…Says Youths in politics are only interested in what they want to eat
..Wants a return to parliamentary system to curb corruption
….2023 will determine the future of Nigeria
He had a bitter taste of politics at the age of 20 in 1962 when he had to accompany his father,late Premier of Western region,Alhaji Dauda Soroye Adegbenro,when he was isolated to Lekki after being deposed in the wake of declaration of state of emergency aftermath of the Western region crisis . He saw and witnessed bitter politics and it’s end.
Today ,after participating in the second republic politics and the military transition leasing to third republic,he withdrew to the sidelines in 2011 to give opportunity to the upcoming Youths.
But then he feels that not much has been accomplished by the Youths most of who he said are only in it for what they can get.
Besides,Chief Olaniyi Adegbenro,79, believes that all Nigerian politicians both young and old have contributed in one way or the other to bring the country to where it is today adding,”we have all sinned and our sin is responsible for where Nigeria is today.Let us repent and bring sanity back to the country.”
In this exclusive interview with Newdawnngr.com in his Abeokuta abode,he feels strongly that a return to Parliamentary system as practiced during first republic will curb excesses of the executive,reduce corruption to the barest minimum and build lasting peace to the country now facing it’s worst socio- political crisis.
Excerpts from the interview:
What do you make of Nigeria and the crisis it is passing through?
As far as I am concerned,having been in politics for many years after my father’s death in 1975 up till 2011,I have maintained a low profile and not been engaged in political activities in order to give room for younger elements in the country who I think have better ideas to bring Nigeria out of the woods.
However,one is surprised that the Youths have not been able to come out well in politics. The question now begging for answer why this is so is..Is it for lack of financial muscle or the guys to face the moment that is responsible for this.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo and co didn’t have money then but people believe in them. Today,no such leaders that people can trust with the affairs of the country.Vibrant young men are not ready to perform because they are looking for what to eat.on the whole Nigeria is suffering because we are all sinners in the country. The punishment we are receiving now is what I call nemesis catching up with us both the old and the young ones.We have not been able to do the right thing at the right time,I do not see anybody including me and this is the reason why we are where we are today to bring the country to this level.
And one of the reason is that we have not been focused to face the reality of life. You are there to serve the people and not yourself. To provide the essential things of life like road infrastructure, education,health services and employment.once we take care of this things which are the essential things of life.
Look at Dubai.Many years ago you can’t compare a leader in Dubai with Nigeria but today what do you have.
If the head is bad,it will go down the line .I will advice our leaders to search their conscience or go back to the drawing board to see what they have not been doing before.
They should be frank to themselves,be firm,just and take care of Nigeria.Look at what we are able to achieve during the period of regional government made up of the North,East, West and Midwest. The North Central to me is just an artificial division now. Mistrust is now all over the place.
Let those who said they are born to rule Nigeria to learn how to show love and care for all parts of Nigeria.
As far as Nigerians are concerned all they need is food,good roads in rural areas and pipe borne water.
If all these this are taken care of,Nigerians don’t care. But once they are not available,there is bound to be agitations here and there.
President Muhammadu Buhari still have the time to correct all the wrongs and do the right thing so that he can leave a legacy of somebody who corrected our past mistakes.
Would you say the country is better now than it was sixteen years before the present government took over?
The problem is that majority of those who are part of the system during the 16 years you refer to are also in this new government. These are the areas we have to commit to God.The same calibre of people who brought us to this level before be they Ministers, Speakers of the House ,Governor’s, Commissioners and even Councillors . They have been there before and are still there now. They are just recycling themselves. Until we have an attitude to stop recycling leaders,these docile attitude will continue.We should stop recycling old people and it is because they have money to throw around that is why we are in this mess.
As for me,the love I have for President Buhari before was that if he comes to office,he will stop all the nonsense. But instead ,he has been adding to the problem by recycling the same set of people in government. If you are accused of corruption,the moment you join their party,your sins are forgiven.
As a result,God is angry with Nigeria that this is not a serious country. It is bad that the moment corrupt people declare for APC, their sins are forgiven.All the political parties have failed in this regard.
Do you agree that the Presidential system has failed the country?
When Awo was the Premier of Western region,he was practicing democratic socialism.whatever was done in the West was first in Africa. If things have not turned around and military did not take over,Western region would have been the best region in Africa today. But the most important thing is that whatever system we had,we need to change and have focus. The present leaders have no focus. Awolowo as premier would not take nonsense from you.They call him Leader. And it is because he has self discipline.He was able to discipline any member if he receive any information that you are not performing well he will remove you. He is ready to remove any minister not performing to standard and expectation.
All this things are happening because people are not facing the reality of life.We are in this state because everybody wants to go into government to make money and our population has increased tremendously.
As for the Presidential system we are operating,I have said it several times that,what has cause our problem is the Presidential system. Those who are making money from it don’t want us to go back to the parliamentary system because in that system,the present level of corruption cannot be tolerated,it is uncalled for. Ministers are easily called to give account of their stewardship.Why can’t we go back to the parliamentary system because in that system you can’t do what you want. At the council level, during our tenure in 1976 before the second republic,the Councillors elect who they want as chairman not now that the chaurman is elected in an election. As a result,the Councillors can remove a chairman that is not performing.
Now the level of corruption is so much that it has permeated the grassroot.
During President Olusegun Obasanjo tenure he was able to bring sanity into the system but then he was not a politician.
Obasanjo was doing consultation with the vast majority of the people during his tenure but today Buhari was not doing so. Why but revert back to Parliamentary system of government.
What do you expect in 2023 especially on the clamour for presidency to rotate to the south why the North still want to retain It?
As for me,the future is bleak and so many things will happen because God is looking at us. If not handled carefully,2023 may be the last time for Nigeria to stay together as a country.
Let all leaders of goodwill stand up and do what is necessary between now and 2023. The National assembly and other aspect of the system should also do the needful. Let us all sit down,come together and listen to the words of wisdom. They must all sit together and rebuild the country before the elections or else.
As for the agitation for the Presidency between North and South,it is caused by the suffering of the people and the fact that those in government are not doing what they should do. Yes peopke can say there is no zoning formula in the constitution but all the parties are now using it based on reality of the moment.
Those who are saying power should not shift are committing more sin and they are the ones putting us more in trouble by their clamour. But the fact is Power has to come to the South,I may be wrong.
All leaders of goodwill has to come together and save Nigeria.
There is no zine in Nigeria that doesn’t have it’s own share of vandalism, banditry, kidnapping etc. All this things are happening because people are not happy and a lot of Youths have idle hands which cannot be controlled.
We have to know that the East have been agitating before the Civil war and years after the civil war is over,they are still agitating.
Now the North now controls everything and have used the military to remain in power at all cost.
Only God can remove them but when he is tired of their misrule he will use one of them to strike …
