Highlife veteran, Prof. Victor Uwaifo
Highlife veteran, Prof. Victor Uwaifo, in this interview with COMFORT OSEGHALE, shares his thoughts on the election of Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd)
What are your thoughts on the results of the Presidential election?
It all went well. It was an eye opener. There is a Latin saying that “the voice of the people is the voice of God.” The people have spoken, and the decision has been taken. People from other countries, especially Africa, will learn from us.
The biometric method adopted by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the voting process has made rigging difficult. It has solved a lot of problems and the electorate too were very precise.
Education also played a great role in the process; more people are enlightened.
What are your thoughts on the results of the Presidential election?
It all went well. It was an eye opener. There is a Latin saying that “the voice of the people is the voice of God.” The people have spoken, and the decision has been taken. People from other countries, especially Africa, will learn from us.
The biometric method adopted by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the voting process has made rigging difficult. It has solved a lot of problems and the electorate too were very precise.
Education also played a great role in the process; more people are enlightened.
Today, we have about 134 universities as against what was obtainable a few years ago. More people now know their rights. They know where the pendulum swings.
I must also commend President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat. That shows that politics is not a do-or-die affair. It shouldn’t be one of bitterness. I commend everyone that has contributed to the success of the election.
Do you think Buhari’s emergence would have an effect on the April 11 elections?
It would just be a little spillover effect. Some people can be swayed to wherever the pendulum swings. I don’t think it would work though. Everybody likes the winning team but for those who strongly believe in political manifestos, it might not make a difference. Only an unwary voter can be swayed.
How would you appraise INEC’s performance?
INEC did well. Nobody is perfect. It takes a lot to achieve perfection. If you know it all, then you cannot grow. INEC still has room for growth but it did better than it did before. We cannot expect everything to be perfect. If you have gone through the four walls of a university and you made 80 per cent in all your subjects, you have made a first class. You must not make a 100 per cent in all subjects.
So, if you have a second class upper, you know where you belong. What we did in Nigeria is more than a pass. We are now the toast of every nation.
There has been a general condemnation of Elder Godsday Orubebe’s actions at the centre yesterday. Do you agree with the public opinion?
I am aware his actions were generally condemned. Even those who were not able to watch the incident at the national collation centre on television all heard about it. I couldn’t watch it but I heard about it and that Orubebe eventually allowed INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega to explain himself.
In the end, I would say the entire incident is not as bad as making a mistake and not correcting it. Orubebe corrected the mistake by letting Jega respond. That was good.
What do you think should be the priority for the President-elect?
I would not like to jump the gun for now since Buahri has his own agenda and manifestoes make them public first. Then I can comment on that. For now I am unwilling to jump the gun so as not to pre-empt him.
However, I would like to advise INEC to start from this moment and begin to prepare for future elections. Its employees will be collecting salaries every month till the next election. So, it should begin the process now instead of waiting till a few months before the set time. Everyone who has come of age (18) should be able to register immediately and collect his Permanent Voter’s Card. Not the ad-hoc arrangement it had. That is the problem of Africa. We like the last-minute rush.
Do you have expectations from the President-Elect concerning the music industry?
Music is an independent industry, a rallying point for everyone irrespective of tribe and religion. The President-elect is a lover of music; I remember many years back when I played for him when he was the military Head of State. He invited me to Lagos for the Children’s’ Day and sent me a congratulatory message in a letter, to thank me for the performance.
Music is love. It is an advantage of all governments. Throughout the campaign, they made use of music to get the electorate’s attention.
COMFORT OSEGHALE
