Date: 2016-12-22

Alhaji Abdulhamid Adi is National President of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), who officially came into office December 26, 2013. He spoke on wide range of issues in this exclusive interview with AHMED 'LATEEF in Ilorin yesterday.

When was IEDPU established?

That was about 1941. But officially when we started our annual conference, it was 1965. That is why last year, we marked our 50th year anniversary of annual conference.

Can we know the journey so far?

Al-Amdulilah for the journey so far, and each year, the union has been waxing stronger. We are able to instill in the mind of our people importance of IEDPU. In that annual conferences, we usually have delegates from different parts of the country. Initially, it used to be very small. But now, we expect delegates from more than 100 branches all over the world that would be attending our 51st annual conference holding this year.

IEDPU is known to be the apex socio-cultural group of Ilorin Emirate. Looking back, what are the challenges facing the union?

The understanding of the people of the Ilorin Emirate has be to a gradual approach. Most people believe those of us in the IEDPU are using it to achieve either personal or political self interest. This has been the challenge facing the union in the past. But Al-Amdulilah, gradually, we have been able to educate the people that the union is to serve the people of Ilorin Emirate, it is to be the mouthpiece of the Emirate in all its ramifications.

So, the challenge we face sincerely, is for people to understand the aims and objectives of establishing the IEDPU. And one of the aims and objectives is just to foster unity among the five local government areas of Asa, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Ilorin South and Moro that form Ilorin Emirate. The essence is to foster unity so that whatever we are discussing, it is all in the interest of the Emirate. And anything that will bring economic, social and educational development of the Emirate is the kind of thing the union stands for.

There is insinuation in some quarters that IEDPU has been politically infiltrated, how true is this?

That is not right. Whoever is saying that is oblivious of the structure of the IEDPU. Once you are a member of the National Executive of the union, you to sink or forget about political leaning. Anybody that wants to hold executive position in the IEDPU, once he is into partisan politics, he has to resign.

Even if it is the President that has been into partisan politics, we are not asking him not to play politics but he must not be partisan. He must not be seen following politicians about in their campaigns or issue statement on their behalf. Whatever differences or political orientation you have, once you enter into IEDPU, you have to drop it at the gate.

We are not infiltrated at all. Those people that are saying that, did not know the structure of the IEDPU. As an individual, you can come to say your opinion, but whenever decision we are going to take in the end, must be in the overall interest of the Emirate.

Since you came on board, has the union been contacted to support certain political ambition?

A politician may come to campaign just like he is doing to other people. He can come to us, we will listen to him. Once we listen to him as individuals, the union will not take a position by asking everybody to vote for Mr A. No, we are different from that. You have to go and vote for the party of your choice. But as a politician and as a stakeholder too, if you want to come and meet and talk to us, we will listen to you irrespective of political leaning.

But we have just discovered some of them are very afraid of coming to us, because they know the people in the IEDPU are very educated and exposed. They know they will ask them a lot of questions. That is why some of them usually run away from meeting the IEDPU as a body. If they come, we listen to them and ask questions. And then leave individuals to take decision on their own.

But certainly, not on behalf of the union. The union will always say anybody that is canvassing for the votes of Ilorin must take the interest of the community into consideration. And anything that will be against the interest of the community, the IEDPU will come out openly and caution that person.

What has been the achievements of the IEDPU in the last 51 years that you have been convening national conference?

The achievement of the union is enormous. For instance, within the last 51 years, the union established eight community secondary schools. The first among those schools was Ilorin Grammar School. We have others in Ballah, United Community Secondary School, Unity Road; Baboko Community Secondary School, Banni Community Secondary School, Barakat Community Secondary School and that of Ilorin Comprehensive High School (ICHOS), which is the latest one. The IEDPU is running ICHOS 100 percent. We did not hand it over to the government. That is in the field of education.

As part of our achievements in the economic area, we have been able to establish Ilorin Micro-Finance Bank. IEDPU is the promoter of the bank. And the bank is one of the best community banks in the North Central if not in the whole parts of the country. Because already the bank has achieved 100 percent capital base.

