APC Chieftain and Elder Statesman , Engineer (Dr.) Kailani Muhammad is the Director-General of Confederation of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) Support Groups .He was in the forefront of northerners who rooted for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and mobilised grassroots support based via a group he personally formed under aegis of Tinubu Shettima Network (TSN). The Publisher of Liberator Newspapers and former NNPC Staff speaks with some group of journalists on issues that have hindered the Growth and development,despite attaining independence as sovereign country from 1960 till date .
However ,he expressed optimism about the capacity and competence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to use his vast knowledge in business and governance to diversify the economy from an oil based mono economy to agricultural based for purposes of encouraging industrial development; increasing employment, producing enough food , reducing poverty and creating a sustainable growth and development across all sectors of the economy .
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Nigeria will be 63 come October 1,2023, we have a new government in place , as an APC Chieftain who fought hard for victory of President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima,how would you describe our progress so far as a Nation?
So far so good ,when the journey started in the sixties, ask yourself how many roads do we have in Nigeria?How many industries? Also ask ,What was the number of police force and army that we had in the sixties ? How many lawyers and how many judges do we have ? How many engineers ,how many universities in those good old days?
It is true that we have not reached our destination ,but we are getting there .For me ,I think there is a serious improvement and development .The only thing that is the bane of this country is corruption ,which we need to fight head-on and vigourously . Let me talk about from 1960 after independence ,those our grand fathers did their best,the great Zik of Africa ,the Awolowos ,the Sarduana of Sokoto ,the Makama of Bida and the Tafawa Balewa, I can authoritatively say that what they heard in mind was the country itself and not materialism .
Who do blame for the backward trend of development ?
We blame the military for disruption democratic process .Since 1966 through 1983 after the military took over, it has not been well with us as development was stalled basically, because of corruption. Corruption no doubt destroyed all the stratas of our economy
What is your take on dependence on oil as main stay of the economy?
Honestly,there is no reason why Nigerians should be poor .I don’t want to say that the oil that we got is a curse . There was a time one President said we have money in this country ,but don’t know what to do with it . Instead of those monies that are supposed to go into infrastructural development, concretising institutions and making sure things go well with more industries established, people were just busy sharing money.
What do have to say about the clamour for Biafra Republic and impending threats of secession in South-Eastern region?
The truth is that unless and until we are able as a people to come together and know that this country belong to us, and that we don’t have any other country apart from Nigeria, these issues of secession will continue to rare its ugly head . An American man is will die holding America’s flag , because of patriotism and nationalism .He believes in his country.This is not the case here . All we are concerned about is national cake,once you have an opportunity ,you will just go and steal.Then ,you will be covered by your people and that’s the end.
As DG of support groups of APC ,What do you suggest as the way forward for a sustainable economy?
Agriculture was abandoned.When we were small, I remembered vividly that Nigeria fed the whole of Africa with rice from Niger State and earned foreign exchange as proceeds . Kaduna also produced maize that fed Africa and the whole country . Today ,where is the agriculture ? So, today because of oil, agriculture has been abandoned completely .
Do you see President Tinubu’s doing something proactive to address the issue of agriculture as a drive for Nigeria’s economic renaissance?
We strongly believe that the new Renewed Hope Agenda will revamp the agricultural sector .And from all indications , President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will to do that since, he’s going to continue with anchor borrowers scheme of past administration .Most especially, that he has declared the state of emergency in the agricultural sector .All things being equal ,it will work well for us .So that we will not be dependent on oil as the major source of revenue .We must diversify our economy.
Your advice as a Confederation of APC Support Groups to Nigerians ?
We want Nigerians to know that President Tinubu is a democrat, who fought the military to a stand still. So far, he his only democrat out of all the past and present President .Therefore, he should be given the desired opportunity to deliver Nigeria to the promised land.And on the issue of proceeding to court, Atiku and Obi should forget appealing to the supreme Court as they will be wasting their time and resources. Nigerians and the Tribunal have spoken, the Die is Cast .Period !!!
