In this interview held on February 26,2021, popular cleric and social crusader, Reverend Father George Ehusani, spoke with Dayo Omoogun of the Interface NewsHub.com on various issues troubling the nation. He tried to x-ray the issues while suggesting ways out of the travails. It is, as usual, an exciting, insightful Father George Ehusani interview. Come savour!
InterfaceNH: These unending cases of abductions, kidnappings and security challenges, what exactly are the enablers and what can we do to come out of this?
Father Ehusani: It is sad, shocking and distressing. We all are living in fear, but I do not think I can even use the word shocking, in the sense that it is not completely unexpected, at least not for me unfortunately. They say if you do not change your course, you will end where you are headed, that is, if I decide to go to the Mechanic Village now, and I face Garki direction, I will never end up in Mechanic Village, at least not the Mechanic Village in Abuja, maybe another one elsewhere. If you do not change your course you will end up where you are headed. For many decades we have been heading towards what we are seeing now, we have been sowing the wind, and now it is time to harvest the whirlwind. We have neglected humanity, our leaders have thrown common sense to the wind, and have thought that you can build a feudalist society in the 21st century, in an age of globalization, in an age of radio and television, where even the Fulani in the bush has a radio and is hearing the news, or can see what the child of the big man is enjoying in Dubai, London and Washington. A few years ago, it was not possible for a poor person in Igarra (Edo State) to see what the Ooni of Ife (Osun State) was enjoying. It was not possible for him to see what the palace of the Emir of Zazzau looks like. It was not possible to see the mansion in Minna. However, today, the little child in Ibillo, can see on his phone, what the White House looks like. The kind of bulletproof car that President Joe Biden is using. He can read about the billions that is voted for nomadic education.
Therefore, whereas it was possible to operate a feudal system a few years ago, where the poor cannot see how they were being cheated, today, it is not possible. Society has been so transformed by technology that the poor people being oppressed can see exactly where they should be that they are not. Now what does that create? It creates a hunger, a thirst for the things that are not available to them. So the Fulani (herdsman) is not satisfied with just staying in the bush, he too wants to ride a car. He wants to stay in a nice house. If you listen to some of the videos that they are getting from these guys, they are saying, unlike the previous ones saying “Boko Haram” (book is sin), “we are not educated. We want to be educated, we would like to have this, you promised us this but we are not seeing it.”
Interface NH: So you believe leadership failure is at the root of this crisis?
Father Ehusani: So number one cause of all this is failure of leadership and neglect of the society. A succession of punitive overlords that pretended to be leaders. Meaning that over the decades, we have had people whose families, on account that they have been in office for a time, or been top military officers, have left poverty behind. Most of those people have their children overseas… on Nigeria’s resources. However, the people whom they were supposed to be leaders over, end up 10 times poorer than they were. I mean, if the people you say you are leading, by one means or the other, and 10 years after your own life is transformed so much that you have a house in London, and Dubai, but the people you are leading, are so poor they are poorer than their parents, how do you reconcile that? Most poor people today are poorer than their parents. You have people in this country whose parents have/ had 3 bed-room houses in the village, they may not be lavish kind, but some of the children of those people are hanging around the slums in the cities now in threes and fours per room in thatch houses, where there are no toilets. Therefore, they are lot poorer than their parents, which should not be. So what has happened is that the leaders have shortchanged their people, we have leaders that don’t recognize that they say “a society grows when leaders plant trees under whose shade they know they will never stay”. It is only such societies that grow, when leaders plant Iroko trees, and Bamboo trees, that will take a 100 years to mature and create shade. But our own, the punitive overlords we have had, are planting pawpaw and banana, which they will harvest within the life time of their administration. But you see, if you plant banana or pawpaw, in 4-5 years it’s gone. It has exhausted its lifespan. It is the curse of Nigeria that a leader is not ashamed to go to a village and launch a borehole, a borehole in this 21st century! Leaders are not ashamed to call the press to give out 100 motorcycles as mass transit? In an age when we have bullet trains? In this country leaders are giving out soft loans for motorcycles, and call it mass transit, for young people to go and kill themselves. That is our own economic empowerment. Our leaders are not ashamed, after sending their children abroad with millions; they would not be ashamed to give out 5,000-20,000 Naira, as economic empowerment, what empowerment? However, if he falls ill today he would spend a whole lot more than that money.
