My chances are brighter this time – Ohiare

Written by Abdullahi Yahaya Bello
Saturday, 09 February 2008

Senator Mohammed Ohiare was the gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress in the disputed 2007 election. In this interview, he says his chance in the rescheduled governorship polls in March is very bright.

Weekly Trust: What is your reaction to the Court of Appeal on the Kogi governorship election?

Senator Mohammed Ohiare: It is a landmark judgement. It shows that our judiciary is very much alive to their responsibilities and we are very much proud of them.

WT: Are you going to stand for election again?

Ohiare: Of course, I have the mandate of my people. They have not told me that they have withdrawn their mandate. I am going to contest and I have the full backing of my party.

WT: Prior to this judgement, there was rumour that you have joined forces with the ANPP candidate, Abubakar Audu. How true is this?

Ohiare: Discussion is still going on and in politics you can never predict anything. Anything can happen.

WT: There was also another rumour that you wanted to go back to the PDP.

Ohiare: The thing is that we are all in politics and there is always the need to dialogue on political issues. So I have been dialoguing with the PDP, I have been dialoguing with ANPP as well. But it is aimed at creating a conducive atmosphere for politicking in Kogi State.

WT: With the governor out of the way now, do you foresee a level playing field for all the candidates?

Ohiare: Well you see the PDP is still in government. The speaker is a PDP man. I hope he will allow a level playing field. We hope he doesn’t deploy the agents of coercion like the police and soldiers like they have been doing. I believe the president means what he said that the rule of law should prevail. I believe he will make sure that there is a level playing field for fresh election to take place in Kogi State.

WT: The last time you won only three local governments. What are your chances this time around?

Ohiare: I will tell you that I have over 12 local governments in the last election if you have to talk of statutory requirement to win election. So I had over three local governments. This time around there is going to be improvement. There is a very bright chance for me to win this election and I know God is surely on my side.

WT: Your constituency, Kogi Central has been in crisis for sometimes now. On Wednesday, fresh crisis erupted between AC and PDP youths. Is this not an obstacle to election?

Ohiare: It is the external forces that are fuelling the crisis in my area. My people are going to conduct this election peacefully. This will be the last crisis in the area.

WT: The last time politicians and other stakeholders met over the crisis in Okene, you called for the deployment of soldiers to disarm the youths. Has that been done?

Ohiare: They have not deployed the military up till now. We believe that immediately this election is conducted and by the grace of God if I win, all these issues will be resolved. The first thing is to make the youth realise that this is their government. I will give them all the necessary attention that will make them willingly submit their weapon.

WT: Some say the security agencies in Okene have been compromised and that is why they cannot disarm the thugs. What is your view on this?

Ohiare: I don’t know. The much I know is that for some time now, the PDP has been using the police to collaborate with their thugs to unleash mayhem on the peace loving people of Kogi central. That is the much I know.