Challenges Obasanjo to public debate

…Says Yoruba leaders, except Oba Tejuosho, deceived MKO

By Ikenna Asomba

LAGOS—Former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, yesterday, said he would soon reveal how his boss and the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Bashorun MKO Abiola, died.

Disclosing that Abacha and Abiola’s deaths were from same source, Al-Mustapha said he would make the comprehensive revelation in his new book, Mustapha’s Memoirs, which, according to him, is still in the works.

Al-Mustapha, who addressed journalists in Lagos yesterday, on a number of issues relating to his 15-year travails in detention, said Abiola and Abacha were very good friends before some fifth columnists caused disaffection between them.

He said: “For instance, when Chief MKO Abiola was in prison, many notable Nigerians visited him. They will visit him in the morning, and when they come back to the Villa in the evening to see Abacha, they would say a different thing entirely.

On video

“Unknown to these notable Nigerians, particularly notable Yoruba personalities, who visited Abiola, their visits were recorded on video. I did the video recording without their knowledge.

“These people would visit Abiola and come back to tell government a different thing about him.


“These same people would still go and tell Abiola a different thing about government. They are on video. The agencies of government have these videos evidence.

“These same people told MKO Abiola never to accept any compromise or negotiations. They advised him never to come back home without his mandate. All these things are on video.

“Of all the Yoruba leaders, only Oba Tejuosho told MKO Abiola the truth: to accept the conditional bail and go home.

“Only Oba Tejuosho told MKO Abiola that Abacha was his friend, urging him to reconcile with Abacha who was ready for reconciliation. It was Oba Tejuosho who told MKO Abiola that he still had the goodwill and would win if he re-contests after Abacha.

“What killed Abacha is what killed MKO Abiola. But I would reveal that after my court case, still at the Supreme Court. I would publish a book which has three volumes— the Mustapha’s Memoirs, which will tell what happened under Abacha and how he died.”

On Abacha loot still being returned to the country from abroad, 18 years after his death, Al-Mustapha said he was shocked the first time he heard of Abacha’s loot.

He added that most of what was today known in the media as Abacha’s loot were mere media campaigns aimed at smearing the late Sani Abacha’s image by local and international persons he stepped on their toes while he was Head of State.

… killer squad

Also, Al-Mustapha reiterated his call for a public debate, where former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, would come to substantiate claims in his infamous 18-page letter that he (Al-Mustapha) was contracted to head a killer squad of 1,000 snipers for former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Al-Mustapha debunked insinuations that the ex-President, Jonathan, interfered with court process to facilitate his release from prisons, to enable him (Al-Mustapha) help train the ‘killer squad’ or procure Jonathan’s success in the North during the last election.

Al-Mustapha said, ab initio, he had no case to answer but for the plots of his persecutors to see him eliminated because he stepped on their toes while he served as the Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, adding that the appellate court acquitted him when it determined that he had no case to answer on all the charges levelled against him.

‘Obasanjo’s had his day’

He said: “Nobody contracted me to catch 1,000 mosquitoes under the Jonathan administration, let alone human beings. I am Al-Mustapha. I have my background away from the propaganda peddled by the likes of Obasanjo.



“Obasanjo has had his day. I am doing my investigation and I have discovered so many things as to what made him (Obasanjo) make such allegation. I have it. I will release it very soon and that is why I have challenged him to an open debate.

“Obasanjo is my senior in the force; he was a former Military Head of State, but when issues of law and rights of man are being discussed, definitely equality comes to the fore.

“You cannot put an allegation against your junior because you are a senior, and you believe the junior would keep quiet. No, I would not. That would amount to ignorance. I am not ignorant about our laws.

“I challenge Obasanjo to an open debate so that he can substantiate his allegations before the whole world; but he is yet to oblige the challenge.

“Thank God a new government is here today, where he (Obasanjo) can bring up the issue, requesting it to investigate and, if there is any contract between Jonathan and I to catch one single mosquito, I want to say that I am guilty and want to be tried.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, says plans have been concluded to sign visa-free pacts with a bloc of eight African countries to promote economic partnership on the continent.

Onyeama announced this in Abuja on Tuesday at a news confernce to mark one year of President Mohammadu Buhari’s Administration.

The minister, who did not disclose the names of the countries making up the bloc, noted with concern that trading among African countries had been very low.

