The former Nigerian Minister of Mines and Steel, Chief Sarafa Tunji Isola expresses his views  on the state of the nation.  Isola was elected  chairman  of Abeokuta North Local government   in 1997. He was also a Special Assistant  to  Minister of State for Finance from 1999 to 2003 and Secretary to Ogun State Government – 2003 to 2007; Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 2007 and 2008. He  spoke  with our Ogun state correspondent, ABIODUN ONAFUYE in Abeokuta. Here is the excerpt:

Sarafa Isola

The federal government is making a move to diversify from petroleum to solid minerals. As a former Minister in the Ministry, what are the benefits therein for Nigerians in that sector?

 Well, there is no country that can survive on mono-cultural economy,  be it oil or whatever, especially, a product that does not have regenerative tendencies. The crude oil is exhaustive . It will finish one day, in terms of availability. Developed countries always embark on the development of their economy foremost on Agriculture, because a nation that cannot feed itself runs the risk of insecurity. As at today, it’s unfortunate that in Nigeria, our food imports bill is quite outrageous  and we must cultivate enough to sustain our economy and also reduce the pressure on foreign exchange. So, foremost is Agriculture, then you can also consider other areas like solid minerals, tourism and other revenue earning projects. As far as solid minerals is concerned, we have challenges, because Nigeria needs to move from government, being an operator in the sector to government becoming a regulator of the sector,  thus  allowing the private sector to grow the mining sector. It’s very clear all over the world that government don’t do well in business. This is  anchored on the fact that government exists basically for public  service and business exist basically for profit. These two objectives don’t go together, you can’t be serving the public and expect profits. If it’s profit, its not about public  service. Consequently, government cannot and should not engage in business activities. So, what do you have to do? You look at two issues, government being able to provide an enabling environment for the private sector to strive in solid areas, agriculture and other areas of the economy.

When I was in the Ministry, we laid the foundation for the private sector to invest by creating enabling environment within the context of the laws, because private capital anywhere in the world would only move to  where investment is secured and profitable . So, appropriate legislation has been put in place. I remember that my predecessor worked on 2007 Minerals act,which was eventually domiciled by our administration. Therafter, we formulated a policy for the sector. We identified seven strategic minerals of importance in our country as focus for development. Coal, gold, bitumen, lead-zinc, barytes, iron ore and others. The objective was to focus on those strategic minerals of importance that are available in commercial quantities. Many people look at diversification as on the shelves products  that they can be purchased. No, it doesn’t go that way. There are challenges, the first step in mining is exploration, and that is where we are for many years. Nigeria was once a mining country. I remember the days of tin and columbite mining in Jos and coal mining in Enugu that was even used to generate electricity in the 60’s. The oil boom of the 70’s and 80’s, made us abandon mining. So, for us to go back there, the first thing we need is exploration. Exploration itself is something that should  be carried out by the  private sector. When I was in the Ministry, within the context of mining regulation that we put in place, we tried  to weed-off speculators, because one of the problems we have in that sector has to do with people who have no business in mining obtaining exploration licence and holding on to it for years looking for prospective investors. Mining is not done that way, because there are two things that go with exploration; that is financial capability and technical competence . If you don’t have any of those two, you don’t have any business obtaining the exploration licence. After obtaining the exploration licence, you have to engage in minimum work obligations. Minimum work obligations entails you going to the site to carry out exploration activities and giving periodic reports to determine the commercial viability of such mineral deposits. The availability of minerals in commercial quantities will guarantee investment . Nobody will invest in a project that is not profitable . What should  be done is to have minimum work obligations, and report such activities to mining cadaster department of the ministry. The moment you obtain the exploration licence, you go on exploration activities and you are able to ascertain commercial viability to sustain and justify capital investment, then you are able to go to the next stage, which is mines development. Mines development entails a lot of things, government can come in by providing infrastructure, because we have problems of access to the location of minerals sites.The access in those days, rail was used to transport coal from Enugu to other parts of Nigeria. Ajaokuta to Warri rail-line has been completed for transporting the iron-ore from Ajaokuta to Warri. Those are the ways government can provide infrastructure. By providing infrastructure, you are creating an enabling environment. Government should not and must not directly get involved in exploration and other direct activities in mining . After mines development, the minerals are excavated for use. Finally, mines closure within the context of environmental laws and regulations. We must ensure that the mines sites are properly closed,so that they will not create health hazzard within the environment. Those are the stages that you really have to go as far as mining is concerned. It has its own challenges. Most importantly is to have genuine investors in the sector and get them to invest after the environment have been made conducive.

I said if we don’t return to the principles on which this party was founded, which was my initial attraction to the party,  those values that at present are not practised, if we don’t return to them, I will definitely not be part of it again.

