No political party in Nigeria is healthy – Dakuku Peterside

…Says happenings in country shameful

Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has said that it is not helpful to blame former President  Muhammadu Buhari or any of the past Nigerian leaders for the  current challenges bedeviling  the country.

Peterside, in this interview with Sunday Sun, also said that the problems confronting the nation have long histories, saying that all Nigerians were guilty of the situation.

Peterside said: “Let all of us come together and find solutions to our common problems. All we ask for is leadership to solve these problems.”

Among other issues, the 2015  All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State opened up on the state of the nation, particularly on the economic, political, security and other issues militating against the country.

You live in Nigeria and have witnessed the current economic situation. How are you coping? Is the hardship touching you?

There is nobody living in Nigeria today that is immune to the economic hardship, except thieves in our midst. Many Nigerians are unable to afford basic necessities.  Too many people are living below the poverty line, with the rest of us bearing the burden. For me, I am lucky to have adopted a modest lifestyle, so not much has changed. I cannot complain, save that I have relatives everywhere who are going under.

Politically, not much has been heard from you lately. What necessitated this?

I am not getting involved in political activities by choice. Only a madman will see his house on fire and still be running around. Truth be told, we are in a crisis as a country and as individuals. When you are facing a crisis, it is important to remain calm and focused. It is time for sober reflection, and that is exactly what I am doing.  This is time for governance and not politics. When we mix up the two, we get results that we don’t desire.

The Buhari administration where you served as the Director General of NIMASA has been largely blamed for the current economic woes. Having served in one of the key agencies under the Buhari administration, where would you situate the blame?

What is happening in Nigeria is a shame. Nigerian leaders are not favourably disposed to doing root cause analysis. Both the people and the leaders favour quick fixes over in-depth investigation to know the root cause of our socio-economic challenges.  It is not helpful to blame Buhari or any of our past leaders for our current challenges. These problems have long histories, and all of us are guilty.  Let all of us come together and find solutions to our common problems. All we ask for is leadership to solve these problems.

The removal of fuel subsidy is believed to have worsened the current economic situation in the country, resulting in a hike in prices of goods and services. Would you support the reverse of the policy?

I would not support the reversal. There is a near general consensus that the long-term benefits of subsidy removal for fiscal health, anti-corruption, competition, refinery development, and curbing smuggling outweigh the short-term pain.  The problem is not the policy, but the implementation. Reversing the policy now would be a setback for economic reforms.

As a turnaround expert, how best can the government tackle the wobbling forex market in the country?

Two ways to solve our wobbling forex market; let our people be productive.  Rentier economy is not sustainable. Then let CBN intervention be strategic, and we should allow it to be driven by market forces.

The issue of insecurity is unabating in the country. Would you recommend hiring foreign mercenaries to assist the country?

No. We have the capacity to solve our problems. Let’s get our acts together, and these insecurity challenges will be history.

The APC has largely been adjudged as a party that holds no fortune for the country. Does this not worry you?

Nigerians are worried about the current state and future of all our political parties. It is not just about APC. No party represents the best of who we are. No party is healthy and none is driven by a solid philosophical foundation. And it is a real problem.

It is being touted that going by happenings in the country, a new political party may soon emerge, bringing like-minded people together. Will you support this new move?

I support anything that will promote democracy and good governance. Parties in this clime are just platforms for people to grab power. I believe parties are evolving and will eventually take shape.

Some have criticized President Tinubu, saying that the Lagos formula is not applicable to Abuja. What would you recommend to the president as a template to take Nigeria out of the woods?

The president is very experienced and knowledgeable. My advice, if any, to the president is not for the pages of newspapers.

You contested in the 2015 governorship race in Rivers State. Looking back, do you have any regrets about participating in the governorship race?

I have absolutely no regret running for governorship of Rivers State in 2015. I am rather honoured that the Rivers people trusted me, invested in me, and unfortunately did not have the privilege of enjoying quality leadership, which they yearned for. I have learnt the lessons and moved on.

Your party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) seems to be in a state of disarray in Rivers State. How politically healthy is the APC in Rivers State to win any near or future elections?

APC in Rivers State is a victim of crab mentality. I don’t believe the leadership of the party at the national level wants the party to succeed. Let us wait and see the outcome of this strange political engineering.

The political crisis in Rivers State seems to have no solution in sight. What is the way out?

The way out of the needless political crisis in Rivers State requires appropriate behaviour by political actors and for people to respect boundaries. I am personally embarrassed by the conduct of certain political actors. It appears we have lost our moral fibre and sense of responsibility. Let us feel for the ordinary people who are victims of our greed.