ADEGBUYI: Buhari Must Be Wary Of Past Leaders

What’s your take on the perception that retired generals might be working their ways into influential reckoning of the Buhari-led administration?

AT the moment, there is hardly any concrete evidence to support that kind of allegation. However, one must quickly point out that those who brought the country to this sorry pass should be kept at arms length in the change we desperately need. Seeking to pass an examination by seeking assistance from people who failed the examination in the past can’t amount to any change.
Some are raising the fears that some of the President’s former colleague in the military may have a strong hold on him and consequently persuaded him in their desired direction. Do you see Buhari as someone that might be so influenced?

Buhari is not somebody that can be influenced when the issues at stake are integrity, probity and accountability in governance. He’s expressionless in disposition but firm in conduct and determination, simple courtesies accorded past heads of states should not be misconstrued as keeping alive esprit de corps, particularly if the people involved had not lived above boards in the past. Nigerians are watching and Buhari is fully aware of the raison d’etre of his mandate.

But then, some of Buhari’s steps are being perceived as gradual return to despotism. Are there any bases for this fear?

Absolutely no basis for anybody to be apprehensive of return to despotism. This is a democracy underpinned by the rule of law and constitutionalism. People who don’t dip their hands into the exchequer have nothing to fear, as you know, democracy has been given a bad name in this part of the law because impunity had been the old order, now that normalcy are about to return, lawlessness is frowned against, probity and accountability are being pursued, people with predisposition to lawlessness and impunity are understandably apprehensive and are crying wolf of despotism where none exists.

Has anybody being denied of his right pursuant to the war against corruption?

The days of the locusts are over and Nigerians are fully supportive.In the same light, respected individuals in the mould of Bishop Matthew Kukah and Prof Ben Nwabueze, people who should know, pointed to probing of past administration, as well as, absence of Federal Executive Council (FEC) as indication of a totalitarian regime? What do you have to say to this?

I have the greatest respect for the erudite Professor Nwabueze, I however find it difficult to agree with him on this issue for the simple reason that he did not back up his claim with any law. Yes, it’s mandatory for the President to constitute his cabinet; the constitution does not provide for a time line or deadline. The accusation of totalitarianism is therefore non sequitur. Why is so much hue and cry about appointment of ministers? Aren’t they just political heads of various ministries? Is governance suffering by the simple reason of absence of ministers? The answer is no! I say this with due respect to those who do not share this view.

The self-constituted National Peace Committed consisting of eminent Nigerians should be disbanded forthwith if the views publicly expressed by Bishop Kukah represent their collective views. They have descended to the arena and become openly partisan. To campaign against the all-important war against corruption by the simple reason of concession of defeat is asinine and totally unacceptable. Did former President Goodluck Jonathan win the election? When did democracy become subject to the mercy of a contestant in an election?