INTERVIEW: HOW BUHARI WILL LOSE 2019 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION – PARTY CHAIRMAN
INTERVIEW:
HOW BUHARI WILL LOSE 2019 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION – PARTY CHAIRMAN
ANRP
Chairman, Tope Fasua
In this interview with
Editor-in-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, the National Chairman of the Abundant Nigeria
Renewal Party (ANRP), Tope Fasua, reviews the three-year tenure of the
President Muhammadu Buhari government, saying the administration has done more
damage to Nigeria than all others before it. He also speaks on the growth of
his party and analyses how Mr. Buhari would be defeated in the 2019
election.
PT: On December 14, 2017, INEC announced the registration
of your party, ANRP, along with 20 others. What has been the journey so far?
Tope Fasua: Many thanks. It’s been very
interesting and challenging. Luckily we started on a good note. We opened up
our process and system to all and sundry from the moment the idea of the party
was conceived and kept growing the numbers until we were approved and
certificated. By the time we had our approval we were 27,500 plus in terms of
numbers. Since then we have added over 10,000 new members and are growing
everyday.
We
are Nigeria’s most honest political effort since the return of civilian
democracy. People see that we were formed by regular people and we are vehement
that we don’t want moneybags or professional politicians. We see ANRP as a
platform for the involvement of private sector professionals as well as public
servants who seek genuine progress in the governance of this country. We are
aware that the political space is now crowded and may become even more so as we
move along. However we are positioned as the next biggest political movement
after the moribund two which have put Nigeria in serious socioeconomic over the
past two decades
PT: So what is actually new that you are bringing to the table?
Why should Nigerians take your platform more seriously than APC, PDP and the
other older platforms?
Tope Fasua: This is a two-pronged
question. What is actually new about ANRP especially in view of 67 other
choices? I usually say we are Nigeria’s most honest effort so far. You will
discover that we are the only party in Nigeria that makes plain its numbers of
members. We are the most transparent party in Nigeria. We are a party that is
offering responsibility to Nigerians. The taste of the pudding is in the eating
and because we started on a transparent and honest manner we have sowed seeds
far and wide and proven to all who have taken the step of faith that we mean
business with our transparency ethos. We publish accounts every month and make
it available to all members. We are run by young and fairly young people most
of whom have the mindset of private sector efficiency. We are prudent in all
our undertakings. We are the party that Nigerians should be joining to build
because we offer a true new beginning. Also our ideology is
termed constructive pragmatism meaning that we adopt only the best
policies for Nigeria. We will support businesses but responsible governance is
the first port of call.
Nigerians
should take ANRP more serious than APC or PDP or indeed any other party because
it is only in ANRP that their voices will really count. We don’t have youth and
women wings because youth and women own the party and are getting involved
fully in the headship, midsection, wings, feet and brainbox of the party.
Ours is a statement that as much as Nigerian people had been written off in the
past, still we can organise ourselves and get it done. We were the first party
to institute and implement crowdfunding in Nigeria and with that we have been
able to open branches in most state capitals in Nigeria as well as host a talk
of the town national congress in Abuja. It’s even much easier to join our party
than to join these old parties where people have to return to their wards and
get their village chief to recommend them . No. We live in a digital age with
much human mobility. And so it takes a couple or minutes at most to key in your
data online and join us at server.anrp.org.ng. We walk our talk.
PT: There was a lot of buzz around your party when the idea of
forming it was first mooted. That momentum seems to have died down. There are
suggestions that you have perhaps run out of steam.
Tope Fasua: Well ordinarily I won’t say
I got the idea that there was a lot of buzz except among people who truly
believed and logged on to the idea. For many the initial buzz was embraced with
cynicism. For those driving the process the trick is to ignore cynics and get
on with the job. There are t’s to cross and i’s to dot. What we did was
basically unprecedented because we built consensus among as many Nigerians as
believed in the idea. We didn’t keep the idea secret and that is why many heard
about it. Now perhaps it’s natural but Nigerians love ready-made things. We
didn’t project that we were already made. We wanted people to join and make the
idea. We got a handful. We didn’t get millions. But we planted a seed. As at
today our population is around 50,000 and growing. You will soon see numbers
bumping up because we devised a new manner of uploading members on our system.
