LAGOS, Federal Republic of Nigeria (Report by Augustine Adah)
Why are you vying for the office of president on the platform of NCP?
Engr Onovo: There are two things. First, all the people that matter in this country agreed that the problem of this country is leadership, and the simplest solution is to change the leadership so that the problem will go away. What are major problems of this country? They are insecurity, corruption, poverty, unemployment, lack of constant power supply among others. If we need to change the leadership, then it is the responsibility of all patriotic Nigerians to contribute to the leadership change in the country.
You remember that the late human rights activist and founder of NCP, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, vied for the same position in 2003 but could not win the election. What gives you confidence that Nigerians will vote for you this time?
Engr Onovo: Nigerians are not fools, they will vote for where their interest lies and I am sure they will vote for me in the forthcoming elections. Now, we if we have a free and fair elections we then can examine whether the late sage, chief Gani did well in the election or not, because if you cheat to win an exam, it does not show that you are intelligent, similarly, if you rig to win an election it shows that you are a cheat and charlatans, so we can’t celebrate those who are lawless or criminal. If the election is free and fair we discuss who win and loss but as far as the election is not free or fair, there is no basis to discuss that.
Do you believe this general election will be free and fair?
Engr Onovo: No, we have two important ingredients of democracy; they are rule of law and the integrity of the ballot. What did the law say, it said that for you to contest as president of this country, you must be up to forty ears and above, the law says you must have a minimum of school certificate, but as we are talking now, nobody knows whether Buhari has the minimum certificate or not. The forensic analyst says the certificate is forged while the ruling party says he submitted a forged certificate. Now, perjury is a crime Buhari sworn an affidavit that the Army has his certificate but the Army denied having the certificate and what do you call that, it is perjury and it is a crime. How can the election be free and fair when we are using a criminal standard? Now, the electoral act section 91 says you cannot spend more than N1 billion in a presidential campaign, the act also provides guidelines on sources of election financing, but the whole thing has been violated. The incumbent president went and raised over N 21 billion from spurious and faceless entities. So, they have pre-rigged the election, they have violated the laws to favour them, they have looted the state treasury and have used it to finance their campaign and you think the country can move forward. Do you remember the story of N360billion for road project in 2003, do you remember $16 billion power probe in 2007, your power went with the 2007 general elections. Do you remember the N2 trillion subsidy scam for 2011 elections? Your 2 trillion went with the 2011 elections. In 2015 where is the missing $20 billion, are you sure it is not being spent in this election? Because trillions of naira is going into this election and the media, which is the intellectual organ of the society, is keeping quiet and you think we will have a free and fair election in this country.
They are 10 presidential jets, the president must give one each to other political parties for campaign otherwise he shouldn’t use them. The governor of Lagos State has abandoned his job and become a campaign manager for his governorship candidate, doctors in the state are on strike because he cannot pay them and you think the election will be free and fair?
