to do that, then we are not better than the PDP.
Gambari recently blamed northern leaders over the Boko Haram insurgency. Do you share his views?
First of all, I am not a northern leader. I am a Nigerian leader. I have never associated myself with any region. People are actually saying that the PDP and Jonathan are behind Boko Haram. Jonathan has confirmed that there are members of Boko Haram in his government. His government has been infiltrated by Boko Haram and up till now, he has not been able to reveal their identities. This means he actually tolerates them. The implication is that Boko Haram is not an Islamic movement. Jonathan has prophesied several times about the end of Boko Haram.
How can you predict the end of a violent movement if you are not the author of it?
Let me tell you, this Boko Haram may have started as an Islamic movement, but that changed when the leader of the group was murdered by the Nigerian government. Immediately after the murder of its leader, Boko Haram was hijacked by some political interests. That includes the Federal Government. There are other possibilities. The United States wants to ensure that their prediction for the disintegration of Nigeria happens by 2015. They have a motive for that. America cannot tolerate the potentials of Nigeria the moment she has the right leadership in few years’ time. There are also possibilities that these thieves that control all sectors of the Nigerian economy around the country want Nigeria to disintegrate so that they can get away with what they have stolen so that nobody can question what they have done.
There is also another possibility. The northern oligarchy, which is very strong, no matter what you do, because they are the strongest political post in Nigeria, feels aggrieved by what Jonathan did by taking over power from them against the decision of the party.
I agree with Balarabe Musa that Nigeria has no government,but he should blame it on Kaduna Mafians,of which he is a bonified member.
If awusa is president, Ahaa-aa! He will acknowledge that there is a government. Awusa is like that.
The north are criticizing and blaming GEJ for Nigeria`s woes and forgot that they held power for more than 40yrs with nothing to show for it. The north wants power back to continue business as usual, what did Yaradu`a achieve in three yrs he held power before he died?
Nothing to show but “PEACE”
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This man lacks direction.A confuse human being.
No govt in Nigeria –Balarabe Musa, if this is true, will you be able to go from one place to another.
most of you northern s talk or make statements without thinking and do not forget that the day southerns start behaving like you Northerner
And if eventually it leads to breakup of Nigeria, you northern s will beg for bread.
So, be careful with what you say and how you say it because we are watching you all,
Nigeria is not yet broken up but people in the South have been begging for bread long time ago. Have you even been to some of the oil producing communities?
James, being rich in oil does not necessary make a nation rich. It is how a nation put her acts together that makes the difference. Before this oil was discovered Nigeria was counted among the successful nations of the world. We did it with agriculture mainly from the north. This was the product of our collective sweat, unlike oil which no one sweated to put it there, but by God. I am one of those that has been praying for the oil wells to dry up so that we all return to our senses. Check out the so called oil rich nations. They are lazy people because of the same oil. If Nigeria disintegrates today, in fact, the north would be the better for it. We are not going to beg you for your oil money, rather you will have to import food from the north with your oil money. Head or tail, we still win! Think about it.
When he was the governor of kaduna state, what did he do for his people? Were his people better of when he left them than when he met them? Was there no corruption or hunger then? Did he not only impoverished his people by his action and inaction? Because he is not found to be relevant and there is no free cash to spend, he now know there is no government. Bravo
I DISAGREE WITH HIS ACCESSEMENT THAT THERE IS NO GOVT IN NIGERIA. BUT, IF HE IS REFERING TO FEDERAL GOVT, THAT IS UNDERSTANDABLE BUT THE STATES GOVT ARE FUNCTIONING.