We had to move our website to a more secure server and also got a much higher
bandwidth because the former arrangement could not cope with the traffic of
people who were just visiting to see what we were on about. As I speak we have
just got about 8,000 new real members in Ekiti and another 5,000 in Ondo.
We are getting members daily..We are genuine and organic.
So
the buzz hasn’t died down among those who truly believe in this idea and are
ready to be part of building it up. It may seem to have slowed in the eyes of
those whose reaction to the ANRP idea was cynicism. On the 17th of February
2018 we had our National Convention at Eagle Square Abuja. The turnout was
extraordinary. I was amazed myself. Real members came from 36 states. We didn’t
hire any crowd. The big parties were afraid. That was great to see. So we
decided to continue building our structure. By April 7 we are
commencing our state congresses in eight states – six in the South West plus
FCT and Kogi. So I will urge you and all who are truly caring to be methodical.
Noise is not progress. It takes the bamboo tree five years of watering to grow
roots and the sixth year to soar into the skies. We will not need six years but
we know that structure is key.
By May 2018 we will move to our LG congresses and later to wards. That is the
surest way to build a party. Most others are basing theirs on deception and
they call it politicking. Of course we are constrained by finance and that is
okay because if we had all the money to spend today even you should be
suspicious. We decided that pending when we raise enough cash amongst ourselves
we must keep doing every little thing we can do to keep organising ourselves.
We are set to surprise the world.
PT: You recently held a convention in Abuja, there were then
complaints about lopsidedness in the composition of your NEC. What really
happened?
Tope Fasua: Hahaha. Great that you
noticed. At least we are making the news. Well again we should be careful
not to expect things to be perfect from Day One. Anything great you see today
was started somehow and perfected as things went along. Even at that nothing is
perfect. The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. Also they
say perfect is the enemy of good. Many people who call themselves
perfectionists are such that never start or get involved in anything but
criticise and pick holes in what others do. Anyway at ANRP we aren’t looking
for perfectionists per se… We are looking for those who understand how to start
and sustain an initiative..We are looking for those who understand that even
failure is a very necessary part and stage in achievement of success.
So
when this idea was started a lot of my friends on Facebook joined. In
three days we got people from at least 30 states. Usually those states
with more internet penetration. Then we kept forging on. Those who joined
early have borne the brunt of our progress till date. They have contributed
money and have brought ideas. They have travelled all over the country too. We
appointed some interim positions and most of them discharged themselves
creditably .
Note
that the national convention you referred to was also exemplary. All of us in
interim positions tactically stepped down and allowed other people contest against
us. We therefore brought in new blood into the management of the party.
Of course those traducers who don’t want the party to see the light of day went
to town to start counting how many northerners and southerners, how many
Christians and Muslims. We don’t roll like that at ANRP and no one is
complaining inhouse. What we have said is that we don’t do zoning but we do
balancing. We tried hard to balance the outcomes ad much as possible. The
process is still on going.
Remember
we also have shadow ministers in our constitution. The list will be unveiled
soon. No party in Nigeria has our kind of organic diversity. Forget the two big
parties which have been spending Nigeria’s commonwealth to get big. The
people there are united by the money. We are united by the passion. We have
people spending their own money to give this idea a great push. Unprecedented.
So at ANRP the first port of call is competence. Then we look at the result and
balance out somehow. We also should note that we cannot go and beg anyone who
is not a member of the party with positions. You have to submit to the
supremacy of the party. Those who tried to make this an issue are not members
of the party. Imagine. We’ve been asking you to join the party so we can build
it together you refused. Some guy even threatened to go to court if INEC
registers us..I reminded him to hurry up the other day. So such people crawl
out of the crevices and start counting Muslims and Christians, Yoruba and Igbo
and Hausa etc. It’s ridiculous. Same mindset that got Nigeria to this point.
ANRP has no time for such inanities but we are a fair and just party
PT: How are you funding ANRP?
