Islanders Magazine

I  am eight years older,wiser and better to deal with Bode George faction......Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defense, Ambassador Musiliu Obanikoro, in this interview, shares his politics and regular rise in public service, including the reason behind some knotty decisions his department is compelled to take, in the interest of the country.
Excerpt…

The major problem of Nigeria now has to do with security. What are you doing about it?A lot is being done. Security matters are not issues that can be discussed in the open. I want to assure you that the stability of this country is most important to us, given the need to have accelerated development. Without peace, it will be almost impossible to actualize the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. So, the security challenge is receiving serious and highest attention that you can never imagined. All hands are on deck. The challenge is not something that would just go away as we have wished but the truth of the matter is that terrorism anywhere in the world is not a 100-meter dash. Given that, we will ensure that all Nigerians, regardless of where they are, every hamlet, every city, every state, are protected.

There is this story that soldiers fighting the insurgents were not well-equipped and that their allowances were not being paid. What do you have to say to this?Well, on the issue of allowances, that is not correct. The soldiers’ allowances are paid up to date. On the issue of equipment, there is no doubt that we are having challenges. But we are gradually improving on that, turning things around; we are making new acquisitions. The commitment of the President is that we have to build a military not just of today but a military of the future. And process to achieving that commitment is ongoing.

Some soldiers were recently found guilty of mutiny and were sentenced to death. What do you have to say against people’s reaction that the soldiers were not properly charged?I’m not going to join issues with anyone over this issue. What is important in the military is discipline. Where you have a breakdown of discipline in military, whatever it takes to ensure that discipline is maintained at all times must be done.

Do you have any comment on the $9.3 million cash allegedly seized from a Nigerian jet by the South African authorities? We heard that it was meant to procure arms for our security agents……cuts in. I cannot comment on that because I don’t have all the facts with me. I have to get all the facts before I can make any comment on the issue.

Recently, President Jonathan forwarded a request to the national assembly for the approval of a $1 billion loan to buy equipment for the armed forces and the senate just reconvened and said they were going to give the request an accelerated hearing. What area will the new purchase cover and which part of the world are you buying the equipment from?The equipment is going to cover all facets of the security wings; air force, army and the navy. In the last 25 years, we have not made major acquisitions to beef up the capacity of our military. The last time it was done was when Alhaji Sheu Shagari was president. Now, President Goodluck Jonathan is committed, like I said earlier, to build a military that can deal with the challenges of today and, more importantly, the challenges of the future. That is why this acquisition is very important so that we don’t wake up in another 25 years and be faced with this type of issue again.

What has been happening to the defense budgets and security votes that we’ve been having over the years?Don’t forget that we’ve been having issues, moving from one crisis to another. We just ended the militancy in the Niger Delta which took its toll on the country. And moving out of that, we found ourselves in this Boko Haram issue. So, it requires a lot of money to contain all these challenges. An average person sits in the comfort of his home without knowing what is being done to keep us safe. Before now, there are so many security equipment that we didn’t have in Nigeria but today, most of these equipment are here. So, steps are being taken on the daily basis to secure our country.

One of the alpha jets being used to battle the insurgents got missing in action. But some experts believe that we actually need, given that kind of terrain is a helicopter gunship. What do you think?Like I told you, we are in the process of making major acquisitions and that also is part of what we have on the agenda.

Why do you think it has been so difficult for our armed forces to capture the dreaded Sambisa Forest, since it is believed to be the headquarters of Boko Haram?It is not an uneasy task for our army to overrun the Sambisa Forest and nobody has said that it is difficult. We have said it often times that, to do that, certain things would have to be put in place.

So, what is the federal government doing about the kidnapped Chibok school girls’ safe return?What is important is that, President Jonathan is committed to rescuing those girls and bringing them back safely. The government will never give up until the right thing is done.

There is a mutual campaign now between the governments of Nigeria, Chad and Cameroun against the terrorists who operate along the borders of these three countries. Have we considered closing our borders while we do serious mop-up of the mess?The President has said that a long time ago and I’m happy everybody is towing along the same line of reasoning. The Commander-In-Chief has all the information, he has all the facts and he takes decisions based on the preponderance of information available to him.

Let’s talk about your governorship ambition in Lagos State.Well, you have to look at the landscape of who is who that is running for the state’s governorship. Without any iota of doubt, without sounding immodest, my knowledge of public service is very sound. And I believe we have a lot to offer this state. And I believe everyone knows how passionate I am about Lagos. So, without letting the cat out of the bag now, sooner than later, we shall unveil.

