Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa is the immediate past President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and a 2023 Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The erstwhile President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), in this interview, shares his thoughts on the economy, the 2027 presidential election, insecurity in the country, and his recently celebrated 75th birthday.

What do you think of the coalition and its promoters that adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027?

Well, President Tinubu’s should know that it was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that ‘gave’ the soft landing for the All Progresses Congress (APC) to win the presidential election in 2023. They PDP was prepared to win that election given the track record of the late Buhari. Was it their strategies, their plans or the way the PDP handled it affairs, the party split into three. Atiku left; Obi went away; and Kwankwaso left. These three strong politicians left alongside their supporters and constituents away from the PDP and this decimated the party. This gave the APC a free ride because if you add what Atiku got to what Obi and Kwankwaso got, it was three to one. Atiku and Obi got almost 13 million; then add it to what Kwankwaso got which hovered around a million plus this will give you over 15 million. Remember Tinubu won the election with eight million or something like that. So, this coalition looks like those who divided themselves are coming back. It should cause some stirs in APC and that’s why the ruling party is doing everything to make sure the coalition doesn’t stand. APC indirectly took the advantage created by the PDP’s self-decimation and even since the election, the gulf of internal controversy has continued to dog the party. However, it should naturally give you concern when you see the same people regroup in a bid to take over the reins of government in the country. I know it’s a tough job to unseat the current president; but they need to try and even if they don’t succeed, strong opposition is good for every democracy to ensure that those in power act within the confines of the law. In a system where there is no opposition, people become complacent and take the citizens for granted. But if someone is out there giving you pressure and proposing alternatives to the people, you learn and refocus. Opposition serves as a feedback mechanism in society and not for the right purpose if those in power are humble and ready to learn. It’s reasonable for the APC to be worried and I think it’s good for our democracy.

But do you think the coalition can unseat President Tinubu in 2027?

The possibility is there. Look at the votes Obi, Atiku and Kwankwaso got in the 2023 presidential election – those votes nearly doubled that of President Tinubu. It’s very possible for them to unseat the APC, but the question is whether they are really serious to do so and whether the ruling party would give them the space to thrive. I am saying this because from the look of things, it’s quite clear the APC does not want the coalition to thrive. They don’t want the coalition to take root, let alone bearing fruits. But if they succeed, they can. They can unseat this government, unless if there’s no free and fair election. They have a chance of unseating this government. After all this was how the APC came to power – they as a coalition bringing together the ANPP, the CAN and the CPC.

Recently, a former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal was arrested by the EFCC over alleged money laundering. Do you subscribe to the school of thought that it was politically motivated?

I think that’s obvious. This didn’t start today, as it seems to be the style of political leaders in the country. They use security or intelligence forces against their opponents and so, Tambuwal’s arrest is very likely to be politically-motivated. That’s the way my mind tells me. I have no issue with intelligence or security agencies doing their work; but when they do things that are suspicious and riddled with wrong-timing, they raise eyebrows. Tambuwal has been there all along, but nobody invited him. He was a Speaker of the House of Representatives; he was Governor; and he was in the Senate. Nobody invited him. I mean inviting him at this time creates the suspicion that it’s politically-motivated. It may not be, but we can always draw our own conclusions. They said the witch cried last night…and the child died this morning. Who does not know that it was the witch that killed the child? You come to think of it. We are humans and we process information. So, I may agree with those who think his arrest by the EFCC was politically-motivated.

What’s your take on the recent proclamation of PDP and APC as terrorist organisations by a Canadian Court?

I do not align myself with that ruling. That’s a big joke. These political associations are not terrorist organisations, and on what grounds should the court say that? A government in power can be oppressive and suppressive, but not terrorist organisations. Government apparatus can carry arms and arrest people; but describing the political platforms that brought leaders of government as terrorist organisations is a no for me. I don’t agree with that.

Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, what other political platforms would you recommend for Nigerians who are already tired of the APC, PDP and the LP?

The ADC, SDP, Labour and others are there as alternative political parties for Nigerians in 2027. But in all sincerity, what we have currently are the APC, PDP and ADC blocs. Nigerians can look in the direction of the ADC if they are tired of the APC and PDP. Although in ADC, you still have the vestiges of the APC and PDP. Remember politics is a serious business and you cannot wish away the old and experienced politicians in the ADC who are coming from the APC and PDP. It’s not necessarily a popularity game, because when people say some people did not have structure in 2023, it reflected.

Are you not disturbed that Nigeria is making huge surplus from the oil sector, yet, this has not translated to economic growth and development?

