Buhari vindicated!

MUIZ ADEYEMI BANIRE, Notary Public and erudite legal scholar, has a doctorate degree in Property Law from the University of Lagos. He was a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Private and Properly Law, University of Lagos, and has also been in active legal practice for years. He is a prolific writer on different areas of law, and has a robust public service experience as a Commissioner in Lagos State, and has proved his mettle by performing excellently in all of his public assignments.

In this edition, Banire, who is the national legal adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), speaks about leadership, the APC, party dynamics, the 2015 elections and Buhari’s vindication. Excerpt:

Q: ON NIGERIA AND LEADERSHIP TODAY

Thank you very much. It is an acknowledged point internationally that the way we run our system in Nigeria is below general expectations. There is a lot of work for us to do. Look at the state of our economy. It is in a debilitating state as our currency on a daily basis is sinking. Our polity is in crisis. Security-wise we are not in a comfortable state. Our educational institutions and the health sector are always on strike. These are just few out of the crises confronting us. We have a lot to do.

BANIRE’s LEADERSHIP STYLE AND THE WELL-DEFINED CHANGES HE MADE IN SERVICE

My policy is “don’t delay till tomorrow what can be done today”. I also do not accept failure as an excuse and I know that the best way to achieve is to be dedicated to your goals. I ran both Ministries of Transportation and Environment in a manner disagreeable to indolence but well disposed to positive reforms. My colleagues in the Ministries knew that they must deliver on their assignments and that was the secret of our success in those hectic but interesting days in office. Passion equally played a vital role in the process.

ON INTRA-PARTY DEMOCRACY, STRUCTURE, LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

You must be aware of certain agitations that preceded the primary elections of our party towards the tail end of 2014. Our leaders are responsive to the yearnings of the people and we did the most credible primary elections in Nigeria. Look at the process by which our candidates emerged. It was transparent and a lot of credit must go to our leaders on this. The process has enabled us to produce most popular candidates, which shows that we run an inclusive system in the decision-making process with members in selections. In fact, the negligible percentage of pre election cases we have attest to this.

ON ALLEGATIONS OF IMPOSITION OF CANDIDATES AND HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IN APC

As I said earlier, we run an inclusive system in APC. By short-changing I do not understand? I have never for once shown interest in any elective position and as such, sidelining is out of the question. As you have witnessed recently, we had a transparent and credible primary, and a successful Presidential election.  That contradicts imposition.  I can tell you authoritatively that we do not nurse impositions of candidates in APC. We savour and treasure internal democracy.

CONCERNS ABOUT APC WINNING THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION IN LAGOS

Yes, you are correct. I had the fear, as I did not want my party for which I had laboured so much to lose relevance and the speed of progress we have recorded so far. Do not forget that I was Commissioner in Lagos State for 12 years. I doubt if there is anybody who would like to see a reversal of 12 years of achievement; which is what would happen if we allow people without knowledge of and dedication to selfless leadership emerge. But right now, I can tell you that we are coasting home to victory. We have put in place all legitimate means in place to ensure that we win the election and God willing, we shall be returned as the winner of the election come April 11, 2015.

PARTIES OPERATING AT OPTIMUM AND APC AS A ‘MODEL’ PARTY

It is only a dead man that is not open to further development. As a political party, though we receive commendations all over for performing well, I believe that there is room for improvement as the dynamics of human society are not static but always evolving. New demands and challenges come up everyday and we need to continue sharpening our skills to meet the yearnings of the masses to which we owe allegiance.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF A PARTY FALLING SHORT OF ITS MANIFESTO

If a party falls short of fulfilling its manifesto, the citizens can bring legal action if such failings actually have statutory or constitutional obligations, which have been infringed. You would see that a number of human rights activists like Chief Gani Fawehinmi of blessed memory, Femi Falana and others have exposed us to our legal rights in holding a party to its promises.

However, the greatest weapon in the hands of the masses is to reject such a political party through the ballot. If we keep electing or allowing failing politicians to rig us out and return to power, not many litigations can produce as much effect as ensuring that such parties do not have the feel of power again by which they can keep riding roughshod over us.

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST GENERAL BUHARI

It is all mere political shenanigans on the part of PDP. All the allegations made against Buhari are completely senseless but the leadership of PDP was only jittery; clawing on to straws in a bid not to be out of power.  Buhari committed no perjury and is vindicated on a lot of levels.

DESIRE FOR THE LEGAL SECTOR IN NIGERIA

My training as a lawyer has taught me that the only way out for us is to be law-abiding, whether as leaders or citizens. We must follow the rule of law to the letter. It is the only way by which we can be ranked among civilized nations.

NIGERIAN LEGAL EDUCATION SYSTEM

I have said it recently that it is necessary to improve on our legal education system as many of our younger colleagues labour to learn whereas the system needs a lot of improvement to make us all more impactful. We need to be more practice-oriented. Well, the problem with the legal system is not separable from the general malaise afflicting this nation as the general rot in education is affecting the legal education system as lawyers have their educational foundation in the same educational system available to all. There is much to be done. We still have a long way to go.