Prince Tony Momoh, is a national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC ) and former Minister of Information. In this interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI, he speaks on the mood of Nigerians following President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection and other issues. Excerpts:
President
Buhari has won reelection for a second term but many people believe
that the euphoria is not there as many Nigerians are not celebrating
like they did when he won in 2015? Are you also aware of that?
Whoever
said that must have a problem with his memory because the euphoria now
is massive compared to how it was in 2015. I have never seen so much
celebration in the history of Nigeria elections and I have witnessed a
lot of them. Everywhere in Nigeria right now, people are celebrating.
How can anybody say the euphoria now is low when compared to how it was
in 2015? In any case, we have a state by state scenario when you have
events being acted out. We have never had so much spread by opposition
in the history of Nigeria. Buhari won in all the traditional areas. He
won in the North-West; he won in the North- East, I think he won in the
North-Central. In 35 states of Nigeria, he has 25 percent. He also has
more than 25 percent in Abuja. The difference between his total votes
and Atiku’s votes is almost 4 million. So, how can there be better
result or spread than we have now? In 2011, in the whole of the
South-South and South- East, he did not have up to 10 percent except in
Edo state. He didn’t even have up to 25 percent in Edo state. In 2015,
he had 46 percent in Edo state. He did not have up to 10 percent in all
the states of the South- South and the South- East in 2015. Now, he had
25 percent in all the states of the federation in Nigeria, including the
FCT. So, why won’t there be much celebrations? Those saying Nigerians
are not celebrating his victory like they did in 2015 are not saying the
truth.
What are your expectations from him during his second term; which areas do you want him to give priority?
A
lot of people don’t want Buhari to return for second term because of
his strategy. There are lots of things he is waiting to do if reelected.
He will attend more vigorously to the fight against corruption. In
fact, Buhari follows principle and due process religiously. Nobody is
too close to him not to deal with if the person misbehaves or derails,
especially when you want to have shortcuts to things you are not
entitled to. When I was the National Chairman of Congress for
Progressives Change (CPC), someone offered us vehicles for campaign and
said ‘If you win, what will you do for me?’ Excitedly, I went to meet
Buhari for him to endorse it. But he said ‘Sorry Mr. Chairman, I cannot
give out what doesn’t belong to me’. The man who promised us the
vehicles then took it away. That is Buhari for you. Here is a man who
refuses to take his full salary because he said he is being fed in Aso
Rock. Look at the benefits or pensions they give to former Heads of
States. He said he can’t accommodate all that. I am not quite sure that
when he assumes office for his second term, he is going to be very happy
with senators or public officials taking what is not their due. He will
beam his searchlight on everywhere. So, Nigerians should look forward
to many people crying because they have no access to free money. He will
even do more to ensure that people return what they have illegally
taken whoever you are. That is why these people don’t want him to come
back because they know him as a strategist. He is waiting for his
reelection before he deals with many of them.
Source:- Independentng
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