I am very much worried even beyond the oil sector. Effects of the money we are saving from fuel subsidy removal and deregulation of the dollar. Government is making tons of profit In billions – the speed with which we are moving from billion to trillion is a great speed. But it’s not reflecting on the lives of the ordinary people. So, my worry is that the money we are saving or gaining is not properly utilized to generate the impact that Nigerians can agree with based on the sacrifice they have made. This is because the fuel subsidy removal and its effects on the devaluation of the naira ought to quickly reflect on their lives. I have said that the way you measure good governance is quality of life. The moment you come to office, you check the base life of the people, their per capita income, their purchasing power, healthcare status etc. A critical understanding of these will help you to channel your policies and programmes towards giving your citizens quality life. You keep measuring these statistics year in, year out, to check if the masses are positively impacted. But if you don’t, if you like kill yourself, nobody looks in your direction with happiness because the masses are suffering. For me, as a father, you keep telling your children don’t worry I’m saving billions for you, but the children are hungry and out of school. What’s the essence of saving that money while the children are hungry? It’s important to save money, but you have to maintain a balance to hold your relevance intact today. What I think is that these trillions of Naira from the oil and other sectors are not being applied to where they can impact the lives of the people. And the Federal Government has gone on a spending spree. I’m begging the government to cut down on recurrent expenditure, which should start from the Presidency down to every minister.

What’s the way forward?

The way forward like I have said is for this government to cut cost. Show it and let the people around you see it that you are cutting cost. What do you think makes Peter Obi popular? Obi is an example of frugality — he flies economy seat while travelling, and not business class; he’s always on his own while travelling and you won’t see him in the aeroplane with Pas, SAs or what have you. He didn’t start living this way today. I can bear witness. As governor, you would see him at the airport just with one bag both in the country and outside the country. That’s what’s attracting people to him. Government should emulate that instead of fighting Obi. The government of the day should change their pattern on how best to reach out to the people and impact their lives meaningful — and not just using propaganda all the time.

There appears to be a lot of killings, kidnappings and other forms of criminal activities in the South-East. Recently, Amnesty International in a report said over 1800 residents have been killed in the region. How do you feel?

It’s very saddening and painful. And for me, it’s failure of governance. The Government at the centre, State and local levels have been given the power to stem insecurity. They have the resources and power to employ and deploy policy, soldiers, intelligence and other security forces to quell insecurity and other forms of criminal tendencies within Nigeria and its borders. But it’s unfortunate that the authorities have allowed the ‘unknown’ gunmen or bandits to take over and terrorise the country and drive everybody away, which doesn’t make sense to me. Also, there is always a social dimension to every crisis. If I became president, I would negotiate with the kingpins to end the mayhem. The President doesn’t need to meet with them; he has intelligence and security experts who can engage these people –to find out who’s goading them on and what their problems are. Since bringing them to justice or take them out has become unrealistic, then deploy non-kinetic approach. If the late President Umaru Yar’Adua did not engage the Niger Delta militants some years back, would you have had the kind of peace you have in the oil-rich region today? Most of these people who have turned our society into war zone are ideologues. They are pursuing some things in their agitations. Meet with these people to find out what their grouses are and then talk with them to end some of these unnecessary crises and criminalities in the land. Ideology does not die; you cannot kill it. Get those who are fighters to the table and discuss with them.

This government has been repeatedly advised to free Nnamdi Kanu, and have him engaged to help stem the insecurity tide in the zone. He himself has also said so on several occasions.

Recently, you marked your 75th birthday and you are still looking younger. Could you share the secret?

First is that it’s God. It’s His grace, because if you check the natural progression about what biology teaches regarding stress, I do not deserve to look this way. I mean I have been badly stressed all my life and which is why at the ages of 40 and thereabouts, I started going for therapy. My blood pressure was going up and down because of my work and lifestyle. And the doctor said, ‘let’s protect your heart;’ and I thank God that they did. So, in all, it’s God’s extraordinary grace. That’s the secret — I trust Him and His grace has been abundant. He uses man to bless you, but He’s the one giving the blessings and not man. The secret is God. The second is knowledge — the knowledge about who you are and the risk you carry. I told you I lived a stressful life, but it was a pleasant stress, and not a negative stress. And so, I do minimum healthcare checks on my body – regular check on my blood pressure, regular check on my sugar level, among others. Again, I’m always mobile.

What did you think inspired the sort of gathering of prominent Nigerians at the birthday event?

Men go from stage to stage in life, and as you go, you gather moss even when they say a rolling stone gathers no moss. What inspired the kind of gathering you saw at the event is because I have built a network. Before the nudge to go into politics, I had built a network of business associates. So, the ability to have networked and passed through the segments of society — health, economy, politics, religion etc inspired that sort of gathering witnessed at the event. Another reason was the fact that the Abia State government saw the need to celebrate one of their sons and decided to get involved. That also gave it the attraction we saw. (Sunday Sun)