The last time you contested for governorship of Lagos State on the PDP platform, the Bode George faction presented the widow of Chief Funsho Williams for the same ticket and there was a major problem in the party then before you closed ranks. 

It is being rumoured now that it is the same style the Bode George faction will employ by rooting for Jimi Agbaje. Is history not about repeating itself?Let me tell you. I’m almost eight years older than the last time I contested. I’m wiser now with a better understanding of the terrain and better knowledge of the challenges, in terms of dealing with issues. We shall get there.

Talking of factions; we understand that you and Chief Bode George have misunderstanding, in terms of working together in the party. Now, if the party is factionalized, won’t it affect the chances of PDP in Lagos State?There will always be acrimony when you are having internal issues. But once the acrimony is not to the extreme, one would be able to resolve the issues and forge ahead. There is something in there for everybody. Politics is about interest, it shouldn’t be a do-or-die affair. It is normal for people to have issues. It is normal to have a clash of ideas, but as long as this is about the people, it is okay. So, if all the noise and all the energy that we are throwing around are really about the people, I think we should be able to find a common ground to resolve our differences.

There is this perception that APC is very strong in Lagos; that Governor Raji Fashola is doing very well. What is your own view?The truth of the matter is that Fashola is trying his best. But his best is not enough for Lagos. Somebody must take it to the next level. And I believe, it is someone who lived, studied and worked in the US for nine years and is still very conversant with the happenings here that can offer better services to the people of Lagos.

What areas will be your focus if……cuts in. in all areas. Let me tell you; if I’m elected governor of Lagos State, the first 100 days, Lagos will witness a great turnaround that has never happened in its history; in terms of dealing with deficiencies in education, deficiencies in the health division, deficiencies in emergency division, and others. In short, you will see a very different Lagos, in terms of environment too. That is what we are bringing in. and I have no doubt in my mind that we have what it takes to deliver the dividends.

How do you deal with the issue of criticisms trailing the use of soldiers during elections, which is under your purview?The best thing that can happen to us during elections in Nigeria is the use of military in ensuring that hoodlums don’t have their way. We’ve had elections in Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States. We did not encounter violence of any sort during those elections. We didn’t hear gunshots or snatching of ballot boxes anywhere during the elections. No killing of anyone. That feat alone deserves commendation from the people. But I dare say that the opposition party in Nigeria is just there for the sake of it. They are not there for the good of the country. If you are in opposition for the good of the country, you will see certain things that are right and commend them. In their own case, it is only when things work for them that they stand up to commend you. When it doesn’t work for them, all hell must let loose. Governor Oshiomhole of Edo State was the first person to commend the President when he won his election. And he thanked the President and the security for ensuring a free and fair process. It is these same people, after losing election, began shouting and crying from the rooftop. It doesn’t work that way. You cannot eat your cake and have it. I can understand that there may be lapses here and there, what we need to do is to correct the grey areas. There is no perfection in human endeavour.

You are one of the few people privileged to be put in various positions of authority in public service. You have been chairman of a local government, commissioner, senator, ambassador and minister. Which of these positions would you consider most challenging and which is most rewarding at the level of service?Well, I would say that I enjoyed being chairman of a local government because it gave me the opportunity to interact with an average person in the community. As a commissioner, you expanded the scope by having the entire state as your constituency. That gives you a wider reach and a wider delivery. As a senator, it was a thing of joy for me to stand up on the floor of the senate to fight for the course of the people, and to fight for a special status for Lagos. I enjoyed that representing my people, ensuring that things that will add values to Lagos were brought to the front burner of the Nigerian politics. As an ambassador, it is a different kettle of fish. You have the privilege of interacting with other ambassadors from different parts of the world. This gives you the opportunity to have a different outlook about life. Though, as a senator I was representing Lagos, the whole Nigeria was my constituency. And having an opportunity, given by President Jonathan to serve as a minister, has further broadened my horizon in terms of knowledge and wisdom and everything you want to think of.

As a Lagosian and someone who is very passionate about Lagos, what do you think are the major problems confronting the state and how do you think they can be solved?Education is number one. Our educational system has collapsed. To get qualitative education in this state today is almost impossible for the parent. Shelter is most important in human life. This government, in the last 15 years, has not done anything about housing. The congestion that we have in Lagos now is terrible. We have to decongest Lagos. We have to work on our rural areas and make them more conducive for people to live in. so, decongesting Lagos is a major priority, as far as I’m concerned. The environment is equally important, and the security. I want to assure you that, as governor, we will reduce crime in Lagos to the barest minimum. We have the means to do that and we are going to do it.