SECONDLY, I AGREED WITH THE ACN THING BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES IT EXIST IN SOUTH WEST BUT IN OTHER PART OF THE COUNTRY. I HAD SAID IT ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS THAT IT IS PARTY TO BEAT IN NIGERIA. WATCH THE ELECTION IN ANAMBRA STATE; IT IS SHOO IN FOR ACN IF SENATOR NGIGE (ACN) CHOOSE TO RUN FOR THE OFFICE. THESE PARTIES DO NOT HAVE TO EMERGE BUT AFFILIATE THESELVES TO ACN AND VOTE FOR THE NOMINE OF THESE PARTIES AND VOTE ENMASSE FOR THAT CANDIDATE. ON THIS HORSE TRADING, BUHARI SHOULD BE OUT OF EQUATION TO CARRY THE FLAG BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN THERE BEFORE AND HAS HE IS BAGGAGES. A NEW FACE IN NEEDED IN THIS INSTANCE.
How can their be Government in Nigeria Mr. Babaraba?
When the North started from the onset of this administration to run down the Govt. of GEJ; just to make sure that the sit of power in Abuja is your birthright.
Believe it or not, there is a government in Nigeria, under President Goodluck.
He may not have satisfied us all, no thanks to your peoples evil activities against this regime.
Yes, we can blame the north all the time but certainly President Jonah is too trickish. A man that outrightly denied the existence of zoning in PDP and after he became the President accepted zoning existed. If Jonah did not deny the existence of zoning in PDP, he will stll be the President. It is providence and the north cannot do anything about that. Denying it, is not honorable. In the same manner we woke up Jan 1st 2013 with his posters at vintage positions in Abuja and he quickly denied knowing anything about it because of the uproar against the posters. Nigerians wanted performances. Yes, he has a right for 2nd term if he so wish but some are saying he said he will do just one term. Unfortunately the Ndigbo governors are not saying the type of agreement they had with Jonah before they doggedly gave him the 2011 support. I hope it is not when the northerners have their way that these governors will start crying foul.
THANKS FOR NOT IDENTIFYING YOURSELF AS A NOTHERN LEADER, THAT IS HOW LEADERS OF IMPORTANCE OUGHT TO SEE THEMSELVES. HOWEVER, THE DAY NORTH SEES SOUTH AS EQUAL STAKEHOLDER TO NIGERIA PROJECT, NIGERIA WILL IMPROVE. ON THE ISSUE OF PARTY MERGER TO DEFEAT PDP, SUCH MOVE IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO THE POLITY.
IF THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA SINCE 1999, WERE THERE GOVERNMENTS IN NIGERIA WHEN GOWON SUPERINTENDED OVER AN AVOIDABLE CRISES OF ETHNIC NNIHILATION,CIVIL WAR AND WASTE OF OIL RESOURCES IN THE 1970s;
MURTALA MOHAMMED DECIMATED THE FABRIC AND ESSENCE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE;
OBASANJO RIGGED SHAGARI INTO OFFICE WITH THE POLITICAL INTERPRETATION OF 12.2/3 OF 19 STATES;
SHAGARI RAN A CORRUPT AND INCOMPETENT GOVERNMENT ACCORDING TO BUHARI AND HIS REGIME SAW TO THE RISE OF MAITASSINE , BAKALORI AND OTHER SECTARIAN VIOLENCES IN THE NORTH;
BUHARI’S WAI COULD NOT GO BEHOND JACKBOOT ‘DISCIPLINE’ INTO ECONOMIC GROWTH BLUEPRINT BUT INSTEAD MAGORO’S WAI STRECHED FROM PHASE 1 TO 5 AND WAIC FROM 6 TO 7.WITH OBNOXIOUS DECREE 4 AND RETROACTIVE EXECUTION/EXECUTIVE MURDER OF THREE NIGERIAN YOUTHS OVER DRUGS,BUHARI BECAME SO ANTI PEOPLE THAT IBB BOOTED HIM OUT;
IBB’S PROMISES, FAILURES AND CORRUPTION INCLUDING JUNE 12 CRIME AGAINST FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS ARE TOO RECENT FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE FORGOTTEN;
ENTER ABACHA AND HOW HE RAN NIGERIA AGROUND TO ACQUIRE ‘PARIAH’ STATUS IN THE COMMITTEE OF NATIONS;
IT IS CONVENIENT NOT TO REMEMBER ABDULSALAM ABUBAKAR’S REGIME OF SQUANDER MANIA WHICH DREW DOWN NIGERIA’S FOREIGN RESERVE FROM $9 BILLION TO $3 BILLION IN FIVE MONTHS OSTENSIBLY FOR TRANSITION TO CIVIL RULE PROGRAM.
