Dr. Victor Mathew, a cleric and security expert, is the Executive Director, Kingdom Advocacy Network (KAN) as well as former State Secretary, Directorate of Politics and Governance (DPG), the political arm of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos State. Dr Mathew, a past Vice Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ikeja chapter, Lagos, in this interview with EJIKEME OMENAZU, speaks on current national issues. Excerpt:
So far, there seem to be no concrete actions being taken by all tiers of government to promote productivity in the key areas of manufacturing and agriculture. In the circumstances, employment has become a pipe dream and Nigerian youths are left with only internet fraud and other crimes as occupational engagement. What are your views on this?
The economic policies of this present administration are very harsh and so far have not encouraged productivity in the real sector. It is the Real sector that has the capacity take up the large army of our unemployed youths who roam the streets. There has been a serious upsurge in insecurity in the country and this government has remained clueless on how to deal with insecurity. Agriculture, which the youths can engage in, has become a very dangerous enterprise because herdsmen kill and destroy farmlands with impunity. Even the MSMEs sector, where the youths can be self-employed are not properly coordinated to encourage youths participation. So, with unfriendly government policies that are not driving growth of the real sector because of high exchange rate, high cost of doing business, inflation,low purchasing power has contributed negatively to employment crises. Insecurity which is discouraging the youths from being engaged in agriculture and inconsistent economic policies has created a very huge army of unemployed youths which in turn has led to the youths engaging in criminality. Nature does not abhor a vacuum. I do not condone or endorse criminality, but the youths are now engaging in internet fraud and other criminalities as a survival imperative. Too bad our youths are involved in internet fraud which is giving the nation a bad name. The government should be blamed for this anomaly. The government should be more pragmatic and proactive to address issues that are making our youths jobless thereby making them engage in all kinds of criminality and vices like the internet fraud.
With the level of insecurity in form of terrorism, kidnapping and banditry, what is your take on the growing agitation for Nigerian adults to bear arms for self-defence?
I am of the strongest opinion that since the government has failed woefully to protect the people, which is even a constitutional duty of why government exist in the first place, the only solution to the incessant killings, especially in the Middle Belt, can only stop if their respective governors arm the people to defend themselves. Other areas that are security challenged should also be allowed to arm and defend themselves against terrorists. The government is obviously overwhelmed and has failed to respond adequately in ensuring the protection of lives and property. I do not even agree that our military is doing enough, they can do better. Can the military, who cannot deal with herdsmen, defend us against external aggression? The government and National Assembly should devise a framework and enabling legislation that will ensure accountability and control of these arms. It is high time these killings stopped because we cannot continue in this trajectory. Life is sacrosanct and value and premium must be placed on human life in Nigeria. Currently human life has no value in Nigeria. People are massacred and displaced in large numbers and we all go on as if it is normal. I blame the state governors who allow their people to be slaughtered without doing anything. They should, pending when legislation is put in place, seek for ways and back channels to arm their people instead of paying condolence visits.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Christopher Musa, has suggested fencing of Nigerian borders to check terrorist attacks. Considering the nation’s land mass and the huge amount such a project will take, would you say that this is feasible?
It is a good suggestion, but the financial implications will be very huge considering the current revenue status of the government and competing critical areas that needs urgent attention and intervention. Nigeria has a large expanse of land border with most of them not manned in any way. Though the CDS has a point in this regard because terrorists exploit the porous nature of our border to perpetrate their heinous crimes. As a security expert who has followed terrorists’ activities both locally and internationally, this is not the main problem. The foreign component of terrorists’ activities is not too huge for the government and military to deal decisively with insurgency. As I have canvassed in other platforms our military has not been doing enough to crush these elements, they have fallen short from my estimation and view. Most of the terrorists are known Nigerians, who have known families within Nigeria. Modern warfare has gone beyond physical presence. Technology has made it possible that the border can be viewed remotely and if there is any compromise, movement can be tracked and targets eliminated. Drones or UAV can and should be deployed to monitor activities along these border areas. Terrorists are not spirits, they are human beings. On the whole and in summary, fencing of the border areas is a laudable idea, but it will not stop terrorism. An industry has been created around this problem that is why it cannot stop in the foreseeable future because the top hierarchy of the military benefits, informants benefits, even foreign agencies and NGOs are beneficiaries. Our military should stop giving excuses and do their work. Can they defend us against external aggression?