He, however, said that with the new idea by the President Mohammadu Buhari led administration, “it is expected that there will be upsurge in economic activities.

“ Africa is the centrepiece of our foreign policy but it is a paradox that as a Nigerian, you cannot go to an African country without a visa unlike what is obtainable in Western Europe.

“To address this as a leader in the continent, the country is at a point of introducing an initiative to promote African trade as part of the country’s foreign policy of Africa as the centrepiece”, he said.

Onyeama said Nigeria was trying to come up with an initiative, like the one in Western Europe where one could enter any sister country without a visa.

According to him, what we are trying to do at the ministry is to promote visa-free, free movement of business people.

“We want to start with about eight countries or see if they come up as a group of eight countries. At the presidential level, they agreed to that, and signed up to free movement.

“If we can achieve that within a year, then other countries may want to join and we believe this is a better way to go than institutional ECOWAS etc, as countries take so long to ratify agreements.

“We believe we can just start off, eight countries and they agree among themselves, then others will come in,” he said.

Onyeama also added that it would not help if the continent continued to export just raw materials to developed nations.

He said the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment was working towards enhancing doing business with ease in Nigeria.

Onyeama said the ministry was working with the immigration to see rise in the number of visa issued to businessmen and investors

“It is one of the cardinal strategies for the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to facilitate investors doing business in Nigeria”, he said.

Onyeama said the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment had been mandated to ensure that there was reduction in the time it took to register companies.

ABUJA — The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, announced a flexible exchange rate regime aimed at making foreign currencies more accessible.

With this action, the CBN has nullified the official exchange rate regime of N197/dollar.

The CBN took the measure following severe pressures on external reserve and foreign exchange supply crisis.

Governor of the CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who announced this at the end of the Monetary Policy Meeting, in Abuja, also said the Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, was retained at 12 per cent; Cash Reserve Ratio, 22.5 per cent; and Liquidity Ratio, 30 per cent.


In the face of severe pressures on external reserves and foreign exchange supply crises, the CBN abandoned its fixed rate policy in favour of a flexible and multiple market model, which implied a floating exchange rate regime.

The apex bank’s Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, which made this decision, chose to retain its Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, at 12 per cent, Cash Reserve Ratio, CRR, at 22.5 per cent and Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent.

Details of the new foreign exchange market policy, according to the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, would be released in due course.

He, however, said the apex bank would retain a special window to fund critical transactions in foreign exchange, which would likely attract a concessionary rate.

By this development, the interbank foreign exchange market, which has been dead for sometime now, is revitalised on unrestricted exchange rate basis, while the Bureaux de Change, BDCs, would continue their operations, thus creating multiple exchange windows.

He, however, ruled out any consideration for channelling foreign exchange to the BDCs.

Briefing the media after the MPC meeting, Emefiele explained that “the MPC voted unanimously to adopt a flexible exchange rate policy to restore the automatic adjustment properties of the exchange rate,” adding that it voted also to “retain a small window for funding critical transactions” and that “details of operations of the market would be released by the Central Bank at the appropriate time.”

Policy implications

By the new exchange rate regime, CBN would allow the Naira to float against the US dollar at the inter-bank market, rather than holding on to a fixed peg.

What this means, however, is that buyers of foreign exchange for importation of goods, holiday, school fees, medical tourism, online payments etc, will have to source from the inter-bank market-determined rates and will no longer be able to buy forex at N199 or whatever official rate the CBN decides to adopt.

By this development, the parallel market would have been suppressed, while there would be a near rate convergence among the different market segments except the special window.

It also means that round tripping and arbitrage have been curtailed.

However, exchange rate is expected to spike, even as many dealers have already speculated that rates would go up by over 50 per cent today.

Analysts at Nairametrics said yesterday: “It is unclear how this will work as the CBN will need to put a massive structural operational framework in place to ensure this works perfectly.

“A market determined rate will also require strong regulations around a market that involves everyone with prices that are market determined.

“One expects the black market to disappear as all you need to do is walk to the bank and ask to buy forex at the market rate.”

Analysts questioned the wisdom of announcing a major shift in policy without spelling out how to implement it.


“Any real liberalisation would be accompanied by some tightening, as a stabilisation measure, at least in the short term,” said Razia Khan, Chief Africa Economist at Standard Chartered in London.

