 Kwan Koso sets to unveil presidential blueprints on November 1 and tonight on Civic Education we assess good governance and accountability at the grassroots. This is PROSPOLITIC, I'm Mary Anacol. The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People's Party, Senator Rabiu Kwan Koso on November 1 will unveil his presidential blueprint. A statement by the NNPP on Tuesday said the unveiling of the presidential blueprint and the third RMK colloquium will postpone following requests from members across the country after due consultations with stakeholders. We're joining us to discuss this and more is Ladikba Johnson, he's spokesperson for the Kwan Koso campaign council. It's so good to have you join us with Ladikba. You see, it's interesting, the last time you were here you were just Ladikba Johnson. And then the next time you got here you were a placeholder. Placeholder. And now you're here. I'm a spokesperson. How things have progressed, I like that trajectory. No problem, we thank God. Thanks for having me, good evening. Always a pleasure. Let's start by, I spoke with your presidential candidate I think two weeks ago, if I'm not mistaken, when he was here in Ligos to open some offices here, yes. But then things have changed in those weeks, we've seen lots of things happen in the country. But first I want to start by looking at his position and his place between some of the front runners in this election. Most people would say it's a three-history, some others will say it's a four-history. Others have called him a spoiler that he's just there to divide votes. What would you say about Rabi Kwan Koso in this regard? Well I'll say that he is in this race to win. He is not a spoiler if his existence or the existence of the NMPP or the growth of the NMPP spoils anyone's votes, so be it. He has a message for the people of the country. As you said, by the 1st of November he will unveil his blueprint which will involve his commitments to the people of the country, his plans and then the projections. It's going to be a very detailed paper and I know that once Nigerians see this document and they will know that this is a man who means business, who's ready to hit the ground running if he's given the opportunity. But back to your question, I see him as one who has an advantage. He has an advantage when it comes to experience. He's known to have been or known to be a performer in all that he has done. Now I understand why people would wrongly say this is a three-horse race and that is because I think quite intentionally, I don't know why, or he's a strategist, quite intentionally We've spent the last two or three months energizing our base. By energizing our base, what I mean is that he's been going around opening offices, as you said, he came into Lagos and he's done that around the country. In the northern part, I think there are only about two or three states he hasn't visited and he's visited most in the southern part as well. So we've been going around opening our offices, commissioning our offices, talking to the stakeholders there. This is key because you know that we came into the NMPP just in March. And to see what we have achieved in the few months shows you his grassroots appeal to the masses of the country. He is better placed, I dare say, than the other three that we talk about all the time. And I'm sure as we discuss maybe I'll get the opportunity to tell you some of the things he's done and why we believe that he is the person to lead us in the next four years vis-a-vis where we are at at the present moment as a country with the economic difficulties, the insecurity, and despondency basically amongst Nigerians. You should go to the airport, you see how many people are living every day out of the country. So it's a sad situation, but it's a situation that we can correct as a people, but to do that you need a good shepherd and you need someone to lead. And I believe Konkozo has the attributes to lead us in the right direction. Many talk about base, many talk about structure, and this has been what the supposedly big political parties are using against parties like yours or even the Labour Party saying that having a movement somewhere in the north there's not enough base for you to win an election because this is a game of numbers. And in terms of your presidential candidate, of course he does have the Konkozo movement but that is mostly in the north. Yes, you just told me that you have opened offices across the country, but what is the structure of the NMP? Remember you just said you also started, you joined the NMP. Yes, let me explain it to you. The Konkozo movement is the biggest political movement outside the two major parties. By what standards? By standards of membership and the structures. I tell you. Now. But it's domicile in canoe. No, no, no. You have, look, it's like talking about Bola Chinumbu, but you don't do that. What does he have outside Lagos? He doesn't, as a person, he doesn't have what Konkozo has, but they are relying on the fact that the APC is ruling party. But look at it from that point of view. What does he have? The membership. The membership. The party members would make that case that he's the godfather of politics in the southwest of the country, being that he somewhat had a hand in most of the governors who he met. If he were such a successful godfather, he really, really only had ocean states, who