Elder-statesman and former Minister of State for Finance during the Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime, Alhaji Abu Gidado, speaks on Northern agenda in 2023 and other critical national issues in this interview with Andy Asemota

What is your take on the appointment of the new Inspector-General of Police?

One thing I know is, he must be familiar with the security threats in the country and his appointment is an indication that he is quite competent to tackle it. For him to be appointed in this climate of insecurity, he must be adjudged a very competent officer to stand up against the threat.

What is your view on the state of insecurity in the country?
Well, it is quite threatening to the whole existence of Nigeria. Of course, if people cannot freely move to where they can engage in profitable businesses, it is a threat to the whole nation.

It is against this background that we have different regional security bodies such as Amotekun, Eastern Security Network (ESN) among others. What is your take on this issue?
That is why security is very important for the peaceful co-existence in this country. I think the responsibility is on the Federal Government and that is why it changed the Inspector-General of Police

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There has been increased agitation for Oduduwa Republic and Biafra, among other secessionist groups. How do these demands strike you?
There is one thing that is pending and that is the 2023 general elections. So, politicians are restless. They probably may like to use these things as a bargaining tool in the next political setting, otherwise of what benefit are they? What is the benefit after 100 years of the existence of Nigeria?

Politicians are themselves calling for a split of the country, that is, they must have failed and so what? They will take the responsibility, even though it may have great impact on the public. Let them decide; we are just fed up, and we cannot make progress.

If you go to other oil producing countries, they have learnt to manage their resources. They have utilised the abundance of the resources they have gained from oil. But, what have we done with it in this country? What can we count on, except this call for split? It shows incompetence in the handling of the affairs of this country.

They have all the resources but they cannot manage them. So, they come round and say we have to split, we have to do this and that, or we have to have Oduduwa and whatever. So what?

Do you see this as a sign of failed state or has Nigeria failed in the hands of President Muhammadu Buhari?
You see, the agitations for Oduduwa have been on and people are dreaming about it, all long. So, it is not a sudden issue. It is something embedded in the minds of some Nigerian politicians and they use it at their convenience, that is all.

A school of thought believes that Nigeria is failed state or is heading for one? Do you agree with this view?
What is the definition of a failed state?

It is when a nation is not in full control of the security of lives and property of its citizens in particular territory.
Now, the countries, that have been divided, or seeking division, for example, Libya, is it stable now? It’s not.

So, there is hardly any success story?
You see, we are not groomed really for the overall interest of the country. People are biased sectionally; their interest is only in their section. So, if the country is split, so what? Let it be, believe me.

Many stakeholders have canvassed the restructuring of the country, power devolution, control of mineral resources and police, among others, how do you see these calls?
All these outcries for restructuring, for Nigeria to been restructured, how many times have this country been restructured?

That has been done politically by creating more states but some people are clamouring for economic restructuring. How do you see that?

All these things in the mind of politicians are not in the overall interest of the common man. How many people from the so-called Biafra are in other states? If they are mindful of their states, they should all sit up and put this country in order. These people claim they are educated but in their expressions, they don’t think beyond their ethnic boundaries. Yet they are professors. They are this and that. Have we seen that reflected anywhere in the areas that claim to be educated, except selfishness all over.

The Chairman, Northern Elders Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, recently said that the North won’t vote along ethnic or religious line in 2023, can this work?
You see, the North has never decided on either religious or tribal line but by circumstances within the country. We all backed (Olusegun) Obasanjo. Did we not? We voted for MKO Abiola in the North. We in the North are more accommodating than any of these two regions. We are more accommodating and we believe in the spirit of live and let live. But, it is not the same with the other regions.

Which of these zones–South-East, South-South and South-West–will you support to produce the President in 2023?
You see, this is part of the failure of the elite in this country. You say that we are practising democracy, that we copied from America, is there any zoning in America? In this country, we just allow sentiments to dictate and we find that we are not going anywhere, then problems start and you call for division.

This is a reckless country. For example, I was at the Revenue Mobilisation and Allocation Commission, that body is now destroyed politically. It has no teeth to bite. It has been swallowed by political considerations and so many other things. The commission determines the wages and allowances of all political office-holders but what many are getting now is not determined by the commission. Is that not part of the failure of the elite?

What will likely to be Northern agenda in 2023?
Northern agenda as is always the case, we take the brunt and the blame. We, in the North, are the only people that want Nigeria to continue for now. Believe me, it has been so. Every conference is deliberately designed so that we will start talking. And at some point, people will start wanting this and that. You see, we all have a country to look up to and develop, not a country where one section will take specific advantage of the others. No, it will not work; it will always fail in that regard. Are making any success? We (Northerners) are really disappointed in the so called educated group and class. They are the people bringing all manner of problems to this country.

What will the North seek in 2023?
Well, the North as always is ambitious and wishes that the country moves forward.

In the interest justice and fair play, do you think it will be right for the North to insist on the presidency after 2023?

Believe me, that is why I refused to talk about politics. I am not in the scheme of things or in the political caucus.

I asked that question knowing that you are an elder statesman.
I am neutral. But I must tell you that politicians are tearing us apart.

Do you have any appeal to make?
My call is really to the group that is claiming to be highly educated people but they cannot think beyond their ethnic divide. They are not championing the interest of Nigeria. They are just projecting their sectional interest to jump into power. That is why, I say I am not a politician. I don’t know the workings or the minds of politicians. The moment elections are around the corner, you hear all sorts of things and threats. The elite are behind such threats.

On the state of the economy and employment.
Which economy when we are just talking about insecurity. Can you talk about economy?

Nigerians socio-economic well-being is important. To what extent has insecurity affected that?
Insecurity has been almost a way to life since the inception of the current democratic dispensation. So, that is why I said I don’t like the way politicians think and act.

So, we have to put up with the insecurity we have been experiencing?
Nobody or Nigerians will hope or pray for that. I don’t think so. No, no. However, the police or security agencies only cannot tackle the security challenges; everybody should get up and help the system.