Restructuring: We must sit; discuss the way forward for Nigeria — Adegbenro

Adejare Adegbenro is a scion of a famous political dynasty founded by Chief Dauda Soroye Adegbenro, who was the Acting Leader of the defunct Action Group (AG) led by the sage and first premier of the Western Region in the First Republic, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. In this interview with DANIEL AKEJU, Adegbenro speaks on the Nigerian elite and party politics, among other national issues. Excerpts:

MOST professionals prefer to watch from the sidelines instead of partaking in active politics. To what extent can the country achieve the kind of positive change Nigerians are earnestly yearning for?

First and foremost, all of us should come together and look for resourceful and visionary people, well educated, well-travelled, knowledgeable, incorruptible, to come out and be voted for. As I always say, corruption starts from every one of us. Corruption doesn’t mean spending or giving out money. Fighting corruption is to abide by the law, to be disciplined. Can a Nigerian go to other countries and slap their policemen? It is inside us. But, we are just naturally wicked people who don’t want to use our good side. It doesn’t make any sense. Let us stop being selfish and let us make this country great by putting that discipline first before any other thing. It is then you will see the drastic change in Nigeria.

A number of people say you ought to be active politically, given your background as a descendant of great politicians?

I am not a politician, though I was born into politics. I believe there are certain times you have to choose what you want; whether you want to be a businessman or a politician. I believe I don’t have the right temperament to be a politician. Nonetheless, I will always give assistance; I will always grant interviews and I will always say what I believe is right for humanity and the country, especially in the present political dispensation.

Some people have expressed strong reservations about the leadership style of President Muhammadu Buhari. What is your disposition?

With the way President Buhari has started, I believe he is putting the country on course. Although he is old school so to say, his efforts at making Nigeria better are on the right track. The problem with us, the youth and middle-aged people is that we think we know it all. And so, we don’t want to be patient with the old people who have seen it all and who have garnered required experience to put things right. With Buhari, I believe he has the right temperament for the job because all the people that voted for him in a free and fair election believe in him and are satisfied with what he is doing. I am sure he tapped from his past antecedent as former Military Head of State, when he waged serious war against corruption and indiscipline to know that no country moves forward without discipline. So, we must imbibe discipline in ourselves. Another problem with us is that we Nigerians are always quick to judge. In the situation we find ourselves now, we need to give support and offer useful advice rather than heat up the polity which will not do any of us any good. Many people may be in a hurry and may not like the way President Buhari is using old school method to mend Nigeria, but how many countries of the world did not spend many years to get to where they are today? We are only two years into the rescue mission. Let us understand that magic doesn’t happen overnight.

We should come together as one to do what is right. And it is gratifying to note that the economy is growing under Buhari. Whether we like it or not, there are positive things happening in the economy but politicians, because of their grievances are just trivialising things and playing politics with serious matters of national importance. Whatever political points they might want to make, I will say it is not right. Rice is being produced in Nigeria today and people are feeding on rice. Yes, the poverty level is quite high, but there is time for everything. We must look inward first before looking outward. When we have satisfied and met our demand sat home, it is then that we can start focusing on income from abroad. The economy was already in bad shape before Buhari came in. It was strictly based on importation. What are we producing?

What I discovered in the country is that people like to talk much about what is not right rather than talking about what is right. President Buhari is old enough to be my father, but God has a reason to bring back Buhari to be our president. It is natural if age and health challenges are affecting his agility, but we have to be patient with that and give necessary support and assistance for the benefit of all. So, all of us, in addition to support and assistance should be prayerful for the man to achieve his set goal for the country. There is no doubt he means well for the country and he is doing his best for the country. We have to be prayerful so that he can utilise well the mandate we freely gave him to serve us. We should therefore stop trivialising matters that concern our collective good. His health challenges should not be the subject of discussion but the corruption he is fight of which all of us are guilty. We all caused it and we should all fight it or else Nigeria will not move forward. It is not what the president alone can do. The only way we can foster unity in Nigeria is to imbibe my slogan which is, “I am a Nigerian; my tribe comes second. I am half Yoruba and half Deltan.”

But it appears the youths are becoming increasingly impatient with th Buhari administration?

First and foremost we must be patient. Secondly, they need to go and educate themselves on the past, on the formation of Nigeria. How Nigeria was formed. Then, if they are not sure, they should ask the elders to know how the country was formed then. I think lack of such knowledge led to what Nigeria is today. The education is necessary because they are the leaders of tomorrow. The youth should learn how to earn power. Power is not taken just like that, they must earn it. All the people that ruled Nigeria earned the power to do so. Go and check at what age they started ruling the country. But some of our youth today just sit in their room and start to condemn the government and those in government. How many of them have come out to do anything about what they are complaining about?

Some have also expressed skepticism on the future of the country, in view of the raging ethnic agitations.

I believe in one Nigeria, and that was why I said, Nigeria first, and my tribe comes second. And until all of us believe in that slogan, we cannot move forward. And it would be a shame if the country fails to move forward because of our selfishness. Let us hold that slogan as part of where Nigeria stands for. Nigeria is not too big to be one. How is it too big to be one? How is it that we have been living together for so long? People just bring that up for whatever political gain they want. So, this slogan, I am a Nigerian first and my tribe comes second is what I am going to take to primary and secondary schools, as well as the universities with my own money. Let people start to know and key into the thing that will make us be proud of our green passport.

Then, how should the government handle various agitations across the country?

The solution lies in a collective effort. All the stakeholders, including traditional institutions, politicians, should sit down with President Buhari to chart the way forward. It is not for me to say what the way forward should be, because I am also privy to a lot of information. So, it would be unfair for me to say things I do not know. All I want is a secured country; a business enabled country, and to leave a legacy as a Nigerian for the children and the generations to come. That is Nigeria I want to have. When we were growing up, we used to drive from Lagos to Warri, to Ibadan and come back. Today, we cannot do it because of different agitations. My father is a Muslim; I am a Christian. Would that make me hate my father? My son is also a Muslim; does it make me to hate him? His mother is from Zaria, my wife is from Ikorodu in Lagos State. It is all intertwined. If the agitators say we should split Nigeria, how am I going to go about it? Am I going to spilt myself into several pieces? It is so cumbersome as far as I am concerned.

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