Call for Interim Government indication Nigeria lacks honest statesmen, Okoi Obono-Obla replies Afe Babalola

*Says Buhari’s government not as painted

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

Chairman of the defunct Presidential Special Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Chief Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla, on Wednesday took a swipe at a legal icon, Chief Afe Babalola, for calling on the Federal Government to suspend the 2023 elections and rather appoint an Interim Government after expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure next year.

Babalola, while address a press conference held in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State on Monday, had hinged his reason for calling for Interim Government on the fact, according to him, that a good leader cannot emerge from the current national constitution.

But Obono-Obla, who spoke in a 31-minute exclusive interview with The DEFENDER in Abuja, said it was shocking to know that a statesman like the proprietor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, actually said what was reported, saying it so happened because the country now lacks honest statesmen.

Also a lawyer, Okoi Obono-Obla said it only smacks of absurdity, after having watched his friend, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, emerge as President two terms and himself worked with the President rendering legal services including the prosecution of case against Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Lagos State Government over new Local Governments creation based on the same Constitution, and did not complain about the Constitution.

He said Babalola remained in this country since 1999 and has witnessed many general elections conducted and presidents emerge in succession from the Constitution only for him to now raise issue just as President Buhari will be preparing to conduct yet another free, fair and credible election to give to Nigeria a befitting successor that will further build on his achievements from where he stops in May 2023.

“I am surprised at the Chief Afe Babalola’s statement.  I just did an article that I will also send to you.  Chief is a renowned legal icon, who knows the Constitution.  If he says we should put up an Interim Government, how?  That government will be based on what?  Because Nigerian Constitution says that “No government shall come into office in a way other than the method prescribed by the Constitution.”  The Constitution has prescribed how the President will be elected, how governors will be elected, how the National Assembly offices will be elected and so forth and so on.

“Now you are talking about Interim Government.  What is going to be the legal foundation of that Interim Government?  You cannot put something on nothing, it is collapse.

“So, I am surprised that a man of Chief Afe Babalola’s experience and legal knowledge could be advocating for Interim Government.  I don’t think that is the solution.  Let us have election.  It is left for Nigerians to elect good leader.  We have a lot of good people.  Let us leave money in politics. Let us leave sentiment and elect people, who will take us to the promise land.

Buhari’s government not as painted

“I don’t believe that Buhari’s government is completely hopeless as they try to paint it.  Buhari’s government has done a good in certain way.  So, we should build upon that and we would get there.  But to advocate for an interim government (I don’t want to use very strong language), I think, is an absurdity.

“You remember what happened in 1993 when MKO Abiola’s election was annulled and the then President Ibrahim Babangida set up an Interim National Government, headed by Alex Shonekan.  Somebody went to court and the court declared it unconstitutional.  A national crisis rocked Nigeria and that was what led to General Sani Abacha taking over government in November 1993.

“So, we cannot have an Interim Government, it is contemplation of the Constitution because, the only known law now, the fundamental law is the Constitution.

Same Constitution produce Obasanjo

“Exactly!  Why did he not advocate for Interim Government when Obasanjo was President.  He made a lot of money.  He was a lawyer, who acted for the Federal Government when they took the Lagos State government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to court over the issue of Local Government creation in the state.

“Yes, he was doing all of those things for the Federal Government headed by his own friend, Obasanjo, and from which he made a lot of money rendering legal services.”

Less than 12 months to 2023 elections

He said the likes of Babalola could be saying what the respected man has said because, “We don’t have honest statesmen in Nigeria.  Because a statesman should not ponder to any vested interest; somebody of his age and learning should not ponder.  So, I am really surprised for him to come out and advocate for Interim Government.  It is unconstitutional.  It can amount to a coup against the Constitution.”