Buhari shouldn’t see critics as enemies ―Hajia Inna Ciroma

Hajia Inna Ciroma, a former Minister of Women Affairs, spoke with LEON USIGBE on the progress made so far under the President Muhammadu Buhari government and the ruling party’s relationship with the opposition.

Excerpts:

What is your assessment of the first two years of the Buhari administration?

In some areas, they promised to do some things and they have partially succeeded, but in some areas, they have failed woefully. We all know. I’m from Borno in the North East and I can safely say that as far as the security situation is concerned, they have recorded some successes. We can now sleep in Borno but not very soundly as they promised to do. But at least, they have recorded some successes. But on the economy, we all know what we all going through. They promised to do so many things, but as far as we are concerned, we are yet to see them.

 What you would advise the administration to do to right its failures?

I know that we are in opposition. But even if you are in opposition, Nigeria belongs to all of us. We can always share our opinion and also want to help. If government succeeds, we all be happy for it. So, my advice is that they should listen to genuine advice from Nigerians, not necessarily from their party members because, as I said, the country belongs to all of us. If government succeeds, we’d all be happier for it, we’d all be better for it. For instance, if the economy is booming, all of us will enjoy it. Isn’t it? So, my advice is that government should also listen to genuine advice from Nigerians. And if people criticize them, it does not mean that they want them to fail. If they criticize them, they want them to succeed     like telling them to look at the areas they are lagging behind and telling them what they can do to change things. So, they should not always see critics as people who want them to fail.

In democracy, you must have opposition as a government in waiting. You must have a government and a government in waiting. And so, people should be able to say their minds. But as it is, these people are scared, people don’t want to talk. And those people that are talking, no one is listening to them. So, I think the government should have a listening ear to Nigerians that have genuine and sincere advice to give to the government.

How did the government of the PDP fared in similar circumstances?

The difference is very clear. For instance, in a PDP government, there is no way you will form a government without constituting the board of parastatals in the first six to eight months. Since 1999, PDP would always come up with plans of what to do and timelines. For two years now, we don’t have over 70 per cent of the board of parastatals. They have not been constituted. And things are not moving. If you don’t have the boards…some of the decisions will have to be taken by the boards of these parastatals and government agencies. If you don’t have the boards in place, it slows down government process. So, when PDP comes to power, normally, we come with plans of what to do. So, we always know what to do. But these ones, I think they have some confusion somewhere. I don’t know.