“That does not appear to have been considered. This is at best curious, at worst very worrying.”

Reacting to the development, analysts from Cowry Assets Management Limited said: “The CBN adopted a more flexible exchange rate policy. A flexible exchange-rate system is a monetary system that allows the exchange rate to be determined by supply and demand.

“In our opinion, the policy decisions will impact the economy on several fronts: We expect current inflationary pressure will continue unrestrained as budgetary disbursement commences. Also, Interest Rate is expected to continue to hover at current levels with an increased double digit outlook. Likely increase in liquidity mop up through Open Market Operation in response to expected increase in budgetary spending. Naira will remain under pressure ,as market forces adjust the fixed CBN’s clearing rate to a more realistic parallel market rate. There will likely be foreign exchange inflows from domiciliary accounts estimated at USD20 billion as currency exchange risk minimises and capital market activities expected to witness gradual recovery as foreign exchange risk diminishes, with the adoption of a more flexible exchange rate regime.”

Inflation to spike further

However, analysts at Vetiva Capital Management expect inflation to spike in the near term. They said that “it is clear that the MPC has chosen its battle carefully, deciding to loosen one of the key impediments to economic growth (the FX illiquidity). Following from this, we expect the inflation picture to worsen in the near term as a result of the emergence of a new exchange rate to consumer prices. Like we had noted in our April inflation note, we expect inflation to recoil in 2017 from base effects. We believe this view could have further emboldened the MPC’s resolve to adopt the more flexible FX framework.”

Markets to cheer development, stocks, bonds to rally

The Vetiva analysts added: “We recall that financial markets had rallied shortly after the announcement of the liberalization of the Downstream Petroleum sector, partly in expectation of an official pronouncement on the FX framework. Now that the news is official, we expect a knee-jerk reaction to push equity and fixed income markets higher in the coming sessions, pending the unveiling of the new framework by the CBN. Any sustainability, thereafter, would be determined by how markets assess the new framework and its prospects of improving forex liquidity. Overall, we view this development as positive for Nigeria.”


Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele
LCCI demands clarification of ‘special window for critical transactions’

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, yesterday, applauded the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for its new foreign exchange rate policy but demanded that the bank should clarify what it described as a special window for critical transactions for which preferential rates will apply.

In a statement, Muda Yusuf, Director-General of LCCI, said: “LCCI commends the decision of the CBN for the adoption of a flexible exchange rate regime at its recent Monetary Policy Committee meeting, because of its benefits to the economy.

“However, we would like CBN to clarify the window for critical transactions because of possible abuse and distortions that such a window could create. It could pose a risk to the entire system. We would like to be assured that the window for the critical transactions will be managed transparently and in a manner that will not create distortions in the economy.

“We also welcome the decision of the CBN to refrain from further tightening of monetary policy at this time.


“However, as the CBN articulates the framework for the new forex regime, we propose that due consideration should be given to the following:

“The economy desires a transparent FOREX market which guarantees a level playing fields for all investors. Need for clarity on what the CBN describes as a special window for critical transactions for which preferential rates will apply. We would like to caution against possible abuse and distortions that such a window could create. It could pose a risk to the entire system. We would like to be assured that the window for the critical transactions will be managed transparently and in a manner that will not create distortions in the economy.

“Export proceeds, capital importation and diaspora remittances should be allowed into the economy through the autonomous window at prevailing market rates. And the owners of such funds should have unhindered access to their funds.

“CBN should revisit the list of items that have been placed on exclusion list of the forex market. Many critical inputs of manufacturing companies are on the list and this has crippled the operations of such companies creating significant job and output losses,” he said.

Pressure on CBN

The apex bank has been under immense pressures from the International Monetary Fund, IMF, some financial analysts and interests that represented foreign investors to devalue the Naira.

The Buhari administration has until now resisted the calls, explaining that being an import-dependent nation, it did not see how such a strategy would benefit the economy.

In fact, it argued that the Nigerian economy would be worse off with a further devaluation of the Naira.

Weak economy

Mr. Emefiele said the economy had been weakened to the point of contraction which was aggravated by the delay in the passage of the 2016 budget that should have provided the needed fiscal stimulus. The fuel crisis, increase in electricity tariff, high unemployment rate were identified as factors that led to the over 13 per cent current inflation level.