In other social areas too, we have been very active. Very recently, we have been able to mobilize more than 300 indigenes of the Emirate to take part in the entrepreneurship skill. We partnered with National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to train over 50 indigenes of the Emirate in various skill acquisitions.

And early last month, we also partnered with Kwara State Polytechnic to train over 250 indigenes of Ilorin Emirate in various skills, and I hope by February next year, they will complete the skill acquisitions. There are so many other areas that the union has actually contributed to the development of the Emirate.

Few months ago, a renowned Ilorin Industrialist claimed that some areas that were carved out as industrial layouts have been compromised. What is the IEDPU doing to reclaim those areas?

Of course, I was at that lecture too when he said it. Well, it is one thing to conceive an idea, to be able to implement is another. If the areas had been set up as industrial layouts and they are not being used, it could be the fault of government that did not attract industrialists to come and develop those areas or it could be as a result of paucity of fund. And some industrialists may also be afraid of what to produce.

Anywhere, before industrialists come in, they will make sure that they are going to make a lot of profits, because their motive is to make profit. If they know that the profit is not forthcoming, they will move to another place. But if the government provides necessary incentives for industrialists to come in, then nobody will use or encroach those areas that were mapped out for either petrol stations or other unproductive something.

But if the government is actually serious about that industrial development, it is for them to lay it out and make sure it functions, by then making it attractive to industrialists to come and establish industries. There is little the union (IEDPU) can do in that regard. Because before you do anything like that, it requires money, and this is very difficult to come by now.

The Kwara State government recently repealed the anti-cultism law, prescribing 10 years imprisonment for convicts. What is your position on that?

We are in full support of that action. We even commend the effort and courage of Kwara State government to send that bill to the state House of Assembly. We also acknowledge the House of Assembly for legislating against that kind of bad practices. As a matter of fact, to us, 10 years are too small. They should have made it more than 20 years, so that by the time any convict comes back, he would rather be very old to take part in cultic affairs. But it is good they (government) have done that thing.

Are you saying that the anti-cultism law should further be repealed?

If we have the opportunity, the state government can still repeal it. They can make the imprisonment between 20 and 25 years. Because (cult members) are creating problem in the community and destroying the values that we have in Kwara State, and particularly in the Emirate.

You would recall the role played by the IEDPU in this direction. In 2014, before the last general elections, we held security summit, of which the Governor of Kwara State attended that function. That shows the IEDPU has zero tolerance for all these cultism related activities. And since that time, we have been sponsoring jingle on the Radio, drawing the attention of everybody that all these bad habits are not in our dictionary.

We have also interacted with various associations within the Emirate. Because all these cult groups and bad boys did not descend from heaven. They live around us. They are from some parents. That is why we have been sensitizing the parents, the community leaders, the Imams and the Islamic scholars that they should take care of this and educate the people around them. And Al-Amdulilah, to some extent, it has been reduced, but we still believe, we have not done enough until they are completely wiped out from Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State before we rest on our oars.

So, we are in full support of what the government has done, we commend them for doing that. The union is recommending more years as for the jail term, it could be 25 years, so that by the time they will finish, they are already helpless. They cannot do anything again to destabilize the Emirate.

More than one year ago, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has focused on war against graft. Do you think it has recorded success?

Corruption is endemic. You cannot really and fully describe or define it. There are so many aspects of corruption. But so far, the government has tried and let it continue to try. However, they have to do it with caution and fear of God. Not just listening to hearsay, it is a lot of problem having to stop this corruption. I believe we have to start from somewhere and one day, we will reach promised land. But corruption in my own understanding, is not peculiar to Nigeria, it is all over the world.

But the belief held in some quarters is that the government has not achieved any concrete thing in the war against corruption... Cuts in.

Like I said earlier, they have to start from somewhere, and it has to be gradual. Because before you can convict a man, it has to undergo a lot of processes. You can't just say you heard this and that. You have to take the suspect to a law court, you will investigate and if he is found guilty and in legal procedure, you must make sure an accused is proved innocent until he is found guilty. That is Nigeria law for you.