Tope Fasua: We have set out to fund via
crowdfunding. We are the first to initiate such and take it forward. It
is a tad alien to most Nigerians but we are prepared to go the long haul. The
uptake hasn’t been very great but it’s expanding. And we can proudly say we
have achieved more via crowdfunding than any political party in Nigeria. Our
convention was fully funded via crowdfunding. Yes a few of us still bear most
of the burden but the kind of Nigerians we are attracting are beginning to
appreciate the fact that we all cannot just be foolishly collecting crumbs from
looters… that we have to step up and own our own game. ANRP is totally about
the emergence of new sets of leaders across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
We want to throw up new names that people have never heard before.
We
are saying that those famous looters that many seem to worship today were
nobodies until they somehow found a chance. ANRP is the chance of our
time. The chance of a lifetime. It’s the political equivalent of Microsoft
shares being sold for a dollar at IPO – Initial Public Offering. With the
N5,000 annual dues members are positioned for positions of responsibility like
never before. They get an opportunity to get involved… to shape the party in
the ideal way that they’ve always imagined. That is priceless. Anyone who says
we shouldn’t collect any dues is trying to push us to be dependent on political
godfathers. We will not go down that route. So in as much as the process
of funding is a painful one we have left the opportunity open to those who
still want to assist or fulfil their obligations to the party. The key
reason why anyone will even donate to the party is because they have observed
the way we work and think and believe they can trust us with the little they
have. Let any other party try raise funds and see what happens. Donations are
very key to the party beyond subscriptions but we even have a cap on that like
they do in the USA. Our constitution says that no one should give the party
anything more than 20million naira. This way no one can saunter in with stolen
funds and say he wants to buy or hijack the party.
We got it all covered. Only that it places a bigger burden on us. Now we must
think deeper, work harder, sacrifice more. It’s excruciating. But I tell.our
members that we should be proud of the pains and complaints. If we
suddenly have billions to spend we will stop thinking. And that may mean that
someone somewhere has started to pump in money to steal our innocence. Our
funding should increase in line with our membership growth. One other important
aspect is that ANRP is undoubtedly Nigeria’s largest collection of talents. We
have so many young people doing things for the party for free. Graphics. Music.
Poems. Writeups. Media coverage. Videos. Banners. So so much.
Sometimes it makes me emotional that we have got so many diverse people who have
absolutely bought into this idea. We are thankful to them all.
PT: You came on board because you felt the older parties have
disappointed? What will you do differently if elected?
Tope Fasua: We will do almost
everything differently. What Nigeria needs now is a new way of thinking. A new
culture. A new way or life. Nigeria is easily the most misgoverned country on
earth. The other day Bill Gates was telling them how if they can increase
Government Revenue to GDP ratio to the level of Bangladesh which is at 10%, we will.add
a whooping $18billion to our yearly budget. That means our National budget will
be up at $41billion instead of the paltry, dismal, uninspiring, hopeless level
of $23 billion that it is today. We are talking of a budget for 180
million people. Per capita or per person that budget is a
mere $133 per annum. That means $133 is what the arrogant
and profligate, oppressive and irresponsible Nigerian government intends to
spend on an average Nigerian this year whether on roads or health, education or
environment. That is as good as nothing. Meanwhile half this money will
disappear into people’s pockets. And another quarter will be used to pay
salaries.
What
is more? Again in the year 2018 we are in April and our wicked government is
still kicking the can down the road. They are tossing the budget up and down.
The lives of Nigerians don’t matter to these people. The members of the
National Assembly are gorged full with money. We run a feudal system of slave
masters and serfs. Whoever is closest to our resources just stretches their
hand and takes everything. No repercussion. No consequences. That is why the
Senate collects that huge emolument and the members still corruptly insert
themselves in every deal under the sun. They even tell Nigerians that it is not
our business to know what they earn. They have also told us to go and find out
what Ministers earn and that is true. Somehow everybody is officially earning
amounts not approved by Salaries and Wages Commission or the Revenue
Mobilisation Agency. Somehow there are allowances appearing from every crack
and the public which pays these people are not supposed to know what they are
being paid. Remember that the budget is paltry. This is the reason why
Nigeria is now by far the poorest country on earth. Poverty is increasing. Too
many Nigerians are dropping below the threshold. Too many are unaware what life
is all about and how to get involved in the new economy.. And the government is
not ready to help.