The governor said: “The committee (MPC) acknowledged a severely weakened macroeconomic environment as reflected particularly by the inflationary pressures, contraction in real output and rise in unemployment.

“Unfortunately the delay in the passage of the 2016 budget constrained the much-desired fiscal stimulus, thus edging the economy towards contractionary output.”

He pledged, however, that “the CBN would deploy all its instruments with the hope of keeping the economy afloat.”

NESG worries over economy

“Having a flexible interbank market is a good step in the right direction. The decision by the MPC to embrace flexible option for the interbank market is laudable and this is indicative of much more relief for the overheated forex market. With the reintroduction of flexible foreign exchange market, we expect, in due time, to see more forex inflow through diaspora remittances and foreign investment.

“We appeal to the CBN to ensure that the new policy is implemented as quickby as possible so as to stem the sliding tide. We opine that the small window for funding critical transaction being proposed by the CBN should be limited to government transactions only, especially in the area of infrastructure development.”

Banks unsure of what happens today

Most of the bankers that spoke to Vanguard appear unsure of what the market direction would be today or this week in respect of foreign exchange trading.

President of the bank treasurers’ association, Mr. David Adepoju, said bankers would not trade outside the existing policy as CBN had not rolled out the details of the new policy.

According to him, if the apex bank allocates foreign exchange on the basis of the existing policy which fixed exchange rate at between N197 and N199 to USD1 the banks would stay on that official rate.



However, a treasurer in one of the banks told Vanguard that from today, there would be dual rates in the banks where the official rate might persist on foreign exchange supplied by CBN at the official rate, while independently sourced foreign exchange would trade at market rate ranging from N300 to about N350 to USD1.

LAGOS – WITH worldwide concerns over the crash of its flight MS804 on Thursday, with 56 passengers and 10 crew members on board feared killed, there appears to be more reasons why EgyptAir has to worry.


The case of a 17-year-old Nigerian medical student, Joshua Adekunle-AbdulAzeez came up same Thursday in Lagos where he filed a N500 million suit before a Federal High Court against the airline which wrongly routed him to Moldova, instead of Ukraine, where he schools.

Adekunle-AbdulAzeez, a minor, filed the suit through his next of kin, Favour Anire-Gbenebichie, who happens to be his mother. He is seeking reliefs from the defendant in the sum of N500 million as general damages; the sum of N373,891 as special damages, being the cost of the full economy return ticket which the claimant had purchased from the defendant and which he was prevented from using.

Others were the sum of 790 Euros or its naira equivalent at the prevailing exchange rate, as special damages, being the cost of additional one-way economy ticket from Istanbul to Kiev which the claimant’s mother purchased after he was deported to Turkey from Moldova; the sum of 160,341 Indian rupees or its naira equivalent at the prevailing exchange rate, as special damages, being the value of the electronic appliances removed from the claimant’s damaged suitcase as a result of the defendant’s recklessness in the course of his four-day ordeal.

Adekunle-AbdulAzeez is also asking for the sum of $1,721.74 or its naira equivalent at the prevailing exchange rate, as special damages, being the value of lost items from the claimant’s missing and damaged suitcases as a result of the defendant’s recklessness, and the claimant’s counsel’s legal fees.

At the hearing on Thursday, before Justice C. A. Obiozor, the matter could not go on as the claimant’s counsel, Mr Godwin Omoaka, sought an adjournment pending when the claimant would be in Nigeria to give evidence before the court. However, Justice Obiozor adjourned the matter till June 27 and July 4, for further proceedings.

Statement of claim
The claimant in his statement of claim said that on August 15, 2014, he and his mother had gone to the defendant’s office at 22B Idowu Taylor Street, Victoria Island, Lagos to book a passenger ticket from Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos to Borispol International Airport, Kiev, Ukraine in order for him to return to school to continue his studies at Dnepropetrovsk Medical Academy, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine.

But on arriving at the defendant’s office, he and his mother met one Tony Nzam who identified himself as the defendant’s ticketing agent, and after much discussion with the defendant on the claimant’s proposed trip to Ukraine with the ticketing agent and examining the options available, the claimant then requested to purchase a full economy return ticket for a flight from Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos to Borispol International Airport, Kiev.

