Dr Farah Dagogo is a former member of the Home of Representatives, as ex-governorship aspirant in Rivers State. He was additionally a member of the state Home of Meeting. The staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Get together, PDP, on this interview with DAILY POST, speaks on the get together’s disaster and governance in Rivers State. Excerpts!
Your Get together, the PDP, is on the precipice, with crises one after the opposite. Do you assume there will probably be a method again for the PDP, particularly now that Nigerians are craving for a viable opposition forward 2027?
Sure. Nigerians predict an entire lot from the PDP. However regrettably, my get together has not lived as much as that billing due to in-house combating. These so-called crises are selfishly created by few people to bolster their inordinate ambition to the detriment of the get together and to a much bigger extent, a bigger part of Nigerians who’re trying as much as it for a viable choice.
I’ve stated it and can nonetheless repeat it. The PDP put itself on this mess previous to the 2015 elections the place some people impressed it on then President Goodluck Jonathan to tactically make the then Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, irrelevant within the PDP, and pushed him out.
That unlucky motion pressured Amaechi and different governors out of the PDP to strengthen the then opposition APC. What did we (PDP) get in return? We retained or recaptured Rivers State from the APC, by advantage of Amaechi decamping to the APC. We gained that battle in Rivers State and misplaced the warfare, the Presidency, which was a very powerful one.
So, it’s secure to say that we sacrificed the Rivers State election for the Presidency. If egocentric pursuits had been jettisoned then and the variations between Jonathan and Amaechi had been reconciled, Amaechi and different governors, together with different sturdy get together members wouldn’t have left the PDP for APC.
As at then, Amaechi was not contesting for any elective place. He was about serving off his second time period. President Jonathan alternatively was within the race for a second time period. If solely the forces round Jonathan had allowed him to reconcile with Amaechi, it wouldn’t have been like this.
However, the egocentric curiosity of 1 particular person, who destroyed the zoning preparations in Rivers State, boomeranged and value us the warfare and we misplaced the Federal. That was all. What must be executed now’s for an entire overhaul of the present management construction of the get together. As it’s now, I agree with you that it’s all gloomy, however it’s by no means too late to do the precise issues.
The physique language of your get together’s Presidential Candidate within the 2023 elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, means that he would possibly possible contest for the 2027 elections. You had been within the forefront of those that supported him then, particularly from the Niger Delta and your state, Rivers. Will you continue to help him within the subsequent election cycle?
It might be fairly insensitive to Nigerians to be speaking of 2027 elections contemplating what the populace are going by way of. Nigerians are struggling and are going by way of the toughest and harshest durations of their lives. My help for the Turakin Adamawa is in line with my precept.
After I imagine in an thought, it stays so. My help for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is premised on conviction and that’s a significant cause my steadfastness shouldn’t be stunning to anybody. Individuals who know me are absolutely conscious that if I’m with you, I’m with you. I don’t waver on my alternative and stand. When it will get nearer to 2027, we are going to discuss. However, now, we’re all surviving this unexplainable hardship.
You’re a main stakeholder within the politics of Rivers State. You even tried to contest for the Governorship elections earlier than your arrest, detention and subsequent exoneration by the courtroom. What’s your tackle the political malaise within the state? Would you say Governor Siminalayi Fubara has executed nicely contemplating the political distractions and fights?
Sure, I’m amongst these taken out of the image and prevented from contesting that election to pave the best way for Siminalayi Fubara to emerge as governor. All these are prior to now now. A very powerful query now, which is bigger is- The curiosity of the state or yours? Would you enable the state to thrive or would you burn down the state due to your private curiosity?
Simply as I’ve stated prior to now, all fighters ought to eschew violence and kit their energies in direction of the event and prosperity of our expensive state for a secure and conducive atmosphere. This toxicity that’s in every single place within the state must be nipped within the bud if really our need to be ready of authority is to higher the a number of the widespread man. As a result of, inform me, would buyers be prepared to come back in and put money into such a hostile atmosphere?