Therefore, leaders have been our problems in Nigeria, at all levels they have largely been disasters. In addition, our leadership recruitment process is to be blamed for large measure of it, because when the British came, they needed scoundrels as it were, that is people who were prepared to sell their mothers. The people who stood up to the British, were exiled to the Caribbeans, the Oba of Benin was removed, King Jaja of Opobo, the people who could stand for what is right and for their people, were removed, then they installed in their place scoundrels. Now that legacy has continued until today, and I say that there’s a link between today’s failed leadership and the kind of punitive overlords that sustained slavery for over 400 years. This is what I mean by leadership recruitment process, that one of the Kennedys never became a President of the United States of America because while in high school, he took his girlfriend out and she drowned and he didn’t risk his life to save her. Americans said they could not put him in-charge of their country. What are the antecedents of the people running our affairs, do we even care? Someone just comes along, he’s a moneybag, and we’re already ready to vote him in. Once upon a time a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, said in the parliament, “all my colleagues are crooks, we have criminal records on a lot of our leaders.” After saying this that was the last time he saw the seat of parliament.
InterfaceNH: What you’re saying now, does it not lend credence to criminality?
Father Ehusani: You know, I have been shouting that we would soon have to deal with the revenge of the poor, that’s why I say it is sad and distressing but I’m not shocked. It is known everywhere that when you oppress a people for a long time, after sometime they fight back. So that explains what is happening in part (but) does that justify it? Absolutely not. How do you tell me that a country that is the largest in Africa, and are also tipped to be the largest economy, how can such country not be able to fight some bandits? Instead, a number of the weapons they are finding with them can be traced to the military or the police, is that not a failure of leadership? Leadership failures manifest at various levels, part of it is that there is no discipline among military. When Jonathan was President, did he not confess that there were Boko Haram infiltrators in his cabinet? It is known that the main reason why we still have not overcome this banditry and terrorism because we have people in high places who are sympathizers with them.
InterfaceNH: Knowing that there are people in high places who are involved in the terrorism of our people, what do you think is the way forward?
Father Ehusani: Look, I cannot confirm, but there are stories upon stories of attempts that have been made in the past to crush this insurgency,that may have succeeded in crushing these people, but before you know it, people within the system leak whatever vital information and they get out of sight. See, at every level there are conspirators, like people have said, there are people in power, who are gaining from this thing, who are making a killing from our present insecurity, blood money! And they’re making it in billions, well connected people making billions from this. Such people should be reminded that they are making blood money, and that the blood of the innocent will be on their heads. So I’m definitely not justifying criminality, I am blaming the leadership for everything. It is a terrible kind of leadership that has landed us where we are, and that has still kept us where we are. Recently, coalitions of civil society groups came out and said if you cannot secure the country, resign! See when people don’t have credibility, or antecedents that qualifies them for the positions they occupy, then they become problems in those positions.
In all the discussions you have been hearing about insecurity in the country, did you ever hear about a chairman of a local government. I am told that local governments are almost non-existent in most of those northern states. Normally, the first security chief is the local government chairman, and all these so-called un-governed places in the north belong to local government areas. Have you ever heard a local government chairman in all of this discussion? No! We have run our country so badly that no one is even talking about that at all, the guy is most probably not disturbed, as he is absolved of all concern.
InterfaceNH: After all the pressure from citizens across the country on the President to remove the former Service Chiefs, they recently got removed or resigned, but in 2 weeks they’re back as ambassadors. What do you think?
Father Ehusani: As far as I’m concerned, it is an insult to Nigeria, because you see, someone may say ambassadors represent the President, but they also represent Nigeria. The countries they’re being sent to have been hearing the news. They’ve been listening to Nigerians complain about how incapable these people are, how Nigerians have given a vote of no-confidence on these people, and then next thing you make them ambassadors! “What’s wrong with Nigerians” they’d say. What experience exactly do people, who have spent their entire lives as soldiers, have, to play that diplomatic role as an ambassador?
InterfaceNH: If you remember, shortly before the Service Chiefs were removed, the Senate actually called them unfit. Now the same Senate comes back and confirms them to take-on another responsibility, a higher one for that matter, what are your thoughts?
