Hon. John Kome, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, is the party’s 2023 candidate for Ikeja Constituency 1 seat in the Lagos House of Assembly. As Nigerians get ready for 2024, Dr Kome spoke to EJIKEME OMENAZU on crucial issues to mark the end of the year. Excerpt:

Approval has been given to Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali to leave the ECOWAS, with a six-month grace. What do you think are the implications to Nigeria in particular and the region in general?

When we talk of ECOWAS, it is a regional block in Africa. What obtains in ECOWAS could be viewed globally, as the region is a part of the global community. For example, what is happening now in ECOWAS may be related with what is happening in the Middle East. There are facts that Russia and Turkey may be behind the crisis in some Francophone countries. We have seen the heavy military equipment Burkina Faso is acquiring through Russia and Turkey. This may be for any eventuality, against the interest of their former colonial master. The silence of France over these issues may not really be golden. For France to remain silent may mean that it has its plans. When France rises up, not only the Fran­cophone countries will be affected. Nigeria and the other Anglophone countries may also be affected if France rises against its former colonies. This may lead to spill­overs to the ECOWAS countries, especially Nigeria. Recently, Pres­ident Bola Tinubu, the ECOWAS Chairman, was recently in France on the invitation of the President Emmanuel Macron. That invita­tion and the bilateral talks while Tinubu President was there might have also centred on these Fran­cophone countries now trying to leave ECOWAS.

Definitely, international poli­tics may be at play. Whenever the super powers engage themselves, these young African countries may pay for it. See what is happening to Assad in Russia in the heat of the war with Ukraine. Assad had to leave Russia. These countries trying to leave ECOWAS should be careful. For Nigeria, the economic implication of the action of these countries may not be good if they leave ECOWAS. This is because the people from Niger, Mali, and even Chad are everywhere here. They are not real Hausas, but are from some of these ECOWAS countries. The decision of these countries to leave ECOWAS will definitely affect Nigeria as the other coun­tries may reject them. Security wise, this is not good. Terrorist attacks may increase and these may adversely affect the economy of ECOWAS countries, especially Nigeria.

As 2024 is drawing to an end, could you give your overview of the year?

Generally, an overview of the country shows that there are myr­iad of problems Nigerians have to contend with. Economic problems aggravated due to policy reforms of President Bola Tinubu admin­istration. The economic situation is not improving at all. The impli­cations have been unimaginable and undesirable. The astronomical rise in costs of goods and services has exacerbated the already bad situation of suffering and pains which existed before this admin­istration came in. This has led to more crimes of great magnitude. The level of stealing and dishon­esty among the Nigerian society has become unbearable. There is so much dishonesty and false­hood. The whole situation is ugly. Economic hardship, insecurity and high cost of living have in­creased. All these have affected the economic situation. Bank charges on transactions have increased. Bank deductions have increased. Economic situation and policies of the government have affected the banks, which are now complaining of shortage of cash to give to their customers.

How effective would you say the re­forms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration have been so far?

There is no effectiveness any­where. The little changes include improvement in electricity supply, which came with high costs, but the national grid has continued to collapse. Nothing really has im­proved. The level of corruption in government is too high. Nigerians have lost faith in the judiciary. Ni­gerians are at the mercy of public officers. There is a lot of corrup­tion even in higher institutions. The citizens are at the mercy of those who control the sectors. The entire country is in a big mess. We have refused to tell ourselves the truth.

Your party, the PDP, is yet to hold its conventions, postponing it to the tail end of January or February 2025. How realistic is this new date, bearing in mind that the convention has been postponed several times due to the crisis in the party?

We cannot talk of the new date being realistic. Nobody knows to­morrow. Nobody envisaged that the governor of Akwa Ibom State would lose his wife, which neces­sitated the last postponement of the convention. Events determine what will happen. Nobody knows what will happen in January or February when the convention is shifted to. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has not done its convention. In any organisation, there is bound to be a crisis. Crisis is not peculiar to the Peoples Dem­ocratic Party (PDP). Some people are working hand-in-hand with the APC to cause crises in PDP and other political parties. But, what­ever has a beginning has an end.

What is your date on the cash prob­lems Nigerians are currently facing? How effective would you say is the control of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of commercial banks?

The cash control and liquidity problem in banks is very serious. The liquidity control of the CBN is also serious. We do not know if commercial banks are really listening to or obeying the CBN. The CBN will say something and commercial banks will do another thing. There is over taxation and an increase in bank charges. Charges on withdrawals and bank charges are too much. Policies of other sectors and regions are affecting the masses. ATMs do not dispense cash. In the banking hall, banks do not pay more than N10,000 in cash. But, the POS operators now overcharge the people. What type of country are we in? There are so many charges in all sectors, in­cluding education. The common man is sighing heavily due to the weight the policy makers and driv­ers of the economy place on them. For example, a few days ago, there was a notification from the CBN that commercial banks should not give new notes to those selling or hawking currencies along the roads or at social events or social gatherings and parties, which will attract N150 million fine. How can the CBN monitor this?

How do you see the recent defec­tion of several National Assembly lawmakers of different political parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)? Don’t you see this as a sign that the nation is tilting towards a one-par­ty rule?

There will be political upheaval before 2027. Those planning to turn Nigeria to a one-party state will be shocked. There will be heavy and massive defection from the APC. There will be major and critical al­liances that will shock every Nige­rian. Nigeria cannot be a one-party state. Those trying to do so cannot succeed.

With the year about to end, what is your message to Nigerians?

Nigerians should have hope in God. Everyone should pray to God for help. Both Christians and Muslims should pray. Nige­rians should be careful in their movements. They should also be careful of how they relate to one another. People should be patient with others to avoid unnecessary killings due to the anger in the land. People now can kill because of N200. Nigerians should help one another.