Former military Head of State, retired General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar, in this interview in Minna, Niger State, explained why there was urgent need to usher in a civilian government at the time he was head of state, the rising insecurity, and why Nigerians need to celebrate the modest achievements recorded by the country in its 61 years of independence. Excerpts:
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE: 61 years after Nigeria’s independence, do we have anything to celebrate?
General Abdulsalami Abubakar: Yes, we have come a long way. Nation building is not an easy thing especially where you have more than 250 ethnic groups where each and every one is looking for a place in governance. When you look back 60 years ago, I’m sure quite a number of you were not born 60 years ago, but I am not sure if you are above 60. My generation grew up under the colonialists and we have seen how our colonial masters looted our treasury, and whatever out of the country. Even the rail and road systems they created was in order to cart away what they can to seaports. But now Nigerians are in charge and like what somebody said, there is unity in diversity.
To some extent before the emergence of bandits and Boko Haram, Nigeria has been living peacefully with each other and there is a lot of interactions and intermarriages between all Nigerians. So I think it is worth celebrating that we have lived as a nation. Of course, I could understand a little bit of frustration from the gentleman that asked the question. We could have done better, I believe this is what he wanted to say yes, we have more progress both in terms of education, in terms of road infrastructure which at the moment are dilapidated and need to be repaired. Nation building as we saw it in the last 60 years, is a tremendous job confronting the government of the day. In terms of when we were young, the mortality rate among children was very high. Maybe during our time, out of 10 children, three will be lucky to survive but because of the introduction of healthcare system and better environment, I could say out of 10 children maybe seven survived and this has increased the population in the country and this is where we are today.
What is your view on the security situation in the country?
In the last couple of years, the peace in Nigeria has been destabilized. First, with the advent of Boko Haram and later on, bandits kidnapping, asking for ransom, destroying government property and vandalizing farms. Certainly, these are issues of concern and gladly despite the shortcomings and being largely over stretched, the security forces as much as possible are doing the best they can under the circumstances. More could be done and how do we do so? By strengthening our security forces, by increasing the number of people involve in security that means more are to be recruited in to the security forces and equipping them adequately so that they could face the challenges of providing the security of life and property in the country.
Also, Nigerians are doing their citizens’ duty in assisting as much as possible, the security agencies in giving them information on where and how these miscreants are operating. This is because they live among us. We know where they are so let’s expose and give information to security forces so that they will now go after these bandits and all these terrorists disturbing the country.
Where and when did we go wrong as a nation?
I think this is a question for all of us to answer. I think in answering that question, I will also join it together with the question of whether the military helped in destroying this country. It depends on where you are coming from. I as a retired military personnel, I will certainly say no, the military has not destroyed this country in whatever way. The military fought to keep this country together and you could see during the military regime, the infrastructure that the military put in place as much as possible they tried to give a direction of nationalism so that we all see Nigeria as our country.
Now the question of where we go wrong, is a difficult one to answer. One, before the discovery of oil agriculture was the mainstay and revenue earner for this country. Fortunately or unfortunately, we discovered oil and forgot agriculture. I think that’s one wrong thing we have done. Now, after the military handed over, instead of talking for Nigeria, you find that any Nigerian when he speaks, he speaks for himself and his village. Second, he speaks either for his local government. Third, he speaks for his state. Hardly will someone wakes up and starts talking for Nigeria. I think that again is a mistake. As a country, we need to talk for the country, for its unity and of course to be able to do that, there must be equity and justice so that everybody is carried along, so that everybody knows he is part and parcel of this country.
When the military handed over, is this what we expected Nigeria to be as a country?
My answer to this question will be no. We expect a more united country, where our leaders’ concern will be for the welfare of the people and the progress of the nation. We expected that there shouldn’t be any bitterness in politics because whether you are in opposition or you are in government, you are serving the people. You in government legislate and provide governance; and you in the opposition, you checkmate the government to ensure that they do the right thing and implement developmental projects that will impact on the country.
Now, what do we find? We find out that now due to one reason or the other, we will find that there are a lot of agitations from the state for one thing or the other. They give state more relevance than the federal unity of the country. Yes, people are saying that some are being left out of the scheme of things, if this is true then the central government should look into these issues so that there will be equity and justice.
What will be your appeal to Nigerians and government?
My appeal to all is one, to keep peace and maintain peace because without peace we don’t have a country; we won’t have way of going to look for our daily bread. Without peace, you can’t have school, you can’t educate your offsprings. So, my first appeal is to please let’s leave in peace with one another.
Secondly, my appeal also goes to the government whether federal or state. Let them ensure there is peace, equity and justice where every citizen of the country and the state will be given the equal right to be part and parcel of the union.
How do you see the agitations for secession by some parts of Nigeria after the experience of the civil war?
I think the perception of being excluded from the scheme of things fuels the urge to exit where you feel you are not needed. The people who are the brain behind this secessionist movements may have been left out of the equation. Rightly or wrongly, this is what they feel and thought that the best way is to opt out. How do we stop this? There must be equity and justice and there also must be an effort to carry everybody along in the governance, provision of infrastructure, and in appointment into various offices. I think if this is done, we will be able to curb the agitations.
What will you say about Nigeria’s rising debt profile?
About our debt, the man who is wearing the shoe knows where it pinches him. But certainly the debts are cause for concern. Let’s pray that whatever loan we go and get is utilised for the project that is being assigned for.
Looking at the history of military rules especially in Africa, It is not always easy for the military to hand over to the civilians. But in a record time, you handed over; are you satisfied by your action?
To answer your question, yes I’m satisfied we did the right thing in handing over to the democratically-elected government. When I took over, I kept saying that Nigeria was on the verge of precipice. The politicans were against the military; get out and let’s have a democracy. The military was the victim of itself where professionalism in the Army was being eroded and discipline was also being eroded. And the military as at that time, instead of talking for Nigeria we started talking for our state and our religion and this is a very serious issue when politics started penetrating into the military. We tried as much as possible to make sure that we can restore the unity of the country and to bring back professionalism in the military.
Were you pressurised to handover to a democratically-elected government?
I wouldn’t say I was pressurised; on the contrary, the people were asking me to prolong my stay because at the first time I said we are going to handover, nobody believed what we are doing. But when they realised that we were leaving, it was then they saw that we meant business, they now came and they were asking why don’t you prolong your stay so that we can now be part of the incoming democracy in the country. So, we were not pressurised beside the normal agitation by the various groups asking the military to go.
Will you say your decision to hand over to a democratically elected government is worth the sacrifice?
Indeed, it is because for the last 23 years we have democracy and now even Nigeria is been asked to safeguard the democracy because recently, I have seen the era of coups which is gradually coming back into West Africa and Africa. Because Nigerian democracy has been growing from strength to strength, Nigeria is being asked now to be the watchdog of democracy. So we are fulfilled in the sense that we handed over democracy and is growing in the country.
Of course, some would say this is not the democracy we want but again, nation building is a continuous process and I believe as we go on our politics will change. I want to believe that our electorate are now better informed and I pray and I hope in the next election to come, they will be able to exercise their rights and protect same. So in all, I think democracy in Nigeria is on.
