WHAT’S the relationship between the Social Democratic Party (SDP) of the present and the SDP of the military era?
Well, as you rightly observed, there was an SDP in the 1990s which was part of the transition that led to elections in 1993. At that time, the SDP was able to make a huge impact in getting many of its members elected into the National Assembly and subsequently, the SDP presidential candidate, Chief M.K.O. Abiola of blessed memory, won. I believe after that episode, the SDP like most other political parties were rested. But about four, five years ago, Chief Olu Falae and other leaders of the SDP felt it was time to revive it because one, its history; two, because of the brand; three, because of the successes it achieved at that very difficult time and the kind of ideological position of the party that it should not be lost to history. Therefore, Chief Olu Falae who is right now the Chairman of the party, worked very hard through all the legal processes and revived the party. Though it did not have much showing in 2015, but in a number of states, where its candidates stood for elections, they were able to make some impact.
Recently, some people expressed concern about the status of the PDP and APC and looking at some other political parties already on ground and those that were registered recently. It appeared that people were saying that the SDP that has a long history that made an impact on Nigerian psychology should be brought back. For us, long before the Supreme Court judgment on the PDP, there were many people who were thinking that it would be very difficult for the Supreme Court to pass judgment in favour of the PDP that was chaired by Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi and that in the event that the verdict does not favour the mainstream, people must prepare a fallback position on the way out. Some of our leaders and elders engaged with most of the political parties at the background, conversing with them, discussing with them and negotiating with them including but not limited to APGA, Labour Party, Accord Party, PRP and others. So, the feeling was that, yes, in the event that the Supreme Court gave the judgment to the faction that did not belong to the mainstream, then others will move to the SDP. But as God would have it, the judgment from the Supreme Court became historic and handed over the party back to the people. So, for that reason at that time, it was felt that there was no need to move to another party. But again, some of our leaders were saying let’s again see what happens if as we move to the convention, whether we had learnt our lessons and whether it is possible that those people who stood firm and fought hard to rescue the party, what role they will play after the court judgement and the convention. But I think we have seen what happened at the convention and it has become part of Nigeria’s history. I don’t want to belabor the point. I believe that from there on, we felt again we must revisit our Plan B and really go back to the drawing board and see how we can move forward. That’s why our leaders and elders reopened the conversation, in fact, it was not closed, with the leadership of the SDP. Finally, on the 1st of March, 2018, a memorandum of understanding was signed between key leaders of our former party and we agreed to merge and form a formidable force and on March 8, there was a presentation of the interim executives of the SDP under the leadership of Chief Falae and other hardworking, dedicated members for the various positions.
What informed your decision to leave PDP?
Let’s put it this way. First and foremost, most of us who are professionals in our various callings decided to join politics even at early stages in our careers. We did so because of our love for this country. We believe in Nigeria, we believe in the unity of Nigeria, we believe in the progress of Nigeria, we believe in the future of Nigeria and we believe no matter what we do outside, if we are not part of the process, we will not be able to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of our people. Therefore, first, our concern is our patriotic zeal to serve this country. And of course, we are also concerned about the future of our people because if you noticed, in the 1950s, in the 1960s, there were prominent Nigerians who stood up to fight against colonial masters and they stood up because they believed that there was the need to stand up at that time to liberate our people. Some of us in our university days, we used to criticise them that they were not progressive or radical enough. We even sometimes claimed that the independence given to us was given on a platter of gold. But we also know that many people made very huge sacrifices during that period of transition to independence. Long after independence, it’s just like if you go to school and get an education, what’s the purpose of that education? Of course, education can be end in itself but education can be a means to further ends. So if you sit down and interpret the world, of course, that is good enough. But if you don’t make a contribution to change it, then you lose the moral right to challenge certain things that happen in future. So, we felt that we don’t know everything. What we know is just modest. But from our modest knowledge we should also contribute to the evolution of modern Nigeria. Everybody is complaining that politics is dirty. Of course, if people who feel politics is dirty and you don’t join politics…you come and do the work for the people. So, this is why you find out that some of us felt that we should be part of it while we are well, while alive. Now, I don’t want to go back to what happened before the PDP elective convention. For me, I had already made a promise and I have fulfilled it. I said am not going to run away but I will walk away. I will not run away because I know that when a ship hits an iceberg, that is the most convenient time for many people to just run away. But do I know how the water works? Do I know what is inside that water? Do I know how far that ship is to the harbour? What is the guarantee that I can get any life saver? So, I thought it was better to either sink with the ship or wait until we are able to re-float the ship and then, move on. So, you know, staying with a sinking ship is always a dangerous thing. I prefer it that way and I hoped that we are able to pull out the ship; we will be able to find our place. Having looked at all the trajectories, all the issues, after wide consultations, I think the advice of all the people who have followed me, who have supported me at every level, I think the time is up in the PDP. I should move on. Fortunately, the slogan of SDP is “progress.” Therefore, I think I am moving forward.
You appeared to not have shared a healthy relationship with the governor of your state, Gombe, Ibrahim Dankwambo, ever since you indicated interest in governorship. What role does that have in your exit from PDP?