They
are more interested in feathering their own nests. See the story of the
Minister for Communication Adebayo Shittu who was recently outed by a former
aide. Now he’s telling us how he borrowed money to build a mansion. When
did he get to Abuja? How well has his budget performed for the people that he
became so comfortable to erect a mansion in just two years or less? The man was
even justifying his penchant for travels and estacodes and how he has been
doing other people favours to enjoy the same. Look, what we have are
slavemasters. The shocking thing is that Buhari is superintending over perhaps
the most oppressive, most intolerant and most unimaginative poverty-promoting
government in the history of Nigeria.
So
I went and checked what was Bangladesh’s budget this year. I found out it is
$56 billion. And the budget is already approved and in play. Their population
is 150 million. Our current leaders have no.plans for the people of Nigeria.
Forget it. Algeria is already operating a $60 billion budget for its 40 million
people already. Reuben Abati recently returned from Morocco and reports ‘first
world’ infrastructure.
Everywhere
seems to be overtaking Nigeria. Kenya is already running a $29 billion budget
for its 48 million people. Angola is already effecting a budget of $47 billion
for its 25 million people. The so called largest economy in Africa and
clay-footed giant of Africa is doing a mere dismal $23 billion or N8.6 trillion
for 180 million people. They are thumping their chests. They are deluded and
misguided. They even think there is so much to pilfer out of that amount. We
heard about 78,000 ghost policemen.
Nigerians
must unshackle themselves from this nonsense. What we are saying at ANRP is
that Nigeria has since lost its way. The problem is not just about structure or
tribe or these things that divide us..it’s in our heads. We stopped thinking.
Not that we were great thinkers before but suddenly we went into reverse. We
are here with a new thinking. Our ideology says we are a thinking party and
will throw out all these ideas and get Nigeria to take informed decisions based
on critical thinking. Whether it is for budget or mad debt acquisition or
neglect of the environment or neglect of human resources we are here with a
totally new thinking that will delight Nigeria and Nigerians and give us a life
worth living not the current nonsense.
Meanwhile,
just to inform you: South Africa, which is meant to be our junior brothers in
Africa – economy wise – is already operating a budget of $155 billion for its
58 million people in this year 2018. Where do I start and where do I end? It’s
just pathetic. Absolutely pathetic and saddening.
PT: So given the resources needed to campaign in this large
country, how strong can your party be for the coming elections?
Yes,
resources are needed but not as much as these old parties have made out to be
the case. Look at what we have built without having access to any government
money like them? We have offices in at least 20 state capitals with the rest
coming in stream shortly. We are in many LGs and Wards. We say we don’t have
money to build houses but we are assiduously building castles and mansions in
the hearts of people. We have young people across the country who are crazy
about ANRP and truly demand change for the better or renewal for this country.
It is these ones who will take our message forward to the corners of the
country.
Our
model is different. We are in touch with all our members via a Call Centre. We
manage our members. They are delighted to hear from us. We build the
relationships. We are certainly making a dent in 2019. We are unlike other
parties that are relying on rigging. Yes they can rig but will not
succeed everywhere.. We are tech driven and our eyes are open. If any of these
planless, oppressive parties try any hanky panky we will contest the election
to any limit. We are building our roots. State LG Ward congresses. That means
showing presence. We will keep raising funds too. But one naira in ANRP is
equivalent to 100 naira elsewhere..We are prudent and totally accountable.
Imagine a political party that renders accounts to all members on a monthly
basis. What could be better than that. That is the reason why an increasing
number of people are ready to trust us with their hard-earned resources. This
trust investment is even more important because it is why people will defend
their votes. No other party has that advantage in Nigeria. None of them are
ready for the hard work and sacrifice it requires.
So
by and.large, before the next general elections all our structures will be
solid and we will drive membership recruitment through our equally unique
system of performance management. Let me give you an insight. We had
since designed a form for recruiting en masse. Anyone who wants to contest on
our platform is required to bring a certain number of members..it’s like the
American petition system. We are not here to joke
PT: There are speculations you might seek the nomination of your party to run
for president.
Well
it’s a possibility but for now we have a lot of work to do. Our party is not
based on ego tripping. It’s not about one individual who thinks he’s a superstar.
