Last week the national leadership of the APC met in Kaduna to re-strategize ahead of 2015 elections. Governorship and presidential aspirants were also there. And Rt Honourable Isa Ashiru, the governorship aspirant for APC in Kaduna State spoke to NASIR DAMBATTA on the issues tabled before the national leadership’s meeting, the party’s challenges in the southeast and his governorship ambition. He also carpets the PDP-led government in Kaduna and opened up on his blueprint for turning around the fortunes of the former North-central state
Given the developments in the APC that culminated into the national leadership meeting in Kaduna, where does the party stand now in the debate over whether or not the 2015 Presidential ticket of the party should be determined by consensus?
Well, as far as I am concerned, the meeting held at ASA Pyramid Hotel, convened by the Deputy National Chairman North was meant to bring together all governorship, presidential and other aspirants to brainstorm on the future of the party. Issues tabled for discussion included the identification of problem areas and suggestions on how best to overcome them, taking into consideration that elections were very much around the corner. Issues were seriously debated and solutions were founded to the present challenges. The truth of the matter is that the idea of bringing the presidential aspirants together has really helped because a lot of people made suggestions as to how our presidential candidates could rally round one single and how the party could be positioned to confront the P.D.P head-on. It was also the considered opinion of the meeting that it would be a good thing for the North especially, since more than two-thirds of the candidates in the race are from the North.
There was no clear directive by the National Headquarters that the presidential seat has been zoned to the North, but considering the number of the candidates from that zone, I feel that when we come together, the flag-bearer would most likely emerge from the North and it will go a long way in projecting the prospects of the APC in winning the 2015 presidential seat.
There is the growing consensus that the APC has more formidable structures in the North than in Southern parts of the country. How true is this?
Well, taking into consideration the number of states controlled by the APC in the Northern part of the country and the acceptability rating of the party amongst the Northern populace, it is easy for whoever holds this view to say the APC is predominantly in the North.
In the Southeast, yes we have to put in extra effort to get to where our party has envisaged. Infact during our last NEC meeting issues of this nature came up and we agreed that we would organise a special meeting in the southeast in order to boost the morale of our members there and ginger them up to work harder to increase our political fortunes. This will definitely improve the chances of the party significantly, across all the nooks and crannies of the Southeast.
Do you still see the possibility of making the desired impact in the southeast, given the limited amount of time left for the 2015 elections to hold?
I believe we can, because even the masses within the southeast are not really happy with the P.D.P and you have pockets of progressive politicians in that part of the country. And I think the total votes we get from that part of the country is about 13% of the total votes in the country. There is APGA and Labour Party right there. I feel that with these political parties having governments within southeast, we will definitely get to where we want, God’s willing. Look, we intend to go there enmasse, to mobilize the people to join the APC. Also, governor Rochas Okorocha is doing well for the people. The APGA man at the helm of affairs in Anambra is also doing well. Add Ngige to the list and you will see that the margin that existed between APC and the APGA candidate was not much. It was simply narrowly missed and I don’t think we will have any difficulty in getting the southeast people on board.
We need little pushing and constant contact to make sure that we carry them on board for the success of the APC.
What about the National Assembly? How much effort is your party putting in to grab more seats in 2015?
We live to see, but as far as I am concerned, the APC in the House of Representatives has another considerable number of new decampees that will soon come on board. We have been in discussion terms with states in the Northern part of the country and a number of states in the south-south. The discussions are in top gear and they are willing to join us.
Making contacts with the members of the two chambers of the National Assembly has been a continuous thing. From what I have seen last week so far, I can tell you that we are getting there.
Let’s come down to Kaduna State, where you are rooting for governorship. Can you briefly trace the highlights of the factors that inspired you in the first place?
Let me first say that what motivated me to leave the P.D.P is also the motivating factor behind my being in this contest for Kaduna governorship on the APC platform. Those who have been in Kaduna for some time, would readily admit that during our days in government at the State levels, in 1999 and 2007, things were different. At that time, there was massive transformation and we did a lot for the state. But from 2007 to date, the situation in Kaduna has today become pathetic. Nothing is moving and people have constituted themselves into what they think is a government and simply assuming that they could do it alone. No human being can govern alone and even when you take survival itself, you will know that no man can survive alone. Whether you like it or not, you just have to work as a team to successfully run a government because governance is not a joke. I sincerely feel a lot is wrong with governance and we cannot afford to fold our arms and be watching as if we are not citizens of Kaduna State.
In general, I was motivated by the honest desire to turn around the fortunes of Kaduna State for the good of all. We envisage a government for Kaduna State, which would be all-embracing. You see, Kaduna is a very difficult state to govern because it is like a mini Nigeria, with people of different religious and geographical origins as well as different ways of life. If you don’t consider the peculiarities of the people in your environment then forget about thinking of leading them. I mean, if you don’t consider the people as part of the government don’t expect to succeed. And if a government cannot protect the lives and property of its people, there is no need for its existence. So, a whole lot is wrong with Kaduna and I believe we should intervene and bring about the needed change that will better the lives of our people. As far as I am concerned, nothing is happening in Kaduna State. That is why Kaduna must be rescued. Simple.
Given the challenges of infrastructure, economic difficulty and ethno-religious suspicion in Kaduna State, do you have any blueprint as a governorship aspirant?
This is a good question. We certainly have our own roadmap for changing things for the better. Kaduna State is surely experiencing divisive tendencies along religious lines, some ethnic and so on. I feel that with the strategy we have on ground, namely special committee that will submit its findings in seven days, along with its recommendation for rescuing Kaduna State, there is hope. You see, this committee has taken sector by sector, so that the blueprint will be comprehensive. So, in the next seven days when we receive the complete package of the document, we will make it available to the people of Kaduna state, through the media. I must also say that the blueprint contains programmes that will touch the lives of the people. By this I mean the APC in Kaduna touching the lives of its people for good, much unlike what we are see today in the PDP-led government. We have programmes that cover the agric sector, education sector, the social services and we will develop sound solutions for the current infrastructural decay in the state. And once we start campaigning, we will roll out the entire programme for the citizens of Kaduna state to see what our exact focus is.
We will also seek for possible additional input, of ideas from brilliant citizens living outside the state, to make sure that we have achieved our primary objective. This blueprint will also cover the provision of job opportunities across all sectors. Don’t forget that the situation in the education sector is terribly bad and in need of rescue. Tackling the rot in educational sector will definitely address issues of young men roaming the streets of Kaduna and have become drug addicts, due to lack of access to education; and other social vices.
What message do you have for the Kaduna state electorate, ahead of the 2015 governorship elections?
They should be mindful of the fact that they alone have the power to either vote in a candidate or vote him out. They should not allow frustration with what is happening to the state to discourage them from exercising their franchise, I mean voting the P.D.P out of power in the state. Now that PDP has been in power for 16 years, with nothing tangible to show in terms of the dividends of democracy, this is a moment of decision for Kaduna voters.
I must also add that even though there is clearly the need for change, change is not easy; they have to vote and defend their votes. Once you have the right man in the right place, there is no reason why the PDP should not go.
