Chief Emeka Charles Kalu, an engineer and a seasoned politician, apart from being a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, is the Founder and President, Eck Foundation as well as an aspirant for the Abia North seat in the Senate. In this interview with EJIKEME OMENAZU, he speaks on the high wave of insecurity in the country, the renewed calls for restructuring, and corruption in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, among others. Excerpt:
With an increase in kidnapping and other crimes, the Afenifere leaders recently suggested a multi-level policing in the country. To what extent do you agree with the Afenifere leaders? Do you see these yielding meaningful results considering the existing Police structure?
It all depends on the determination of the government to fight crimes and all forms of insecurity confronting the nation. The proposed multilevel policing to a large extent, if genuinely factored and implemented, will go a long way in combating the high waves of criminal activities in the country. The police on their part are expected to be proactive and the government must provide them with adequate facilities needed for their multipurpose operations. Through this way, the crime rate will be drastically minimised, especially in the area of kidnapping for ransom. So, multilevel policing, when truly carried out, is good enough to combat crimes.
Eminent Nigerians, including the former APC National Chairman, Bisi Akande; former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General, have renewed calls for restructuring. To what extent do you agree with them?
I totally agree with the respected elderly statesmen on their position on restructuring the nation’s fiscal federalism. In a true federal system, powers and functions are not meant to be concentrated at the centre, rather they are devolved. When Nigeria is restructured, component states will be sourcing funds within their domain to run their governments and contribute some portions to the national government for the maintenance of security, the apex bank, and international relations. It enables each state to develop at its own pace without depending on the central government. The fiscal economy will experience a boom in the face of a restructured Nigeria. This concept will as well aid the full actualisation of local government autonomy as presently envisaged by the National Assembly.
Do you think that the nation could be restructured now considering the body language and political will of the current administration?
It can be done if the government means business. The template was already in place when the former President Goodluck Jonathan convened the National Reforms Conference on Restructuring. Except the present government does not want to, nothing is hard to implement the documents lying down in the Presidency on restructuring. Political interest is simply to keep refreshing one’s pocket at the expense of the suffering masses. With a restructured system in place, states will be rapidly growing in all facets, thereby creating avenues of engaging the youths meaningfully. Nothing is capable of giving Nigeria economy a face-lift than having a restructured federation where states are lawfully allowed to exploit the economic potentialities within their ambit for the purpose of independently financing their respective government.
Going by the revelations concerning the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in the last and current administration, would you agree that that ministry and its top officials are being used as conduits for the looting of the nation’s wealth?
Well, one may not say for sure that the ministry is being used as a channel of funds diversion, except when verifiable documents prove so. On the other hand, it may be true considering the low level performance of the said ministry since its creation. The ministry has not done much in terms of caring for the welfare of the jobless youth and human relief interventions of which are the prime reasons for its establishment. The recent saga that led to the suspension of Betta Edu on the allegation of illegal transfer of N585 million meant for palliatives in some states raises questions. It also appeared that a whopping and outrageous sum of 3 Billion was removed from the Covid-19 palliatives funds to verify national social register. These instances cited here indicate that it could be true that the said ministry is used as a conduit through which public funds are looted. It is left for the government to do the needful with a view to reforming the ministry for better operations.
With the suspension of Better Edu, will you say the Tinubu administration is serious in the fight against corruption?
The government did well to have raised alarm when wrongs are perceived to have occurred and suspending Betta Edu was a good step to prove that the government is committed to fighting corruption. In waging war against public service crimes, it behoves on the government to be sincere in dealing with issues seen to have gone against the laid down norms. Others must not be seen as targets, while some are cuddled and made to enjoy the protection of the government when they err. To fight corruption, it must not be one-sided. Rather, it has to include all manners of government officials. None is to be exempted. Once the government moves in this direction towards combating corruption, we would be convinced that it really wants to sanitise the polity.
With the increase in terrorist activities around the FCT and parts of the North and South, what are the ways the Military and security agencies could control this upsurge?
Kidnapping and terror attacks have been the order of the day, especially in Abuja environs. This development raises a touching concern. That hoodlums are smartly gaining access into Army Estate to kidnap persons baffles me. The Nigeria Army needs to re-strategise and increase the volume of its intelligence gathering to be able to engage the situation. The work lies in intelligence gathering and surveillance so that before the terrorists strike, security operatives would have gotten information about their plans, time and schemes. The role of military policing is a gallant one that 24/7, operations should be seen working on an active basis. There is no dull moment because these criminals have actually colonised cities in the country’s seat of power and efforts should be urgently made to tackle the menace.
Would you say that with the recent visit of the US Secretary of State to Aso Rock, President Tinubu’s globetrotting and quest for foreign investments are paying off?
The visit of U.S Secretary of States, Anthony Bliken, to Nigeria is normal in multilateral relations and we believe Nigeria and the United States have been having cordial relationships. The USA has been providing intervention aids and other bilateral support to Nigeria, especially during Covid-19 epidemic, Boko Haram insurgency, etc. So, Bliken’s visit wasn’t a surprise and I am confident that he had a good discussion with Mr. President on trade promotion, human rights protection, security and development. Regarding Tinubu’s continued sailing round the world, it depends on his motives for embarking on such trips, but I am of the view that it is all meant to facilitate Nigeria’s relations with the world at large.
How could the current Naira slide be stopped to improve the economy and reduce cost of living among Nigerians?
It is indeed a serious issue because the rate at which naira slides against other currencies touches the heart of every Nigerian who understands the implications of the current condition. Recently, the apex bank injected the sum of $500million to assist the situation, but implementation remains the bottlenecks. To contain the situation, the government needs to reduce customs duties and other accruing charges on imports so that dealers will be comfortable to reduce prices. Tax regime constraints are one of the major factors sinking down the economy that today the prices of goods and services are rising astronomically to the discomfort of the citizens. Nigerians can’t cope with this prevailing harsh economic challenges and it contributes to the high wave of crimes in the land because youths are frustrated and can’t provide for themselves, leading to their resort to crime as a means of making both ends meet.
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