Dr. Tunji Abayomi is a renowned constitutional lawyer and Human Rights Activist, In this Interview with Enitan Ibrahim Olukotun, the editor of The Complete News, Abayomi spoke on the state of the nations, the 2015 general elections among other things. Excerpt:
What would say about the state of the Nation?
One is disturbed at the low level of the development and advancement in all sectors especially the material foundation of our nation. You must be disturbed by the low advancement of our people.
Do you think that the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC has the solution to the problems of Nigeria?
Yes of course, as the citizens are disturbed, the opposition APC is also disturbed. A principal difference between the APC and the PDP is that while the ruling party is pre-occupied with power, we (APC)are pre-occupied with the people. Decisions the APC will take when it assumes power will be conducive for the people.
When you are pre -occupied with power, you don’t care if it is abuse but if you are preoccupy with people, you care how you use their resources. I believe that APC will have a lot to do to restructure the nation because a lot has happened. The party must work extremely hard to raise the hope of the people.
How would you react to the notion out there that the APC and PDP are one and the same?
There has always been a difference between conservative tendencies and the progressives. Like I have said, our pre-occupation in the progressives camp is the people; their rights, expectations and well being.
I cannot see that happening in PDP considering that they have been in power for 16 years. In the power sector, they have spent trillion on the sector without meaningful improvement. It is even worst.
Is it in the area of education? You see, Government is a about fundamental change. Abraham Lincoln said, ‘You cannot make a difference if you continue to work on a beaten path’, The PDP continues to work on the beaten path that is why he cannot make any difference.
But your party APC has been celebrating those you tagged ‘conservative tendencies who joined APC
We are not complaining about individuals but a party. The PDP is a system just like APC. If you enter a system you must attune your character to conform with the norms of the system.
Though people drive a system but the system must first shapes them. You see what played out at last National convention held in Lagos. It went rancor –free and members conducted themselves with civility that was achievable because of the systemic norms entrenched in the all Progressives Congress, APC.
The presidential candidate of your party, General Mohammadu Buhari has been under an intense attack from the ruling party over his certificates. He was even referred to as semi-illiterate jackboot, what is your reaction?
What does that mean, Professor Wole Soyinka only has a Bachelor Degree, and he is one of the leading minds in Nigeria and a renowned professor of literature.
I was part of the screening committee that screened him (Buhari). He has a refined mind. There is different between intelligence and opportunity. The person they are branding semi-illiterate once served as a Governor, Head of State, Petroleum minister, Chairman Petroleum Trust Fund.
Now, the one that has a Phd, what is the benefit if a minister spent N10b to charter jet in the midst of poverty in the country and he was able to get an order of the court to restrain a constitutional body from investigate her and the president was watching the dance of forest.
I would rather have an uneducated man that stands for something than to have educated man that stands for nothing.
What would you say about the combination of Prof. Yemi Oshinbajo and General Mohammadu Buhari?
It is a very good combination. Osinbajo satisfies many criteria and sentiments of professional, religious ,ethnic, intellectual sentiment and so on.
You now look at Buhari who is a man of action. You now combine wisdom and energy. Energy of the mind and the wisdom of the head. Above all they both stand against the most debilitating problem of the country, corruption.
With the huge warchest at the disposal of the ruling party, do you think that the opposition can dislodge the PDP?
Yes, I see the APC defeating the PDP and moving the nation forward. The people of Nigeria are demanding for change and they will insist on it. The situation is so embarrassment. There is a revolution of rising frustration in the country. Whether the PDP like it or there must be about change. Many of us are going to insist on it. Both within and outside there will be pressure on the APC to bring about the change.
