The General Overseer of Living Soul Harvest Bible Church Inc, and President Caring Heart Organization, Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Lagos, Apostle Tony O. Anthony, is worried that the last political campaigns divided religious bodies, especially the Christian community. In this interview with EJIKEME OMENAZU, he spoke on how this could be prevented in the future, even as he dwelt on other issues of national importance.
Apostle Anthony
The 2015 political campaigns divided Nigerians along religious lines. Even the Christian community was polarized. How do you see this development and how could it be prevented in future elections?
Religion and politics go together. Yu cannot separate the two. People will always take sides. It is in human nature to do so. Muslims want their own person to be the president. The Christians too will also want their own person to be there. There is a lot of indiscipline and rascality among Christians. They do not have one voice. For instance, during the last campaigns, when the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria decided on a candidate, other groups decided otherwise. That shows there is disunity among Christians. But, Muslims have one voice.
If Christians see themselves as one and the church as one indivisible entity with one agenda, then such can be prevented. If Muslims have their own agenda, which is to Islamize Nigeria, why can’t the Christians have their own agenda?
How do you see the crisis that has engulfed the All Progressives Congress (APC) since the onset of this administration, especially at the national Assembly?
The APC is a coat of many colours. APC cannot be a better alternative to PDP. This is because there are a lot of PDP members in APC. APC is a conglomeration of several political parties. It is interesting that up till now APC has no manifesto they are pursuing. no agenda. Up till now President Munhammadu Buhari has no ministers. Up till now, he has no blueprint on how to solve the problems of Nigeria. All he is talking about is corruption. Atiku Abubakar has a blueprint and would have made a better leader than Buhari. Atiku has studied Nigeria and has mapped out strategies on how he would tackle the problems of the nation. Now, I suggest that Buhari should bring Atiku closer in his government. He has a template, a blueprint and what he wants to achieve. He can be of much assistance to Buhari.
How do you think the APC could resolve this crisis?
The crisis in APC will linger for a long time. This is because they do not have a common ideology. As long as there is war of supremacy among them and the winner-takes-all mentality, they will never be united. I advice the APC leaders to swallow their selfish interests, think of one Nigeria and sheathe their swords. In fighting will not solve their problems. They should put their house in order in order to fulfill their promises to Nigerians. Nigerians do not want to hear about Dogara or Saraki. They want good roads, good education for their children, health, among others.
What agenda would you proffer for President Muhammadu Buhari administration?
The corruption he is talking about, Nigerians want to see big time corrupt politicians in jail and their loots recovered. That is his agenda. He should tackle power problems. There is no development without power. Whatever he wants to do to fix power, he should do it. If President Goodluck Jonathan had fixed power, he would not have lost the election. In Germany for instance, there is no power failure. Nigeria should develop solar energy to support the one we have. After power, Buhari should pay attention to the education sector. If you want development, there should be massive revolution in education. He should also pay attention to the agricultural sector, healthcare. Buhari is a good man, but he may not do a lot because of the people around him. Because of the negative influence of the people around him, he has not been able to name his ministers and make several other important appointments that will make him to function properly two months after his assumption of office.
Considering the composition of the National Assembly, what advice would you give to the lawmakers to ensure that Nigerians benefit from the activities of the legislature?
The lawmakers should be independent and neutral. They should resist outside influence. They should do those things Nigerians are yearning for. For instance, why can’t they pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) up till now? They should ensure that Buhari succeeds. Without their support, Buhari will not succeed. Nigerians want change. They promised Nigerians the change and Nigerians voted for them based on their promises. So, the legislature should cooperate with the executive to give Nigerians this change we are yearning for.
South East seems to be disadvantaged in the present administration. What would you think the South East leaders and governors should do to ensure that the zone does not lose out in the scheme of things?
South East shot themselves on the foot because of Jonathan. Jonathan dragged South East to political wilderness. Thank God for the little redemption through Imo State by reelecting Rochas Okorocha. South East should learn from the Yoruba. The South East leaders should go to Bola Tinubu for lessons. From one state, APC rose to six states. Now APC is controlling the Federal Government as well as several states in the federation. The South East should learn how to practice the politics of opposition. South East is disunited. For instance, why should Peter Obi dump the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) after his tenure as governor and then joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)? The South East should know that the solution to their problem is not Biafra. As at now, I don’t see Biafra getting autonomy. The Igbo leaders should team up under Nigeria so that they can be in a position to rule Nigeria. If they do so, when power rotates to the South again, they can fight for it. If they continue the way they are going, South East can never produce Nigerian president. This is because of the politics of selfishness. That is why Ojukwu remains a hero. Ndigbo is yet to have another Ojukwu.
What should be the position of South East in Buhari administration?
All things being equal, President Muhammadu Buhari should offer the people of South East the position of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) for equity and fairness. Ogbonnaya Onu and Chris Ngige worked vigorously for the AOPC. They deserve ministerial appointments.
What other advice would you have for the new administration?
President Buhari should not play politics of sectionalism if he wants his administration to stand. His cabinet should be all encompassing, involving all sections, if he wants to win the hearts of Nigerians. He is now the Nigerian President and not the President of the North, North West or North East.
Considering the role of Bola Tinubu in the victory of APC, what do you think should be his relationship with Buhari?
I admire Tinubu. He is a force. He is a man of courage. From one state to six and now the Federal Government is being controlled by the APC. Buhari should not sideline Tinubu. Without him, Buhari would not have won the election. Nigerians should be praying for Buhari so that he can finish his term. He has good intention for the country. They should pray that his health does not fail him due to pressure of governance. At his age, he needs everybody’s prayer to ensure that he remains strong to offer Nigerians the democratic dividends he promised them.
As a Christian leader, what advice would you offer to the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode?
Ambode should always remember that it was the Christian community that fought for him. It was the Christians that forced Tinubu and the APC leaders to bring him out. He should therefore not fail the Christians and fail himself and fail God. He should try and make the Christians proud by the type of governance he will offer the people.
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