Confab: Our expectations – Brig. Idada-Ikponmwen

By Henry Umoruab

Brig. Gen. Don Idada- Ikponmwen Rtd:

Brigadier General Idada Don Ikponmwen was the  Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army. He is also the leader of a non- partisan group called the Edo Think Group, which membership is drawn from the three senatorial districts of Edo State and presently  a delegate to the on- going National Conference holding in Abuja representing Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers, RANAO Association of Nigeria.

In this interview, he urged his fellow delegates to be patriotic, objective and reasonable; stressing the need to  excuse and reject sentiments based on primordial considerations.

You are one of those representing the Armed Forces and by implication, representing Nigeria. We have seen that the National Conference has become a conference of adjournments, how would you react to the current situation and developments here?

Gen. Ikponmwen

Well, I will tell you very frankly. When you gather 492 people from different backgrounds, different ethnic groups, different religions, different languages to discuss issues some of which are quite sensitive, there will be hot arguments and debates and even quarrels. I think these things are normal but we will overcome them.

The president has already told us that we must rethink Nigeria and reframe, re-organize and reposition Nigeria. It requires new thinking, it requires new sacrifices, it requires new creativity, it requires understanding, give and take. These are the things that will make this country move forward.

By the time we move into committees to discuss the nitty gritty, more people will have time to contribute. Meanwhile, what we are seeing is normal. I want to also say that some of the issues are contentious and therefore, we must proceed on some valid procedural rules. We don’t agree on those rules, we have no pedestal on which to move.

Are you optimistic that  when you reconvene, there will be a final and acceptable decision by delegates on this voting system?

I  pray so. I think that some of us who have gathered here in representative capacity will rethink with the chairman to be able to come out with something reasonable; they are all matured people, reasonable people. I think they will resolve this.  I think so and I pray they do.

You talked about the president’s advice to delegates to rethink Nigeria, but what we are seeing here is that they have divided themselves along ethnic lines, some from the South and some from the North wanting two-third or three-quarter, what do you think of this?

Now, let me tell you, I have told you before that there are many things that will form a man’s inspiration on everything.

Sometimes, we are governed by primordial considerations. We must admit that there are people here who believe that the choice and nominations were lopsided. I am not saying I believe it, but some people are saying so. And maybe, some of these people are saying that the president has positioned everything so that he will have a walkover or whatever he wants.

I want to say that those who are suspicious and feeling sensitive about some of these things are not completely wrong.

I believe that the president has done a wonderful thing for Nigeria, that he has been able to convoke this gathering of Nigerians, coming  across various backgrounds, whether you like it or not, we represent Nigerian interest. Representation is not only by election.

Those of you who know more about the politics and the game of leadership know that at times, people can emerge from election, but there are times you don’t even do election, you will simply say we have picked these people to represent us.

There are times that you go for consensus, for example the meeting that is going on now, we didn’t elect people who will go and represent us there, but we have acquiesced, by not opposing their presence, we have acquiesced their being there and they are therefore deliberate representation of us. In the same way, whether there was election to bring us here or not, some of us went through, we didn’t lobby.

Some of us came here surprised that our names are here, we were chosen by our groups-the Armed Forced Retired Army and Naval Officers. I didn’t know I would be picked,  but they picked me. My friend from labour told me the same thing that he was picked on merit and so there are many other people here. Ethnic nationalities have representations here, traditional institutions have their representations  here, and professional bodies have their representations here.

So I think this body represents Nigeria, whether they were elected or picked by their various sections, they represent Nigeria and it is better than nothing. And the president has told us that we need to reposition this country, that is the cardinal thing. He has done his job. The rest is for us.We are not bound to be dogmatic, saying if the president said it should be three-quarter, we must be bound. No.

Here in this gathering, we have rejected the idea of the chairman appointing committee chairmen. I moved that motion and I argued it, that if the president has chosen the chairman, let the committees choose their leaders.

That accords more with democracy, otherwise we might as well wait and the final report will be written by the presidency and we will be compelled to sign. I believe very strongly that this body is legitimate, that this body can make its own rules and that this body can arrive at decisions some of which may not be the same as what the president has given us.

Against the backdrop of what you said, what message do you have for your colleagues?

To be patriotic,  objective, reasonable and to excuse and reject sentiments based on primordial considerations.

 

Confab: Our expectations – Brig. Idada-Ikponmwen