Chief George Moghalu is a former National Auditor of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He was an aspirant for the Anambra State governorship election in 2022 and sued the party after the primaries. In this interview, he speaks on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, 2024 budget, APC and preparations for Anambra State governorship election in 2025, imposition in the party among others.
Many Nigerians have expressed displeasure over the state of affairs in the country under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government. What do you make of this?
Yes, I agree that things have not been rosy. At the same time, I would rather say that the Tinubu administration is a victim of its speed in terms of performance. Because of the speed, people are already seeing this administration as one-year-old. Yet, it is only slightly above six months. He was quick in the appointment of ministers and quick in taking strong decisions on fuel subsidy removal, forex, and security among others.
They should be commended, but, unfortunately, the returns have not started manifesting. I would rather appeal to our people to be patient. We will keep supporting the government so that the actions they want to take or have started taking can start manifesting concerning the dividend of their actions.
Are you confident that the 2024 budget would be fully implemented?
I have every confidence it will be implemented. The only challenge is that we must not lose sight of the fact that the resources available to the government continue to dwindle by the day. So, it requires agencies of government, ministers, and the MDAs to think out of the box on how they can improve internally generated revenues and improve on diversifying the economy. We must lay more emphasis on alternative sources of revenue in which agriculture and solid minerals can play a very critical role.
The culture of imposition is said to be gaining grounds in the APC. Are you not worried, especially, about the unfolding events ahead of the 2025 governorship election in Anambra State?
My advice has always been that for whatever decision whether personal or family, try and see to it that you will get the majority of the people with you. We must present our first foot forward. Imposition will not do us any good in the election. Let me put some issues in the right perspective. The issue of integration does not arise because you can only talk about integration for someone outside. I am a bonafide founding member of APC. So, it is an irony for a tenant to sack the landlord in his house. I am one of those who insisted that things must be done properly. Due process must be followed, and an enabling environment created for things to work. And that is what I have always demanded.
Before now, you asked me why I went to court. And I said that it was because things were not properly done. You cannot ask us to contest for primary, you sit back in the bedroom, write results, come out and announce it, and expect me, George Moghalu, to accept that as a result. I will be honourable enough to congratulate the winner if I lose in an election. But when you manipulate the process, I will tell you that it will not work. That was exactly what I did last time, and I will do it again if the need arises. However, if things are done properly, I don’t have any problem.
