Chief Michael Botmang was Deputy Governor of Plateau State between 1999 and 2007. He speaks about politics in the country, the 2015 elections and how to resolve the security challenges in this interview with JAMES ABRAHAM. Excerpts.
What is your assessment of Nigerian politics?
Let me first of all concede the fact that Nigeria is a tough country. The people of this country are very resilient; they can endure. With all the problems going on in this country, people still stay and carry on with their businesses. And most of these social tension and unrest that we witness in most part of the country have its roots in the struggle for power and influence.
Sometimes, it looks as if the country will break into two the next minute and yet, that has not happened. I think it is something that should give us encouragement and strength as a people. We hope to see a country where everyone has a sense of belonging; not one where some will say I am a Christian or Muslim.
That is uncalled for. My advice is that all hands should be on deck to recreate Nigeria where there is equal opportunity for everyone to achieve his or her dream. Take Goodluck Jonathan for instance, he is from a minority ethnic group. In those days, it was politics for the big tribes. But today, it is no longer so. We now have the number one citizen from the minority tribe, who has promised to engender a breath of fresh air into the polity. I think Nigeria is making progress politically.
Would you say that Nigerians are really having a breath of fresh air under President Jonathan's administration?
Well, if he doesn't bring the needed fresh air, that is up to him, but we know he is the number one citizen. It is on record that he has climbed the ladder to the topmost position in the country and I think he has no reason why he should not deliver. Yes, he may have hurdles, but hurdles are all over the place.
Those who take up arms against the government and its people because some of these hurdles have not been tackled are not doing the correct thing. When I hear Mujahideen Asari-Dokubo and other militant groups crying of marginalisation and oppression against their people, I believe it is not by fighting the government that the problem will be solved.
If you do that, government can use all the machinery at its disposal to crush you. That government has not done that to the various rebellious groups operating in the country should not be seen as a sign of weakness. I think government is exercising some restraints in using the power at its disposal, because it doesn't want to do something that will attract sanction from the international community
The proposed amnesty to the Boko Haram sect has generated a lot commendations as well as condemnations. What is your take on that?
My quarrel with amnesty to Boko Haram is this: how can you give amnesty to people you don't know? It is somebody known to have committed crime, perhaps such a person or persons are in prison that can be given amnesty.
But in this case, nobody has come out to own up to the atrocities committed against the people of this country, except the few that have been caught in the act. I think the government must be very careful in the way it is working to solve the problem of insecurity in the country so as to avoid taking actions that would not achieve the intended objectives.
I believe that those calling for amnesty for Boko Haram as a solution to the current security challenge in the country were out to deceive President Jonathan. The continuous killing of innocent Nigerians by the sect, even after the amnesty process had begun was enough evidence that the advocates of the package were not sincere in their demands and therefore should be ignored.
We are in a democracy and people have the right to say what they want to say. They are entitled to their opinion, but sometimes in this business of governance, you have to be firm on the path of correctness for you to succeed.
And as a President, if you don't handle things well, you may get confused. I call it a little bit of confusion, because the proper thing which Mr. President should have done is to stand by his word that Boko Haram members should show up before being given amnesty. But in this business of governance, some people will come and advise otherwise.
So, if he has taken their advice and amnesty could not stop the killing that is going on in the country, then it is rather unfortunate. It simply means that you are dealing with crafty people who themselves are not sincere in their demands and are not interested in genuine effort to solve the current security challenge.
So what do you consider as the solution?
I think God will have to come and help Nigeria solve this problem. Honestly it is such that one man cannot solve it. Look at what is happening in Taraba State where the state is now polarised along religious lines. I was shocked the other day when I saw on television, where various religious groups were fighting themselves.
The substantive governor, who is away for medical attention has been replaced by an acting governor. Today, he is facing crisis. I must tell you that religious crisis is the worst calamity that could happen to any country and Nigeria must guard against it.
The North wants the presidency in 2015 while the Igbos as well as the incumbent also want the slot. How do you think the 2015 election will play out?
If Jonathan plays his game very well, there is nothing that will stop him from winning, the reason being that he has been president for a while and we have seen what he has been able to do.
Although some of the things he has promised Nigerians have not materialised, like steady power supply and so on; a few things are minus for him, especially the present level of insecurity, but all the same, it will be a herculean task for anyone to take over power from him come 2015. This is because already, he is there and he has planted his cronies all over the place. Whether the opposition parties are merging or not, that is not a threat to him at all.
I think his greatest problem is how to manage the governors who are expected to work very hard to give him votes. Let me tell you, Jonathan is not ruling this country alone. Not at all. He has people supporting him from behind and most of these people are northerners.
What makes you think so because it appears most of his critics come from the North?
Those who are outside the corridors of power are the ones complaining. Those who are inside are not complaining at all. So that is the situation. Forget all this noise in the North about opposition to Jonathan's presidency. Just a few people who are outside the corridors of power are behind it. You know power is sweet and they want to be there. They cannot afford to leave Jonathan alone. To them, being outside government having tasted power before is like a fish outside the pond.
Governor Jonah Jang will complete his eight year tenure by 2015 and the three senatorial zones in the state are already angling to produce his successor. How do you view the development?
The correct thing to do is that power should go to the Southern Plateau. In 2007, Governor Joshua Dariye from the Central zone handed over to Jang who is from the North after two terms in office.
During that time, I was a deputy to Dariye and I come from the North. So, now the North is having it, and come 2015, I believe if it goes to the South, it would have been fair to all the stakeholders. If we don't do it that way, then it is very unfortunate. Already, Governor Jang has said there is no more zoning, simply because we used the zoning to make sure that he became governor.
It is wrong for him to turn round and say that there is no more zoning. From all indications, the governorship should go to the Southern zone.
How will you assess the PDP administration in Plateau State in the last two years?
I think Jang is doing his best for the state. I don't have any quarrel with him. The only thing is that I have always advised him to accommodate all interest groups without despising any. Governance is all encompassing and should be applied as such. What is the state of education in Plateau State?
What is the state of welfare of workers both in the state and at the local government levels? What about infrastructure? Are the people better off by your policies and programmes? Are those who are complaining of one issue or the other having genuine demands that should be looked into?
Once you accommodate people, the going will be smooth for you, but when you don't, they will put roadblocks on your path to make you stumble. During my short stay in power as governor of the state, these formed the basis of actions.
National Mirror