Personally I’m self-effacing. If not for Nigeria’s many unbearable problems you
won’t hear from me. I’m here because of my pity for humanity really, myself
inclusive.
Our
projection for the presidential elections is that we will have at least six people
from within contesting for the post. They will go through all the process and
have a debate. The best winner will emerge. My joining the group of contestants
must not upset the apple cart. I’m just another member of the party. At ANRP we
don’t play politics like elsewhere. At ANRP everybody counts. We are the
party that has come to restore dignity to the average Nigerian..I just wish
more will know and realise this. Like Harriet Tubman, the lady who operated the
Underground Railroad and helped to take thousand of black people to freedom
north of America used to say even though this quote is attributed to anonymous
online… “I freed a thousand slaves… but I could have freed a thousand more if
only they knew they were slaves”.
Over
the decades Nigerians have been battered almost to a state of stupor and
stupidity by its wicked leaders. Tens of millions of Nigerians don’t know there
is a better life out there even within Africa. Even the educated and middle
class don’t know their lives will be better if their country was better. That
is it. We are selling the idea of a much better life. We don’t need to borrow
massively from abroad like this current government is doing. A friend said that
if we continue to service our debts at this rate it will take us 120 years
already to exit these debts. Yet we are taking more. So ours is not about self
glorification. We are here to give the responsibility back to Nigerians and
this country back to the youths who own the future. They should smarten up and
join us at www.anrp.org.ng
PT: Garba Shehu recently said the followership of President
Muhammadu Buhari is so phenomenal that it has to be studied by political
scientists. How can a candidate like you defeat such a ‘phenomenon’?
Tope
Fasua: I believe by now we can see that that followership is based on half
truths and deceit. Yes it is an approach in politics to amass millions of
believers based on fakery. It is not just our approach at ANRP. Who are these
followers that Garba Shehu speaks about? Are they not the downtrodden and
forgotten people of Nigeria who have since developed Stockholm Syndrome after
decades of oppression and suppression by their own very traducers? Are they not
the 15 million Nigerian children who have been left in the lurch of illiteracy
and want? Are they not the religious and tribal fanatics who see something
divine in the man even though he has told them via his actions in no uncertain
terms that he is not in their class and category and would rather roll with the
heavy hitters and moneybags?
Any
follower with a modicum of intelligence has since shifted gear apart from those
profiting from the system. How can we be talking of followership for a man
whose children school abroad while he says nothing about declaring an emergency
against mass illiteracy? A man who prefers the company of lavishers of our
commonwealth in high octane parties? A man with no sense of urgency who cannot
even move his own cabinet around. A man who has infected Nigeria as a whole with
his own disease or stasis? A man who threw the country deeper into economic
recession just because he thinks of himself alone and believes that he and some
of his friends are superior to 180 million Nigerians?
I
can assure you that most of that followership is waking up but I admit he may
retain a chunk as long as he continues to promote illiteracy and fanaticism of
different hue. Buhari cannot win 25% in 25 states and so cannot form government
at first vote. He cannot get any of the five states in the east. Any of the six
states in the South South. He cannot get more than two states in the
South West and will lose even some North Eastern and North Central States
woefully.
Look
at the serious problem of open grazing. The man has said nothing. it is a tough
problem that requires quick action not preachment. It is a fact that that age
long practice can no longer continue in this age. No concise marshal plan is in
place or in the works. No we don’t have leaders in Nigeria. The man has to be
forced and insulted before he visited some of these flashpoints? He has refused
to have a media chat for perhaps a year!
A
president that cannot even talk to or motivate his own people? What is there to
follow in him? FD Roosevelt led the USA through World War 2 on a wheelchair.
All he had to do was speak. They called it his ‘fireside chats’. All the
Americans had was their radios. The man took the USA to abiding greatness. The
man we have here only insults and condescends on the people. He wants to be
feared I reckon. Wrong strategy. So yes we can defeat the myth called Buhari
especially for those who are feigning ignorance of that fact. Just wait and
see.
PT: You enumerated how difficult it would be for Buhari to win
re-election. How easy can it be for your own party to win the 2019 general
elections?