And before you conclude that somebody is corrupt, you have to investigate. The corrupt people too are very clever. They will cover all the tracks. But if they are not wise and God wants to punish them, then they will be exposed. So, it requires gradual approach. It is not just say somebody is corrupt and convict such an individual in the court of public opinion. You have to follow the procedure. I know the government has been trying, but there is one factor it (the war) has done, it has served as a check to some people. Corruption has reduced somehow but we cannot completely eliminate it. Not only in Nigeria, it is all over the world.

As an elder statesman, is it fair for top officials of Buhari's government like SGF and others accused corruption to still be in the office?

Anybody that raises allegation must prove it. Like the SGF, Babachir Lawal, was saying that the Senate Committee didn't invite him to come and defend himself, and that of (Ibrahim) Magu, acting EFCC Chairman, they said they have not rejected him. That they only received a report from the DSS and then they find him culpable of some of the allegations. He has to defend himself. All these things are mere allegations until when they are proved. Once they are proved, the indicted persons should face the sanctions.

But despite the fair hearing, do you still believe that somebody that was accused of corruption should still stay in office taking cognizance of global best practices?

No, but you have to prove the allegation. If it is not proved, you can't draw conclusion. But in other climes, that person will resign, you will go and do your investigation and you will leave the judgment to everybody. However, in Nigeria as you know, some of them will die in the office. That has been our own problem. But if you meet people with very strong mind, if you try to rubbish them with allegations, they will resign immediately.

But to me, indictments of the people in this government are mere allegations. Like one of them said that they never invited him, let him come and explain and if he cannot explain to the whole world, let him leave.

The trial of people accused of corruption seems to have been dragged. Don't you think justice delayed is justice denied?

Like I said, they have to be investigated. You cannot just take them to court. And anything about justice, you have to follow the procedure. If you don't follow it, they will say you have not given them the opportunity to defend themselves. The war against corruption is an herculean task for Mr President, he can only try his best, he cannot completely eradicate it.

Economic recession is currently taking its toll on every Nigerian. What do you suggest government should do to take us out of the quagmire?

The recession issue has to do with oil. It is clear we are exporting much. It is all about import. If we rely very well on what we produce within the country, then we will get out of the recession immediately. But if we continue to import, whatever money we have, we will continue to spend it on importation of goods and one day, you will not be able to spend again.

The only thing that can lead Nigeria out of recession is for us to produce more. Let us go into agriculture full time. It is too bad that the price of rice has gone very high in the market. Why must we import rice, when Almighty Allah has endowed this country with fertile land, why must we continue to import palm oil from Malaysia when the seedlings used to make the product was taken from Nigeria.

So Nigerians, we are just lazy. We are not making the use of opportunity God has given us. Let's go into full time farming. Let us produce whatever we are eating here, that way, we shall get out of the recession. But as long as we continue to import, we are going to have more problems. Even we ship crude oil from here to Europe to refine for us and after that, they will sell back to us at exorbitant price.

As for the crude oil, is it not better for the nation's moribund refineries to be resuscitated now?

Of course, they should do it. But if they say they want to repair the refineries, it is going to take trillions not billions this time. And as soon as they finish, those people that are benefiting from it, can destroy it, remove some parts and we are back to square one. So, we should appeal to the conscience of our people that they should have the fear of God in whatever they are doing. No matter the effort of the government, some people are sabotaging it. So, the whole thing borders on the problems we have in this country.

What has been the contribution of well to do Ilorin indigenes to IEDPU since it was formed?

Their contribution has been very fantastic. Those well to do indigenes have been contributing wonderfully to the progress of the union. I want to place on record the contribution of the late Waziri of Ilorin, Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki. He contributed immensely, economically, socially, financially and educationally to the growth of Ilorin Emirate. There are so many other indigenes of Ilorin Emirate that have done well too, but he is singled out as one of the people that patronized IEDPU very well, and I believe in the last couple of years, the Senate President has been following his father's footsteps. He has also been contributing wonderfully to the economic development of the people of Ilorin Emirate.