We Should All Be Politicians!

When did you first dabble into politics? 

I have always been fascinated with governance and the political process. I first took practical steps towards frontline politics by working in a strategic capacity in the 2011 gubernatorial elections in Benue state. However, my first real foray into seeking elected office was in 2016/2017, roughly 3 years ago.

What are the passions or frustrations that led to that decision?  

I am a people person and sociology is a strong passion of mine. The opportunity to have an official platform to represent and serve my people had a strong pull on me. But of course, frustration also played a constructive part – i.e. like many fellow Nigerians, I believe that there is room for improvement in the country’s political manpower. We are like well-trained young football substitutes watching the first eleven of the team put in rough tackles, the cross bar, miss penalties, some even score own goals. I got eager to contribute so I laced my boots and jumped on the field, so I raised up my hand and volunteered for service.

What was your biggest surprise or discovery about Nigeria’s political scene?

It is hard to point to a singular incident because the political arena is unique and adventurous, full of brand-new experiences. But I can say for certain that I was surprised at how ‘doable and playable’ the political game is. It reminded me of those cold mornings when I was in secondary school in Jos, and you’d have to take a wash with cold water. I recall that it didn’t seem like fun, but you’d often find that the apprehension of the pain of that first splash was so much more dreadful than the actual feeling of the water on the body. It’s similar with politics – it looks more dreadful from a distance than from within.

Is politics really dirty? What are the reasons for your answer? 

Well, I feel this is a harsh generalisation that has been repeated over the years and has now evolved into a stereotype. I’d prefer to say that even though politics can be dirty, so does pretty much every venture man has touched, including religion. The reality is that we live in an imperfect world. The dirt in politics is probably more emphasized because of the high stakes involved – you are talking about a sector whose influence permeates every aspect of society. There is also a lot of good in politics, I have personally seen a few. But yes, I did see a lot of dirt too. It is therefore important for us to shape the perspective objectively, so that people don’t get scared or bullied away from getting involved.

How did you balance your political passion with corporate life? 

It was a natural balance for me. Politics will benefit tremendously from greater involvement and influence from the corporate world. Working in this group under such astute tutelage prepared me well for the journey I went on, especially in terms of organisation, planning, people management, managing finances, interpersonal relations etc. In my campaign, I often remembered and tapped from the experience gained from my work at Transcorp hotels plc.

Is there hope politically for Nigeria? 

The hope has never died. If countries like South Africa and Rwanda survived such devastation and are today thriving nations, then Nigeria, with its wealth of human and mineral resources can surely excel.

Are young people in Nigeria ready to take over power? Why do you think so? 

Sure, but I think the proof should be in the pudding. Eventually, power is assumed through action. I would love to see rhetoric give birth to action here. We need boots on the ground. If young people are ready to take over power then we should continue to get involved and show the passion and heart required. I must say that the signs are encouraging at the moment – we see examples like in my state, Benue, where we produced a 27-year old state assembly member. Plateau has a 33-year old speaker of the state assembly, Oyo’s is 32. I believe that with the momentum generated in 2019, youth participation will increase in 2023.

Tell us the most exciting thing that has happened to you during your political adventures. 

The negotiations were exciting – trying to convince a total stranger to entrust their future and that of their family to you. The taste of gaining that trust and the subsequent love, encouragement and loyalty is priceless. I formed bonds that will stand the test of time.

Tell us the most dangerous thing to have happened to you during your political adventures. 

There were a lot of late-night consultations and travel, which were always dangerous. But there was this particular day that we held a critical stakeholders meeting and some miscreants caught wind of the people that would be in attendance. So, they decided to storm the venue. Most of the aspirants had just left the venue. Nonetheless, they robbed a few people there at gunpoint and began to chase a few of us. By the grace of God, we made it to safety and business continued as usual with consultations the following day.

If you were President, what will be your top three priorities? 

First will be education. It is the bedrock of everything. I recall a famous quote I once read: “destroying any nation does not require the use of atomic bombs or the use of long-range missiles. It only requires lowering the quality of education and allowing cheating in the examinations by the students.” The result is that patients die at the hands of unqualified doctors. Buildings collapse at the hands of such engineers. Money is lost at the hands of such economists & accountants. Humanity dies at the hands of such religious scholars. Justice is lost at the hands of such judges.” The collapse of education is the collapse of the nation.”

I will also take a keen interest in power. I heard someone say jokingly, but very aptly, that even in the Bible it is written that the first thing God said was “let there be light.” It is no secret that power is foundational to our development as a nation.

Thirdly, health: a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. Growing numbers of an unhealthy populace will take its toll on the economy. Conversely, a healthy workforce is a more productive workforce and can help to build the nation’s economy.

To support development in these areas I have mentioned, I will have a deliberate private sector focus, where I will spearhead collaboration between public and private sectors. As a country, we have so much leverage to enjoy from our thriving private sector, from such captains of industry as Tony Elumelu, Aliko Dangote etc. These business leaders have the capacity to steer the ship of this country to our rightful place as a world power.