Chief Sunny Onuesoke, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former governorship aspirant in Delta state in this interview, speaks on latest developments in the polity. TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI brings the excerpts:

What is your take on the plan by the Federal Government to borrow the sum of $27 billion recently approved by the National Assembly?

The loan is uncalled for, unwise and unnecessary due to its far-reaching effect on future of our country. What meaningful impact has previous loans borrowed by this government had on the lives of ordinary Nigerians? The plan to borrow the said loan of $20b shows that the ruling party led by President Muhammadu Buhari is not concerned about the interest of Nigerians and Nigerians yet unborn but only think of plunging our citizens into more hardship just for their selfish gains. The government does not have the any moral standing whatsoever in going ahead with the said loan having in mind the current economic realities and the future implication of yet borrowing another loan. Borrowing at a time when the national economy is already bleeding from servicing both domestic and foreign debt is unpatriotic, misplaced and selfish on the part of the president.

Are you impressed with the response of the FG so far to the Coronavirus pandemic?

So far so good, effort by the Federal Government in curtailing the spread of the virus is quite commendable but i think more also needs to be done to ensure the country is totally free from the pandemic. Also, the federal government must as a matter of urgency provide adequate screening equipment at our airports and make provision of test kits, masks, ventilators, protective gear for health workers, orientation on practicing social distancing and necessary hygiene now.

The ruling party, APC is enmeshed in leadership crisis; do you see this as healthy for the nation?

Unfortunately, the leadership crisis of the ruling party is having a devastating effect on the polity because it is a huge distraction to the president, but I’m not surprised that this is happening owing to the fact that the ruling party is an association of strange bed fellows with selfish and inordinate ambitions. They do not have the interest of the country at heart but only seek after satisfying their interest even to the detriment of the country.

Do you think PDP is living up to its role as Nigeria’s major opposition party?

To be honest, The PDP is more of a ruling party than of an opposition party and that is why the current ruling party is having a field day despite the myriads of ineptitude being displayed on daily basis. With what has been going on in Nigeria since 2015, one would have thought that by now Nigerians would have come to accept PDP as the only true party but unfortunately it is not so.

Some Nigerians believe the dethronement of former Kano Emir Lamido Sanusi was politically motivated. Do you also share this view?

It is glaring to all that the dethronement of the former Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammad Sanusi has serious political undertone. As a matter of fact, one could say it is a post-2019 election and pre-2023 election thing. Very fresh in our memory is the series of antagonism between the former Emir and the Governor of Kano state, so you see one cannot rule out political underwriting from the whole hullabaloo.

The Senate recently passed a bill proposing 10 years jail term for generator importers and sellers in Nigeria. What is your take on that?

I honestly believe that the Senate do not need to ban the use and importation of generators in Nigeria. All things being equal, generators will naturally fizzle out if there is an uninterrupted power supply in the country. It is a criminal offence to use or import generators in Egypt. This is because there is 24 hours supply of electricity. Even Ghana our nearest West-Africa neighbour, people do not use generating sets. This is because there is regular power supply. Nigeria should firstly put their house in order before passing laws that could be describe as oppressive to the masses.

The Bill is a waste of legislative time and resources. Is it the role of the citizens to provide light? Is it not because Government has failed to do what they should do that citizens have resorted to self-help by using generating sets? So what will the citizens do that are in hospital theatres during an operation and light goes off? May God please save us from voting in leaders with no idea of what governance is about. Why are Senators from Niger State fond of proposing oppressive Bills? It was a Senator from Niger State that sponsored death penalty speech bill last year, and Senator Enagi Bima from the same Niger State is now proposing 10 years imprisonment for importing and selling generator in oil rich Nigeria where the Government has been unable to provide any basic service of electricity and water to its citizens. It is saddening to imagine that this kind of senator is paid with tax payers’ money. To begin with, does he not have generator in his house? We have serious issues in the country which power is a major one, no solution has been provided and someone is bringing this kind of bill. Instead of bringing to the fore, some powerful thoughts that can revolutionize and put the country on the right path, this is all a whole senator could think about at this critical time. Even universities, hospitals, manufacturing industries, state secretariats, children schools and filling stations all rely only on generators for their activities to be possible.”

