Buhari’s performance will give him an edge – Amb. Jidda

Baba Ahmad Jidda, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China is one of the most consummate politicians coming out of the North-East of Nigeria. He had variously served in Borno State as a Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Military Government (SMG) before the 4th Republic. He was also Secretary to the Government during the days of ex-Governor Modu Ali Sherriff and during the first term of Governor Kashim Shettima. He was also Ambassador to Burkina Faso. In this interview, the Ambassador foresees a landslide victory for APC and its presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari in Borno and other states of the federation. Excerpts:

The presidential and National Assembly elections will hold across the country on Saturday. What are your projections on the success of the APC across the country and in Borno State?

I will like to say that I am very optimistic about the outcome of the presidential and National Assembly elections. I am also very confident that President Muhammadu Buhari will have a landslide victory in the elections in view of his achievements during the three and a half years of his administration. I foresee tremendous support being given to President Buhari in the North-West, the North-East and the South-West. He will also get support from the other zones. So, my projection is that there will be an overwhelming victory for the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari in the elections.

How would you assess his achievements in the key areas of the fight against corruption, revamping the economy, fighting insecurity and others?

In retrospect, I participated actively in the 2015 campaign for the general elections when I served as the deputy zonal coordinator. During the campaign with Mr. President, we emphasized on three issues, one, the issue of insecurity and how to tackle it to reduce it to the barest minimum, which President Buhari has successfully done. In Borno, we know how things have changed for the better as regards Boko Haram insurgency. Before Buhari became president, there were 17 local government areas under the occupation of Boko Haram. Now no local government area is under the occupation of the insurgents. Secondly, we campaigned on the issue of anti-corruption because corruption is a serious obstacle to development. The recent case involving the judiciary is a case in point that now there are no sacred cows. The former SGF and DG NIA have been taken to court by the EFCC and ICPC.  More importantly, he has plugged the loopholes where people used to siphon public funds. He did this, especially by introducing the TSA and making sure that all monies unspent are returned to the treasury. Another important campaign issue would be that of generating employment for the multitude of the youth. You need to have power generation in order and have industries, and when you have industries, you generate employment. The Mambilla Hydroelectricity Project is a project that, as the Ambassador of Nigeria to the Peoples Republic of China, I have been involved in. I know how serious the President has been on this. When the project takes off there will be sufficient power generation for this country, and there will, therefore, be a lot of employment.

As Nigeria’s ambassador to the Peoples Republic of China, how would you assess the impact of Nigeria-China relations in terms of revamping Nigeria’s economy?

Nigeria established diplomatic relations with China as far back as 1971. By 2005 Nigeria signed strategic partnership with China. Since then, Nigeria’s relationship with China has been growing from strength to strength. In 2016 President Muhammadu Buhari visited China and signed about 11 very important agreements which culminated in closer relationship and friendship between the two countries. Again, he visited China in September, 2018 to attend the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation when the agreement to join the road and belt initiative was signed; the agreement to have direct air link between Nigeria and China was signed; support for the resuscitation of Chad Basin was discussed; and other issues of security and visa concerns were all raised. Before then, China has supported Nigeria in the construction of infrastructure such as railways – the Abuja light rail, the Abuja-Kaduna line that was commissioned; and the Minister of Transport is up and doing on the Lagos-Ibadan railway. This is a significant achievement in the transport sector. In the aviation sector, China supported us to have four airport terminals. Mr. President has already commissioned two of these terminals – the ones in Abuja and Lagos. The remaining two – those of Kano and Port Harcourt will be commissioned during his second term. There are so many other projects being undertaken by Chinese companies. There is also the currency swap agreement between Nigeria and China which does not require the use of the US Dollar. It only requires the use of the Chinese currency and Nigeria’s Naira. This has made things very easy for investors of both Nigeria and China.

Recently the EU, the US, UK and sections of the international community expressed their opinion on Nigeria’s 2019 elections, which generated controversies. As the country’s ambassador to China, what is your opinion?

I can only speak on China, where my responsibility is restricted to. China does not interfere in the internal affairs of any country. China respects the opinion of the people of every country. It respects the opinion of the people of Nigeria; and if the people of Nigeria are in support of the continuation of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term, I want to believe China will have no objection.

Coming back home, what is appeal to the electorate in Borno State on their conduct of the election?

I expect the Borno electorate to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari overwhelmingly. In 2015 I was at the counting centre, representing Buhari. The people came out about 95 percent of them in support of Buhari’s APC. This time around I understand Governor Kashim has already promised two million votes for President Buhari. I also want the electorate to know that voting President Buhari alone is not enough. He needs a supportive National Assembly to succeed as president. It is therefore important that the electorate vote for all the candidates contesting for the Senate and House of Representatives membership on the platform of the APC.