In this interview with HENRY IYORKASE, the Chairman of the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Abba Yaro, comes down hard on former Senate President David Mark, saying his political relevance is only a fluke. He also alleged that he had never won any unrigged election. Excerpts:
To what extent do you think the defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the Peoples Democratic Party can affect the All Progressives Congress in Benue State?
Well, as for me, everybody is at liberty to identify with any political party of his choice. Therefore, I don’t see his defection to the PDP as a threat to our success in the coming election.
Currently, there is a mixed reaction among Nigerians on whether President Muhammadu Buhari should re-contest in 2019 or not. What is your view on this?
Honestly speaking, looking at Muhammadu Buhari as the President of this country, the man has really impressed me. First and foremost, on the issue of corruption, he has succeeded in minimising it. Corruption has been reduced to the barest minimum. Who among those that want to contest can do what that man is doing? I was not in CPC (Congress for Progressive Change) but a good man is a good man. The man has brought corruption to a minimal level in the country. The man has made Nigerians to really believe that the country is truly rich and that it was only some selected few that were stealing the money. And we must receive the money to the common purse of the nation. And that is what he is doing. So, for me, he has every quality to re-contest in 2019.
Let me tell you that Senator David Mark has never won any election; he has never won any. his people would just carry the result sheet to somewhere and re-write the figures. This time, we will checkmate them
But do you think this administration can sustain the anti-corruption war?
I would only advise the President not to be lenient with corrupt people for whatever reason. He should prosecute and jail such people because they are bent on spoiling his government. He should also let others who may be willing to steal know that nobody is a sacred cow and that public funds will never be allowed to find their ways into private pockets again. Tax payers’ money is supposed to be for the people and not a selected few who are in privileged positions. If Buhari takes a firm stand and jails several people, you will see that politicians will be more cautious.
Some say people in the present government are more corrupt than those in the PDP administration that the Buhari government is currently prosecuting in court. What’s your reaction to this?
I have not seen any case of a corrupt member of this government that was spared. The President is not that type of person that can spare a thief. The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation that was alleged to have been involved in corrupt practices was first suspended, then later sacked. And that was enough to convince people that the President does not tolerate corruption, even in his house. Buhari will not spare anyone that engages in corruption.
How would you assess the fight against corruption in Benue State?
Well, the anti-corruption crusade is quite effective in this state. Look around you and you’ll agree that the Ortom administration does not tolerate corruption. All those who were alleged to have stolen public money, where are they today? Where is Solomon Wombo? He was arrested and he is being prosecuted. Former accountant of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Isaiah IPeron; where is he? Where is former Governor Suswam? All of them are already in court, to defend themselves against allegations of stealing Benue money.
As 2019 draws near, there are agitations that Governor Ortom does not deserve a second term based on some issues, among which is the backlog of unpaid salaries owed by his government…
Honestly speaking, the issue of salary is not our fault. The arrears owed by the former government are what we have been making efforts to offset. We have been telling workers to exercise patience because this is not our fault. Another thing is that, even as it is, government is paying, but workers would always say they have not been paid.
They would say they are not paid but the only thing we know is that, we have been paying workers’ salaries.
On the issue of 2019, I want to tell you that we have everything in place for Governor Ortom to win.
APC will win again because the administration has performed well in the face of scarce resources. Look at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, look at many other social infrastructures; go round the state and you will be convinced that Governor Ortom deserves a second term. Already, the Benue people are calling on the man to contest for another term and, by the grace of God, the man will run and he will win the governorship seat again.
Let me tell you, seeing is believing. Everybody can see what the governor has done.
It was observed that in the last general election, your party could not win elections in the zone you come from – Benue South-West Senatorial District. How do you intend to turn things around ahead of 2019?
We have no problem in the zones. The last result we got from zone ‘C’ was the real result, as cast. And, whether you like it or not, there are betrayers. Some people would deceive you that they are with you and they would not be for you. But as I speak, every strategy to enable the APC clear the 2019 election has been put in place in Zone C. It will surprise our brothers the kind of votes that we would harvest from Zone ‘C’.
I would only advise the President not to be lenient with corrupt people for whatever reason. He should prosecute and jail such people because they are bent on spoiling his government. He should also let others who may be willing to steal know that nobody is a sacred cow and that public funds will never be allowed to find their ways into private pockets again
But with former Senate President David Mark, on the opposing side, how optimistic are you that the APC will have a field day in Zone ‘C’?
Let me tell you that Senator David Mark has never won any election; he has never won any. His people would just carry the result sheet to somewhere and re-write the figures. This time, we will checkmate them. That is what they have been doing and this time, we will ensure it is not done again.
Wherever they go, we would go with them, because eyes have opened now. Anywhere they want to go, we will go with them, because we are in government. Nobody will ‘chance’ anybody again.
Gone are the days when thugs loyal to David Mark would park all INEC materials to a hideout and re-write election results in favour of their principal. Gone are the days. So, David Mark has never won an election and he will not win. Look at the last local government election, he did not produce a councillor. So, we will definitely assure you that APC will surprise Benue people in subsequent elections in Zone ‘C’, with a wide margin.
Is it true that plans are underway to remove the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun?
You know all these things are rumours. I was at the last meeting and there was nothing like that at all. The caucus met like fathers, brothers and sisters, and all came out laughing. There was nothing like that.
There is a general belief that the APC, like its opposition, the PDP, lacks internal democracy, thereby giving room for the imposition of candidates. How do you intend to deal with this?
Well, you know, as the chairman of APC in Benue State, I do not believe in imposition of candidates. If a politician catches your fancy and you think he should run for an election, let him go to his people and let them decide whether he should represent them or not. And anybody who is elected on the field is a good choice and that is the candidate of the people. Nobody would impose any candidate at all; let the people decide in the councils, House of Assembly, House of Representatives and the Senate. Let the people decide because the voice of the people is the voice of God. There would be no imposition and I assure you, we shall maintain that internal democracy well; that everybody will be happy with us as a party, just like we have always done.
There is a report that the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, is having some issues with you. Can you please confirm this?
There is no problem between me and Chief Ogbe. The minister is my ‘uncle’ and my ‘father’. I have no problem with him. I am his ‘boy’ and his ‘son’ and I will always remain loyal, 100 per cent loyal to him. We have no problem at all.
There are insinuations that the top hierarchy of APC has passed a resolution that those holding political positions right from the governor to Senate, down the ladder, should remain. How true is this?
I am not aware of the national arrangement; but in Benue, zone after zone is endorsing Governor Samuel Ortom. Therefore, we as a party and fathers of the party cannot just change our 1st Eleven. Can you change the winning team if you have a soccer team? A football team that is winning matches every day; do you need to change the squad?
Even if it is a player that is injured in the First Eleven, as a team manager, you would quickly check the player and intervene so that you continue. So, as far as our party is concerned, the man has done well and the party will give him all the support he deserves, if he wants to run for the 2019 general elections.
Is this decision applicable to other offices?
I can only speak for the senators and possibly that of Zone ‘B’. Honestly speaking, I’m all for Senator George Akume (a former governor of the state) and if he wants to run, he is free to do so because he has done well. If he wants to run again, his people will bring him out.