Senator Bima should focus his energy on how to fix the power sector by suggesting the free distribution of solar panel and inverters to people, just a way of discouraging the use of generator. Who enjoys spending money on fuel everyday most especially during this heat period?. The amount spent on diesel and fuel for generator use is almost double that of cars, because both car owners and none car owners buy fuel everyday for their generating set. He should first go and jail his immediate family members, his community, his constituency, including himself because, he’s also a beneficiary of the imported generator.

What do you think should be the focus of the 9th National Assembly now?

The 9th National Assembly should focus on correcting the abnormalities associated with our electoral laws to ensure transparent, credible, free and fair election in future elections where the vote of ordinary Nigerians will be counted and if this can be done, that is when our country can see real progress on every front.

The Delta state chapter of APC said it is prepared to sack the PDP in 2023. Is this a threat to be worried about?

Unfortunately there is no APC in Delta state I therefore don’t see the need to waste my time on empty statement. Thousands of APC supporters are daily begging to join the PDP. The APC and I am using this medium calling on the few members still remaining in the drowning APC in Delta to retrace their steps and join hands with the SMART Agenda of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the PDP in the State.
https://www.independent.ng/apc-leaders-are-only-after-their-selfish-interests-onuesoke/

If dey are not mad and a bunch of useless clowns dey would have known dat Nigerians are even suffering from using generators. U pay outrageous estimates bills for light u dont see and spend more on fuel to run and service d generators. Do dey think Nigerians are happy about dat? If there was constant power what would anyone need generators for?

You won't hear from their Brainwashed supporters in this type of Post.

Brainwashed souls

I expect the senators to say FG should buy generators for all households having failed to provide adequate power supply

Don't mind fools.

Because na generator say if we generate 7k megawatts, Transmission Company will end up transmitting 5k while Discos will buy 1.5k megawatts.

Fools.

When MTN and her sisters got telecommunication right, did landlines not disappear? Did any stupid Senator or foolish Rep need to sponsor a motion for its ban?

Are you sure these people have brains?

Seriously I'm enraged!

Louder pls.

Jobless pipu collecting tax payers money as allowances

Awol1:
Don't mind fools.

Because na generator say if we generate 7k megawatts, Transmission Company will end up transmitting 5k while Discos will buy 1.5k megawatts.

Fools.

When MTN and her sisters got telecommunication right, did landlines not disappear? Did any stupid Senator or foolish Rep need to sponsor a motion for its ban?

Are you sure these people have brains?

Seriously I'm enraged!

I honestly believe that the Senate do not need to ban the use and importation of generators in Nigeria. All things being equal, generators will naturally fizzle out if there is an uninterrupted power supply in the country. It is a criminal offence to use or import generators in Egypt. This is because there is 24 hours supply of electricity. Even Ghana our nearest West-Africa neighbour, people do not use generating sets. This is because there is regular power supply. Nigeria should firstly put their house in order before passing laws that could be describe as oppressive to the masses.

There is this saying in Yoruba "“E fi ete sile; e n pa lapalapa” which literally means we ignore leprosy while treating craw craw.

This encapsulate the problems with so called leaders we have in this country. We are yet to generate enough to guarantee equitable distribution, we are debating ban on generators.

Bunch of mofos !

The bill cant sail through because even the senators all have generators in their houses

Maxymilliano:


There is this saying in Yoruba "“E fi ete sile; e n pa lapalapa” which literally means we ignore leprosy while treating craw craw.

This encapsulate the problems with so called leaders we have in this country. We are yet to generate enough to guarantee equitable distribution, we are debating ban on generators.

Bunch of mofos !