However, Nzam explained to the claimant and his mother that his trip which was expected to terminate at Bristol International Airport, Kiev, in Ukraine, would be routed from Lagos, Nigeria to Cairo, Egypt; from Egypt to Istanbul, Turkey; and then from Istanbul, Turkey to Kiev, Ukraine. After the explanation of the defendant, the claimant accepted and then purchased a full economy return ticket at N373,891 and then the defendant issued a ticket to the claimant.

The claimant averred that upon a review of the ticket while still at the defendant’s office, he and his mother noticed that the international airport code indicated on his travel itinerary as “KIV” and Chisinau International Airport indicated on his ticket was irregular and unfamiliar as it was different from the airport code for Borispol International Airport, Kiev, Ukraine which is “KBP” which the complainant was familiar with from his previous trips on the same route.

ELDERSTATESMAN and frontline nationalist, Chief Mbazulike Amechi speaks on the state of the nation, insist­ing that Nigeria is at war and, therefore, should embrace a “declared or unde­clared State of Emergency” to confront the “war” headlong. In a frank and sar­torial review of the many problems of the nation , especially under the current regime of Muhammadu Buhari, the first republic Minister of Aviation accuses the President of not showing enough capacity that he can change Nigeria; a situation, he says, has fuelled the belief of an “imminent total collapse of the na­tion.” The nonagenarian regrets that the setback in the fight against corruption is that “there is corruption in Buhari’s government.” He reveals that Buhari is shackled by eight powerful men who may do something to him if he fails to toe their way, wondering what he will tell the three founding fathers of the nation( Zik, Awo, And Ahmadu Bello) when he finally meets them. He further speaks on other national burning issues. Sunday Sun met him at his country home, Ukpor, Anambra State. The Ex­cerpts are served here.

Nigeria appears to be grappling with a lot of problems. How do you assess the state of the nation?

Looking at the situation in Nigeria today, I get very worried. Very seriously worried. There was election last year, and the All Pro­gressives Congress (APC) won, and they were working for a change. Well, they voted for them in the hope that there will be a change. Now, we are seeing a change, but the change we are seeing is a change from frying pan to fire; a change from bad to worse. We had the last government that ran the country without plans, and ran the country almost to a halt by stealing and massive corruption. Well, the vot­ers swept off that government and ushered in this new government. But, since this govern­ment came on board, what we are seeing is the change they promised, but the change is in the reverse gear. Instead of moving for­ward, we are moving backwards. Everything is going out of hand. Security is not improv­ing. Security is getting worse. The promise about cleaning out Boko Haram in good time was not met. Apart from Boko Haram, in other parts of the country, there has been increase in the number of cases of armed robbery and kidnapping. In places like Rivers State and Bayelsa State there have been mass murders, senseless killing of people for po­litical reasons. Then, coming to the ordinary man or woman in the country, they are now placed in a position of near hopelessness. Nothing is working again in the country. The crucial things that should work in the country are not working. Electricity has broken down in the country. In this part of the country, we have not had electricity for two good months. Industries are closing down. So many things have collapsed in the country. Now, look at the fuel situation in the country. First of all, Ni­geria is the world’s 6th oil producing country. The price of crude oil is falling in the world by about 70 per cent.

Don’t you think there are external fac­tors affecting the performance of this government, like this issue of falling oil prices which it has no control over?

Well, like I was saying, instead of the price of fuel falling correspondingly with the price of crude oil which we export, the price of fuel or petroleum products is rising in the country. Apart from the fact that the price is rising, there is scarcity of the product in the country. You mentioned external factors; of course there are external factors. Nigeria, like I advocated several years ago should be having at least eight to 15 refineries. Nigeria should now be exporting petroleum products to most of the West African countries. But, unfortunately the three refineries that were built by the previous governments have been allowed to rot away.

They are not producing. The one at Port Harcourt is not producing, the one at Kaduna is not producing; the one at Warri is not producing. And every year, we hear that millions and millions of dollars are invested in the turn- around maintenance of those refineries; yet they refine and noth­ing comes out of them. Petroleum products importers are holding the government by the jugular and some people in government have interest in them. So they must import. If you let the refineries to work, they will no longer import. And therefore, to make sure that they are fleecing the country, they are in collabora­tion with the people in the oil industry mak­ing it impossible for the refineries to work, or new refineries to come on stream, so that they will continue to hold the country to ran­som.

What is your panacea for the resolution of this myriad of problems you have enu­merated?

