Nigerians must be guided by competence, ability – Farounbi
March 13 (THEWILL) – Dr. Yemi Farounbi is a veteran journalist, talented broadcaster and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines. In this interview with AYO ESAN, he talks about the recently signed 2021 electoral law, INEC’s preparation for the 2023 general elections, and the Russian-Ukrainian war, among other issues. Excerpts:
After much delay, President Muhammadu Buhari has finally signed the Elections Amendment Bill 2021 into law. What is your reaction to this?
I’m not sure there was a delay. President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the Electoral Amendment Bill within the time limit set by the Constitution. So it was perfectly in order.
How will the new law affect the upcoming general elections?
Certain provisions will improve transparency in the conduct of elections. The electoral law allows the use of electronic devices in the collection of results, if the INEC decides to do so. The law formally approves the use of card readers. This ensures that the kind of situation seen in a gubernatorial election in Kogi, where the candidate died and a foreigner got the ticket, will be properly resolved in the future. The law provides for a longer campaign period due to the time limit for political parties to nominate candidates. This can mean higher campaign costs. This early submission of candidate names has fortunately closed the doors to new political parties, including the “Third Force” or the “Mega Party”, unless these movements adopt one of the 18 existing parties. This, of course, makes voting easier for the electorate. It should be easier for the electorate to choose among 18 parties than to choose among the 86 unwieldy parties of 2019
Are you satisfied with INEC’s preparation for the 2023 General Elections so far? How do you see the new timetable which stipulates that political parties must produce candidates for the legislative elections no later than June 3, 2022?
The electoral law has just become law. The law provides the basic standard for INEC’s operations. The commission can therefore not yet be assessed.
With regard to the timetable and the June 3 nomination deadline, INEC has complied with the provisions of the law, which we have all demanded.
The United States government has urged Nigeria to ensure there is no violence in the 2023 general election. What is your opinion on this?
The US government’s statement is quite good. It would have been pointless if we didn’t have a history of election violence. One of the pillars of democracy is the holding of free, fair and peaceful elections. We still remember with nostalgia the presidential election of June 12, 1993 as the fairest and freest election held in Nigeria. Recreating this peaceful scenario in 2023 is a laudable and desirable goal.
What is your advice to the electorate as we prepare for next year’s general election?
The 2023 general elections provide an opportunity for Nigerians to chart a new course for the socio-economic growth and development of our country. The election will provide all Nigerians with the opportunity to elect those who will be able to effectively address the security, economic, political and social challenges facing the country.
The electorate must carefully select the candidates on the basis of their vision of the country, their competence and their personality. The electorate should not be carried away by the size of bank accounts, the religious beliefs of candidates or their ethnic nationality or language preferences. The electorate must be guided by objective criteria of competence, ability, performance, knowledge, mental power, understanding of the problems facing the nation and the appropriateness of the prescribed solutions.
What kind of person do you hope to become Nigeria’s next president?
My position has always been that there is no one who is good and fit to be president all the time. The type of person required to be president changes from time to time, depending on the prevailing situation and issues in the country. That’s why I think serial candidates who offer themselves should be ignored because they probably don’t know the changing needs of the country.
Contemporary issues that need to be addressed and resolved by the new president include a poorly performing economy, poverty, hunger, security and challenges including terrorism, kidnappings, banditry and of course, structural issues including including claims for self-determination and separatist movements.
The incoming president must therefore be able to unite the people, to offer them hope, peace, joy, economic growth and development. It must have clearly defined roadmaps for solving these problems. Its vision and goals must go beyond slogans. It should include specific measurable objectives in terms of quality, quantity, time and cost.
The new president must be good enough to attract the best minds from all parts of the country. His worldview should not be handicapped by ethnic, religious and partisan blinds.
What is your advice to President Muhammadu Buhari regarding the suffering of the average Nigerian?
President Muhammadu Buhari must carefully understand the root causes of these problems. Many Nigerians believe that the country’s over-centralization is a major limiting factor for our economy. Most Nigerians believe there is a need to restructure the country, reduce the over-concentration of functions, responsibilities and resources at the center, make the federating units more capable and responsive to the aspirations and aspirations of the people at the grassroots .
For me, a great legacy that President Buhari can still leave behind is a restructured Nigeria that is well placed for growth and development.
What is your position on the zoning of the presidency by political parties?
Normally, we should search for the best candidates based on merit.
However due to the history of our country, our track record, the pursuit of merit must be rooted in the need for all Nigerians to have equal access to the highest political office in the country. This is the genesis of the unwritten practice of rotating positions between South and North. Rotation between major religious beliefs is built into this. It was the perception that former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s bid for a second term would disrupt this principle of rotation that contributed to his defeat in 2015. Like the rejection of a possible third term bid for the leader Olusegun Obasanjo was because he was considered a violation of this unwritten principle of rotation.
Perhaps when Nigeria reaches a level of political maturity, the pursuit of merit will be the only guiding factor. Based on this convention, the presidency is to be zoned south against the 2023 general election.
As a former diplomat, what is your reaction to the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war?
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine poses the greatest threat to peace, order, stability and perhaps human existence in the world since 1945.
It poses the greatest threat to the continued existence and survival of small independent nations, if the principle of force is just, as evidenced by this war, becomes the rule. The matter between the two countries should be handled with caution. Russia’s continued isolation may push Putin to extreme measures that could harm his human existence. It may be necessary to take a stick and carrot approach. The door to negotiation must remain open. It will be important to properly assess and understand the mental and emotional profile of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Of course, the inviolability of the sovereignty of any independent nation, however small or large, is also sacrosanct.