By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News
A coordinator of popular group, Jonathan Shall Rule Again, USA, Ralph Odua, speaks on Nigeria politics, general election and what he thinks about General Muhammadu Buhari, in this interview with NAIJA CENTER NEWS.
Below is the excerpt:
Tell us a little about yourself
I am a publisher. I am a teacher. I am a journalist. I publish NigeriaPolitico.com, an online newspaper. When I lived in Nigeria, I published the community newspaper known as EsanNow. I currently work with New York City as a public school teacher. I am also a PhD student of Homeland Security of Walden University. I did my bachelor’s at the then Bendel State Univiersity, Abraka campus. I did my Master’s degree in Special Education at Grand Canyon University in Arizona. Also I’m the coordinator Jonathan Shall Rule Again, USA.
Most people believe you are very controversial in your utterances, do they think wrong?
In an environment of lies, truth is controversial.
What’s your take on Nigeria politics, assessing it from religion and region?
Nigeria has been dominated by Hausa Fulani for many years, when you have southern president like Obasanjo, its their proxy. They brought Obasanjo to stop Ekwemen, Ekwemen was the leading PDP candidate. Nigeria is witnessing a silent revolution engineered by Jonathan. The status quo is resisting change.
The street in the north want sharia, they trust and believe Buhari will give them sharia. SE, SW is zoned out of Nigerian presidency by those in the north who believe its their birth right to rule Nigeria. Jonathan became president by luck.
Talking about Change, Nigerians are yawning for one, they believe Jonathan has not brought the desired change, do you think another 4 years will change this?
It depends on what they call desired changed. Sector by sector, Jonathan has transformed Nigeria more than any other president in the history of Nigeria. Name it: Education, Roads, Railway, Agriculture, Health, there are visuals to back this up, not mere talk.
I hear his corrupt opponents saying he did not fight corruption. If you hate corruption, why not give your loot back to the people, why wait for Jonathan to tell you to do the right thing Tinubu was described as the most corrupt politician in Nigeria by Ribadu, he even said in international dimension, Obasanjo and Atiku stole so much that they built their own multi-billionaire universities. Buhari PTF was indicted for N25 billion. You surround yourself with the most corrupt politicians in Nigeria and talk about anti-corruption? What moral right has Buhari to talk about corruption, if he knowingly contested presidential elections in the past without the minimum qualification. He is a fraud, a criminal and should be in jail. Jega should resign.
You do not fight corruption by force, by decree. It took more than 50 years for Buhari and other abovr the law military mafia and Hausa/Fulanis to destroy the country, it will take about 50 years to fix it. ATM machine has done more to reduce armed robbery than firing squad. That is how to fight corruption, not selective jailing or punishment of enemies. You use technology and free and fair election to fight corruption. It must be gradual, the other option is revolution. Revolution always fail, check with countries that have witnessed revolution recently Libya, Egypt, Tunusia, where were they when Nigeria was declared as the fastest growing economy.
You sound as if you have so much hatred or dislike for GMB or is this a regional or political issue?
This is one of the complexity in Nigeria, when you criticize what is wrong, you are a hater. He is a leading presidential candidate, election is a month from now, criticizing him is not hate. I was his supporter. I did not force Buhari to say “An attack on Boko Haram, is attack on North.” I did not force him to say:” I support sharia for all Nigeria.” Nigeria is a diverse state operating a secular constitution. Buhari is insensitive to our diversity. In the north he says do not vote for a christian and southerners, in Bayelsa state he is preaching one Nigeria, we must expose deceit.
I will like to talk a little more on anti corruption. What we need is corruption prevention, if you tempt Americans with money they will steal also. We focus too much on the president instead of national assembly who is suppose to do the oversight. Its support to be a system of checks and balance. The Judicial and legislative arms have failed us on corruption. Free and fair elections will reduce corruption, its like ATM machine to armed robbery. We should spend our energy advocating for free and fair election, as a strategy to fight corruption.
Don’t you think your political affiliation is affecting your attack on Buhari?
What affiliation are you talking about?
You are a PDP member.
I’m not a pdp member. I’m a volunteer for Jonathan through Jonathan shall rule again(JOSLA). Im the USA coordinator. My difference with Buhari came first, before my criticism of Buhari not attack. Criticism is different from attack. I started criticizing Buhari before I joined JOSLA. If its affecting my criticism of Buhari, well I have no control over that. Its natural, however truth is truth. You cannot change truth, you cannot manupulate trute.
Who do you think will win February 14 election?
Which election do you want me to predict. The free and fair election or the election where people are threatened with death and slitting of throat and burning vehicles? I’m a realist, I’ll make 2 predictions for 2 scenerios. 1. Free and fair election, Jonathan wins . Rigged elections: Buhari wins.
What message do you have for Nigerians with different views?
They should play politics without bitterness as advocated by Alhaji Waziri Ibrihim of Great Nigeria Peoples Party(GNPP) of second republic.
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North Believes Buhari will give them Sharia - JOSLA coordinator, Ralph Odua
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Thank you for dropping your response, there are other interesting news on the page too