First of all, I would have thought that we are in a position of crisis. Crisis that would in normal circumstances lead to a declaration of a state of emergency. I believe that the pana­cea will come from a declared or undeclared state of emergency in the country. We are in emergency in this country. The government should not be partisan at this stage. The gov­ernment should not be a government of one political party at this stage. The government should not be a government of one particu­lar tribe, or one particular region at this stage. The government should not be a government of one dominant religion or anything at this stage. The government should formally or in­formally, whether declared or not, operate a state of emergency where everybody will be involved. The best materials from any politi­cal party from any part of the country, wheth­er they belong to a political party or not; the best in everything whether resident at home or abroad should be brought into this. We are fighting a war of survival. The politicians have run this country to the precipice of total collapse. We are moving fast towards being a failed state. Nigeria is fast becoming a failed state. And if people in government are really serious about this, they should involve every­body. They should not be partisan about it. They should not go into myopic political par­tisanship in the country. We are in a state of emergency, more serious than physical war.

How will your proposed state of emer­gency be declared?

I said the state of emergency, declared or undeclared. You can operate a state of emer­gency without saying there is a state of emer­gency. The president should by involving ev­erybody not minding whether they belong to his APC or not. We have very good brains in every part of the country, in America, in Eu­rope and other parts of the world. Bring all of them home, involve them. Let us solve the crises, and then everybody will go back to his or her base.

Would you say the inability of the presi­dent to tackle these problems conclu­sively could be ascribed to ineptitude or cluelessness?

I wouldn’t say the president is totally re­sponsible, because the decay in infrastruc­ture started before he came on board. The unemployment started before he came on board. But the fuel crisis and the electricity crisis are his creation.

They are creations under his administra­tion. They were never like this before he came on board. And the idea of overloading one man with responsibilities for political reasons, like somebody being the Minister of Power, Housing, Works; one man holding all these because of money brought during the election is wrong. We all know what is hap­pening. You make one man the sole admin­istrator of a country, in a state of emergency like this? The president is helping to cause the problems himself. There are Nigerians who can handle these portfolios very well. Why heap them on one man, and try to make one man the sole administrator of a big country like Nigeria?

Are you suggesting then that the presi­dent is incompetent and inflicted the problems on himself?

I wouldn’t say he is incompetent as such, but I said that he is not showing that he is up to the task. He has not started showing that he is up to the task. I don’t know whether age is part of it, or whether experience is part of it. He ruled the country as a military man, but the difference between Buhari of 1983 and Buhari of 2016 is the dress. The other time he wore khaki; this time he is wearing agbada. But it is the same Buhari.

Let me go to the perennial clash be­tween Fulani herdsmen and farmers all over the country. Why the situation is spi­raling into a dangerous dimension, the president has been accused of looking the other way. Do you think his inability to act is a by- product of prejudice or in­competence?

On that matter, I think the president’s sa­lient act may be because he is a Fulani man, and these Fulani herdsmen are his brothers and sons. He is an ex- service man. Where did these Fulani cattle herdsmen procure their sophisticated weapons with which they wiped out a whole village; with which they burnt down houses and occupied those plac­es? And the president of the country keeps quiet about it? But when young boys embark on demon­strations demanding the release of Kanu from detention and the actualization of Biafra, they line up soldiers and mow them down. Is he not thinking that this country is one country? So, the president’s silence over the atrocities being committed by these Fulani herdsmen makes the president look suspicious to me.

In the circumstances, what exactly do you want him to do?

The president should stop the nonsense.

But there is no indication so far that he wants to stop it?

Well, let the people defend themselves. But there is noth­ing with which to defend themselves. Villagers who are not armed. Villagers who cannot even afford three square meals a day. With what can they defend themselves? You see, that is why I say these people are leading the country, ruling the country, pushing the country to a very danger­ous precipice. If they don’t take care, we may have a total collapse.

Let’s talk about the Biafra agitation. Recently, IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) spurned Ohanaeze in the constitution of a group that will dialogue with international envoys. Do you think that is helpful to their cause?

