Barrister Monday Ubani, is an erudite, outspoken legal practitioner. He was the former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch. In this Interview with Eni Olukotun, the Editor of Complete News, Ubani x-rayed issues confronting the Igbo nation and the anti-corruption drive of the President Muhammadu Buhari admininstration. Excerpt:
You and some professionals recently launched an Igbo Think Tank , called The Igbo Conscience, can you tell us the vision of the group?
The Igbo Conscience(TIC) was established following the fallout of the 2015 General Elections campaign in which hate speeches were used and all manner of things that could divide us were emphasized. So, we said we cannot allow that to continue. We want to foster that relationship among the Igbos and other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.
I am the chairman and Clever Okpara is the interim Secretary. We have professionals like Lawyers, Engineers, and so on as members. For instance, we just brokered truce between traders at the Ladipo Auto Spare parts market in Mushin Local Government area of Lagos State. Memorandum of Understanding was signed between warring parties. There is intra-crisis in the leadership of the market. I have invited them to resolve the problems.
In fact, we have even prevailed on the Local Government authorities to give more time for the traders to relocate before the proposed renovation kicks off.
Some people have started reading dangerous meanings to the action of the Government alleging that there were hatched plans sack Igbos from their places of business in the state because they did not support the ruling party in the last General elections.
That is what we are doing as a group, not just grandstanding around and when Igbos are having problems you cannot resolve them but rather exacerbate it.
We cannot be politically relevant if we begin to pursue an extreme position, it will alienate us from other ethnic groups. For Igbos to realize their presidential ambition, they need to work with one other major ethnic group. So if you castigate and called other ethnic groups names, how would you solicit for their support and collaboration to achieve your ambition in the Nigerian politics.
We attempted to leave in the 60s but we were resisted. We fought war and were asked to come back. Where would you go? We have investments in many parts of the country. The Igbo land is landlocked. We have our own internal problems. We are better off in a larger country called Nigeria where our ambition can be realized.
Your Kinsman, Joe Igbokwe, the APC Spokesman in Lagos lambasted operators of the Radio Biafra for alleged seditious broadcast . How would react to this ?
I have never listened to that Radio. I was told my name was mentioned twice. I learnt they said I am not supporting Biafra course. I don’t know where they are getting that. From what I gathered from the social media most of the things being said on the Radio are against the Unity of Nigeria.
Igbos are no doubt marginalize politically and economically in the Nigerian federation. We have our grievance ditto for other groups. I think the best way to address our grievance is not through name calling but rather we can seek collaboration and co-operation to remain relevant to achieve our political ambition.
Let me use myself as an example. When I wanted to vie for the chairmanship of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, some people started peddling rumour saying I was a Biafra but I was not deterred.
I still solicited support from the supposedly enemy camp. I went to everywhere. I reached out everywhere. Some of my kinsmen even doubted I will win. They said I was just trying because they will not allow you because this is a Yoruba land.
At the end of the day, I was elected. To have a hitch free regime, I reached out to other elected officers who were mostly from the other camp. I befriended them even when there was repulsion.
We accomplished a lot. We were always in the news for good things. We bequeathed sizeable resources to the incoming administration. We were active all through.
That is the point I am trying to make that in a country where you have other ethnic groups you need to be sensitive.
On Leadership
You can get it right when leaders know why they are in the position of leadership. You are there to serve, to affect lives and impact lives. If you don’t have that as motive, you don’t have business being there. People just want to occupy positions in Nigeria to answer titles.
Leadership is key and that has been our bane! We have men and women who can run this country with zeal and patriotism. The system does not want them. The system wants to remain corrupt and allow only evil men to occupy the positions of authority.
Let me believe that with President Muhammadu Buhari in the saddle things will begin to change and people will have a rethink. We need to bring in righteous men and women who are genuinely ready to serve and not fighting for their pockets. Not those who just want to empower themselves and their cronies.
Even the people themselves are the cause of their misfortune. The day people wake up from their slumber and say enough of all these, we will begin to make progress. The people should be interested in putting any man or woman from anywhere who has the patriotic zeal to change the nation in power regardless of ethnic, religious affiliations.
But if we still pander to primordial sentiments of ethnic, religious ties, we cannot make progress. It is all about ability to perform. The people get the leaders they deserve. The inept leadership that has plagued our land for years was what we deserved because the people should have risen against them.
So, as we have changed the leadership in 2015, we need to hold the people accountable and watch them. Anytime they are derailing, we should cry out. I am happy the House of Representatives leadership could retrace its step by burying personal ambition and allowed wisdom to prevail.
They have to be sensitive to what had taken place. It is not business as usual. The people have reasons for effecting change. Not for the impunity and lawlessness to continue. They are waiting for impact on their lives . It is important that the new crop of political class should realize that what happened in the last General elections was a revolution, a very silent one. That every other person is liable to be ejected out of office if he fails to impress the people.
A Group, The Patriot led by renowned constitutional lawyer, Prof Ben Nwabueze cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari not to embarrass former President Jonathan, what do you make of this?
I don’t believe Prof Ben Nwabueze would have said that. You know, people can use credible personalities’ names to achieve their aim. When you have reputation, all these young boys who have their own motive can use your name.
He is a highly revered, foremost constitutional lawyer in the world. He is an erudite scholar. He should not allow anybody to use him. I don’t know what they meant by embarrassment. If President Buhari has overwhelming evidence of inappropriate handling of our finances, nothing stops him from investigating and prosecuting the people involved.
In fact, he will lose the goodwill he has built over the years if he fails to do that. He needs the money to work with in the first place. He has a lot plans for Nigeria and has promised a lot during his campaign. Now, he has to implement the programmes. You can deliver those programmes with empty treasury.
I am against witch hunting but if getting our money back into treasury is a task for the new Government. So, he has to start from the immediate past government. If he had evidence of previous governments too he should move against them. But the good thing is that people are returning the money back to the treasury. We have just gained about $3billion into our foreign reserves.
The accounts are being streamlined. The NNPC accounts are being harmonized now because if you are caught diverting money, you will be in trouble. The President will go after you, recover the money and disgrace you and your family.
It is important we start to set parameters for Governance and a moral tone. So, whoever is coming into Government will know there are guidelines.
