Prof. Joseph Targema Orkar is the elder brother of the late Major Gideon Orkar, the mastermind of the April 1990 failed coup. In this interview with HENRY IYORKASE, the university don, who is the first professor of Tiv language, bares his mind on sundry issues affecting the Nigerian nation. Excerpts:
How have you fared since your appointment as Chairman of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwuana, Afikpo in Ebonyi State?
We all know what polytechnics are meant for. There is no difference between one polytechnic and another. The polytechnic intends to give both full time or part time instructions and training to students, who are enrolled to study different aspects and it is the same thing with Akanu Ibiam Polytechnic, Uwuana. This one was started in 1982 and the courses have been increasing. At that time, the population of students was only 127. Now we have so many; so the polytechnic is going on very well.
How would you describe what has happened in the polytechnic educational system, especially given the disparity, when it comes to promotion in the civil service?
I am heading a federal polytechnic and we intend to do exactly what the Federal Government intends and that is training in technology, applied science, commerce and management and that is what we are doing. So, talking about disparity is none of my business. We just provide the required training in the polytechnics.
Who is Kanu? Who is he that he wants to be considered important? He’s not even a governor of a state, he’s not a speaker; he’s nobody. Why would a nonentity get up and want to create problem for Nigeria. If they want the state of Biafra, let them take the proper steps and if they are able to go through, fine. But if not, the issue should be put to rest
Within this period of your stay as the chairman of the governing board of the polytechnic, what is your assessment of the institution in terms of quality and content?
There are more courses, more schools established now than when it was established in 1980. So the polytechnic is growing, that is being able to cover more problems than when they started. Also what I have observed is that the community there gave the polytechnic sufficient land and we would want to say is that there is improvement in terms of maintenance of structure, the quality of education so we are seeing that there are prospects for achieving the desired objectives.
Sir, the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, from all indications, has paid good attention to the issue of anti-corruption. As an insider who has been given a responsibility in education, do you think this sector has had a good deal?
Education has had a good deal; all of us are Nigerians, whether in government or those who are not employed. We are all supposed to fight corruption in this country. That’s why those who clamour for other things like some people wanting to have another state and they are making noise. They don’t need to make noise. There were attempts by Nigerians to get independence; the first attempt was made through a motion presented by Chief Enahoro but it failed. This was in 1953. Then there was another move in 1957 and that one too did not succeed. And then there was another one in 1958 moved by Fani Kayode; that went through. I have always said that if there is any part of this country that do not want to continue to belong to the Nigerian state, like the case of the Ibos, they have Houses of Assembly in their states. Let them move this motion in their various assemblies and if they are passed, it will be sent to the National Assembly. Then, we will all read the details of what they are talking about. If the National Assembly agrees fine; if they look at it and say no, the reasons are not cogent, then it will be another thing. If you have the state of Biafra, they are still going to be neighbours with Nigeria and they need diplomatic relations. So, they don’t have to make noise. Nigeria did not fight, I have just talked about motions which were made and it was right. So, we got it on a platter of gold. So, our relationship with Britain is still cordial. The British didn’t have their personal businesses in Nigeria, but in the case of the Ibos, like when some boys said they were giving a quit notice, some Ibos started saying they could not abandon their investments. They have invested here and there. So, even if they have the state of Biafra, the Ibos would still be in Nigeria running their businesses. So, they don’t need to make noise or create problems for Nigeria. It’s very unnecessary. This is distracting attention. The issue is, we have corruption that is bothering us. Every day we have discoveries about looted funds. They steal money and don’t even know what to do with it. But they do it because they want to loot. Therefore, I don’t think people should be in a haste; they are distracting attention from what is bothering us. Corruption is to be fought with every zeal to get the benefit that we would desire from it. That shouldn’t be question of other people fighting alone. There are other people in offices who hide files to prevent other people from getting benefits of promotion. All these are corrupt practices. So, we should fight this. If you have the state of Biafra, you will still face this problem of corruption. Let’s fight it so that when we have succeeded, we can do every other thing. So, you see that when Buhari was receiving treatment, a lot of people got up and were saying that he should resign. Why? Where is it stated that a head of a country, if he is sick and goes for treatment, he should resign? See, all these people, like that musician, I think he was sponsored. The belief of his sponsors was that as a popular musician he should go out and cause confusion. Why? After all, when President Buhari was away, Osinbajo was doing everything. If we have a Vice President, it is because of situations like this, that once the President is not there, the Vice President should act. What actually should bother people was was Osibanjo, during this period, incompetent? No! He was very competent.
Why does everybody, including the government, become jittery each time the Igbo agitate for secession? What is so special about them that they can’t be allowed to go their separate way?
I think government is not jittery over anything. Rather, it is because of their activities. They create all sorts of problems. I have just said here, if they want to be an entity of their own, they have Houses of Assembly in their area. Let them move motions and pass them properly; not just making noise. Not creating chaos; not that the government is jittery. And the other time Ojukwu did, he did not take the proper steps. So, the entire Nigeria had to fight them because that wasn’t the way it should be done. Even now, who is Kanu? Who is he that he wants to be considered important? He’s not even a governor of a state, he’s not a speaker, he’s nobody. Why would a nonentity get up and want to create problem for Nigeria. If they want the state of Biafra, let them take the proper steps and if they are able to go through, fine, but if not, the issue should be put to rest.
You were in the opposition for years; now that your party is in government, people are dying of hunger due to non-payment of salaries. Are you still very comfortable with this situation?
I have always said that people should learn to be patient, they should be tolerant. When we were in government during Aper Aku, as much as we were ambitious, there was a time we were no longer getting what we were supposed to get and ran the government. With the looting that the last government did, you can’t loot that much from the treasury and still expect that the government would be able to run very well. So, people should understand with the government. You cannot do anything more, and apart from that, the past government overlooked agriculture and it was because they were getting sufficient money from oil revenue. They shouldn’t have done so, because if they get over $80billion from sale of oil, there is nothing wrong getting 15 or 20 from agriculture. That should have been a welcomed addition, but it was ignored. I remember, the only time our state got extra money during Aper Aku than the statutory one was when they sold our land and they gave us some bonus. So, nobody likes it. I do not like it the way it is now. I ask some people that during the last government they were owed up to seven months, but we didn’t hear this type of noise and some of them said that time if you made noise you would be killed. They will go after you and eliminate you. There are times when a nation would have problems like this one, but then it can be solved. So, I’m not happy that people are not getting their salaries because all those who are paid salaries have dependents; not only their immediate families, but others, too. Their extended family members benefit as they get their pay.
What’s your take on the registration of new political parties?
I would have expected the National Assembly to work towards amending that portion of the Electoral Act regarding the registration of political parties. Majority of these political we now are nothing more than social clubs. Even here in Benue, whenever I represent the APC chairman at meetings with INEC, I’m always amused because it there that all sorts of characters will introduce themselves as chairman of this and that party. Many of them are not known because their parties are not on ground. The large number of parties we have now will make it difficult for
voters at election to make their choice. These smaller parties can come together, like the CPC, AC, APGA and others did in 2015 to wrest power from the PDP, to form a stronger platform. So, I am not happy with the proliferation of political parties on daily basis. This should be reduced.
To how many?
If they are reduced to ten, that would be good. Forty six political parties? This is making mockery of democracy. That is not what it should be. Many of these so called political parties do not have structures or offices even in the state capital here. The National Assembly is talking about independent candidature, fine. They should reduce the number of existing political parties and those who cannot
fit into any of the existing ones, let them be independent candidates. It is because we have too many political parties that people jump here and there, if they fail to get nomination in their parties.