Father Ehusani: That shows you that all we do with governance in Nigeria is play politics. All we’re doing is in our own interests, never in the interests of the country. How do you pronounce people as incompetent in the area of their core training, and now put them somewhere they have no experience at all? I hope you know wherever they are being sent to, there are bilateral relationships, trade discussions, etc. that need the best of sound minds to handle. For me it’s a shame, it says something about our recruitment process, because that’s a leadership position. So was this to pacify them for being removed? They said it’s soft landing, what soft-landing? Weren’t they due for retirement? Haven’t they served their term completely? What are you talking about? You have not sent him to go and head the civil defense, or head any body in Nigeria, but as an ambassador? Appointments in Nigeria, is synonymous to putting square pegs in round holes consistently and turning around to complain that things aren’t working well. How can things work well? What is the competence of the people who are heading the various states in Nigeria? What are their antecedents? So what is happening now can have a positive dimension. You see, for us believers, all things turn onto our good and every disappointment is a blessing as Saint Paul says. What is happening today, it’s like things have to get bad, (even) worse before it gets better and now everybody is crying, everybody is hurting, so even those who were gloating over others are hurting. So it is going to get to a stage, I hope, where we recognize that this is not how to run a country, and that even those benefitting from the present convoluted arrangements will recognize that this is not how to run a country. By the time our leaders can’t go to their villages anymore or cant move around even in their hometowns alone, is that a life? When Jerry Rawlings was President of Ghana he could move around Accra on Motorcycle at any time and he was being hailed all over, is that not life? The point is that leadership is about influence, they say it is not what you have (designation) on your door that makes you a leader, it is not the title you have, it is the people who are following you. We have too many people in office, who even the next day after leaving office will be booed. Is it not a governor who recently left office that was picked up few days ago? What kind of life is that? That you have run a state for 8 years and the people of that state are watching as if it is drama that someone who used to move with a convoy is now being booed and put in a vehicle and is being humiliated by the same state he just left.
Interface NH: We have a situation where Fr. Matthew Hassan Kukah spoke in December and the following day, the Presidency responded angrily. Now Sheikh Gumi has been saying all kinds of illogical things and the presidency has not responded. In a related development the same military who have been finding it hard to deal with the crisis in the north is quick to start different operations and ‘dances’ in the South- East and as we speak one of the governors there has invited the military to do all sorts of things in the South East. Should this dichotomy arise?
Fr Ehusani: If you had watched my last video you would have seen where I said ‘we are all hurting’ and I said this problem cannot be overcome except with a measure of justice. It is only justice and fairness that will lead us to peace. I also said we need to recognize that it is a problem even if it is a perception. where there is a perception of inequity or injustice, the country will always be on fire. And clearly, a large number of Nigerians are saying that we don’t have fair standards for everybody. That is what Fr. Kukah said. He said that all of us are in Nigeria but some are being treated like first class citizens but he was shouted down, meanwhile that is exactly what is happening. There is an allegation that there is an Oba that was killed in Ondo state by herdsmen and till now there has not been a word from the Presidency. But cows were killed and people were summoned to Abuja though i don’t know how true that is. They say, impression is half of reality, so when there is an impression that same standards are not applied to everybody, that some are like sacred cows and that the presidency is acting in the direct opposite of what he said when he came in that he is for everybody and for nobody, the people are going to be restive. From appointments that are skewed, to your reaction when there is violence, the people are going to be unsatisfied.
How many people have the IPOB killed or kidnapped? If you can send military helicopters to hover over and strike people who have been harmless, then why can’t these same military helicopters be used to go into the bushes and rescue people? People are feeling that same standards are not applied, that impression is not good to be sustained for a long time, because people are getting angry. Without justice, there can be no hope for peace. I hope that the fires burning around in this country can finally bring us to the round table. The terms and conditions that united us in 1960 are no longer good enough. We have seen so many problems with our constitutions.
InterfaceNH: Fr. don’t you feel that if this government could find the will to revisit the 2014 CONFAB and implement its resolutions that it will be sufficient for now?
FR.Ehusani: Actually, too many things have happened between 2014 and now that you may still need an updating of the conference. I am about to work on a project part of which is to revisit those issues. I am also in the constitution review committee of National Consultative forum and the goal is to get a new constitution. A brand new constitution and if the government will not do it, the people must begin the process. Let it go from ground up, and when we finish, we will present it for Nigerians to debate and call for the assembly to accept it. We are taking that approach. I’m also involved in one here where we will revive all the previous National conferences and pick issues that are low hanging fruits that can be easily agreed upon. A lot is beginning to happen because so many people can see that this present arrangement is skewed and will not take us home. Beginning from insecurity, we can no longer run away from state/community police.
