There is need for power rotation in the country – Bucknor-Akerele

Says PDP will take over power in 2023

Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele is a Nigerian politician and a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State under  Governor Bola Tinubu between 1999 and November 2003. In this Interview with Isaac Ngumah. Bucknor-Akerele spoke on power rotation, electoral act bill, insecurity and other national issues. Excepts

 

What Can You Say On Power Rotation To The South Come 2023?

Well of course there should be power rotation in a country like Nigeria where we have diverse ethnic grouping which is only, right there should be power rotation in the different sections of the country.

Some people are saying that power rotation to the south is not constitutional, what is your take?

Well if they say it is not constitutional that I Think it is not an issue the issue is we want a united  Nigeria or do we want a country where one parts feels alienated

On electoral act bill many people have lost confidence in Buhari’s administration, Why?

I too have lost confidence in this administration because I think it was a mistake for Buhari not to sign that electoral act bill it will bring sanity to our electoral process people who are complaining and saying that direct primaries is costly it is not costly because what is costly is the indirect primaries because then candidate go and seek out delegate and pay them and bribe them  to vote for them whereas indirect primaries everybody who is a member of the party and is on the party register as the case may be can vote so where is the expense in that because are going to bribe everybody on the ward register are supposed to be selected few decide of who is going to be candidate or not.

What can you say to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo comment that oil belong to Nigeria Not Niger Delta.

I don’t want to comment on that I Think chief Olusegun Obasanjo is entitled to his opinion, I am entitled to my opinion I believe that the people of the NIGER DELTA have been marginalised they have been treated very badly because the oil, in facts comes from their land, there land have been polluted and they have been given 3%

Some people are saying that the money left by Jonathan at the point of departure on May29, 2015 was not enough to run the country for three weeks, what can you say to these.

that’s absolutely Nonsense the facts are there we know what the economy was like when Jonathan left office and we know what the economy is like today so unfortunately I don’t know how to describe the APC GOVT it is a govt of liar’s they tell too many lies

Some people are saying that the present govt has cleared the mess of the past government in terms of the fight against terrorism what is your take

Well terrorism became worse under this govt at least there was terrorism under Jonathan it was being brought under control but since the APC administration came into power there have been more terrorism than ever before there have been more kidnapping not of ordinary people who are going about their businesses but of innocent school children so many schools are not safe any longer which means we are breeding a whole group children who will not be to be educated because their parents are scared to to send them to school.

What can you say on Labour indefinite strike come January 27

Labour has every right to strike and it all depends on what they are striking for if it is for justice to be done to the people for the workers of the country, I am for their strike.

Some people have alleged that rich people with access to hard drugs and weapons are behind insecurity in Nigeria what cay say to these.

Well if they knew those who are behind weapons and hard drugs in the country then they should be exposed, they keep on saying that they know who is behind terrorism, they are going to expose  them, uptill date today we have not had anybody being exposed I think you know it is time for to stop all these playing to the gallery and start dealing with our problems sincerely

What can you say on the controversy that has trailed in PDP congress in Zamfara state?.

Well you know there have been an apology about what happened in Zamfara state and I believe that the apology should be accepted we should move on from there

what can you say on power Nigeria which is established to solve the problems of unemployment in Nigeria by the president government in power how do you think it is going to solve any problem if we really attacked our problems from the roots cause  the root cause of our problems is the present constitution and we have to revisit that constitution and restructure the country that is when our problem will be solved.

What are the unveiled plan of PDP to win 2023 presidential election?

I cannot unveil plans of PDP to the public because those plans are sacrosanct to the party but

but we know that definitely 2023 PDP Will regain power

What Can You Say On The Achievement Of President Buhari And APC Led Govt Last Year.

I don’t see any achievement of this govt rather than  to bring hunger, poverty and sorrow.

Can you tell us some of the crisis rocking PDP In Lagos State

I have no comment

What Are The Plans And Strategy Of PDP Winning Governorship Election In Lagos State

I have no comment

What Can You Say On The Achievement Of The Present Govt In Lagos State Last Year.

Well I don’t know what are the achievements are ,to be honest with you they claimed to have built many roads I don’t know where the roads are ,I don’t really see what this govt has done what I do know is I will commend them on the on set of covid the government actually lived up to expectations but now things have changed, as you can see the virus is spreading at an alarming rate they are not enforcing the protocols

What Are Your Advice To The Present Govt In Lagos State This New Year

Well they should think more of how they are going to alleviate poverty how they are going to encourage people who are in business to succeed to be able to create more jobs for the youths of lagos state because there are so many youths who are just walking the street with nothing to do and with no income so I believe that alleviating poverty improving the health system improving the condition of our road and above all alleviating poverty.

Can you talk about the security challenges in Lagos state and how the govt can put in some good shape to it.

Well, I think one of the things they have first of all do is to alleviate poverty because ,I think poverty breeds criminality and that is what they should do.

What can you say on those agitating for their own country and what govt of the day do to avert more crisis this year 2022

I cannot blame those who are agitating for their own country because if you are in a country and that country is not actually giving you what a country should give you it should give security, it should give you means of livelihood it will give you means of actually looking after yourself and at your old age and if you are sick then I cannot blame anybody who want to have their own country.

What are the plans of PDP to checkmate their crisis to see that their members do not defect anymore

well I don’t know whether people are defecting people are coming to pdp I don’t see any crisis in PDP Right now at the moment.

What About The Crisis In Osun State?

I think they have been solved

What Can You Say On The State Of The Nation

This was not the nation that we dreamt of at independence this is not a nation that we dreamt about when the military was driven away democratic govt was restarted in the country it is a sad situation but we pray to God that in the forth coming years the new govt that may see the change there will be a light at the end of the turn up.