Agreed, you might be within the opposition, PDP, however with Nigerians because the focused recipient. What would you advise the ruling APC led by President Bola Tinubu to do in ameliorating the sufferings of the individuals?
This concern just isn’t about being in an opposition get together or what have you ever. Is the present biting hardship differentiating between Get together A or B? We’re all affected. Simply the identical method you might be shopping for issues costly so additionally it’s for everybody. As politicians, we’re equally bearing the brunts. You need to handle your followers and supporters whether or not you might be in workplace or not. President Tinubu is our president at present. And to his credit score, he has acknowledged at varied fora that there’s deep hardship within the nation.
So, the best way out of it lies along with his authorities’s actions in direction of it. His insurance policies, together with financial and monetary, should be holistically reviewed to ameliorate this struggling. North, West, East and South, it’s all a narrative of anguish. If actually the essence of presidency is concerning the individuals, Nigerians shouldn’t be going through and experiencing this unprecedented hardship.
As a member of the ninth Nationwide Meeting, you sponsored a number of payments and motions, are you able to inform us those you had been most captivated with and regrets, if any, because it pertains to those that didn’t get Presidential Assent?
Whereas I used to be vying for that place, I had deep conversations and a agency covenant with the individuals I intend to symbolize. Most of it centred on guaranteeing that if elected as their consultant, my focus will probably be on pursuing insurance policies that may meet and cater for his or her most vital wants and desires, in addition to the nation at massive.
For example, the concept behind the invoice for the Federal Medical Centre, Bonny was to cater and handle the well being issues of inhabitants of that space because of the constant surge within the inhabitants of individuals in that space and Rivers State at massive, owing to the oil explorative actions continuously ongoing on the Bonny Island, with the figures of individuals growing drastically, particularly with the development and enlargement of the varied Trains of the NLNG, that’s nonetheless in progress.
That invoice was crucial as a result of the few well being amenities on floor in Bonny had been incapable of dealing with severe health-related illnesses or emergencies.
In that sense, the supply of Well being Care Facility, just isn’t solely important at that time, and should be a matter of grave issues to the federal government because the Federal Medical Centre can even function a method by the Federal Authorities to present again to the individuals contemplating what they (FG) are getting from NLNG.
Additionally, I used to be additionally capable of suggest and push for the pioneer STEAM Polytechnic schooling that will equip our college students with competencies that may allow them to beat private challenges, pursue careers in technical fields akin to software program engineering or synthetic intelligence, discover inventive options to tough issues, and perceive how the world works. Thoughts you, STEAM is an academic acronym for Science, Expertise, Engineering, Arts, Arithmetic.
I took my time to elucidate all these to you so you’ll perceive the idea, peculiarities of the places and what they’re missing.
In fact, I used to be disenchanted that after being handed into regulation by each Chambers of the Nationwide Meeting, it didn’t get the anticipated Presidential Assent earlier than the expiration of the final administration. Nonetheless, that concept remains to be alive and kicking as my successor within the Home of Representatives is actively following it up.
I additionally championed the Youth Entrepreneurship Improvement Belief Fund invoice. That proposed regulation was meant to stem the tide of unemployment and grow to be a monetary succour to the upcoming youthful generations by setting apart a 5 % capital estimate proposal from the Federation Account for the youths fund.
There have been additionally payments that will have made it necessary for multinational corporations working within the nation to nominate Nigerians as their Chief Government Officers (CEO). The payments are “Multinational Firms Appointment of Chief Executives (Regulatory) Invoice” and “Nigerian Oil and Gasoline Trade Content material Improvement Act (Modification) Invoice”.
There was additionally a Invoice on Nationwide Polytechnic Fee sponsored by me and an modification to the Structure looking for for cost of the 13% derivation on to the Host Communities. There are a number of of such payments that I used to be capable of pursue, after all, with the help of my constituents and colleagues then. I wouldn’t say I’ve regrets however extra of disappointment as a result of if these payments had succeeded, the advantages to the individuals would have been huge. Nonetheless, these concepts are there within the open and wouldn’t die.
