QUOTES FROM JERRY GANAS INTERVIEW PUBLISHED BY VANGUARD NEWSPAPER 1. The battle initially was not ideological and that is why we formed the PDP. I now understand why PDP has no ideology. The foundation was to winning elections. 2. Anyone who has been elected into office should note that his duty is not to win the next election, but how to use the mandate to give the people good life. For goodness sake, we did not elect you to just go and win the next election. We want you to show results that you can govern and give people hope. One may ask, what is happening presently in PDP? Also, the other parties. 3. What happened was that when Gen Obasanjo became President, he was not there when we formed the party; he was invited to join the party and we worked for him essentially to solve the June 12 problem. How did Jerry Gana and his co-travellers help to solve the June 12 problem? 4. If anybody were to be objective and to compare the last two and a half years and to compare this period for example with any of the previous administrations, which had gone through eight years or whatever time and you look at what Jonathan has been able to achieve within the period, he has done very well especially when those things were achieved when there was a decided confrontation to actually cause lack of peace. So, the present insecurity in the country is a decided confrontation to actually cause lack of peace? Who decided to cause lack of peace in Nigeria. Our leaders should be bold to speak out. Has Jerry Gana told the Federal Government those who decided to causevlack of peace in Nigeria? If no, why? If yes, what has the Federal Government done to them? 5. . . . the whole power sector has been transformed from a government-owned sector to a private sector-driven process business with integrity. Where is the integrity in the management and performance of the power sector in the country today? 6. Even if Jonathan says today that he cannot do a second term, do you think the people of the South-south would just sit down and allow him to go like that so that they wait for another 40 years before they can take power again? Then, he would not go back to Yenagoa. That is the reality and it is not a personal decision but a collective decision in a country where power continues to shift. It is the turn of the South-south and they want to do their complete term and conclude it. So, the presidency of Nigeria is turn by turn? Hope Jerry Gana wont deny this tomorrow. So, what are we waiting in entrancing in the country to avoid rancour and bickerings? 7. The very area where Jonathan comes from have consistently supported the power base in the North either in the days of the NPC or later NPN. A core reason for pushing for GEJs re-election is that he comes from South-South, which has always worked with the power base of the North. So, what of South-East? What of South-West? On daily basis, new insights emerge as to why we are where we are as a country. 8. And believe me, if the Chairman and the governor cause any tension in this party, having promised us that they would work together, let me use this opportunity to say as a member of the BoT that the party would be very angry and ruthless. The word was used by the military in their days in office. How do you deal with them ruthlessly? Is, for instance, removal from dealing with one ruthlessly? I doubt. Jerry Gana needs to tell us more, please. 9. Anyone who has been elected into office should note that his duty is not to win the next election, but how to use the mandate to give the people good life. I agree with him on this. One will ask, what is happening today? Do parties, especially PDP where he belongs, assess those in power before giving them another ticket? 10. I am a two-party system person. My model all along has been that. That is why when you see when we had the opportunity under Gen. Babangida, we modelled and promoted a two-party system. This is a true confession. Now, I know better. The clamour or quest for two party is a calculated and deliberate ploy to hinder or destroy progressive ideologies. 11. So, justice demands that if Nigerians so prefer, let us allow Jonathan to run for a second term and then there will be justice and fairness. After that, the North would bring a candidate and rule for eight years. Those South-East members of PDP who have continued to say that 2015 is the South-East turn should read note this. Thats why elections should be on issues and principles. Back to the statement, it is validated by history that the North-East zone, since after Tafawa Balewa, has not produced Head of State of Nigeria, whether in the military or civilian dispensation. So, is it that part of the North that will produce the President, by Jerry Ganas calculation? Yes, if I am to go by Jerry Ganas argument on equity and fairness. The hard fact is that between 1966 and 2014, all the zones of Nigeria have produced Head of State, except North-East zone and South-East zone. I enjoy reading interviews by our present leaders because it helps me understand them more. The truth remains that many of our leaders, after the generation of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa and Obafemi Awolowo, have been too pretentious and operated more like fifth columnists in public affairs. Nigeria should be allowed to blossom by them. We need peace and stability, but their antics, manipulations and craftiness have hindered our national development. My take is that the issue of the production of the president of Nigeria be made constitutional for certainty and peace sake.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 07:37:40 +0000
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