“Politics Is Not A game For Cowards”..... Comrade Danjuma Bello Sarki speaks

Danjuma Bello Sarki, is a prominent Youth Leader and President Kaduna State PDP Youths Patriotic Front.

Danjuma spoke with NAIJNEWSALERT, on pressing issues that borders on perennial fuel crisis in the country, his perception of the APC administration both at the State and Federal level and other tropical matters affecting Nigerian people.

Excerpts;

Stake holders in the state here; including the Kaduna state PDP Youths Patriotic front of which you are the President have continued to criticize the APC in many of its shortcomings.

However, some are of the opinion that the PDP youths and even the stakeholders waited too long in speaking out, even with their party that held sway for the past 16yrs before it eventually lost out in the 2015 general elections both at the state and national levels.

Could you give an insight as to what happened and why the long silence until now?

First and foremost, I will say that a lot of reasons can be attributed to the failure of the PDP in the last elections. And, I will not shy away from it that, some of our PDP leaders made some mistakes.

We have to say the truth but then, the electorates, I will say, really took a very harsh decision on the PDP as a party, based on what is happening now. I want to say that, we stayed silent for a while; not that we have not been talking but the tempo has been very low because, the government was new. We felt that it should be given some time to enable it put its house together and do something. But, we came to realize that, even if you give them the next ten years, they will not do anything different.

They are a govt that has continued to back track and renege on virtually all the promises they made during the electioneering campaigns. They are a govt who only relies more on propaganda despite the fact that they have won the elections, they still think as if they are campaigning.

Every day, you see different policy somersaults; they say different things and then turn around to deny it. They are always giving counter statements; from Ministers to other public office holders. You will also find out that their programmes and policies are so bogus, spurious, and unrealistic and what have you. You will find out that the whole way in which governance should be done or, undertaken, are seriously not abided to, by this government.

So, I want to say categorically that, our silence was not because we did not have a good reason but however, permit me to repeat here that, “we will not be silent anymore”.

“We will come out to constructively criticize the govt, show the people and the govt where it is going wrong. Whether you like it or not, PDP are more experienced in leadership and governance than a crop of neophytes that we presently have. Really, the APC is just a conglomeration of people who were desperate for power”.

The programmes and policies they have been initiating are anti-people and they do not even care. They are insensitive despite the level of hardships the people are going through.

So, I would say that the PDP is now ready to engage in its main role of an opposition party.

Prior to the 2015 general elections and even after, there were reports of neglect, abuse of positions and offices, impunity and, manipulation of positions of contestants which were said to have been detrimental to the stability of the PDP which eventually led to its loss at the polls. These and more were some of the allegations that were leveled against the party’s leaders which resulted to the high level of abandonment of the PDP by these disenchanted youths and members alike, for the APC.

How far have you gone in reaching out to these sets of persons in your quest to identify and correct all possible lapses?

We, the Kaduna state Youths Patriotic Front, PYF are really working assiduously to re-mobilize back our members to be able to win the hearts of other persons, even from other political parties and even those who have not been engaged in partisan politics, to come into our fold. We have all sat down and made thorough analysis of what lead to our failure.

We also realized that there are various issues and we have tried to, as youths groups see how we can address them. And, we are focusing on that area. We know that, like I said earlier, our leaders erred in some ways and even the youths too, also erred. So, now, we are trying to serve as a bridge between the youths and the elders; because we have sat down and discussed what went wrong and they told us the challenges they had and we were able to express to them, the problems they had with the youths; the challenges the youths have been encountering in their relationship with them. We have also; been able to understand and offer our own advice in areas we think will be helpful to the progress and development of our party. And, this is from both sides; the youths and the elders.

Of course, this was at different fora, to know and gather their reasons for the disaffections; what were the reasons that lead to them turning against the party at the time they did? We were able to articulate all these issues they raised, the challenges they expressed and we were also, able to confront our leaders, to explain to them the feelings of the members of the party which they as elders should try and address.

These were achieved in the course of different programmes that we organized; attended by youths and elders of the party as a way of charting a new course and also, map out strategies with which to confront challenges that have been bedeviling us in our quest to return our party back to its winning ways.

I can tell you categorically, without mincing words that we are actually making progress and we are gaining grounds. The people are beginning to see and many of the youths have even apologized for the roles they had played; thinking that by disobeying the party and their leaders, would lead them to something better. But, they have come to understand now that, they have helped to plunge our nation, state, our various communities and their own selves into an abyss.