is out going now, and Lagos, of course, although he was an independent man, a kitty, not really his, or yours, they didn't win at all. So, you know, but we're not here to talk about Ashwa Jutinumbu, we're here to talk about the NMPP and Konkozo. And you see, the structure was there. The NMPP is a 21-year-old party. So I don't know who, but if they hadn't won an election, they would have been deregistered. They were there, and there was a meeting of minds. We came into the NMPP in March, and we've been growing the party. You will know, if you recall, there was a TNM, the National Movement, that Konkozo first came together with some individuals when he left the PDP. And then they joined with the Konkoziya Movement, and then we all moved into the NMPP. And I always say that Konkozo's base and the NMPP base are what I call organic, organic supporters. Most people, I'm either moving from APC to this, to that, to that, to that. But most, when you see someone putting on a red cap, or white and red, or what have you, and the females as well, they're usually people who are long-suffering. They've been with him. I've been with Konkozo since 2013, and I'm in the south here, and I'm LEGO State Coordinator of the Konkoziya Movement, and we have a movement in Ogun or your ocean. We have it going in the south west. So the facts that we haven't been in government here would not let us propel, would not have allowed us to propel our work maybe into the streets. But as I keep saying to people, I mean, look, two Wednesdays ago, when we had opened the office on a corridor road, I know that some people, some of my friends called to complain because of the traffic we caused and what have you. And most people were like, wow, we didn't know you had people in LEGOs. And I kept telling them that, oh, so I'm not a person. You know I'm here, or many others here as well. But you see, it isn't just, some will say, oh, it's just maybe the Arawa community in LEGOs. It's not just the Arawa community, but the Arawa community in LEGOs is a good base to sit atop of. So you have all these things, and it is when the campaigns or campaigning begins properly. It has started, you understand, some have started rallies and what have you, Atiku has done some and what have you. But when he starts to move around, and this time, moving around with the press, getting the message into the houses of Nigerians, then people will know that yes, maybe there's even just a two-horse race, and he will be one of the horses. Interesting. Interesting. What about the national appeal of the NNPP? Because again, the APC, the PDP, they've all held power at some point. Yes. Yes. And then, of course, now that we have the OB phenomenon and the movement, now we have the Kwan-Kosso or the Kwan-Kosya movement, what's the national appeal? I ask this because I always ask politicians at this point, Nigeria seems to need a unifier, somebody who would bring us together, because we have seriously been divided along ethnic and religious lines, and these lines have not necessarily been brought under this administration. What's the national appeal of the NNPP and how do they hope to blur these lines? Because again, I asked your presidential candidate a question. He didn't give me the answer, as I hoped for. I said it seems more like this election is more of an original election, because most of these people seem to be representing regional interests as opposed to the Nigerian interests. The unfortunate situation is that it seems to be as if they're representing regional interests because, unfortunately, in Nigerians, after the seven, eight years that we have had of this government feel that one ethnic group has dominated the others. And so everyone's looking at, to use his phrase, his word, our lokom, emilokom, you understand. But we need a unifier. But our minds open to it, and we just still, on average, he's a Christian, he's a Muslim, oh, he's Yoruba, oh, he's Igbo, you understand. And this market is usually a market of demand and supply. If the people want something, and you are coming out and saying, oh, it's like having an election, and the people are hell-bent on collecting gari and t-shirts and whatever from the candidates, and you come out and you start to tell them things that will improve their lives, they'll still ban vote for the person, inducing them. So the people, we, the Nigerians, have to be ready. But that said and done, I can assure you that the NMPP is very Nigerian in outlook. To name itself, New Nigeria People's Party. The founder of the party is an Igbo man from Eastern extraction. He's the chairman of the Board of Trustees. The national chairman is from the Northeast, the candidate Northwest, the vice president from the South. So the NMPP is a party with a nationalistic outlook. What we've realized, as our name depicts, that we all crave for a new Nigeria. If we continue in the direction we're going, there will be no Nigeria anymore. What do you bring to the table when you say we all crave for a new Nigeria? What would you do as the ordinary that would make the average Nigerian voter look in your direction? You see, Nigerians have heard the whole story of we're going to bring hope or change. These mantras seem to be very tiring now and Nigerians are over it. So what is the NMPP bringing? The first thing is we cannot stop hoping. That's the first thing. We're all despondent, we're all