Jonathan has failed in fight against corruption – Okorie

Chief Chekwas Okorie was  the founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He was to later go and form the United Progressive Grand Alliance(UPGA) after series of political intrigues  and consequent  litigations which culminated in his final exit. In this interview, Okorie who now chairs UPGA, speaks with  ALEX EMEJE  on the party’s preparation for 2015 and hints of  its possible alliance with any of the major parties. Besides, the UPGA boss also faults the Goodluck Jonathan administration’s   fight against corruption,  even as he bares his mind on the proposed national confab among other national issues

Gone into hibernation
Well, I wouldn’t say so because I have been making some intervention but not vocal like before because we have a new party that needs some work to be done and of course we need to talk on national issues.  But  at the same time, we need to build a new party and create enabling platform for aspirants to contest and with INEC timetable now out,  the tempo is on.

I was one of the vocal callers for confab and even championing the use of electronic voting and what we need now is the political will of the National Assembly to make amend.  But  I am afraid because of the fear that it may affect the chances of  some of them coming back and with APC on board now, the issue of rigging elections are over. Your other colleagues have been coming as you have come and have never shied away from talking to them.

Spread of UPGA
The party is in 36 states of the country and the minimum requirement of INEC is 24 states with the executives and the membership drive is on and for top politicians to come in, requires diplomacy. We are out to be part of political parties with strong politicians.

On INEC timetable being skewed in favour of PDP
I don’t think so because INEC has used its power to determine the sequence of election which the Law requires. Those who feel the presidential election coming first will confer an advantage to PDP have conceded defeat to PDP already. Now there is a balance of terror because there is opposition in APC and United Peoples Party (UPP) is also there. But let me tell you that our party has zoned its presidency to the South–East and cannot work for PDP because while PDP is for Jonathan which is South-South, APC is for the North. If APGA succeeds out of court, they will support Jonathan and the Labour Party (LP) too will support PDP while the three parties, PDP, APC and UPP would have the battle line drawn. UPP will provide a trump card for an alliance but not before the election.

On 2015
The issue of win or die at all constitutes a militating factor that will work against free and fair election. There is too much money in the hands of those in government whether they acquire legally or illegally. APC and PDP are the same coin because both of them are the ones that have brought the economy to a comatose.

Ideological base of  UPP
I don’t understand what they mean. When a party is registered, the party’s constitution and the manifesto are what every registered party needs as the ideology. Any other manifesto is an improvement. Nigerians should be blamed because they don’t read manifesto. In UPP for instance, our ideology centers on empowerment of the people, employment, and health of the people, capacity building and the manifesto of the party speaks volume of that party. We in UPP are not extreme, we are a little to the right or little to the left. Political parties don’t compel their candidates to study the manifesto of their party which is very important.

Jonathan administration and  corruption
Jonathan has failed in the fight against corruption. You can’t fight corruption when you don’t want to touch those at the top. When you deal with those at the top, those at the lower level will be threatened because fear will catch them. But unfortunately, many of the corrupt people are president’s friends so they are not afraid. For EFCC and ICPC, nobody knows what they are doing. When Ribadu was at the EFCC, there was no sacred cow or anything like untouchable. But under Jonathan, people are stealing and are going scot free and walking about the roads free.

Seven billion naira as confab cost
Confab  is an inevitable national project. I have always supported it over the years and I appreciate the president’s courage conveying the gathering of Nigerians to discuss the way forward for our dear country. The issue of N7 billion for me is not a problem because I don’t know the contents of the confab and what it entails.

When  you see the pension scam and other funds stolen by some individuals, this N7billion is nothing compared to that. But the modalities are my concern, especially where there is no consensus, 75% of such issue will be resolved by the delegates. The provision casts doubt in my mind because and this  did not resolve such issues. It means that if 26% of the delegates disagree,  75% will fail because it is 75% having their way while 26% will only have their say..

In international standard practice, it is simple majority because it will be majority having their way while minority will have their say. No two geo-political zones will form the quorum of having to pass a resolution but when you have about four zones, there will be a robust negotiation and alliance and make it healthy and if government can review, then there will be progress.
Then the issue of no go area is cowardly. The unity of Nigeria cannot be compromised and should be allowed to be discussed since we have lived together peacefully and should be allowed to discuss how we can live equitably.