Nothing Has Really Improved Under Tinubu – Kome – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

Hon. John Kome, a Folks’s Democratic Social gathering (PDP) chieftain, is the celebration’s 2023 candidate for Ikeja Constituency 1 seat within the Lagos Home of Meeting. As Nigerians prepare for 2024, Dr Kome spoke to EJIKEME OMENAZU on essential points to mark the top of the 12 months. Excerpt:

Approval has been given to Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali to go away the ECOWAS, with a six-month grace. What do you assume are the implications to Nigeria particularly and the area basically?

After we speak of ECOWAS, it’s a regional block in Africa. What obtains in ECOWAS might be considered globally, because the area is part of the worldwide group. For instance, what is going on now in ECOWAS could also be associated with what is going on within the Center East. There are details that Russia and Turkey could also be behind the disaster in some Francophone nations. We’ve seen the heavy navy tools Burkina Faso is buying by means of Russia and Turkey. This can be for any eventuality, in opposition to the curiosity of their former colonial grasp. The silence of France over these points could probably not be golden. For France to stay silent could imply that it has its plans. When France rises up, not solely the Fran­cophone nations shall be affected. Nigeria and the opposite Anglophone nations can also be affected if France rises in opposition to its former colonies. This may increasingly result in spill­overs to the ECOWAS nations, particularly Nigeria. Not too long ago, Pres­ident Bola Tinubu, the ECOWAS Chairman, was lately in France on the invitation of the President Emmanuel Macron. That invita­tion and the bilateral talks whereas Tinubu President was there might need additionally centred on these Fran­cophone nations now making an attempt to go away ECOWAS.

Undoubtedly, worldwide poli­tics could also be at play. Each time the tremendous powers interact themselves, these younger African nations could pay for it. See what is going on to Assad in Russia within the warmth of the struggle with Ukraine. Assad needed to go away Russia. These nations making an attempt to go away ECOWAS must be cautious. For Nigeria, the financial implication of the motion of those nations might not be good in the event that they go away ECOWAS. It’s because the individuals from Niger, Mali, and even Chad are all over the place right here. They don’t seem to be actual Hausas, however are from a few of these ECOWAS nations. The choice of those nations to go away ECOWAS will certainly have an effect on Nigeria as the opposite coun­tries could reject them. Safety smart, this isn’t good. Terrorist assaults could enhance and these could adversely have an effect on the financial system of ECOWAS nations, particularly Nigeria.

As 2024 is drawing to an finish, may you give your overview of the 12 months?

Usually, an summary of the nation exhibits that there are myr­iad of issues Nigerians should cope with. Financial issues aggravated as a result of coverage reforms of President Bola Tinubu admin­istration. The financial state of affairs shouldn’t be bettering in any respect. The impli­cations have been unimaginable and undesirable. The astronomical rise in prices of products and companies has exacerbated the already unhealthy state of affairs of struggling and pains which existed earlier than this admin­istration got here in. This has led to extra crimes of nice magnitude. The extent of stealing and dishon­esty among the many Nigerian society has grow to be insufferable. There may be a lot dishonesty and false­hood. The entire state of affairs is ugly. Financial hardship, insecurity and excessive price of residing have in­creased. All these have affected the financial state of affairs. Financial institution costs on transactions have elevated. Financial institution deductions have elevated. Financial state of affairs and insurance policies of the federal government have affected the banks, which at the moment are complaining of scarcity of money to provide to their prospects.

How efficient would you say the re­types of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration have been thus far?

There is no such thing as a effectiveness any­the place. The little modifications embody enchancment in electrical energy provide, which got here with excessive prices, however the nationwide grid has continued to break down. Nothing actually has im­proved. The extent of corruption in authorities is just too excessive. Nigerians have misplaced religion within the judiciary. Ni­gerians are on the mercy of public officers. There may be loads of corrup­tion even in increased establishments. The residents are on the mercy of those that management the sectors. The complete nation is in an enormous mess. We’ve refused to inform ourselves the reality.

Your celebration, the PDP, is but to carry its conventions, suspending it to the tail finish of January or February 2025. How reasonable is that this new date, taking into account that the conference has been postponed a number of occasions because of the disaster within the celebration?

We can’t speak of the brand new date being reasonable. No one is aware of to­morrow. No one envisaged that the governor of Akwa Ibom State would lose his spouse, which neces­sitated the final postponement of the conference. Occasions decide what’s going to occur. No one is aware of what’s going to occur in January or February when the conference is shifted to. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has not performed its conference. In any organisation, there may be sure to be a disaster. Disaster shouldn’t be peculiar to the Peoples Dem­ocratic Social gathering (PDP). Some individuals are working hand-in-hand with the APC to trigger crises in PDP and different political events. However, what­ever has a starting has an finish.

What’s your date on the money prob­lems Nigerians are at present going through? How efficient would you say is the management of the Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN) of business banks?

The money management and liquidity drawback in banks may be very severe. The liquidity management of the CBN can also be severe. We have no idea if business banks are actually listening to or obeying the CBN. The CBN will say one thing and business banks will do one other factor. There may be over taxation and a rise in financial institution costs. Costs on withdrawals and financial institution costs are an excessive amount of. Insurance policies of different sectors and areas are affecting the lots. ATMs don’t dispense money. Within the banking corridor, banks don’t pay greater than N10,000 in money. However, the POS operators now overcharge the individuals. What kind of nation are we in? There are such a lot of costs in all sectors, in­cluding training. The frequent man is sighing closely because of the weight the coverage makers and driv­ers of the financial system place on them. For instance, a couple of days in the past, there was a notification from the CBN that business banks shouldn’t give new notes to these promoting or hawking currencies alongside the roads or at social occasions or social gatherings and events, which is able to appeal to N150 million effective. How can the CBN monitor this?

How do you see the current defec­tion of a number of Nationwide Meeting lawmakers of various political events to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)? Don’t you see this as an indication that the nation is tilting in direction of a one-par­ty rule?

It’s not irregular in Nigerian politics. Folks run there as a result of their egocentric pursuits. Folks will all the time cross-carpet as a result of particular person­al pursuits. Nigerian politicians are enterprise males and hawkers. They’re there to become profitable and never within the curiosity of those that elected them. Earlier than 2027, there shall be large and heavy defections from one celebration to an­different. However, that can’t result in a one-party state.

There shall be political upheaval earlier than 2027. These planning to show Nigeria to a one-party state shall be shocked. There shall be heavy and large defection from the APC. There shall be main and significant al­liances that can shock each Nige­rian. Nigeria can’t be a one-party state. These making an attempt to take action can’t succeed.

With the 12 months about to finish, what’s your message to Nigerians?

Nigerians ought to have hope in God. Everybody ought to pray to God for assist. Each Christians and Muslims ought to pray. Nige­rians must be cautious of their actions. They need to additionally watch out of how they relate to at least one one other. Folks must be affected person with others to keep away from pointless killings because of the anger within the land. Folks now can kill due to N200. Nigerians ought to assist each other.