They regretted their actions and this I can tell you categorically. This is why you will see them today, showing more vigor and interest and are even more committed in bringing back the party which they know; the party that has the interest of the people at heart, even beyond party lines, back into power in subsequent elections now and leading to 2019.

Some of the points you raised during your recent press conference concerning the APC itself, is assumed in certain quarters that, the APC leadership actually learnt from your party, having been the party in power and control for the past 16yrs.

Do you agree to this allusion?

I do not agree at all to that. One, nobody is unaware that PDP did Caretaker Committees during its administration. Yes, but we believe that if their position then were responsible, they would have stood up to challenge what the PDP did because, if somebody commits an offence a thousand times and gets away with it, does not mean that if he or anybody commits that offence again, that that person cannot be challenged or cannot be prosecuted.

Okay, if during when the PDP was in government, if the opposition decide not to challenge the PDP on issues of Local Govt Caretaker Committees, I see no reason why today, our group  that is actually yearning for advancement of our people, that is interested in the happiness of our people at the grassroots and in the enthronement of democracy at the grassroots, I see no reason why we should not raise  such questions; most especially when we see that things are not going right and again, what we are raising is being perpetuated by a so-called “change administration” that deceived the people. An administration that lied to people, that they are coming to do things differently from that of the PDP”. This same administration that promised that, if it is voted into power, that in the first three (3) months that it is going to conduct elections into local government councils.

This is an administration that lied to people that they are going to release monies that is accruing to the LGs from the Federation Account directly to it. An administration that that lied that they are going to ensure local govt autonomy for the people and also, lied that they are going to remit 10% of the IGR monthly to the local govt councils. The list is endless. This administration equally promised to allow the LGs run its govt by itself but today, they have reneged on all their promises.

Is that the kind of government that can be trusted? To even allow the people elect their leaders just the same way the people elected you into power; you have denied them the opportunity. These are the people, who are at the grassroots; who are closer to the people and you have denied them the opportunity to express their rights. Rather, you continue to bring people who are not even known to the communities or the people at the grassroots; you impose people on them. You can see the kind of protests and condemnations and many other forms of dissatisfaction that took place after the appointments of the last Caretaker Committees.

If today, we come to raise questions and are telling the people that; No, we are not happy with this and that, these things should not be done. There is no basis for comparison. You have promised the people that you will do things differently; that you will change and you equally stated what you are going to do, only for you to renege on it by giving frivolous excuses.

So, I want to tell you that, these have nothing to do with whether PDP did it or not.

What we are saying is that; do the right thing. Again, we are saying, you promised people; do not renege on your promises. Go ahead and fulfill your promises. If truly you promised “Change” and not “Chains”, then you are expected to show that you will do the “change” and the “Change” must be a positive “Change” and not a negative “Change of deception”.

Therefore, we are demanding that; “the government must put in a democratically elected local government council and allow for democracy to take place at the grassroots and that the leaders are democratically elected”. If not, “we strongly call on the President, to withhold funds that are being released to Local Governments in Kaduna state from the Federation Account until when we have a democratically elected government in place at the Local government level”.

PDP leaders, particularly the elders have been silent for a while now. Some analysts are of the opinion that their silence stems from their defeat at the 2015 polls. While some say it is as a result of alleged fear and intimidations by APC government at the national level as a means of stifling the opposition.

What is your view on this?

I agree that the ruling party have been witch-hunting our party members including anybody within their party who seems to be against the government or persons in government.

But, I want to tell you categorically that, I don’t in any way agree with anybody who says he is keeping silent because he is afraid of being witch hunted or being labeled a bad person or, whatsoever. As a politician, or opposition leader, you must always be ready for the worst. Whoever that is in politics, if you are not ready for the worst, then you are not yet even ready to become a politician. “Politics is not a game for cowards”. You must be ready to come out and speak and let your voice be heard for your people.

I want to say that if there are any of our leaders that are thinking that by, keeping quiet, that is the way he can protect himself from harassment or anything, I want to tell him that, he is doing a great disservice to our nation; to our party. They must come out and speak. They must come out and raise questions, sensitize and enlighten the people and tell the government where it is going wrong, because, that is the only way we can salvage this country.

The way this APC of a party is going, it is certainly going to push us to hit the brick wall and it is going to destroy Nigeria. In a nutshell, virtually all their programmes and policies have failed. Look at the way people are suffering today! Civil servants; if you ask my opinion, ought to have been put on a first line charge in terms of their salaries so that, nobody will tamper with salaries. This is because, they are working for us. Unfortunately, they don’t get their salaries within the duration of time they work.