WHEN RABID NORTHERN BORN TO RULE IRREDENTISTS CASTIGATE OBJ AND GEJ’S GOVERNMENTS, THEIR MOTIVES ARE HARDLY ALTRUISTIC OR NATIONALISTIC BUT THAT EXCEPT THEM, OTHER NIGERIANS ARE BORN TO BE RULED.
BUT THEY MUST BEAR IN MIND THAT ENDURING PEACE AND PROGRESS CAN NOT BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT JUSTICE,EQUITY AND FAIR PLAY.
WHAT IS THE JUSTICE OF THEIR HANKERING FOR POWER WHEN A MAJOR GEOPOLITICAL ZONE LIKE THE SOUTH EAST HAS THE LEAST YEARS IN ‘ASO ROCK’- 6 MONTHS;LEAST NO OF STATES, SENATORS, FEDERAL HORs, LGAs,ETC AMONG THE SIX ZONES OF NIGERIA?
GEJ MUST REFUSE TO BE INTIMIDATED BY THESE SECTIONAL RULERS WHO CALL THEMSELVES NATIONAL LEADERS, BUT FOCUS ON DELIVERING TANGIBLE DIVIDENDS OF DEMOCRACY TO THE COMMON MAN- TRUE FEDERALISM VIA CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE OF ETHNIC NATIONALITIES, NOT THIS FACILE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT,IMPROVE POWER SUPPLY, IMPROVE ROAD/RAIL/WATER/AIR TRANSPORTATION, REDUCE CORRUPTION.
IF HE NEEDS A SECOND TERM TO ACHIEVE THESE, SO BE IT, THE ANTICS OF ACN,ANPP AND CPC NOTWITHSTANDING AS NIGERIA MUST REST ON THE TRIPOD OF NORTH, EAST AND WEST FOR ENDURING STABILITY.
YOU HAVE THE WHOLE TRUE,THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT AND NO LEADER SINCE THE DEATH YARAUDA,MOST SOUTH SOUTH ANS EAST PEOPLE WHO TAUGHT THAT JONATHAN IS A HUMAN BEING ARE COMPLETELY DISAPPOINTED TODAY,ME I DO NOT CARE WHERE A LEADER FROM PROVIDED HE OR SHE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING THAT WILL BE MY LEADER,ME HAVING LEAVED HERE IN GHANA FOR ABOUT 7 YEARS AND HAVING TESTED THE BLESSING OF GOOD LEADERSHIP HERE,I HAVE NO SENTIMENT AS REGARD LEADERSHIP,IF OUR PEOPLE CAN LAY SENTIMENTS ASIDE JONATHAN IS NOT A LEADER BUT A HUGE PRETENDER,HE AND HIS PDP MOST GO IN 2015,WE NEED PRACTICE THIS DEMOCRACY THE WAY AND MANNER IT IS DONE OTHER PLACES,IN USA THERE IS C HANGINGS,FROM REPUBLICAN TO DEMOCRATS,IN GHANA WE HAVE SEEN THEM FROM NDC TO NPP AND NPP TO NDC,EVEN IN FRANCE AND BRITAIN WHY CANT WE VOTE OUT PDP IN 2015 EVEN IF THE PERSON FROM OPPOSITION S A GOAT OR A SHEEP,
Oga-Seriki Balarabe talk true say “no gwovanmont for nijeria;” dat na really true word. but if na him be president nko, no bi de same ten and ten pence; wetin him don tell his broda, “de trigger-boy from taraba via wukari; obasangida of beriberi and others? na dem reduce nigeria to a state of nature; shebi say seriki no sabi that own?
Agent of extremist group. Pretender & Boko Haram sponsors. The revelution u re seeking for will surely consume u & allies. Stupid Octogenarian.
