Says, every northerner is not a member of Boko-Haram
Hon (Engr) Bala Bawa Ka’Oje is the treasurer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). A two-time, former member House of Representatives representing Suru/Bagudo in Kebbi state, Ka’Oje has played key roles in the party including, member, PDP Presidential Electoral Panel and member, 2007 Presidential Inauguration Committee. He spoke on the controversy over the appropriateness of the rampaging Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) who are being accused of jumping into the political turf ahead of time, against electoral guidelines. He also said that the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram sect are anti-Islam and do not represent the interest or opinion of the North of Nigeria. He spoke to CHIBISI OHAKAH
What do you make of the allegation that Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), and indeed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) jumped the gun by commencing political campaigns ahead of stipulated time?
As far as I am concerned, Nigerians are not the ones complaining; it is the opposition. The PDP has not started political campaign. The campaign strategies and rules are usually determined by the party’s guidelines. So the allegation is baseless. TAN as an organization is not an organ of PDP. It is an assembly of like-minded Nigerians expressing a wish, which is that they want President Goodluck Jonathan to run a second term in office. Their interest is the President not really PDP.
I would say, in this regard, that TAN is an organisation not known in PDP books. Members of PDP are also members of many other organisations. It does not mean that anywhere you find our members, even in large numbers, that organisation or assembly automatically becomes the P.D.P, no. Let me add that indeed, there are parameters for measuring political parties or political campaigns and rallies. TAN does not fit into them at all.
The only people thinking otherwise is the All Progressive Congress (APC) and we all know why – things are happening fast, not in their favour. They are losing grounds and the activities of TAN are complicating matters for them. I can’t see them swaying anybody with their crocodile tears. It is their trademark to cry foul each time they lose out.
But Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger state, even as chairman of the Northern governors is leading the North-Central rally of TAN
That the governor attended the gathering organized by such organization shouldn’t raise any dust. He is the leader and the governor of the state. He didn’t go there as a member of TAN. Did you see him wearing TAN uniform? His attendance as the governor of the state didn’t have any link with the PDP. As I said, it is not every occasion attended by a PDP member or chieftain, as you people often put it, is a PDP occasion. I am sure Governor Aliyu attends all kinds of occasions, depending on his interest.
I believe he has a lot of friends among TAN members, so there is no way they can be in his domain and he would not receive them or rejoice with them, more so when it is obvious he shares their sentiments. I don’t see anything wrong with his attendance, the same way I don’t see anything wrong when other governors and political leaders of the PDP and even government officials attended TAN rallies. They have made it clear that they have only one sentiment – one goal – that President Goodluck Jonathan should run a second term and finish his good programmes
What is your take on fears over 2015, given security situation in Nigeria?
No country can say that it is 100% free from insecurity, because it is a problem the world over. It is evident that there are bomb blasts in some parts of the country, but that shouldn’t be blamed on the party in power. Similar things occur in other developed and developing countries. It is more like a trend for the terrorist community in the world now. People, especially the opposition, who play politics with the insecurity situation in Nigeria, do so with the hope of bringing President Jonathan and the PDP down. But they would not succeed. They refused to cooperate with the federal government to find a solution to the problem.
I like the example President Goodluck Jonathan demonstrated when the dreaded Ebola came to Nigeria. You recall that it came and devastated the APC states of Lagos and Port Harcourt. The President did not laugh at them or ask them to manage their problems. We all saw what the federal government did, which is being applauded all over the world. The President gave them millions of naira and set up treatment centers nationwide. A typical APC president, with their pedigree, would have allowed the residents of the state in question to die and reduce to half before intervening. Insecurity in Nigeria is a national problem much as Ebola
The opposition in Nigeria would rather blame the PDP for the insecurity situation in the country. So I think that Nigerians should give the president time to tackle the problem of insurgency.
It has been repeatedly argued that Boko Haram is pursuing the interest of Muslims in particular and the Northern Nigeria in general….
That is a lie. In fact, most of us in Islam don’t understand Boko-Haram. As a Muslim, I can’t belong to any group that is against peaceful co-existence of this country. So Boko-Haram is a name and organization that is confusing. Among them, you find Muslims, Christians and even Pagans. Anybody who alleges that Boko Haram represents the North or Muslims is being childish and mischievous. They are pursuing their own agenda and sensible Nigerians know that
Most of the people who are being apprehended among the sect are from the South. Their names are there. So the problems of Boko-Haram should not be apportioned to a particular section of the country. We need to come together as Nigerians to discuss on it.
How do you see PDP’s chances in Kebbi state?
That the APC is here and there in the North means nothing. The question is, can they articulate themselves and upstage the PDP? The answer is no. Nigerians from every corner know who they are and what they represent. So they won’t vote for them.
But I want to assure you that we shall deliver all our candidates for the PDP in my state, come 2015 general elections. In fact, Kebbi State is the most peaceful state in the whole country, when you talk of politics. So to that effect, Kebbi is there for the PDP.
What is your response to the rumour that you are eyeing Kebbi state governor’s seat ahead of 2015?
I and my governor are from the same senatorial zone. I know that I have a multitude of followers, but as an experienced politician, I go into politics with fairness and consideration. Therefore, believing in going into politics without rancour, I think that it is better for another senatorial zone to produce the governor this time around. Age is still by my side. So in the near future, I can still contest.
I know that my supporters wouldn’t hear about this, because many of them have been sending me text messages. In fact, I want to inform you that some people I don’t know have done posters for me and have been pasting them all over for me to come and contest. I am not surprised at the level of support I have been getting from my people because they know that I am a grass-roots politician; and they know that I can deliver by starting from where my governor stopped. However, we play politics of understanding in the state.
There are concerns about Nigerian politicians not doing any other business in order to survive. What is your take on that?
I am a qualified engineer. I have Masters Degree in Construction Engineering Management. I am a builder; in fact I have served as elected President, Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB) as far back as 2005. I am not an idle person and I am a builder and a consultant of international repute. I am equally into estate development. I know may politicians who are even more skilled than I am. So I don’t know where the assertion that politicians do nothing than politics is coming from.
