Sule Lamido is one of Nigeria’s most principled politicians and elder statesmen, and he has remained committed to what he believes. As a founding member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), he has remained committed to the original ideals of the party....READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE |
He is one of the very few original PDP members who have refused to defect from the party and has remained with the party despite the storm that has torn the umbrella into shreds.
He recently launched his political memoir aptly titled “Being True to Myself”, where he gave his own accounts of the political events that shaped his life and career.
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Born in 1948 in Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State, Nigeria, he has served in various capacities, including as a member of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic, representing the People’s Redemption Party (PRP); the National Secretary of the Social Democratic Party, and the Governor of Jigawa State.
He was also Nigeria’s minister of foreign affairs during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In this interview with THE WHISTLER, he speaks on the proposed political coalition to remove President Bola Tinubu from power and other issues.
Excerpts:
What Are The Thoughts On Your Mind About 2027?
I think any discerning mind in Nigeria who is reasonable and patriotic will think about 2027 with trepidation! This is because from the buildup that we see, they are very divisive, threatening and intimidating. There’s so much coercion from the government, blackmailing people to queue behind the APC.
There are no issues being discussed. How do you celebrate a 30-kilometre road, when it’s just about two per cent of the project? So the buildup is not about issues of insecurity, poverty, national unity and stability. All of these issues are being abandoned, and everyone is concerned about their personal aspirations and interests, while Nigeria is left behind.
So, 2027 looks to me like a year of doom for Nigeria unless we wake up and do something about it.
Some Groups in the Peoples Democratic Party In Your State And Other States In The North Have Called On You To Contest For President In 2027. Are You Considering Running For President?
Two things. There’s the general cry from the youths that it is now their time. So, it means they’re now competing with the elders and because they are more in number, if you contest against them, you may have no chance.
Second, I think I’m also getting old; I’m now 77. So, even though I have the ambition, I think I should also be realistic. There is the issue of the generational gap. The young people’s idea of politics which practically have no values, no vision. It’s about ephemeral things—what can I get for myself!
So, for people like us, it’s going to be very difficult to operate in that environment where the youths and the leaders are on two different frequencies. Even if I want to run, I will be hard put trying to get the youths to understand me. Because I cannot go by their own values, they have to go by mine. But my values may look archaic to them.
So that’s how far Nigeria has gone. We have lost our soul as a country because issues have been abandoned, and interests have taken over.
Your Party, The PDP, Is Supposed To Be The Main Opposition Party. Do You Think The PDP Is In A Position To Challenge For the Presidency In 2027?
When you talk about the PDP, you should not see it in today’s context. PDP has a history. In 1999, what was PDP? Why was it formed? What was the vision of the founding fathers? And who has the PDP produced in the last 37 years?
Today, all the key players in the ruling All Progressive Party are PDP. The only two persons who were never PDP are President Tinubu and Senator Adams Oshiomhole. All the others are PDP. So, try to see the PDP from its history, the role it has played in saving Nigeria.
Are You Saying That There Is No PDP Again?
No. There’s PDP. But then, PDP is also in APC, that’s the problem. So, going by today’s values and political mentality, whoever wins in APC tomorrow is also PDP!
So, Are You Ruling Out The PDP From The 2027 Presidential Race?
No. You see. Can we restore the shared values of the PDP? The PDP that was willing to work for Nigeria. PDP is not working for Nigeria, but is now working for its leaders. I really hope and pray that we will be able to restore our old status and our values for the sake of the stability and prosperity of the country.
What Kind Of Surgery Do You Think The PDP Requires Now For It To Be In A Position To Challenge For The Presidency In 2027?
First, any organisation that is serious must stand by its own rules and constitution. The PDP must be able to look at its constitution and ask, what have we done wrong? Then it should apply the rules of the party against anybody who tries to betray the party. Deal with them. When you flush all these elements, then we can say, ‘Thank God, we’re now back home.’
That is when we will see a PDP that is disciplined, very serious, a PDP that is willing and ready to deal with anybody who goes against its own rules and regulations; a PDP that is willing to work for Nigeria. But when you have a situation where the key members of the PDP are all working for the APC, what do you expect? If you go by this trend, whoever wins in 2027 is the PDP!
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Let’s Look At The Attempt By Some Political Leaders To Form A Coalition Against President Tinubu for the 2027 Election? What’s Your View On The Coalition?
One, every Nigerian has a right to think the way they want, even if it’s for their own personal interest, they’re free. But beyond that, the key persons in this coalition are also people who worked for the APC in 2014, in 2019 and in 2023. All the people in this coalition are people who worked for APC to displace PDP and have now lost out in their own civil war! Must I mention names?
