‘The Political Parties Should Produce Their Manifestoes’

Alhaji Ismail Adetola Lawal Chairman, Managing Director of IAR Nigeria Limited Apapa, Lagos spoke to DEBO OLADIMEJI on the need for a free and fair elections.

WHAT is your take concerning the next elections?

We must be very careful the way we go about this coming elections to avoid the repeat of operation wetie that happened in the South West in the 60s. During the crisis many lives and properties were destroyed. There should be a free and fair elections. We should guide against our utterances and behaviors. The religious leaders are just to minister onto the people. 

What do you want the electorate to do? 

The electorate should not sell their votes. By selling their votes they are selling their integrity. The electorate should be wise enough and cast their votes according to their consciences.

How do we prevent post election violence?

The best way to prevent post election violence is to let the election be free and fair. Don’t prevent people from voting. Don’t steal ballot boxes.  Let them count openly and let everybody sees the results of the elections that is all. 

Are you worried about the poor state of infrastructure in the country?

It is not a question of advising about infrastructure, the fact remains that we Nigerians did not take the institution serious because each political party should have a manifesto.

Let them show us their manifestoes, let us see what they can do in that four years. But when we don’t border, we don’t take them up about their manifestoes. Everybody just say vote for me, that is the problem. From their manifestoes we would have known whether they are going to address the problem of infrastructure or not. You must have done a lot of research before you come out for people to vote for you. 

 What is the solution to the insecurity in the country ?

The insecurity in the country is a product of unemployment and frustrations. Devil finds job for an idle hands. You travel from Abuja to Guso. You see a great number of people they are not doing anything. Or travel from Lagos to Auchi, through Benin you look at those villages, no water, no electricity, no industry. That is the point. Not to talk of the North East. You travel from Yola to Mubi to all those places. What did they have? Lagos alone is not Nigeria…It is a leadership problem. A leader who worth its salt should have been planning. If they had planned very well, we will not find ourselves in this situation. 

Are you saying that our leaders have failed us?

If you have the leadership who can really plan for the people the planning will embrace education, employment, health, general welfare. 

 Nigeria is such a big country. If any thing happens the whole of Africa will be engulfed in economic crisis. Where will the 170 million Nigerians run to? That is why all foreign countries are interested in the stability of Nigeria…

Do you think the developed countries are really interested in the stability of Nigeria?

First of all Nigeria is the biggest market for them. It is a big economy. They cannot just close their eyes for anything to just happen to Nigeria…

Do you see international conspiracy in the fight against Boko Haram?

International conspiracy can be there. You have to provide security for your house so that unauthorized people will not enter. If you allow the international conspiracy to  come in… But if the government is in full control of the country, it can just get rid of any external aggression. External aggression has always been there from time immemorial that is why we have the army, to guide the nation against external aggression.

Why are they not giving us the kind of support the government needs to fight terrorism?

First of all you are to be the architects of your own fortune or misfortune.  America and Britain also have their own national problems to solve. Why can’t we take the proper direction? They feel that the crisis is your internal problem. It is only when it gets out of hand that they can come in or when it is going to affect them. It is a sentimental thing when we say America come this and that. In those days we have very strong army, the best in the world. Do we want to be good externally and be bad internally…