Buhari May Be Good, but We Are Voting Jonathan – Onuma

Few days to the March 28 re­scheduled Presidential elec­tion, Publicity secretary of Ndigbo in Lagos, Kalu Onuma, explains why they will vote for re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan even as he canvases that Jonathan’s decision to implement the reports of the recently con­cluded National Conference earns him the people’s nod. Onuma who spoke to AGOZINO AGOZINO, said his group will soon take a de­cision on who to vote for among the gubernatorial candidates in the State. Excerpts:

Will you say INEC is pre­pared for Saturday’s election and what is the position of Ndigbo in Lagos?

Ndigbo in Lagos are watching closely, the political development, the unfolding drama concerning the election. Before the earlier announced date f 14 February, we have taken a position that our na­tional vote would go to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. That was simply based on a very well-thought out pragmatic reason. We believe that in the absence of any other serious political contender, or any other offer made for the advancement of the country that Jonathan stands a better time of the continual evolvement of the nation-state called Nigeria. One of the key things is the emphasis that is being made on statehood of Nigeria, to be or not to be. And we agree based on the outcome of the just concluded National con­ference, we felt that the only per­son that was rightly positioned to execute it is Jonathan. Buhari was considered with other Presi­dential candidates. But we felt the world is moving forward and it doesn’t go backward. In spite of all his great qualities, we don’t think at this age where our chil­dren at the age of five could dis­mantle a phone and put it back again, where China is becoming the workshop of the world, in age where things are changing in great rapidity that we should be looking back to analogue to elect our leaders. Buhari has no doubt made contribution, we should not look at a grand father or great grandfather for our leaders.

Apart from the Presidential election, in a nutshell what is your stand on the gubernato­rial candidates?

There are various Igbo groups which are not accountable to us that may have considered Am­bode as their candidate. However, Ndigbo Lagos as an institution and well respected organisation is presently consulting with both Akinwunmi Ambode, Jimi Ag­baje and every other runner. We believe that before Saturday, we will be making an announcement on where we stand on who we are voting in Lagos State. We have a close working relationship with APC under Governor Fashola. We also had good relationship under Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And I can tell you that Ambode is seriously being considered. But for now, no pronouncement has been made from Ndigbo in Lagos as who is our choice.

Are you satisfied with the way the recent distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and proposed use of the Elec­tronic Card Reader device?

We are not. We are part of the first people that analysed the whole thing and preparedness of INEC towards the election. Long before February 14, we told the public that INEC was not prepared for the election. It is impossible for you to be talking about a democrat­ic process where half of the people are disenfranchised from voting. Up till today, a lot of our people don’t have their PVCs. For exam­ple, if the election had held on 14 February, more than 60 percent of non-indigenes in Lagos would have been denied their voting rights. And as I speak, they have not come to accept the fact that they were wrong. To your ques­tion, yes, a lot of reports have been coming to us that our people have been practically disenfranchised. I give you an example. Prof. Anya O. Anya, is the President of this or­ganisation. Four times he has gone to the resident Commissioner and has not been able to pick his PVC. The same with Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Admiral Madueke and many other high profile Ndigbo in Lagos. Now you imagine the rank and file of our people in Alaba, Oshodi, Mushin, and other places who are practically denied. That is why a high profile delegation of our group is planning to visit the resident Commissioner to raise up these issues. If they are not properly handled, there would be a counter reaction by our people to make sure that we are not dis­enfranchised. We pay our tax and we are living here. So for us to be openly disenfranchised, we will not accept it. INEC should not be selective. If you think you dis­enfranchised Ndigbo, you would boost the camp of APC or PDP how are you sure? So we say to INEC, if you think you are the um­pire that is unbiased, make sure the PVCs get to everybody.That is what we are asking INEC. And we may go to court if necessary.

So, how serous are you tak­ing the election?

We are very serious. The most serious electorate in this country has always been the Igbos. No person has ever become a Presi­dent, Governor or any elective post without the Igbos. There is no community you go in Nige­ria after the indigenes you will not have the Igbos. So for you to become President, Igbos have al­ways played a significant role. So this election has never been im­portant as it is for our people. Sec­ondly, the issue for us is not just who becomes President but what is going to become the direction that Nigeria is heading to.