unhappy about the situation that we find ourselves in. Yet we all have a part to play because I keep saying if we do not get the small or little things right, the bigger picture will not, the bigger thing will not fall into place. Now what are we bringing, especially talking about the presidential election now, what are we bringing to the table? We're bringing someone who has the political will to act. He's someone who has a track record from 17 years' meritorious service in the civil service as an engineer to being a member of the Constituent Assembly, to being the deputy speaker of the National Assembly in the House of Reps. Then governor for four years, he lost his re-election. Then he became minister for defense in a time when we're talking about insecurity. He has that experience. Then he also has international experience. He was the special envoy to Darfur and Somalia at a time. Then he was a board member of the NDDC representing the Northwest and he resigned from that board because of the sharp practices that were happening at that time. Then came back to be governor for the second term and then senator for four years. Now within that time you can have someone in government to always say what sort of experience. The fact that they have experience doesn't mean anything. How did they do well? His track record is there. We make bold to say no one is perfect, but we make bold to say that none of those who are there against him have what he has. But there is a key to it. I want to tell you two things that will make you know that Rabu Konkoto is for Nigeria. One, when he became deputy speaker, during that election then, that is M.K. Abiola's election, he defeated Bashir Tofa of the NRC in his same polling units, same polling booth, not local government or what. He did that. So he was a houseman and he supported a Yoruba man as M.K. Abiola. That is key to see his outlook. What is even more important is that when he wanted to run for re-election the first time and lost out to Shekhar Al, it was because he was supporting a southern Christian, Abbas Andor, against President Buhari, who at that time had the overwhelming support of the Muslims in Kano. And they kept saying, are you voting for the church or are you voting for the mosque? And he lost his re-election. But when he knew things were going down, he didn't leave Abbas Andor. He supported him to the end. And of course he did his youth service here in Abel Uqta. So he is a Nigerian in outlook. A lot of people do not know enough about him. And that lies on us who say we are supporting him. We have to let Nigerians know. We have four months to let them know that this man is Nigerian in outlook and he will be fair to all and work for all. Let's talk about some of the recent happenings in the country. Let's start with the fact that the seat of power is being threatened as we speak. And that information did not necessarily come from our security agencies. It did come from the United States, the embassy or consular here in Nigeria. And now we hear that schools are shut down, certain offices are not working as they should. What would the NMPP do in terms of insecurity? Because this government came on to power and the wings of, you know, they wrote on the wings of we're going to put an end to insecurity. They would say to us that they have pushed Boko Haram to the fringes. But then we have other issues like banditry, like, you know, killer herdsmen, unknown gunmen. The list is endless. Also we realize that there are now more pockets of violence and insecurity terrorism in local communities as opposed to in the main cities where we have a more concentration of security agents. Well, the first thing I'll say is that the blueprint coming out, as I said, the blueprint is I think is broken into three, basically. For each thing, he talks about his commitments to Nigerians. Then he goes on to talk about his plan on each one. And then we talk about projections. That's a sneak preview. It's a detailed document. Now that handles the issue of insecurity, defense, the police, everything in detail. And I shouldn't talk before, I mean, by next week it will be out there. But basically he was minister for defense at a time where, yes, they spent a lot on defense, but where the country stood tall and was still sending people to help other countries in Africa. He's gained experience from that. He, as I said, even as governor in Kano, he was able to help the defense forces and even the local vigilante. And that is why to date you still see that Kano. The commercial nerve center of the Northwest hasn't suffered from all the things the others have suffered. It hasn't suffered as much from all the things the others have suffered. It was the infrastructure they put down at that time. But what will he do differently? As I said, you will see that in a few days' time. But this is the best kept secret until November 1. I don't want to be fired before I'm hired. Okay. Okay. Let's talk about the issue of flooding. This is one of the most troubling issues that we faced other than insecurity. We've seen cities, villages, literally, you know, go down under water. I was watching a report by CNN correspondent who's a very tall guy from Kenya. And the water was literally at his waist. Now, for those who are experts who are looking into the matter, we are going to be facing food and security. Yes. We're also going to be seeing