Eeem! I am an elder statesman in Igboland. I took part in the struggle for the independence of Nigeria. I belonged to a political party that believed religiously in one Nigeria; in one big country. And when this issue started and press­men asked me what I thought about the agitation for Bi­afra, I said to them, “don’t ask me about the agitation for Biafra, but ask me, what are you doing about that?” And I told them that I had made my opinion, suggestions and advice available to Mr President. As an elder statesman, as the chairman of Ohanaeze elders council, as a leader ac­cepted by Igbos by virtue of my age, and my experience in politics I wouldn’t make my views public on this issue. But all I know is that these people should be listened to. Lis­tening to them does not necessarily mean accepting what they are saying or what they are asking for. But the gov­ernment should listen to them. The government shouldn’t treat them as enemies.

Tempers are still flaring on this issue, and no one knows where it will lead to. Don’t you think some of you should step in and call the boys to order?

I will not say that calling the boys to order is necessarily the answer. When a boy is crying and rushing to the father, won’t the father ask the boy, my son, what is your prob­lem? What do you want?

With your experience in politics and with what happened during the struggle for Biafra over 40 years ago, where do you think this renewed struggle will end up?


I am not a prophet. I don’t belong to a Pentecostal church, (laughs) but so many things that are happen­ing in Nigeria today are pointing to a precipice, and it is not desirable. They are not pointing to any light at the end of the tunnel.

Dr Junaid Mohammed described the Biafra agitators as irresponsible who should be dealt with decisively. What do you think?

It is not possible to wipe out a people. They tried in 1966 to wipe out the Igbo, and settle the Igbo ques­tion once and for all, but they did not succeed. So Junaid should come down and do it; maybe he has some sons who can take up weapons. Let them come down and kill them.

Your friend and contemporary, Maitama Sule also made some comments which suggested that the agitation is uncalled for.

Maitama Sule and myself are in one boat. We all fought for the independence of Nigeria. We all fought for the unity of Nigeria as a big country. And we have not departed from that philosophy. So, what is guid­ing Maitama Sule is also in my mind. I believe in a country. I believe in Nigeria playing a role which na­ture has assigned to her to be a big brother to African countries. But we can only fulfill this role by the kind of government we have at any given time.

Government has announced some measures to steady the course of the economy, especially the exchange rate of the Naira. What is your view on this?

Naira has become a worthless piece of paper, worse than the Ugandan money of those days, worse than the German Deutschmark when the Second World War ended. Without fighting a war, Nigerian currency is now worse than the Zimbabwean cur­rency some years ago. Zimbabwe is gradually recov­ering. I don’t see any hope of recovering in Nigeria in the near future. Everything is going down; everything is going carcass; everything is going wild, and no­body seems to bother. The people in government are bothered about pettiness. They say they are fighting corruption, but there is still corruption in the present government.

So corruption is fighting corruption?

Corruption is fighting corruption, and very soon they will meet and embrace.

If you meet president Buhari today what will you tell him?

I will tell him, my dear General, sorry Mr president, are you not worried about the state of the country, which we handed over to you on a platter of gold in May last year? What I will tell him depends on his at­titude to the situation. I am not near enough to know how free he is because you may have a president who is shackled by lieutenants and colleagues in the party. And he, being a military man more than a politi­cian may not understand the game very well. There are some people who get rich in the midst of crisis. There are people who are empowering themselves by the present chaotic situation in the country. And if such people encircle a president, that president is in serious trouble. I don’t know if Buhari is in that state now. But there are some people even outside his cabinet who are very powerful. They have stolen so much money in this country that if he doesn’t take care they might even do something to him. There are such people. There are eight of them in his govern­ment; in his political party, who are so powerful in every way that if he doesn’t take their way they will do something to him.

Who are these powerful men?

You know them. You are a journalist.

I don’t know them.

Go and find out.

Ngugi Wa’ Thiongo did a book when Kenya was enmeshed in poor economy and corruption and he entitled it, “Cry my beloved country”. If you were to do a book now on Nigeria what will you call it?

I am not writing a book now, but about two or three years ago I issued a small pamphlet which I en­titled, “This union: Is it working? Will it ever work?.” So, I am still on that issue.

Do you sometimes weep for the country?





Of course! Who will see a house he built in his youth, using his total energy, resources, manpower, and wealth, and when he is old instead of enjoying and relaxing in the house, somebody comes up and pulls the house down. That is the way I feel about this country. Being one of the last persons to board a passenger plane to heaven, I would have liked to see a smooth country, so that when I get there I will tell Zik, Awolowo and Sardauna that the thing that did not happen in your own time is happening now. I am not happy at all with what is happening.