Dame Pauline Tallen was the former minister of State, Science and Technology and the deputy governor of Plateau State in 2007. In this interview with RUTH CHOJI, she states that the economic policy of President Muhammadu Buhari is highly commendable but it comes with lots of pains and hardships, and that Nigerians must make some sacrifices before they get there.
Most Nigerians thought the Buhari-led government would automatically turn around the economy, but eight months down the line, people are still wallowing in abject poverty and hardship…
We should clearly thank the divine hand of God when Buhari came to power. If you remember, PDP campaigns were using money and state apparatus, yet God chose to make Buhari win the presidency by using change. When I contested the governorship, my slogan was also change. Change comes with pains. It is very easy to destroy but it takes time to rebuild. I sympathise with Nigerians as we are all going through the pains and hardship together. The past administration hit everybody hard, especially the common man but God has intervened by giving us Buhari. Take a look at countries like China, Singapore and Malaysia. China closed their borders for 10 years but today, they can comfortably compete with America. We must accept and support the president in his determination to change Nigeria.
Nigerians are demanding for the welfare package the APC promised them. Do you think it can ever be redeemed, judging from the economic crisis the nation is going through?
You can see that what he inherited is overwhelming. Are you not surprised with the kind of revelations that are coming out? That some few individuals will corner huge resources when the majority of people are dying of poverty and hunger? If this change had not taken place, I don’t think Nigeria would have been existing by now. Nigeria was virtually at the brink of collapse; our foreign reserves and everything were squandered. The spirit of greed to that level is demonic. Millions of people are sitting in the cold; the IDPs have no food; so many Nigerians are not sure of one meal in a day, yet some few people have billions hidden in their ceilings. They were discrediting and undermining our currency. Which country will you go to that they don’t use their currency but use foreign currency except Nigeria? It is so sad that even some schools in Abuja don’t receive naira except dollars. Are we in America? The economic policy of Mr President is highly commendable but it comes with pains and hardship.
The government is looking for funds to sponsor the budget and Nigerians have been advocating for diversification. What is your advice on this?
We are so blessed in this country that there is virtually no state that doesn’t have natural resources. We in the plateau are sitting on a gold mine. The people of the south south have forgotten that it is the funds from our minerals and groundnut pyramids that were used to explore their oil. We have tantalite, gold and other things. I was chairperson of research, so I know what I am saying. In my opinion, oil is like a curse to us because we ignore all these things God has done for us. So government can explore our natural resources, and if properly harnessed, it will provide more than oil.
Talking about oil, some are afraid that the removal of subsidy could compound Nigeria’s hardship…
If subsidy is removed and we get more oil, more refineries will be built and functional. The fuel will be available everywhere. If subsidy is removed, the market will stabilise and it is better than black market that can be adulated.
Now that you mention corruption, the PDP have accused the government of being biased in the fight. Do you share such views?
In what way? Let them point out APC members that are involved in corruption and Buhari ignored them. The issue is that, you don’t just accuse without backing it up with facts. The Buhari I know will allow even his son or daughter that is indicted, to face the law. He will not cover anybody. Jafaru Isa has returned the monies. But I still believe they should be prosecuted.
Are you worried that former president Jonathan has not come out to say anything over these allegations?
How can he speak out? Silence means consent. Who is NSA that will share the money if he doesn’t have approval? Buhari can’t start something and stop half way, which is why he needs our prayer. People almost lynched Father Mbaka when he prophesied that Jonathan will not win. But he had never met Buhari then and he is not a Muslim. They tried to eliminate him but couldn’t succeed. Father Mbaka is still saying that Buhari is God sent to fight for a new Nigeria but he cannot do it alone. This is the first time that an opposition defeated a sitting government and for Jonathan himself to congratulate him, with all the plans they had made to win, you will know that it is God.
Women complain that they weren’t given the required number they deserve in the administration. What is your take on this?
We have all complained. Different groups have seen Mr President over this issue but one thing about him is that he admitted it and apologised and said he will do something about it. There are so many other appointments that are coming and I believe if we exercise a little patience he will do something.
It is not peculiar to the executive, even in parliament, the number of women that are in the legislative are every small…
It is very sad but you cannot blame the sitting government of the day. Nobody knew the government would win the elections, so they didn’t contest under it. The PDP would have produced more women but corruption was so deep that women could not afford to buy delegates for primaries. So women were played out of the elections, they couldn’t contest with the men. That is what Mr President is fighting. We know that there are many credible women that can hold any position in this country but we need to fix the system first before they can get there. Most African countries now give women certain quotas in elective positions. Women have paid their dues in this country and the president knows that in every polling booth, the number of women that come out to vote outnumber the men. We have records of pregnant women that were in labour while voting and still went ahead to vote. Mr President knows this and so cannot betray women.
If Mr President accords such respect for women, how come his wife is not playing the role of first lady?
Mr President appreciates his wife. He is battling with so many burning issues now but his wife is also participating in critical things that affect the lives of women and children. Did you see the free medical health program in Enugu? If he didn’t allow her, would she have gone? So many people were treated for free. Mr President is following the constitution and there is no part of the constitution that talks about that. At the same time, there are other areas that madam can reach Nigerians from such as organising programs to support the IDPS and women. In due time, you will see how things will unfold.
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