all kinds of diseases born from, you know, the water. People are losing businesses, you know, et cetera, et cetera. Do you think the government has handled this issue well? I ask because yesterday is from yesterday as a result of yesterday's neck meeting, all the ministers spoke, the minister of transport, the minister of work spoke, Rajiv Ashala, also the minister of water resources, they all spoke about the fact that it seemed more like the blame was on Nigerians that they were told to move and they didn't move. But then of course, we also know about the dam story that has taken forever to be built. And they're saying it will take 30 years to be able to deal with this situation. What are your thoughts? Well, firstly, I think that successive governments have failed Nigerians. And if it were in the different jurisdiction, I'm sure you would have seen a class action against the federal government of Nigeria. My Nigerians who have suffered particularly from the overflow from Cameroon, I think, if you are meant to have built a dam there, which, by the way, would have helped irrigation and helped our farmers. So we need a government that is responsive, but most importantly, that looks ahead, plans ahead for the people of this country, not just in relation to what has happened now. When you look at areas like Lagos, this is that under... Well, we've also been given an issue to report that we might have to face some water situation here on the island. You're a leaky person, aren't you? Well, I do apologize. Those in leaky would not like the fact that I'm joking about that. But it's a shame. One, yes, government has a point. We are not clean people. The drains are full of debris, plastics, and what have you. That's on one part. On the other part, you don't tell us as government that, oh, we told them to move, they didn't move. But what are the people moving to? Because I'm also... Exactly! I'm asking, is there a place for these people? Because 612 people have died so far, thousands of people have lost their home. So is there a resettlement plan? Is there something? Exactly. That's what I'm saying. Talk is cheap. Government hasn't grabbed the bull by the horns. They're not planning. They're not saying... I was just going to say, when you say we told them to move, when they want to come and take your land that has sea or foe, I know the government in Lagos, they'll act immediately. They will say, oh, we told them to move two years ago, they didn't move. Look at the joke that we have with Eco Bridge, Anapobo. That place was burnt, when was it? Under the bridge. And you said people will no longer be under the bridges. They're still there, we can drive around tonight. Under Carter Bridge, under what? You have people there. So this government also, not just this government, successive governments have played just lip service to all these things, you understand? So it's a shame, and I believe that we should look for leaders, especially... We have an advantage here now, there are four people. There's 16 people. No, hang on. There are four that you keep talking about, at times you say three. Out of those, they have all been in government, right? So it's easy to say, what has this man done? One was vice president, two terms. One was senator for a short time, and twice governor. The other one, twice governor. And of course, you know my man, he's gone through legislative and whatever and whatever. Okay, what did they do? What did they do then? And what was the effect? And where have you moved? The people. We're talking about Concozo, but if someone else says that, oh, I developed, I made somewhere a mega city, you didn't. You met it as a mega city, a mega city has nothing to do with, except with population. Lagos was a mega city. We knew Lagos when it was good, when we could walk the streets, but now the touts are in control. They're controlling the transportation system, making it more expensive for Lagosians. And that's what you want to go and do in Nigeria. But as I said, we start talking from next week. Because if I talk now, people will say, where is the old manifesto? Let it come out, by God's grace on the 1st of November, and the manifesto will be there. That will be online. And then the blueprint that, as I said, is broken into three parts on each topic, will be there. And then we can discuss it, have discussions with Nigerians. And they will know that we have decided that it's going to be a campaign based on issues. We're not going to be throwing or hurling insults at other candidates. It's going to be based on issues. And as far as I'm concerned, you come to Nigerians and say, look, this is it. This is where we can get you in the next four years and lay foundations for the next eight to how many years. If you choose to vote that way, fantastic. If you choose to vote based on inducements or whatever, doesn't matter. The fact remains that it's a democracy, a majority who have the way, but we urge everyone to get involved. All right. Well, always a pleasure to have you in the studio. Ladi Pat Johnson is a spokesperson for the Kwan Kwan Stool Campaign Council. We're hoping that after Monday we can have you back here to talk more. We'll send you an electronic copy. Okay, great. Well, that's the show for now. We'll take a quick break. After we return, we will be talking about good governance and accountability at the grassroots level. Stay with us.