In this interview with Ben Agande in Abuja, the Chairman of the All Progressive Congress in the United States of America, Mr Anthony Isama says Nigerians should allow President Muhammadu Buhari choose his cabinet at the time he wants but warn his party on the dangers ahead. Excerpts:
The president recently revealed the willingness of the world powers to assist Nigeria recover some of the stolen monies kept abroad. What role will the All Progressive Congress in the Diaspora play in ensuring that such monies are traced?
We will use the legal tools in our various countries of residence to reach out to our representatives in the congress to support the administration in this effort.
Despite several visits to solicit foreign direct investments, it has been argued that the result has not
been commensurate with the efforts previous governments have put into it. What do you think is responsible for this?
Expectation is one thing and recognition of the realities of the situation is another. Basically, a business person wants a place that is safe they can invest and make some profit at the end. If you don’t have such a secure environment, you can make all the arrangements. It wouldn’t work. You wouldn’t get the right people. So our party will first move to secure our environment. If we guarantee safety of people coming in, things will change.
Apart from the oil sector, there is little involvement of the United States of American businessmen in the country. What would you say is responsible for this minimal presence?
There are several factors and they all come down to the same thing: security. The oil companies have all been around for a long time, even in our most difficult times. The key is how to project the country for the values it has for an investor coming in to say this is our population. change.
What are your expectations from the Buhari administration in terms of people that should form his cabinet?
The president is experienced and he has come out to serve. He must have an idea on the character of the person that he would want to serve in his government. The essence of finding the right people remains the president’s prerogative and he has to give them his standard that he wants. We cannot define it for him.
Don’t you think that the crisis rocking the national assembly is capable of derailing the APC from its targets?
I don’t think so because the country voted for change and we cannot afford to fail the country.
The APC family will sort it out. We cannot continue to do what we were doing under the Peoples Democratic Party. We have to recognise that the country wants that change that they sought and if we don’t give them that change, Nigerians will revolt against us. The populace will revolt.
Are you not scared that the PDP will take advantage of this disagreement to the detriment of the APC?
I am not scared because PDP has consumed itself and as of now there is nothing like PDP. Maybe what is happening now may help to bring up some people to re-organise the party as a potential force which will be good for the country because we also need a strong a virile opposition.
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