Again, if you look at the way the economy has plunged downwards; PDP as a party had been able to, in the past 16yrs, uplift our economy to become the largest in Africa with its GDP being very high. Inflation was maintained at a single digits; investors’ confidence was highly boosted with Foreign Direct Investment FDI coming in massively into the country. But today, what do you see? Nothing is happening! What we are presently experiencing is capital flight with investors moving away with their monies. Fortunes are being lost. The Nigerian Stock exchange, NSE has lost over #4trillion within this period of this present administration. Our inflation is almost approaching 12% with the GDP going lower and even the economy as at today, I don’t even know what rating it enjoys even among the African economies.

Let us look at the issue of fuel scarcity; the queues are something else. The fuel scarcity is biting harder on Nigerians. Again, look at the issue of power. The supply has dropped from 6000MWs.

With all of these, I can say categorically that this government is only trying to destroy Nigeria but, we as Nigerians must sit up and tell them the truth and seek for a better deal from the APC. if not, where we would be heading to, no one will be happy with it and, permit me to say that, it is irrespective of party affiliations as, whatever will bedevil or befall us, does not respect any political party.

So therefore, we must come out and speak not minding whether you are a party leader, youth or, somebody who is not even a politician and this includes elder statesmen, traditional leaders. People must come out and tell the present people in government, the truth. We must tell them where they have gone wrong so that Nigeria will be for the better.

You talked about fuel scarcity. Some Nigerians are of the view that the situation was not different during the PDP administration. Though the Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, during his appearance before the Senate, apologized to Nigerians over the scarcity of fuel and promised that things would improve within the next few days.

Nigerians are of the belief that it is one promise too many from one government to another.  What is your reaction to this as a youth leader?

I can tell you categorically that this government is a kindergarten government. It is a government that lacks direction and does not know its left from its right. Anybody who wakes up on the wrong side of the bed can just come out and say anything and when he sees the reactions of Nigerians, he will without shame, go back and retract it or, even deny it.

There is an absolute absence of interfacing between government officials and the public office holders to be able to understand where they are even heading to. It is like everybody is working independently; there is a total lack of cohesion, collaboration and even exchange of ideas in order for them to speak in unison. You cannot see the synergy in what they are doing.

Therefore, I am not surprised by the statement of the Honourable Minister of State; Petroleum Resources.

But, who should be blamed more? The substantive Minister ought to receive more blames because; he is the substantive Minister of Petroleum. The President who doubles as the Minister of Petroleum Resources should be blamed more because, we had said it earlier on when he wanted to saddle himself with that portfolio that, if he does it, that the Nigerian petroleum industry will be in a catastrophic state. They thought we were lying but with what is happening today, we are vindicated.

The responsibilities of a Minister of State are limited and restricted while the so-called substantive Minister has too much on his plate for him to manage. For the two of them to sit down and analyze the situation and come up with solutions to the problems, has become difficult and that is why we are saying that; Buhari must learn to trust people.

 He should understand that Nigeria does not belong to him. This country is the collective property of everybody who is a Nigerian and therefore, he should be able to identify people who he can trust and saddle them with responsibilities.

President Buhari should therefore resign and relieve himself of that portfolio as the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources and failure to do so; there will be no difference from what we are currently experiencing. In fact, it will be worse.

Again, we must note that some of these persons appointed into positions with the belief that they have the prerequisite experience are another issue. The Minister of State came from Exxon-Mobil but the way the oil sector here is run in the private sector is different from that of the government or public run sectors. You must be able to use your knowledge and experience as a private sector man and distinguish the differences and apply tact in confronting the pressing challenges in order to provide a better output.

He should then focus on how to manage the marketers (Independent and Major marketers) including the refineries. This is something that somebody with the requisite wisdom; not just somebody with some high level credentials that cannot translate to any meaningful development if saddled with the opportunity to be the head, can achieve.

Many of our youths today, in the North have all abandoned agriculture which used to be the mainstay of the nation’s economy and migrated south wards for better jobs.

With the perennial scarcity of petroleum products today, many of these youths have suddenly become overnight “Black Marketers” of fuel.

What does this portend for the region which was known and respected for its agricultural prowess?

One thing that I will like to be very categorical about is that, the APC government is responsible for some of these challenges we have found ourselves in, today.

