Ambassador Aisha Audu-Emeje is the Deputy Director-General of House-2-House Campaign for Democracy and member, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the group currently clamouring for President Goodluck Jonathan to re-contest in 2015. In this interview with SAMUEL OGIDAN, she faults claims that the over 3000 campaign organisations canvassing for Jonathan’s return were being sponsored by the Presidency
The House-2-House campaign for democracy
House-2-House as the name simply implies, is to be able to deal with particular groups in their own location where they live and is only the number of houses in a community that actually makes that community to be able to reckon with. So, when we bring up the word House-2-House, we just want to emphasise that we want everybody to be carried along in this campaign for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.
Your group declared President Goodluck Jonathan “wanted”. What if he refuses to contest 2015 polls?
President Goodluck Jonathan has the constitutional right to run for a second term. It is our desire and wish that he steps out to lead us through the democratic stability that we are seeing. This administration has laid a solid foundation and has taken up institutional overhaul. Three or four years are not enough to bring that to fruition. So, we are saying to him with the believe that he will consider our call, and we don’t think he will decline our call, because the signs or odds are not against him to decline. As Nigerians with the nation at heart, and with this democracy which is becoming the voice of the people to be further deepened, I can tell you people will encourage him, and he will not reject our call.
Aren’t you jumping the gun?
Our group cannot be seen as jumping the gun, we are not the first, and we are not the only one. And like we have clearly stated, we are campaigning for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria. We are saying there is right time for everything, there is time that you will declare, we are in pre- primaries state and we have the right as Nigerians, as civil society and non governmental organisation to clamour for what we want. So I don’t see us jumping the gun.
The northern elders threat to Jonathan on Chibok girls and 2015
This is a first time situation in the country as a whole. Even under the military; these things were not profound, where people take their grievances to the street. The provision of support programme for the Al majiri, the affected people and empowerment of people of the northern region is in full place. A few days ago, N220billion was launched and there is so much, factories are being rebuilt, agriculture is a pride of the North, it is being rediscovered. So, we will not say their ultimatum does not mean anything, it is just their feeling that this government should do more which I believe the government is addressing. We will not look down on the ultimatum, but as Nigerians and as democrats there are things that must go on and people will make their choice at the end of the day.
There are reports that most of these pro-Jonathan groups are being sponsored by the presidency, what is your view?
As you know me, I am a former first lady, before then I was an entrepreneur, a United Nations representative, representing Civil Society Organisations [CSO] in the UN. We have access to various kinds of funds and personally, if we love a cause, we follow it to the end. So, I do not believe the President is personally sponsoring any campaign organisation right now. If you have been following the trend of things, there are over 3000 campaign organizations. If you do not know who is who how do you even fund who? So, I can tell you clearly that everybody is putting their hands into their purse; because they believe there is a cause to be fought.
The President in his personality is a very gentle man, humble and has taken all the insults. A few groups have taken it personal. You know what; these things must turn around, the blemishes are really uncalled for. And we are saying to him sir, we crave your indulgence, it is not only the opposition that are Nigerians, there are Nigerians that are just natural and genuine human beings that will fight for your cause. Whatever the case is, come out now, say something, give us a direction, I guess that is what every other group is saying.
Do you share the view that the isolated cases of violence across the country are caused by the zoning principle allegedly jettisoned by the PDP?
You know the job of the opposition is to oppose and when people are opposing they will create points that might resemble what they wish or what they think. But there is nobody under the surface of this earth that will like to see the insecurity that we are in and put their hand into it. So far, so good. The problem of the North (insecurity) today did not start under President Jonathan. Obasanjo tried to handle it, he suppressed it as much as possible, put them under lock and key, he was a retired military man even though under democracy. President Jonathan today, though given the final orders, still has to deal with the fact. This is a challenge that was not part of what was handed over to him as a President but re-emerged though fully after the death of Yar’Adua. So, my belief is that rumours are rumours, but there is no laid down fact to any of these claims.
Women participation in politics in Nigeria
I am not comfortable yet, but we are getting there. Countries like Tanzania, Rwanda just brought out policies and laws to support 50-50 for women. Nigeria, under our dear Mrs Mariam Abacha, went all the way to Beijing China to bring Women affirmation and the implementation was barely seven percent. But today, with the present administration doing so much in carrying women along, there is a visible hope in the partnership between men and women on the issue of power sharing. Politics is expensive. The more women we get empowered, it will improve and the more political parties are declaring free participation forms, free women positions not just woman leadership but have key roles in the parties, women will be empowered to be able to stand on their own. It is not that women are not bold enough to be leaders; it is not that the men are even sidelining the women; I always reject that because women have come of age now, to stand against anybody who is trying to oppress them. And with that, if the women are financially able, they will do wonders.
