Hon. Bitrus Kaze was a two-term member of the House of Representatives. In an interview with the North-Central Bureau Chief, ISAAC SHOBAYO, he speaks on the recently concluded primary election across political parties, defection on the floor of National Assembly, state of opposition parties, among other issues: Excerpts:
What is your take on the controversies trailing the primary elections held by various political parties in the country?
That of the APC is more pronounced. Literally, the APC’s issues are more visible because it is the party in power. A lot has happened in Nigeria’s political landscape that has led many politicians to move into the APC. Therefore, the APC has become like a home for many politicians. When the APC coughs, Nigeria catches a cold. That is why its problems are more pronounced. If the APC is witnessing a lot of struggles simply because it is in power, then one begins to wonder what is happening with the opposition parties. Take the PDP, for example.
It has been in Nigeria’s political landscape longer than the APC. Why has it not been able to gather itself together and provide credible opposition?
The truth is that the way the APC emerged and the way our political situation evolved today is partly because the PDP failed to manage its success well. Even as an opposition party, it has not conducted itself any better. The very atrocities that people are now complaining about in other political parties, with utmost respect, I think began in the PDP and have spread like an infectious disease.
As the party in power, it is usually assumed that the APC should set the standard for others to follow, the primary elections across the nation have revealed the division within the party. What is your feeling concerning this?
In fact, I understand and accept that there are complaints here and there concerning what happened during the APC primaries.
I can even tell you that from my own constituency in Jos, where I come from, there are definitely genuine complaints. But as I said earlier, the APC’s issues are more pronounced because it is the ruling party. It has many prominent politicians within its ranks.
Naturally, whatever happens there will be heard more widely, known more broadly, and exposed more than what happens in other parties. However, if the APC, which is in government, is struggling with these problems, the natural expectation is that opposition parties should be more decent, more orderly, and more democratic. Let me put it this way: opposition parties should conduct themselves in a manner that attracts people, even those leaving the APC, because they would have demonstrated a better understanding of how to manage political success and internal democracy.
As things stand today, with utmost respect, I have admitted that there are complaints within the APC. But I do not know whether the complaints within the APC are on the same scale as those in the opposition parties, or perhaps even less severe. After all, the opposition is where politicians who may wish to leave the APC should find solace. But the opposition parties, especially the PDP, have for a long time been unable to hold themselves together. And if you cannot hold yourself together as an opposition party, how can you provide a credible alternative? That is the situation. Yes, the APC has problems, but unfortunately, I think the problems within the opposition parties are even worse.
How do you view democracy in the light of the crises rocking the opposition parties, is Nigeria moving towards a one-party state?
Democracy does not function solely because of those who are already in leadership positions. Those aspiring to leadership must also conduct themselves in a way that earns the confidence of the people. They must be able to provide alternatives that attract attention, inspire confidence, and convince people that they are capable of governing. Unfortunately, whether in the APC, the ADC, the PDP, or any other party, there are hardly any completely new players in Nigerian politics. The people who crippled the PDP are spread across other parties. Some have joined the APC. Likewise, some of those who contributed to the challenges within the APC were among those who formed it and helped bring it to power. They did not manage success well. And because they do not have a strong track record of managing political systems effectively, the problems they created tend to follow them wherever they go.
So, ensuring that Nigeria operates as a true multi-party democracy is not solely the responsibility of the ruling party. It is also the responsibility of Nigerians, political actors across all parties, and citizens who must ask valid questions of their leaders. One thing I have observed in this country is that we rarely pay attention to the internal workings of political parties. The courts have repeatedly held that internal party affairs remain internal matters over which they generally have limited jurisdiction. However, we cannot ignore the fact that whatever happens inside political parties eventually affects governance and the country as a whole. Therefore, Nigerians ought to be concerned about internal democracy in all parties, not just the APC. Not all of us are politicians. Not all of us belong to political parties. But civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, associations, and religious bodies all have roles to play in advocating for internal democracy within political parties. If the APC is making mistakes, and if the PDP made mistakes while in power, then someone else should rise, put their house in order, and provide a credible alternative. To the extent that there is no credible alternative, you cannot entirely blame the party that everyone seems to be running to because it appears to be the only available platform.
The presidential election in 2027 may be a repeat of the 2023 one in terms of major candidates, does this imply that there are no alternatives to these political figures?
It could suggest that we are not moving forward. It could suggest that there is insufficient political renewal in Nigeria.
But more importantly, it could simply reflect the desperation of some political gladiators. It may be that certain political actors want power at all costs.
With utmost respect, my brother, what is Atiku still running for president for in this country?
Is there nobody he has mentored or groomed to take over from him? Is there nobody who can carry on after him? At some point, one must step aside and allow younger people to emerge. As for Peter Obi, I was sympathetic to the Obidient movement, especially during the 2023 election. If I were an Obidient, I would ask myself this question: considering the experience President Tinubu has, considering that he is a veteran in Nigeria’s political terrain, will it be feasible to take down such an experienced politician in the middle of his first tenure? If I were Peter Obi, I would have approached that question differently rather than moving from one political party to another. Unfortunately, it sends a message of weak political tact. It creates the impression that he is desperate to become president by any means necessary and through any political platform available. It also suggests that he may not fully understand what it takes to unseat an experienced president like Tinubu, who, more than possibly any other president, enjoys the support of a significant number of state governors. He has about 30 governors with him in the APC. Taking down such a person cannot be that easy.
As for Atiku, I have said before that he has expired politically. He should have groomed someone to take over from him, even if it were his son. As for the other aspirants emerging, some may simply be adding to the numbers for now. I do not think they are ready.
What is your assessment of political parties in Nigeria at the moment?
Having only one viable political party is not solely the making of that party. It is also a reflection of the inability of other parties to provide a credible alternative. It is a function of the entire political system. Look at what has happened in the PDP. Look at what is happening in the ADC. How can it be that, knowing fully well you are no longer in government, you still cannot provide fairness internally?
How is it that you are unable to provide internal democracy, one so attractive that it could encourage people to leave the ruling party and join you? Instead, they are busy fighting one another. They are busy destroying one another.
Naturally, those in the ruling party look at that alternative and see an even worse option.
Is that not another way of one-party state in disguise?
It cannot work anywhere in the world for a country like Nigeria to effectively operate as a one-party state. But a one-party reality is not just the fault of the party in power. It is a function of all political parties. It is a function of political stakeholders and citizens alike.