Veteran politician and second republic governor of the old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, sees ominous signs ahead of the February polls and warns they should not hold. In place of the elections, he is canvassing a unity government.
You once predicted that the February elections may not hold. Many people now seem to agree with you. But first, what is your view on the allegation that the presidential candidate of the opposition APC, Major General Muhamadu Buhari (rtd), is not qualified for the election based on the questions raised on his secondary school certificate?

The allegation is stupid and foolish and mere politics to tarnish the image of a retired general and the Nigerian Army. Gen. Buhari has explained this to the satisfaction of all reasonable people. First; he has secondary education. In other words, he attended secondary school with his last exam written with five credits. Second, he swore to an affidavit to the fact that he had secondary school education which should ideally end the issue.

But Buhari merely presented a statement of result in place of a certificate, and even the statement of result has Mohamed, rather than Muhammadu. What do you make out of that?

What is the difference between Mohamed and Muhammadu? He had classmates who attended same school with him. Second, he attended military schools. His accusers ought to have confirmed his result before being absorbed into the army. Third, he has contested election in Nigeria at least three times. And each time, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, must have looked at his credentials. Why should we now hear that he is not qualified?

Do you see this as some gimmick from the ruling party to discredit the general ahead of the presidential election?
Absolutely! That is the main reason behind such blind distraction from the ruling party.
What do you make of the agitation for the February elections postponement even as international election observers say they will not monitor the election in the North-east due to high level of insecurity?

It is quite obvious that with the manner the ruling party and the main opposition are going about it, the elections will not be peaceful, free and fair, if they hold come February unless we want to repeat the same mistakes and give room for massive rigging. Many people have don’t have the permanent voter cards. So what kind of elections are we running with most people not participating?

With the insinuation of violence before, during and after the presidential election and, specifically, the attacks on the convoy of President Jonathan, who is also the candidate of the PDP in the election, in some northern states, do you see the peace agreement signed by all the presidential candidates holding water during and after the elections come February 2015?

The clashes during campaigns by supporters show that such peace agreement will not hold. For example, PDP supporters from the South met and declared that if Jonathan does not return as President via the February polls, there will be problem for Nigeria. And some of the supporters of the APC also said that if Buhari does not emerge, there will be problem. In this situation, the agreement is fruitless and the chances of free, fair and credible elections are limited.

What in your view is the way forward?
The attack on President Jonathan’s convoy during his campaign in the North is another proof that there will be violence despite the peace agreement.

As it is now, members of the PDP have accused supporters of the APC of disrupting PDP campaigns in the North while in the South, PDP supporters are said to be disrupting APC campaigns.

In other words, because of President Jonathan and Gen. Buhari, Nigerians are now divided so much so that PDP will not campaign in the North peacefully and the APC will not campaign in the South without fear. This is another justification for the postponement of the elections until peace is established in Nigeria. Under this situation, it is absolutely impossible to have free, fair and credible elections. It is an avoidable risk and should not be taken. The Constitution gives room for the postponement of the elections and I think this should be followed.
The other thing I think should be followed by the PDP and the APC and other political parties is to answer the call for national unity government that will involve all political parties.

Interim government has constitutional implication, but a government of national unity is patriotic and has no constitutional implications. Once they agree, it is easier to constitute a unity government before or after the elections. I strongly recommend this for the sake of our peaceful coexistence as a nation. If it is before the elections, it should be led by the ruling PDP.

They should control about 50% of the government, 25% should go to APC being the major opposition and 25% should go to other political parties. If it is after the elections, the winning party should control 50% of the relevant positions and the major opposition occupies 25% while other political parties control 25% according to their relevance in the political structure in our country. This will bring about hope and peace because all political parties are fully represented in governance.

Do you see the APC agreeing to this unity government as they openly kicked against any idea of election postponement as suggested by the security adviser to the president?

What hope do they have to win the February presidential election in the face of the ongoing attacks by the supporters of the PDP and the election can easily be rigged because their candidate has signed the peace agreement with the PDP? Will they take opposition beyond the limit because they have lost?

Unity government is better than the risk the APC is taking. If the situation continues, PDP will rig the election and declare its candidate the winner. This is what they have always done, and they will continue with it and there is nothing anybody can do. If unity government can be embraced by political parties, Nigerians will rally round it and there will be peaceful coexistence among all the regions.

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Unity government my foot, APC should prepare for their disgrace. This is Nigeria, we shall see, who is who in this country. Oya let's vote and count it.

Unity government my foot, APC should be prepared for their disgrace. This is Nigeria, we shall see, who is who in this country. Oya let's vote and count it.