So, coalition for what and against what? Coalition for Nigeria? For our security, unity and prosperity? Or a coalition for personal ambitions? Is it a coalition for me to avenge what somebody had done to me? It should not be about Tinubu; if it’s about him, then it’s a very personal battle.
Let us look at APC and its failures. What are the causes of the failure? Who were the people in the APC in 2014? Who were there in 2019? Who are those there in 2023? They say they’re forming a coalition, but it is the same coalition they formed that led to APC. So, it’s APC against APC, it’s APC that has lost out, APC that is angry against the APC of Tinubu!
Those guys talking about coalition should know Tinubu very well because they worked with him, they even ran on the platform of his political party, and they all supported him to emerge as Nigeria’s president. If he was able to get them manipulated to get to where he is now, they think that by leaving the APC, they can now fight him? You can only fight Tinubu on a moral ground. Simple. You can only fight him on a strong moral ground, standing for the country, not personal interests. You have to fight because you want to end insecurity, poverty, hardship and so on. It must be about Nigeria.
Former VP Atiku Abubakar Is In The Coalition And Many Believe He Plans To Run For President Against In 2027. You Supported Him In 2023. What Is Your View About Atiku Running Again?
First, I don’t see any crime in Atiku wanting to be Nigeria’s president. It isn’t a crime, and it is his right. But it’s left for Nigerians to say we want him or not. But don’t deny him that right.
Are You Saying You Will Support Him Again In 2027?
I will support anybody through Nigeria, not Nigeria through him. What I’m saying is that if the coalition is going to look at the issues facing the country, the issues that are now being ignored, and say, how do we address them? How do we deal with them? It’s not about Tinubu being removed. After removing Tinubu what’s next? After removing Jonathan in 2014, what happened? A coalition of anger, pain and frustration came together and removed Jonathan. Buhari came in, and they were celebrating. The north was the worst for it.
We have seen a coalition of APC, which has produced nothing but disaster for Nigeria. So, it’s a question of principles, a question of ideas about moving the country forward. What and what do we need to do? How do we come together as a country and put food on the table of Nigerians?
We must first agree on the issues. Then if the process produces Atiku Abubakar, of course we will vote for him. That’s my opinion. But it has to be a coalition for Nigeria working for Nigeria.
Since You Talk About Working For Nigeria, There Are People Who Believe That Peter Obi Is A Candidate They See As More Morally Upright Than Perhaps The Other Presidential Aspirants. And They Feel That The Coalition Should Support Him For The Presidency In 2027. What Do You Have To Say?
You see, don’t put the cat before the horse. First, before you get the coalition, on which issues are we coming together? What are the issues? Is it just to remove Tinubu from office? What will happen after Tinubu is removed? Is that the end of it? So, first I want a coalition of reality, a coalition of people walking with their eyes wide open.
When you do that, when we form a coalition of national interest, then either Peter Obi or anybody can emerge. I have no problem.
What’s Your Opinion About Peter Obi For President?
I may not be able to give you a fair assessment of Peter Obi because he’s someone who is very close to me. His father-in-law is my personal friend. And I knew him before he became a material for the presidency. I knew him before he became Anambra State governor. So, he’s very close to me, to be honest, and I love him, I like him a lot. I knew him through my friend, his father-in-law. So, Peter Obi is my son-in-law. If you ask me to assess him, you’re not being fair to me because I can’t deny or denounce him. I can’t.
But Would You Support Him For President?
What I’m saying is that if the process produces him, why not? The process is very important. Has he emerged through a primary election? So, don’t put the cat before the horse.
What Do You Think Is The Major Problem Of The Tinubu Administration?
It is the syndrome of an emperor who sees the entire country as his property. No more, no less. He confers favours on those he wants and withdraws them from those he doesn’t want. And to him, it’s not about being Yoruba or Muslim, it’s simply about loyalty to him. Even if you’re Oduduwa, if you’re not going to serve him, he will not look at you. So, Tinubu is not about being Yoruba or not. If you’re not going to serve him, he will get a Hausa man who will, and put him there. He doesn’t care whether you’re a Hausa man, Igbo, Yoruba, Muslim or Christian. He doesn’t give a damn if you’re willing to be loyal to him.
I Want Your Honest Assessment As A Politician. Do You Think Tinubu Can Be Stopped In 2027?
Tinubu can be stopped; he can be removed. But when the issues being addressed are about Nigeria first. The people who are talking now are the same people as Tinubu. Why are you now blaming Tinubu?
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