Social crusader and Chairman of the Editorial Board of Popular News, Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor, has said that the prolonged Boko Haram insurgency has been so because President Muhammadu Buhari is ruling the country with sentiments, saying: “a good leader is not supposed to rule with sentiments.”
Responding to questions on his feelings about the dare devil attack of the Borno State governor’s convoy by the Boko Haram terrorist group, Chief Eholor stated: “They(Boko Haram) are only trying to make a statement. I have said it in the past that the service chiefs have to be retired.
“The service chiefs don’t know what they are really doing. If the Boko Haram can attack a serving governor of a state what do you expect will be the plight of the ordinary citizens.
“I want to restate that the service chiefs should be fired and made to apologise to Nigerians for what they have put us through. Buhari is ruling us with sentiments. A good leader is not supposed to be ruling with sentiments. A good leader cannot make everybody happy at the same time.
“It is quite a disgrace. It is quite embarrassing for the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. It is not too late. If they feel that our firepower cannot contain the Boko Haram insurgency or there is a weak link in our security system they can at least reach out to the Israelites, the Russians or the Americans to help them and guide them with some intelligence.”
On Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi’s anti-party activities that was fingered as the reason for the All Progressives Congress (APC) loss in the recent gubernatorial election in Edo State, Chief Eholor said: “Kayode Fayemi has always been known as a tortoise. I am not surprised by what he is said to have done in the recent Edo governorship election. That is his true nature.
“I remember when he was in trouble and wanted to be readmitted to the APC it was the likes of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and some others that went and beg for him at a meeting in London so that he can be readmitted to the fold.
“He is one of the governors that are performing poorly. He is an embarrassment to the nation, his party and his constituency. He is a man that doesn’t have a reputation. If he does have a reputation instead of working against the interest of his party he should have criticised them, resign and tell the world the reason for his action.
“What he has done is an act of betrayal. You cannot use somebody’s money to fight him. Kayode Fayemi is a disgrace.”
He lambast the leadership of the labour unions in Nigeria, calling them organised criminals.
“The last time that Nigeria had a labour leader was in the days of the late Michael Imoudu. These present day labour leaders are organised criminals. They are supposed to be representatives of the workers interest but the contrary is the case.
“The labour leaders have always encouraged bad leadership by endorsing some corrupt political office seekers after collecting illicit funds from such politicians who end up performing poorly.
“There are cases in this country where these labour leaders have negotiated with the powers that be to amass wealth to the detriment of the people. If you cannot trust a messenger you cannot trust his message.”
On the recent support from the US government to fight covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria, Eholor said: “Those that are in the helms of affairs in this country prefer to govern us like sole administrators. They don’t care for our feelings or contributions to how they can entrench good governance.
“Look at the recent case of the former governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, who served his state for eight years and there was nothing meaningful that he did. He was shocked at the DMO report about him.
“All of the governors have very negative DMO reports about them. What they do is called roundtrip of state funds in their possession. They end up not doing anything tangible while in office.
“The American government are helping us with funds to fight the Covid-19 with a mindset that they’re helping a poor country not aware that we are not poor in the real sense of it. Look at a situation where the Niger Republic, known all over the world as a poor and even Egypt sell refined products to us.
“These are really poor or focused countries who sell to us. It is like going to Alaska to sell ice to the Eskimos. Yet under Buhari’s watch we have four refineries that are not functioning in Nigeria.
“When Buhari was coming to power he promised to do wonders but he has ended up being a huge disappointment. Take a look at the major parastatals in the country they are under the control of people of northern extraction.
“I have no objection if he is appointing qualified northerners into the positions. But he is appointing people into such sensitive positions by nepotism and favouritism. The federal character commission has not been living up to expectations. It should be dissolved.
“Buhari promised us that he will draw up a list of all the looters of our treasury but he has not done so. He has failed us in all ramifications. I wonder what those who said that Goodluck Jonathan was corrupt and clueless will now say about Buhari who doesn’t even address the nation. Rather he mandates his media aides to do that occasionally.
“We deserve the kind of leadership that we have because we voted for them. I was one of those who voted for Buhari in 2015 from the benefit of hindsight it is obvious that I made a wrong choice. I am apologising to Nigerians for my wrong choice.””American President Donald Trump despite his very busy schedule still find time to grant press interviews.