I know they promised Nigerians that they (APC) are going to create millions of jobs and I want to believe that, maybe, turning young Nigerians into “Black marketers” of petroleum products is one of the ways they want to use in actualizing this. This is because, tomorrow don’t be surprised that that they (APC) will come out to tell Nigerians that they have created 10m jobs; yes, I will not be surprised because I can see that they are really employing or, let me say that they are creating jobs for “black marketers” through the lack of adequate and prompt supply of petroleum products.

There is no doubt that agriculture used to be the mainstay of the economy and it is the best way to go for the youths because, we have vast lands which is the major factor of production in any agricultural producing venture. We do have the prerequisite number of youths who are majorly unemployed; very energetic youths who are seeking for legal and genuine means of livelihood.

If today, the government chooses to encourage the youths to go back to the farms, you will find several millions of youths will readily embrace the idea, I tell you.

But, a lot of things must be in place; we are talking about mechanized system of farming, improved and high yielding seedlings that must be provided. In fact, the sector must be improved upon to attract the youths. Again, one must not forget that fertilizer must be readily available and at affordable rates.

This particular issue of availability of fertilizer and at affordable rates including a ready market was properly handled by the Jonathan led-PDP administration. One cannot but commend the former President whose administration effectively tackled the issue of fertilizer through the office of then Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina.

Another area that youths can benefit from in the agricultural sector is by adding value to the farm products but, all of these equally requires from the government to provide the enabling environment for all of these to thrive.

For example, look at the mango, tomatoes and other seasonal produces and items that are obtained here. Many of them rot away and at a loss to farmers because of the lack of proper system of preservation. Even the other citrus that we produce, many of them perish.

We want to see a government that will move toward diversifying the economy and one of the best ways is through agriculture but, with what we are seeing today with this APC government, I doubt if it is in any way, encouraging for people to go to farm. They daily inundate us with different tales of diversification into farming but in practical terms, you will not see anything that encourages the populace to look in this direction.

All their statements are mere propaganda and the rest of it.

You talked about ready market for farm produce. During the administration of Mukhtar Ramalan Yero as governor of Kaduna state, there were reports of the administration having resuscitated the Ikara Food Processing Company and also, that of the Ginger Factory in Kachia though many had also doubted that report. It can also be recalled that, recently, Aliko Dangote disclosed his plans to establish a Tomato Processing Company in Kaduna.

What do you think would be the outcome of these and its likely impact on the agricultural sector, putting into consideration, the report that the present APC government of today is also laying claims to resuscitating these same plants in order to promote agriculture in the state.

I doubt if the government has resuscitated anything. All that I know as regards the resuscitation of the Ikara Food Processing Company is that it was done by the government of Mukhtar Ramalan Yero who was able to resuscitate the companies that you rightly mentioned.

But, when this government came on board, sorry to say; it is a government that is only interested in bringing people who would take over things that are of our collective interest. He went and brought some Indians and gave them the factories to manage. Since the factories were given to them, they have not been able to add value and, as a matter of fact, production has since stopped there.

These are the kind of things that we are talking about but, as for Dangote, I can say yes; because he is a serious businessman who is worth his mettle and I believe that he will come into the processing industry in Nigeria and Kaduna state and add value to it.

However, it depends on how the government is able to help him achieve that. This is because, it is one thing for you to rush to the press and say things and then, it is another thing for that thing to be realized. I know Dangote just finished setting up a Tomato Processing Plant in Kano state which is just some kilometers away from us here.

I would like to give him the benefit of doubt and see how it goes. I pray it goes out well as we are praying for its success so that Dangote will come into Kaduna and invest here which in turn, will create employment opportunities for our people here.

But, if it is for the government, I will tell you categorically that I don’t have any confidence in it and in anything they are doing.

There is too much frivolities and propaganda statements in its quest for cheap popularity. No matter how hard you try to paint your programmes and projects, if it does not impact on the people, they the people will know and say it.

My advice to the government in this regards is that it should stop wasting its resources on cheap propaganda and instead, focus on what would improve the standard of living of the good people of the state.

Lastly, your recent statements at your press conference have been said to have attracted attacks from perceived supporters of the government and those who believe that the government is on the right track.

How do you react to this?

I doubt if our press conference has yielded any serious attacks. Not at all! Rather, I will say we have been receiving commendations from every part of the state. In fact, by the following day, my phones were inundated with text messages and even on the social media with hundreds of praises, commendations and words of encouragements for what we said in our press conference was simply the truth.

The governor has lied and he indeed lied. You cannot look for a better way to put it more succinctly. We are not out to appease him but, rather, the governor should appease the people.

Our press conference was indeed applauded by even APC members as many people here in the state have been yearning for somebody to tell the governor, the truth.