Alhaji Tanko Yakassai is an elder statesman and one of the founding fathers of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF). The firebrand politician in this interview with Adeleke Adesanya, among other issues of national importance, says Nigerians complaining about the age of the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have no point, arguing that age should not be a barrier to the former governor of Lagos State and any other Nigerian aspiring to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. Yakassai also advanced reasons why power should shift to the South next year and speaks more on other issues: Excerpts.
Despite Nigerians being ruled by democratically elected leaders in the past 22 years, things appear not to be getting better. What do you think is wrong with the system?
A lot of things are behind this. Let me tell you, there is more to democracy than getting a government through a ballot box. It consists of electing the right calibre of people. When we returned to democracy in 1999, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was elected president. You cannot change the mantra of the military man. A person who joined the military at age 18 right up to his maturity, his psyche, attitude, and way of life are by and large military. He could be elected by democratic process, but he can’t be a democrat. To be a democrat, there are certain attributes one must possess. For example, every true democrat respects the rule of law. We were all in this country when then president Obasanjo, because of personal disagreement with then governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, refused to release revenue due to local governments in the state for the entire eight-year two-term tenures. It was Yar’adua, when he was elected, that authorised the payment of the federal allocations due to Lagos councils. No democrat in the whole world would behave like that. Another example is the detention of Sambo Dasuki by the present President Buhari. He, too, was elected on a democratic platform, but because of his military psyche and mantra, all the courts that Dasuki went for redress ruled in his favour to be released on bail, including the ECOWAS Court, but Buhari refused. He only released Dasuki when the media, particularly from the South, were complaining over Sowore whom he had also detained.
So, actually, Dasuki benefited from the release of that young journalist (Sowore), not because Buhari decided to respect the various courts. Obasanjo and Buhari were elected on democratic platforms but that did not change their mind sets. Being elected doesn’t automatically make you a democrat.
President Muhammadu Buhari recently reiterated his commitment to combating insecurity in the country and this appears to have been generating reactions from Nigerians. What is your view on this?
I pay he succeeds at it as he has said. But you too judge that statement. Why didn’t he crush the terrorists in the last six years? He had every reason to deal with insecurity successfully since he assumed the office as the President of this country, and I wonder what has kept him this long. If it is now that he feels the right time to destroy the bandits and terrorists to keep the country totally safe, that is good. Like I said earlier, I pray he will succeed at it.
You are one Northern politician who has been strongly advocating for Presidency to shift to the South. Why this?
How can it be that it is always we the Northerners that will rule? There is no justice in this matter. We rule, they (South) rules; that is justice.
Even though we didn’t do much in all the years that the Northerners ruled, what will we say to the people? What will we show to the citizens of Nigeria that they benefited or will benefit for them to give us their votes?
In these six to seven years, what have we done? What achievement have we accomplished that helped in the development of the country, its economy or any other development that helps the people? What major achievement do we have that we can use in order to call upon all other Nigerians to give us their votes? Because of that, when Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure is over, the North should stop. He (Buhari) is finishing his eight-year tenure, and how can another Northerner contest and also go for another eight years, since each term is four years and it’s allowed to run twice? Honestly, this is not justice.
Do you have preference for any particular part of the South to take the Presidency in 2023?
As far as I am concerned, it can be any region in the South. All I care for is that power should go back to the South. I don’t want it retained in the North as some people have been calling for. The country is not meant for the North alone.
Media reports say you are backing former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on his presidential ambition. How true is this, and has this made you a member of APC?
I have been saying this to many journalists, I don’t want to join any political party, but I can support a candidate of my choice. I have said it way back in 1951 that I will not be a party member, but I will support a candidate of my choice.
On my support for Tinubu, I have said this before. He came to visit me but actually, I have two aspirants that I have marked right from the beginning, and I made a vow that any one of them who came to ask for my support first is the person I would support. Tinubu was the first person that came. So, this has made me to decide to support him. And when he came to visit me, he requested for my support.
Some Nigerians have said any politician above 60 years should not be allowed to rule the country again. What do you make of this, especially concerning Tinubu?
As far as I am concerned, age will not be a barrier for Tinubu or any other aspirant for the position of President. The constitution of the country doesn’t say someone may be too old to rule the country. If I decide to run for president at 96 years of age, I have the right. Competency is not about age. What I am concerned about is that whoever will be the next president from anywhere in the south must be competent and able to turn things around for good for the citizens. Age is not a factor here, as much as I am concerned.
Do you think a youth should be given a chance to rule the nation this time?
I am yet to see any youth coming out to contest for president. If there is any that is competent, let him or her come out. It is his or her right as embedded in the constitution. But to be sincere with you, I have not seen any youth that wants to succeed Buhari in 2023. And if there is anyone, let him come out and let the citizens verify and vote for him based on their decision and perception.
Recently, Afenifere announced its plan to fly a new political party ahead of the 2023 general elections. Do you see this being possible with any good result?
I heard Adebanjo saying Afenifere will come out with fresh political party ahead of the coming general elections in 2023. I see this as what is not possible because there is no time again. You cannot start a new political party at this eleventh hour and succeed. The timing is not right.
Are you saying a new political party cannot help the Nigerian situation?
To be sincere with you, I don’t see any option for Nigerians in 2023 other than APC and PDP. We have been hearing various political parties parading themselves, but I don’t see any seriousness in them. Ask yourself, how many political offices have they won in recent times? I don’t see them as serious parties that Nigerians need. They need to step up to challenge APC and PDP. Nigerians need to have options, and this will make every party to be serious and be faithful to the citizens on delivering their promises.
What do you think the Buhari’s successor should focus on?
There are multiple problems in this country — the issue of poverty is still there, unemployment is still there, insecurity is still there. Whoever that succeeds Buhari should know that he is coming to do a serious work. That is why I will urge the voters to choose without bias. Nigeria needs to turn better and will only happen with good leaders in office. Several problems are there to be fixed for whoever that becomes the next president. Economy is another thing on its own. We need to get all these rights, and this will happen when we have the right person with good knowledge needed.
On the umpire, INEC, what are your expectations of them, ahead of the coming elections?
The current INEC leadership is trying its best, but more is needed. We all know Nigerians when it comes to elections, but the umpire must employ every needed avenue to ensure free and fair election is delivered. They should try to have early preparations to avoid some unwanted delays. I believe they will be better in 2023.
I want your advice for Nigerians at large as the general elections approach?
I want Nigerians to see the contestants’ programmes, their credentials and see if they are competent and deserve to be elected before they go to the polls to vote for them. They should make a difference this time round to turn the country around for good.