On the 13% derivation fund, you have got been vocal about it and a invoice to that impact was offered by you. What occurred to that invoice?
That invoice was not focused at any particular person. Relatively, it was a name for probity and accountability. The 13% was a constitutional provision and the way the funds had been meant to be executed had been explicitly spelt out.
However, there have been anomalies in its execution by previous and present governors of the Niger Delta. All of them erred in that regard. And as I’ve regularly stated, it’s a very unhappy commentary because it pertains to the oil producing communities of the Niger Delta. The fund was constitutionally put aside to help oil-producing communities to deal with infrastructural decay and degradation, with emphasis on the oil producing communities.
What it means principally is that in sharing the federation account income, 13 per cent ought to be put aside to help the event of those oil-producing communities. Greater than twenty years down the road, what’s there to point out for the humongous monies which have are available?
The governors, previous and current, view it as free cash. Between yr 2000 and date, trillions from the 13% derivation precept have been shared to the Niger Delta governors, on behalf of the oil producing communities. But, the deplorable residing circumstances of the individuals from these oil-producing communities have remained nauseating and deplorable with the individuals battling and nonetheless reeking with the worst and highest type of poverty.
To your different query, you see, the Nationwide Meeting is a microcosm of Nigeria. Just about everybody and all tribes are absolutely represented. It additionally comes with its politics. As a result of the bulk will all the time have their method, there’s a want for lobbying and horse buying and selling. These are all the wonder, enjoyable and hallmarks of parliamentary engagements. That invoice got here up through the heated agitation of PIB.
So, there was the necessity to thread with warning and that was due to the complete consciousness that some sections of Nigerians already believed that they’ve given the Niger Delta an entire lot and that mindset was absolutely displayed within the method vital sections of the PIB had been voted out.
The drive behind the 13% was novel however the issues lie in its implementation by the governors. So, with that in thoughts, I used to be circumspect sufficient to not enable any window or openings to name for the repeal of the 13% derivation with the bandied notion that the then PIB would cater for it. It was very dicey.
Let me take you again to one in all your motions on Constituency Delineation by INEC, what was the politics behind it?
There isn’t a ambiguity to it in anyway. It’s easy. It’s extra of a wake-up name to INEC on its uncared for duty. The Rivers State Home of Meeting is short-changed in its membership because it stands now and INEC is aware of this. Degema Constituency for instance, ought to have two constituencies within the State Meeting if issues are executed in keeping with regulation.
As a result of, in keeping with the regulation, the Rivers State Home of Meeting is entitled to 39 members and never the 32 presently constituted. The regulation is evident on that and the electoral physique vested with that energy is aware of that. That movement was only a name to motion. lt doesn’t require the Electoral physique to hunt any amendments to the Structure.
Part 91 of the Structure explains how a state is certified for state constituencies and I quote: “Home of Meeting of a State shall include three or 4 occasions the variety of seats which that state has within the Home of Representatives supplied {that a} Home of Meeting of a state shall include not lower than twenty-four and less than forty members.”
Rivers State has 13 members within the Home of Representatives and a 32 member state Home of Meeting. By interpretation of the structure, Rivers State is certified for a further seven State constituencies, to extend its quantity to at the very least 39 state constituencies’ seats.
Thoughts you, it’s not solely Rivers State that was short-changed, however different states akin to Plateau, Oyo, Sokoto, Borno, Anambra, Bauchi, Delta, Akwa Ibom and lots of extra are additionally adversely affected by INEC’s failure to discharge this obligation.
INEC can also be empowered by Part 114 (1) of the Structure to overview the division of each State into constituencies at intervals of not lower than 10 years.
Sadly, It’s greater than 20 years for the reason that final delimitation was executed. Check out the inhabitants of the nation and registered voters; it has elevated exponentially, thereby underscoring an pressing overview for proportional and truthful illustration.
The Structure is supreme to another regulation and we should always toe and observe it to the letters with strict adherence to laid down procedures as clearly said in sections 91, 112 and 114. So, when you see it as politics, that’s the politics of it then.
