Dr Aliyu Tilde is an academic and a social critic who ventured into politics at the beginning of democractic process in the country in 1999, having served at various appointive positions, most recently being the secretary of the transitional committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State in 2015. In this interview by ISHOLA MICHAEL, Tilde bares his mind on the the performance of the APC-led government of President Muhammadu Buhari as well as his aspiration to fill the vacuum left by the death of Ali Wakili at the Senate.
Why did you avoid the senatorial ticket of the ruling APC and preferred to go for the Social Democratic Party (SDP)?
Well, a social critic like me has no place in any ruling party. Most incumbents in this country have a chronic phobia for the truth and independent minds. They are after loyalists. After all, with the invasion of the APC by moneybags, people like me should stay away from the fratricidal battles of its ticket. I am renowned in Bauchi State and beyond. With the recent electoral reforms, the last thing that a popular candidate like me needs is the patronage of a ruling party. To me, it could be lethal because I will be infected by the pre-natal hemorrhaging virus of its record, causing my aspiration to die before it is born.
All I need is a ticket, best from an opposition party that does not carry any load of contamination. The SDP, so far, is yet to be tested, at least. Its arms are open to all Nigerians, irrespective of their geography and nativity. I know the fiend from Gombe who registered it five years ago — Dr Abubakar Sadiq . I know its national officers. Good citizens. Of course, by our laws, it must remain open to anyone — good and bad. However, in the choice of its candidates, I hope it will support only those that cherish its fundamental values — good guys like Dr Tilde. I am so good that I should be going for the presidency. But I will manage with being a senator for now.
What is your assessment of the APC-led government both at the federal and Bauchi State levels?
They should do better, otherwise we will evict them by 2019. Government is about work, not promises.
You are a social critic, are you comfortable with the mission and vision of the SDP?
Absolutely, yes. I am yet to see a party that has a better articulation of social democractic values than the SDP. The lack of social democracy is what has largely created the social and economic problems we have today.
Why are you aspiring to become a senator?
Well, a vacuum was created with the death of Ali Wakili. And with the reforms in INEC, which includes electronic transmission of results, I finally acquiesce to pressure, after keeping it at bay for the past 15 years when I last contested for the seat but was massively rigged by the PDP. Though the culprits of that atrocity asked for my forgiveness, this offers me the opportunity to recapture the seat in a transparent election. I just hope that the ruling APC will allow it to be free and fair because this time, I am not ready to forgive anyone that perverts the process. I will hang him to death with my pen.
When — not if — I win the election, I will go ahead to dedicate all my energy and talent to the service of this country at the Red Chamber. I belong to Nigeria.
Does the SDP stand a good chance to win the seat of Bauchi South senatorial district?
With a credible candidate, the chances of the party winning the senatorial seat are bright.
What is your view on the recent visit of the President to the United States of America?
It was okay. It was not disastrous.
What is your view on the fight against corruption by the APC-led Federal Government?
The nation has a long way to go. The incumbent administration has a lot of ground to cover. It also needs to correct the growing belief that it is selective in the prosecution of this war. People often cite how some PDP members were convicted when their party was in power. The nation, by the verdict of 2015,was expecting more from the APC. I am not sure if all Nigerians will give it a pass mark. If I were to score it, its fate will hang between ‘E’ and ‘F’. On a good day when mood is jolly, I will score it ‘E’; on a bad one — especially when my pocket is empty — the score will definitely be ‘F’. So, it better pray well before appearing before me. (Laughter). Well, it is better than Jonathan’s PDP which sat for the test but failed to attempt answering any question. Its ‘Corruption 101’ script was returned empty. (More laughter)
What is your postulation about 2019?
It will not be as 2015. I wish Nigeria will make the best choice.
Do you think Nigeria is on the right path politically?
The path is long, remember. We are just 19 years into uninterrupted democracy, not 800 or 200 years. Progress in such a minefield is slow and it should be judged with fairness. We have gone far in elections, thanks to the reforms of the electoral law under the PDP and additional fine-tuning recently. More reforms are needed and they will surely come with our experience. The days of impunity at the polls are almost over.
With progress in elections, better candidates will contest and win. This will solve our second problem — bad governance which has been promoted by corruption. With result-oriented people in the saddle, the horse of Nigerian democracy will reach the horizon faster than Europe and America did. Bad governance will be demoted to history.
What are your chances of getting the SDP ticket to contest for the vacant seat?
The chances are bright. At least, the vultures of corruption are not here yet. But I am ready to shoot them should I see anyone hovering around.