Tope Fasua: Yes, Buhari has been part
of the deceptive and wickedly myopic elites that prefer to keep our people in
ignorance for the sake of power. Only that he played his own game extremely
well. It wasn’t until he became president that he bared his fangs. Great
strategy. Mind you I had admired him since 1984 partly because I attended an
Army Secondary School and had soldiers all around me while they ruled the
country. The scales dropped since 2015. So as much as he will have it easy in
some parts as usual, it will be impossible to sell his brand in half of Nigeria
at least. I recently reviewed the results of the 2015 elections and realised
that he lost in some states where we may mistake to be strongholds of his.
These are Edo, Plateau, Taraba, even FCT. I was like wow. And
he will lose even more in those places going forward. Add that to the
South East, South South and losses in the South West. We should probably be
seriously looking at a Government of National Unity and ANRP wants to be
solidly in such a Government because we must mainstream our many ideas. We must
also deploy the youthful energy, passion, global exposure, enlightenment and
modernity and most especially the innocence and honesty that drives us for the
salvation and renewal of Nigeria. We cannot have another minute of lacklustre,
wasteful, ego-driven, disconnected, deceptive, uncommunicative, uninspiring and
archaic governance any moment from May 29, 2019. Enough already!
As
for how tough it will be for us to win at first vote, I have enumerated that
earlier. We don’t deceive ourselves. We have to work on building our
structure down to the wire. We have to build the structures and create
awareness for the party down to the very last moment. Let me just say that we
are a party of consequence. We are not here for money or for jokes. We
are here to bring to reality all those dreams about Nigeria that had remained
in the realm of wishes. We believe Nigerians deserve a better way of living and
we are ready to help realise this together with every compatriot.
PT: What’s your message for the Nigerian electorate as we inch
towards the 2019 general elections?
Tope Fasua: Nigerians should know that
a better life is possible. The poor should know that it is not their destiny to
be poor. That we can achieve a nation where most people can pull through. The
weak should not despair. They should know that the state can help them because
we cannot all be strong and smart the same way. The middle class should know
that their numbers can grow and that the progress of society relies on them.
They should know that there is no joy in thumbing their noses to their own
country. That if we make Nigeria better they will get the first benefit. The
rich should know that they can even be richer and have even more fulfilling
lives if we allow this country to attain its potentials.
I
want Nigeria to know that this country has reached the peak of international
disdain and disappointed the entire black race and that time no longer exists
to kick the can around and faff about. The time for renewal is now. I want
Nigerians to know that it is the choices to which our commonwealth has been put
that is wrong; that a situation where 70 percent of the commonwealth is used to
make politicians and civil servants comfortable and happy cannot liberate a
nation even in a millennium. I want Nigerians to know that the time is now.
They should join us at www.anrp.org.ng.
PT: When will you likely declare to run for president?
Tope Fasua: Again I’m not the item in
ANRP. Someone has even gone ahead and is rallying forces for his presidential
ambition within the party while I still slave away to ensure we are not
running on a joke but building a solid structure. That we are not presenting
candidates as a joke but to ensure we really shake the system when we do. To be
a president in Nigeria you need about 10million votes. Where will we find
10million votes? We just have to invest all the time and resources on our
hands. It takes time, talent and treasure to get this done. And it cannot be
one man’s time, talent or treasure. Any serious person in this quest should be
able to unleash these three t’s in millions of people.
That
is why we are concentrating for now on our structure. Our state congresses
start April 7. Then we go to the LG and so on. As we go along we are
bringing in more talents. And we are getting more and more people to invest
their treasures. Only then can we talk of presidential elections. Any
party whose focus is on presidency without going through the crucibles we are
going through is just deceiving himself. If people have never heard about your
party in the villages and you have no members there to tell them how can you
win presidency? Is it meant to be a joke? So out of respect for the party and
our hundreds and thousands of members and admirers I haven’t talked about any
personal ambition since we started. I’ve instead put everything I have and more
into growing the party. Sometimes I find it tough meeting obligations because
of the party. I get totally chewed out. So much poverty in the land and
you have to keep carrying people one way or another. But when it gets
frustrating I remember those who have been to jail several times in the quest
to make Nigeria better and I tell myself it’s a sacrifice I have to keep
making. I will only declare when the time is absolutely right
PT: Thank you very much sir for speaking to us.
Tope Fasua: Many thanks too.