InterfaceNH: Don’t you think that giving governors, who already have too much power, control over the police will lead to a misuse of this power?
Fr. Ehusani: Are we hoping to remain with these kind of leaders forever? God forbid. We should be aiming at better quality leadership not these kind of people running our affairs. Whether you like it or not, when they didn’t have state police, didn’t they raise their thugs? All these people who became militants and bandits including those in the north were private armies for politicians. When you’re talking about building a constitution, we’re not looking at today, we are hoping we can have better quality leaders. Did we not copy our democracy from America? Don’t they have community police? Was Trump able to use the police to thwart the constitution? No. that’s what we should be aiming at. We should not be looking at the kind of people we have in power today. One police force cannot police the entire nation. Let’s take for instance, Edo state. If you have an Edo state police and you have an Akoko-Edo community police, it will be people that arom that area that are the policemen. They will be able to pick upon what’s happening. They grew up with those boys, so they know them. Now you bring someone from Maiduguri to police in Akoko-edo, he didn’t speak their language, he doesn’t know who is who, therefore it’s a problem.
InterfaceNH: Father, in summary what advice do you have for us to come out of this on various levels?
Fr Ehusani: At this point we need every Nigerian who has a stake to come together. I want to emphasize this because a lot of these people don’t have a stake, they have their passports ready and can move at any time, they have houses elsewhere. So as for us who don’t have a house outside Nigeria, or have families outside Nigeria, we must collect ourselves together, because we are the ones who really have a stake in this country so we must band together in spite of our differences and try to find some consensus. Then take those issues and push for legislation and for a policy change. For example, we have begun to understand that this thing about “my turn, my turn” this federal character, it’s not working for us. Yes we need fairness in appointments and the like but let’s look for quality! Look, if Nigeria were to be well run, it won’t matter if the head of all the corporations are from Katsina. It won’t really matter as long as they are all governing well. Right now in Nigeria, our leaders are neither competent nor are the appointments fair, so it’s a case of double jeopardy. Who cared that Kennedy Bush, and George Bush were brothers, they were both Governors, who cared? Because the country is run by law. The fact that you’re governor does not permit you to appoint all your villagers, they look at competence! I look forward to Nigerians agreeing on some of those basics, that look, we are in a knowledge economy. It is no longer patronage, patronage will not lead us anywhere. How come Dangote knows how to run his company, gets an MBA holder from India, gets an Igbo man to this department, another to that? How come Nigerians don’t care who treats them when they are sick, instead they just ask for the best doctor, not where he is from, because their life depends on it. Why can’t we reason that way that our lives depend on it. Because if we do it, then all of us will agree that where we come from do not really matter, it is who will do a better job that will matter. We need to open the eyes of people to see this, so that in the next few years, we will see the end of this “it is our turn, it is our turn something”. But before that time comes, what has happened with the present government is so bad. Nepotism has eaten badly into our governance, I can’t blame the Igbos who are saying that the next leader should come from their side, because the level of nepotism in this country is terrible. So how do we get out? We need to promote justice and fairness in every direction. We need to listen to the cries of the people. I hope you know that by simply appointing an Igbo man as the chief of Defense Staff, or the EFCC would have helped. Adjustments must be made, we shouldn’t have a situation where a department is reserved for a part of the country. When someone recently raised the issue that the EFCC is cued only for the North, another raised a defense and said the ICPC is also left to the South, and I’m asking why all that? Why can’t we look for the most competent men in these areas, why are we reserving positions for parts of the country. So, justice, fairness and reparation are the key words, in order to calm nerves, then we should forget about white elephant projects, take those monies and source employment for the masses, not by giving out 5,000, but by giving out actual jobs.
People are angry and justifiably so. Do an audit of people who have stolen our money, recover some of it and use for projects for the poor. I am hearing that there are people who have 10-20 houses in Abuja, are they entitled to that? Do they have ten heads? Why would one person have 10 houses in Abuja, when there are young graduates who cannot get a room for themselves. A leadership needs to come in, to calm nerves, then we can move forward. We also need a leader who addresses the nation almost on a daily basis, we do not want a President that does not talk to us.
The situation in the country today requires a very competent president, and I doubt that the present person there has such competence, he does not even look like he has it together or what it takes to get us out of this situation. And the kind of people around have shown us that they cannot make up for his lapses.