Muhammadu Buhari is Nigeria’s political saviour – Bishop Umunna

GENERAL Overseer of Bible Life Church, Ajegunle, Lagos, Bishop Leonard Umanna recently celebrated his 61st birthday anniversary at a special service organised by his congregation at the church. At the end of the event, the cleric found time to speak with journalists on the state of the nation. Excerpts….

How would you describe the state of the nation since the new government took over the reins of power on May 29?

I said it that neither Goodluck Jonathan nor Muhammadu Buhari is Nigeria’s political saviour. No one person can save Nigeria the way things are now. I have not seen Buhari in the picture yet. It means it is the party, APC that is still in control, not Buhari.

Bishop Leonard Umunna

Over a month he has not picked his cabinet. As things are now, PDP looked more organised in power than APC. I have been saying that Nigerians have not really given themselves a workable constitution. Although they say, ‘we the people of Nigeria give ourselves a constitution’, it is not true.

There was no referendum leading up to drawing the constitution that every citizen agrees to. Some people say that Nigeria, like an aeroplane, really took off successfully in the morning of Independence in 1960; but force-landed during the civil war and has not been able to take off again ever since. I wish Nigeria vibrates a more favourable number, but it vibrates a number that has made its leadership to continuously experience turmoil. The country will always experience back and forth movements.

There should be a school that prepares people for leadership positions. When they were shouting ‘Change, Change’, I was busy having a good laugh. The person who could have made a difference is Obasanjo, but he failed. He had everything it takes to make a difference. He had the Army under his control and the right connections and influence but he did not make the needed impact. Now, APC has come with good, precious and wonderful plans and strategies that could turn the country around for better, but it seems now that they were not prepared for the job.

Do you believe the constitution is the major problem?

No matter the type of constitution we may get, without good leadership, Nigeria can never move forward. Look at what is happening with the APC-led government, they have power but it appears they have no wisdom to use it. This is because different people from all manner of places with different ideologies came together to form the APC. They only came together for the sake of power but lack the qualities to lead. So, no matter the type of constitution, what is important is the ability to provide quality leadership.

What will be your advice to end the crisis in the National Assembly?

My thinking is that APC should have ironed out the sharing formula beforehand. APC was not sure it would win; so, it was a shock to them when the victory came, because they never made any leadership plan. My advice is that APC should take a drastic step to rescue the country. I am not happy that President Buhari said he was not interested in whoever emerged the Senate president or speaker of the House of Reps. We are not saying that he should impose his will on NASS, but he must take interest in what happens there because the stability of his government will to a large extent depend on the stability of the National Assembly.

Some people are calling on Nigerians to be patient with the Buhari government. Do you think the call is in order?

Forget about that, it is because the APC is in disarray. How many days did it take Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna State, to appoint commissioners? They should deal with those monsters that want to destroy the party.

Do you believe in Buhari’s claim that he belongs to nobody?

That is his problem. How can he say that? Would he have won without Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and others who invested in the project? But the APC must think beyond the party and begin to see how to move the country forward. I really do not care about which party wins an election, but in the delivery of good governance. Days ahead will prove whether the president truly belongs to anybody or not.

What qualities do you think Nigerians expect in their leaders?

When I was in government, I placed on my door, saying ‘if I do anything for you, don’t give me anything; my salary is enough for me’. Our problem is that we are not ready to be exemplary; we are only shouting ‘Change’, ‘Change’. We are expectating change from the other person without changing our own lifestyle. The leader must show the way. They must be transparent, competent, selfless, and must shun tribalism and discharge their duties without fear or favour. They must focus on setting standards (international leadership standards) so that those they lead will be positively influenced.

How is it like to be 61 in a country like Nigeria?

Every other day has always been better for me. I never had a better yesterday. I’ve always had better today and best tomorrow. I am like the daystar; the longer I stay, the brighter I shine. Today, I feel like I am 13 or 15. But I am not surprised because some years ago God told me that when I am 50, I would feel younger. At 61, I am in the evening of my life and the morning and afternoon light are combining to make my evening brighter and more glorious.

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