Dis old man should be badly ashamed of himslf and dat of his generation of northern leaders who basterdised nigeri and wickedly stole d nations reorces and strshed it away abroad and went after women and some of dem married up to 20 and breeded characters not ever contempleted in human history and subjugated ,brain washed and trumatised dem for 50yrs and now the northern leaders are reaping what dey sowed and many of them ar turning lunatic like this evil and shameless old man who was in coma when his born to rule brethren was playing nigeria as a ludo and passing her as ball from one hand to d other today d free oil money is no more ,d free cash from agric,dams and normadic education is directed to get to every nigerian and his likes can not belive their eyes so to him no govt is in place bcs money to service his almajeri bastards has stopped comming old man very soon yu give accont of what yu people did to dis nation.
CIROMA LAST SENTENCE IS CORRECT :
THAT THE NORTHERN OLIGARCHY WHO ARE UNHAPPY WITH JONATHAN FOR SHARING IN THEIR BIRTHRIGHT ARE SPONSORING BOKO HARAM OR MASS MURDER TO TEACH HIM A LESSON.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THE REASONING ABILITY OF A NIGERIAN SO-CALLED ELDER STATESMAN,
NOW , HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE THE NORTH TO RECOVER FROM THE DAMAGE AND EXCRUCIATING PAINS INFLICTED ON THE DOWN TRODDEN MASSES
WHO HAVE NEVER ENJOYED NORTH’ S 40 YRS OF RULERSHIP
VERY SAD INDEED , NO WONDER WE ARE NOT MAKING ANY PROGRESS
OUR SENSE AND REASONING IS SIMPLY ARCHAIC
Musa is a contraversal politician hence he was the first northern governor to be impreached.If there is no government in nigeria, let him go to Abuja and take over. That is stupid talk from a drowning man.
Everybody knows Barabe Musa. He is a contraversal figure who believes only in his own ideas good or bad.
I quite agree on some of the points he made especially on the ruling party. PDP members are crook and they are made up of his own people.
During the time of Shagari, corruption was also in high proportion. Jonathan is lazy and weak and very pretentous. He has not delivered, but most of the problems did not start from here. The north ruled this country and destroyed it. Barabe should focus his mussle to his northern leaders who held power for yrs and has nothing to show for it.
The so call opposition including Bararabe has nothing to offer. Who are the opposition. ?Tinubu who is also very corrupt politician. The fact remains that those who can rule this country transperently cannot and may not have the type of money to push PDP and other oppositions out of governance.
Late Gani was a fine gentleman that can liberate this country and he was never given the opportunity.Ribadu was a fine man and yet, he has the slghtest chance close. There is every tendency that from local government to federal level those who are on the seat of power are corrupted men and women who cannot lead this country into the promise land and to get them out of power is an up hill task. Who will do that? They are in police, Army, SSS, Custom, immigration, navy and airforce.
Those of us who voted jonathan are disappointed bc this man knows the problems of nigeria but yet, he is not doing any impact to improve their social life. This man was lucky and came from no where, yet, he cannot bite. He knows all the things nigerian needed, yet he does not know how to go about it. He is acting like a man in bondage. He assembled the best economic team, and yet, everything is at a standstill..
Jonathan is like a baby who suppose to walk, yet he is still crowling. Surely he deserves simparty.
A lot to do, yet, nigerians are only reminded to be hopeful. Everything in theory.
Bararabe is not a national leader even in his own state, and region his views are unacceptable because of his leftlist ideas.
It is wildful thinking for anybody to think that the opposition will send PDP packing. They stole all the money to fortify themselves in power. Judiciary, Military, Business community are all in their watch. Who then can undo them.?
The only option left in nigeria is the repeat of what is happening in Arab world. Arab spring. But can that work in nigeria when Igbo man and yourba man cannot come together. When Hausa prefer Chad more than a fellow nigerian. When TA Orji of abia state, does not think an Anambra or enugu state indigine serving in the state has no right to be there. So there are no end insight of our predicaments.