Saraki, Dogara and Atiku Will Soon Return To PDP – Nnaji

Sen Achonu Athanasius Nnaji represents Imo North Senatorial Zone, in this interview with Ruth Choji of Leadership, predicts the implosion of APC, and return of former PDP members. He also called for a holistic approach to the anti-corruption war, saying all former governors in Nigeria are corrupt.

As the vice chairman of Senate’s committee on banking, what is your take on CBN governor’s assertion that the economy is likely to crash if something is not done to salvage it soon?

Nigeria’s economy is very resilient, it is a case of management. I think Emefiele is doing a good job, let us watch and see all the policies he is putting in place. Some many pundit have said this type of thing but Nigerian economy has been growing steadily. Nigeria is one of the countries in the world that is blessed, Nigeria can create over 500 industries within 36 months and employ millions of Nigerians. We have the resources, the money is everywhere to borrow. How much is America owing? Yet, they produce, they have industries. Nigeria has no business exporting mineral resources without processing them. We should export finished protects. Everybody who is interested in our mineral resources should come and build industries to process it to a certain level before taking it out. This will add value to our economy.

Are you worried at the way the Naira is falling against the dollar?
I am very worried especially when you have the kind of issues we have on ground. We have to get experts who will advise us on the way out.

Are you surprised with some of the revelations that the former NSA Col. Sambo Dasuki, has been making on how funds meant for security were diverted to private pockets?
Nobody is surprised that there are so many corrupt persons in government. The problem is the way the government of Buhari is handling the issue because all the former governors, minister from both parties and whichever state were corrupt. So if there should be investigation, it should be holistic. It should not single out some people. 

Buhari came with his change policy and Nigerians believed him but this is not change, it is vendetta. Look at how they are targeting all the PDP states, they had a secret meeting, we have the document where they said they will take all the oil states. Look at what is happening in Rivers State. Look at for example, my senatorial zone, they said there was exclusion, but immediately after my judgment, they moved the judges. So they sent them there to come and upturn the judgement of a lower court. INEC showed the ballot paper that was used, it was admitted in evidence and they had five votes, and INEC used Imo east ballot paper instead of Imo north because our court was not in Imo court, then they now came and said it was not the customized ballot paper. 

There is nothing like customized ballot paper in the electoral act. INEC has the right to use those ballot papers in case of any problems. There is a law that says that INEC can exhibit the papers so that other parties can see and confirm whether their logo is there or not. Those parties never complained, the court didn’t take notice of that and then that woman contested PDP primaries with me. So she was not a candidate, they just made an arrangement with INEC and her name was inserted there. When did the congress take place for her to emerged as candidate. The court decides all these things, they didn’t allow the PDP to testify and you said you are bringing change. The whole of Nigeria is worried, look at the way they are handling the Biafra issue. These government is vying towards dictatorship and we will not let it happen.

The PDP has said it is rebranding, but some skeptics believe that the PDP has nothing to rebrand, what is your take on this?
PDP will go back to its former glory because it is the biggest party in Africa, half of the people in APC are PDP. We are just waiting for APC to implode. One quarter of APC is owned by former governor, Bola Tinubu, the other quarter is owned by Buhari and the other half is PDP and others are marginalising the PDP in the party right now. Look at the way they are treating Atiku Abubakar and Senate President Bukola Saraki. Very soon the APC will implode and our members will come back to us.