The Federal Executive Council recently approved a new national policy on employment. Under the new policy, it will unfold a new set of strategies to address the challenges of unemployment, poverty reduction, and highlight economic opportunities for Nigerians. How successful do you think this move can be?
The new policy initiative on employment is very laudable if well implemented. The challenge with Nigeria is not the lack of policy, but the implementation of such policies and also it’s consistent implementation. On paper, it looks and sounds good because it is aimed at ensuring Federal Government’s employees and uniforms services are the beneficiaries for now have a life insurance policy of which their next of kin can benefit from after their demise. Federal Government staff are just a fraction of the number of employees in Nigeria. State governments must or be mandated to follow suit by designing their own welfarist policies in line with the federal government policy direction. This policy, if and well implemented, truly will reduce poverty, encourage and motivated Workers to give in their best knowing that in an event of death their families will effortlessly be beneficiaries. For it to incentify and engender economic opportunities, it should be a broad based policy that is embraced by both the public and private sectors of the economy.
The Federal Government (FG) recently unveiled the Renewed Hope Mechanised Agriculture Programme with 2000 tractors. Do you see this as the answer to Nigeria’s food crisis?
I believe it is a right step in the right direction to boost agricultural production. A nation that cannot feed itself is not fit to be in the comity of nations. Nigeria is currently facing food crises and food inflation especially because of herdsmen problem, concrete efforts must be made to address this challenge and improve food production. I think the 2,000 tractors injection into the system is not enough in a population of over 200 million persons. The Federal Government should do more, subsidy removal has placed so much resources at their disposal. The crisis we have at hand is beyond 2,000 tractors, the government must a marshal and integrated plan to boost food production. They must create the enabling environment to attract people to go into agriculture, the agricultural value chain must be affected if not the 2,000 tractors won’t have positive impact.
How can the tractors even be used when farmers are afraid to go the farms? In conclusion, 2,000 tractors, though good, are obviously not enough to deal with the food crisis and food inflation.
Do you think Peter Obi’s proposal to serve only a single term will make him more attractive for consideration as flag bearer of the opposition?
Well politicians make political statements; I believe it is a political statement. Though Mr Peter Obi has some level of credibility, relatively speaking, seeking only a single term is not realistic to solve Nigerians monumental and humongous challenges. The ADC coalition is gaining traction, but it will only be taken seriously if they pick Mr Peter Obi or someone of his calibre and pedigree for them to be taken seriously. Mr Peter Obi is the best bet for the opposition to wrestle power from a political grandmaster like President Tinubu. So, his four single term proposal should appeal to the opposition because it is expected that the South will do right years before power will shift to the North. The Opposition and the Coalition should consider Mr Peter Obi’s one term proposal and leverage on it to stand a good chance of gaining political power at the centre.
In the light of recent arrests, do you agree with the claim that the EFCC has become the ruling party’s tool against the opposition?
The EFCC has not always been neutral in their fight against corruption. Previous governments had always unleashed the EFCC against political opponents and this government has not departed from that trajectory. Though the EFCC will always deny political persecutions but it’s very obvious that the EFCC is currently trying to cow and silence the opposition. It is not by accident or a coincidence that Senator Tambuwal and former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, who are at the forefront of the Coalition and members of the ADC are being investigated by the Agency. Their arrests were deliberate and intentional and I foresee more arrests in the future because the government is obviously jolted and shaken by the traction and momentum that the opposition is getting and generating. In as much as the arrests and invitation of opposition politicians are politically motivated, whoever is corrupt should clear his or her name. If a person is not corrupt, the EFCC will have nothing against such a person. Being corrupt and now in the opposition should not be an excuse or alibi not to be investigated and such politicians should stop shouting political persecution when they are asked to answer to their crime of percolating our collective patrimony. The EFCC should strive to be apolitical and refused to be used as an attack dog by the government in power to hound, cow and silence the opposition.
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