From your analysis, would you say the present administration in the last few months, has  planned or prepared to fully key into this direction?

 The Minister is less than three months on the seat, and having been in that position , the best time to judge that Minister is after two years in office. The issues that are involved are not on the shelf  things that they can just go to and purchase. The issue involved is that of generating investors confidence and coming up with a programme of action. He has to put things in place, go to the  Federal Executive Council and Mr President to get his action plans in place, it takes time. For anybody to be judging any Minister within three months of assumption in office, means that the person does not know how the system runs. For one to be able to judge the Minister is after two years.

 2015 is gradually winding up, looking at Nigeria as a nation,can you comment on Nigeria in retrospect in the outgoing year. Would you say,as a nation,the government has been able to meet up with the expectations of many Nigerians?

Well, the government meeting up with the expectations of Nigerians is something that we have to examine  from different perspectives. There are challenges within the polity, we have the challenges of insurgency, which is unique, because it is different from the conventional wars that our armed forces are trained to fight; we have that as security challenges in the North. And then, issues of kidnapping, especially in the South-south and the south-east, armed robberies  in the South-west. You don’t have progress in an economy that does not enjoy minimum peace that is necessary for  economic activities to flourish . That is the first challenge witnessed in the year. We also have the issue of economic recession. The economy is definitely going down and the major reason for that is Nigeria being dependent on a mono-cultural product. The massive decline in the prices of crude oil has put us in a precarious position, and it’s unfortunate. This happened in 1982, because I still recall the economy stabilization act of President Shehu Shagari. President Shehu Shagari then emphasized that we need to diversify, and after 30 years, we are still talking about diversification of the economy. The crude oil price falling to a very low level and the security challenges were responsible for the downturn . The northeast  used to be the  food basket of the nation in terms of livestock and farm produce but as at today, that kind of atmosphere is nonexistent. That means invariably, we have to start importing  livestock from Chad, Niger etc. Insecurity and falling oil prices have definitely served as a big shock to our economy and that’s why you find out that some states cannot  pay salaries. If you run a business and you can’t pay salaries in the private sector,it’s bankruptcy. You can’t meet your recurrent overhead, talkless of capital costs , talk less of profit. Many states as we stand now, are even saying that they cannot afford to pay minimum wage. All these are the resultant effects of the drop in oil prices. Economically, these affected all nations producing oil, so we are not going to be different. I have to salute the resilience  of the Nigerian people for being able to withstand the economic shocks . In other climes, you will be reporting various deaths and unimaginable casualties.

In the last few days, there has been a trade of words between the PDP and the APC over the economy downturn in the country. What is your take on this?

 It is unfortunate that the political class in Nigeria keep on creating  problems. I want to appeal to both parties that after an election, what should be paramount is good governance to better the lot of the Nigerian people.The situation whereby both parties are behaving as if another another election is coming soon, is not healthy and is not good for the development of democracy in our country. We are operating a Presidential system, we should take a queue from where we adopted the Presidential system of government. Immediately after the Presidential elections in the United State of America, it not about Democrats and Republicans again, it’s about America.  So we should live above partisanship. Our nation is more important than our partisan beliefs. Things that can overheat the polity should be avoided on both sides and things that should promote the well-being of an average Nigerian should be our focus . Our economy is going down, what do we do? Let’s have a bi-partisan approach, the security challenges are enormous, if security challenges persist , will  it discriminate between APC or PDP members? It will affect Nigerians, both the politicians and non-politicians altogether.  Therefore, the love for our country should be paramount to us after election. Thereafter , we should cooperate with one another, then the last one year to end of tenure could be for electioneering . We keep on behaving as if election is everyday business and relegating to the background the development of our nation. It is a very sad development and I am not happy about it. I am using this opportunity to appeal to the political class in the two parties to please look for ways of bi-partisan approaches to solving our numerous problems.

Let’s have a bi-partisan approach, the security challenges are enormous, if security challenges persist , will  it discriminate between APC or PDP members? It will affect Nigerians, both the politicians and non-politicians altogether.  Therefore, the love for our country should be paramount to us after election. Thereafter , we should cooperate with one another, then the last one year to end of tenure could be for electioneering

How would you assess the present administration in this state being a former SSG in the state and a leader in all facets of live?

Well, it depends on the parameters that we want to use, every administration has got its own priorities. In terms of providing road networks, the administration has performed. There is no doubt about that and it’s all over the place, particularly, in the cities. But of course, like I said, at the national level, at the state level too, the governor would need to involve the whole spectrum of Ogun state people . One thing about experience is not something that you can buy, and the governor of today is also going to become an ex-governor tomorrow. Look for a forum where you can bring together those who have governed  this state before and who are bonafide citizens of Ogun state, to contribute. What I mean by bonafide citizens is that,some of the past military administrators are not from this state .Their stakes  in this state will not be as much as the citizens. Bringing them together and sharing experiences with them would help the state. Politicking should not be the issue, once you have been elected to govern, politicking should be put aside and it should be about joining hands with all well meaning people for the progress and development of the state. That’s all I can say.

