Jonathan Is A Learner And Needs To Be Assisted – Bafarawa

Two-time governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, is one of the most experienced politicians in Nigeria. He was elected governor in 1999 and re-elected in 2003 on the banner of the APP. He ran for the presidency in 2007 on the plank of the Democratic People’s Party  (DPP) he helped to found.

bafarawaIn an interview with select journalists in his Sokoto residence, shortly after being welcomed into the PDP by President Goodluck Jonathan and other leaders of the party, he shared his thoughts on politics, PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan.

Read excerpts below:

What prompted your defection to the PDP?
Joining PDP was not my decision it was the decision of my people.
In joining PDP, we are looking for a change for the better. I was in the opposition to protest against injustices being done to my people and ensure that justice is done. I was not in the opposition just for the sake of being in the opposition. All I was trying to do was to make sure that things were done the right way because in the constitution of any party, there must be internal democracy.

On whether he has regrets for not joining the ruling party earlier.
Not at all! I have no regrets because I am fighting injustice.  I’m not in politics for the sake of my personal interest. I am in politics to advance the cause of my people positively. When my people saw that there is injustice in the APC, they made up their mind that we should leave and join PDP. It was their decision and I cannot say no to their decision. That is why we found ourselves in the PDP. Therefore, I’m not regretting anything. But now, I have joined PDP and they have seen justice done to me. That’s all I’m looking for — equal treatment. So, I don’t have anything to quarrel about, I am comfortable and I want to work for the party.

His take on the re-election ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.

If he wants to re-contest and the PDP gives him the ticket as the presidential candidate of the party, I will definitely work for him. In fact, whoever emerges as the flag bearer of our party, I will work for the person.

His assessment of President Jonathan’s performance in the last four years.

My assessment of President Jonathan’s performance in office will be different from anybody’s assessment because I was once in office as governor.  Sometimes it is not the leader that is weak but those who are giving him support. If someone had people who are not qualified to help him in the running of affairs, he will not succeed even if he has a great vision. The leadership of our great country is not a one-man show; it is a collective responsibility. So, for anybody in government to succeed, you must have people who are capable and knowledgeable to help you do the job.

So, I don’t assess Jonathan as a failure because he needs to be assisted. Nigeria’s problems are not for one person to tackle; it’s a collective responsibility. That’s why we are now in PDP.

If I could not see him when I was in another party, now as a member of the PDP, I have the right to advise him because his failure is my failure while his success is my success.

Jonathan is still in the process of learning; he had experience as deputy governor, governor and vice president. Being a governor of Bayelsa is different from being the president of the country. Within the last four years, he has gained a lot of experience. If he goes for a second term, I believe he will do better than he did in the last four years.

On how President Jonathan can succeed.
If Mr. President wants to aspire for a second term, I believe he has a vision. His first coming was not as president but as vice president. Therefore, the vision of his government is the vision of his boss. Secondly, as I mentioned earlier, if the party leadership is doing its job as it ought to, everybody will succeed because the manifesto of any political party is the working material that is supposed guide Mr. President or the governors. And who is going to supervise them? It is the party leadership. So, if the president or any governor fails, it is not the person that has failed but the leadership of the party.