Well, let me tell you this. The reality is that I am a system’s man and if I am part of the system, I operate as a member of the system. I respect the authority and of course, if you noticed over the past years, you hardly find me engaging in unnecessary controversy. Not because I cannot make noise but I found that making noise does not serve any purpose. So, I can tell you with all sense of responsibility that nobody will ever tell you that I have any problem with my governor. The only way you can know whether somebody had a problem with his governor is one, have I ever been engaged in unnecessary criticism, condemnation in the media? Or have I engaged in organising groups and associations or have I allowed people around me to use any opportunity under my purview to say things that are bad against the government or the governor? Or have I been given any responsibility that I refused to perform or do any time? Even now as a member of the SDP, if he calls me as my governor I can go because he’s my governor until the time he hands over in 2019. But that’s being as a governor; I have no problem with him. But that does not mean people will not create problems between people. But that’s not my own. So, I have no personal problems with him. Indeed, I have shown evidence that I can work under any circumstances to support you.
Despite Bode George’s anger and disappointment over the outcome of the PDP national convention, he remained in the party. Is that too much a sacrifice for you to have made too?
May be if you know what I have gone through, what I have seen or what I have heard over the past few years, we have never ever shied away from sacrificing for our country, sacrificing for our party and sacrificing for our people. I believe like I said, after what has happened over the past two or three years, after consulting widely, I took my time to consult those close to me, those not close to me, some of my leaders, elders, friends, associates and I think we have come to a conclusion that we have made our own contribution to PDP and like I told you, it’s time to move forward. Gombe is a young state, it is strategically located in the North-East and we have every reason to thank the people of the state because at every stage in my life when something comes up that affects me, you see a lot of support, solidarity and affection. So, I believe that in my own lifetime, I must make my own contribution and pay back the goodwill in whatever way I can. And I believe for now, the route is SDP. Some of these things are very difficult decisions but I have told those people whom I consulted that if I move, we should not look back. What we have seen, what we have heard or what they have gone through should be our lesson we have learnt. We should use this experience to build on the future.
Nationwide, there is the problem of youth, problem of women, problem of despondency creeping into the system. If somebody cannot liberate himself, how can he liberate others? Somebody who cannot protect himself, how can he protect others? I think the SDP is providing an opportunity for us to also see what we can do. Fortunately, if you look at the manifesto of the party, not many people know that it’s truly a Social Democratic Party, because what it offers Nigerians is something that if it comes to pass, it will be very good for us. So, I believe in our own rural setting where we are trying to empower our people, where we want to change the narrative where the despondency syndrome is creeping in, we have to look for options. And I believe we are working hard at rebuilding the party.
Will the SDP be willing to work with the coalition against the PDP and APC?
During the inauguration of the interim executives of the SDP, our chairman, Olu Falae, did state the party is in consultation with various groups and other political parties to extend its base. But of course, you know these are tactical issues and not issues that can just be discussed and elaborated on anyhow. What’s important is that no political party is static. Even if you are big you want to become bigger. Certainly, if you think you are small, if you know what you are doing, you’re organised, you cannot call yourself small. What’s important is the goodwill of our people, because it is the people that make the party. It’s not the party that makes the people. Therefore, with this process of consolidating SDP even I am surprised myself by the kind of goodwill, the kind of people that have been coming forward, people who are calling me and saying, ‘Alkali, if you are there, I am there.’ So, it encourages me because I was thinking when I move I was going to move alone. But when I moved, people said let’s do it together. For the future of our state, you have to work hard to bring glory back to the state. So, in simple terms, at the national level, it’s expanding and at our level too, we are also moving. I believe in the near future the true picture will come out. I know that SDP is not the only political party apart from the ruling or the main opposition. There are others but their approach, method and style are completely different. This is a serious business and I believe that we have to do something for our country because we must go beyond sitting down and lamenting. Lamentation is not a solution to any problem. Sitting now and making criticism, condemnation is not serving any purpose. What you hear now is people big and small abandoning reasons, talking anyhow; we must look for solutions to problems.
Even though the SDP is an old name, there’s the suggestion that it may not be able to achieve enough mileage by 2019. What’s the objective of the SDP for 2019?
I don’t know why you say the time is short. It’s not short. Why I say the time is not short is that it is the spirit, it is in the mind, the commitment, the dedication that you want to make a difference. And if you want to make a difference and you do it systematically. The approach is that it is going to be an open platform, it is going to be where everybody has a say. It’s an opportunity to follow due process. It is an opportunity where nobody imposes his views over the others. A situation where everybody is important, the big, the small, the young and the old. One of the things that breed anger and frustration is alienation. No matter how much you are committed to a project, idea or a cause, if you notice some alienation, you will begin to find out that you have no value in that project. So, that’s why by opening this democratic space, people are coming and it’s not a question of counting our fingers, how many people have come, how many have not come. No, that’s not our concern. It’s going to be systematic. By the time it comes out, you will see the impact. So, tempo is going to rise very high. We are going to move very fast and we should be able to make a difference in own style, in our own way, in our means of doing things.
and then