What are the problems of the PDP in Ogun state, we have series of caucus like Kashamu caucus, OGD caucus, Sarafa caucus etc. What’s the state of the PDP now in the state. A meeting was recently held at Ijebu Igbo residence of Senator Buruji Kashamu. Were you part of the meeting and where is the party now in the state?

 To me, happenings in PDP Ogun state are not different from what is happening in many states of the federation. After the election, many people are taking stock to find out where things went wrong. I’m going to talk of PDP at the national level, Ogun state  inclusive. And I can tell you that the problems with PDP now is because we deviated from the principles of the founding fathers. I will proudly say at any point in time that I was there at the foundation of the party in 1998. The party was founded to accommodate all shades of interests in Nigeria. The party  at foundation was anchored on 3-principles. Firstly as inclusive platform. Leaders like Solomon Lar, Abubakar Rimi and the rest of them being members  of the party from the Progressive side, we also have Conservatives like Malam Adamu Ciroma, Bamanga Tukur etc. We have the Military class like General Babangida, General Obasanjo who happened to be the first Presidential candidate of the party. We have technocrats, such as Philip Asiodu etc. It is the first pan Nigerian party that we are going to have in this country with considerable presence in all parts of the federation. And the party was anchored on certain principles. To get the political class together, so that democracy can be sustained. Whatever you say about PDP, sustaining democracy for 16years is an achievement. I don’t know what any country can build without political stability. Elections were conducted free and fair and the rest of them. Secondly, the issue of internal democracy. In those days, you stay in your wards to elect officials of the party in your wards without interference from non-ward members.  It was then power to the people and not power to self acclaimed leaders. Thirdly, it was anchored on credible primaries. However, what do we have today from national to the wards? Instead of having power to the people, we are having power to the leaders. Anybody that claimed to be a leader of the party should ask himself what aspect of the PDP constitution provide for leaders of the party. I have gone through all versions of the party  constitutions from 1998 to date , I’ve not seen where the party makes a provision for leaders. Those are the kinds of aberration we are talking about. We have party officials, we have party members, we have various organs of the party from the national to the ward. I am not aware of any constitutional creation like leader of the party. Let us return to the foundation objectives of the party. Values that are inculcated through credible leadership in this country, and if that is not done, I can assure you that people like me would review my membership of the party.

I have gone through all versions of the party  constitutions from 1998 to date , I’ve not seen where the party makes a provision for leaders. Those are the kinds of aberration we are talking about. We have party officials, we have party members, we have various organs of the party from the national to the ward. I am not aware of any constitutional creation like leader of the party. Let us return to the foundation objectives of the party

Are you set to leave the party now, or you are still hoping to leave the party?

I said if we don’t return to the principles on which this party was founded, which was my initial attraction to the party,  those values that at present are not practised, if we don’t return to them, I will definitely not be part of it again.

 In the last few months, there have been a series of revelations in Nigeria, the arms deal saga. Considering all these, as a former Minister,what do you think this portends to Nigeria in the comity of nations?

 Well, what I don’t really like is media trial. Democracy is anchored on the rule of law and the rule of law mantra is that you are not guilty, until you are proven and found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. I can accuse you of stealing my property  and you will be charged to court immediately for one thing or the other, but in the course of the court processes, the court may discharge and acquit , I would have done a lot of damage to you by externalizing the allegation , that is where I stand. There are sufficient laws in this country to deal with offences , to deal with misappropriation, to deal with embezzlement, to deal with maladministration. So, let the course of action within the context of extant laws take its effect. Accused persons must be properly investigated, arrested, and taken to court and the judiciary will have to pronounce verdicts . And until the verdict is given on individual cases, I don’t like commenting on trials, because as a former Minister, I should know the irreducible minimum behaviour that is expected of me. Let us wait for the outcomes of the  court trials and after the convictions or acquittals , then I can make my comments.

What is Your message to Nigerians as we are approaching 2016. What should Nigerians be expecting from the government as we are going into the new year?

My message to Ogun state people in particular and Nigerians at large is that we all have a duty to contribute our quota towards national development. Politicians have tenures, they will come and go, but our nation has to survive. My appeal to the people in our generation is to come together in providing a future for the upcoming ones. What are we thinking about the future of our youths, millions of pupils in primary and secondary schools? So let the elite class, the political class and other classes make appropriate provisions to take care of the future of our youths, and by doing that, you are taking care of the future of our nation. Thank you.