Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay had seen it all as a labour
activist, commissioner, Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Delta State
Government. In this first ever interview since he left office, he tells SONY
NEME about his travails, state of civil society and sundry issues
We recently had Democracy Day and as usual it was
celebration galore with long speeches, pump and ceremonies. What does it mean
to you?
Well for those who went out to celebrate, there is nothing
wrong with it. After all, life is all about perception. It depends on how you
are looking at it. For me the greatest democracy day is when the people of this
country will experience freedom; when the common man will come out to express
himself without harassment; when you can walk through the streets and feel
secure; when you can go to any part of the country and do your business freely.
And when something is wrong, no matter how lowly you are in
class, you should be able to air your opinion without people coming after you,
when we are be able to hold elections without spending unnecessarily because
the cost of election in this country is still so high.
People should be able to do what they want to do. The police
should know that it is their responsibility to protect life without coming to
me to provide vehicles before he can do his job. INEC should know that it will
register people and I don’t need to provide computers or logistics to enable
them do their work.
What I am saying is that not only when we are able to fund
institutions but when these institutions are truly and fully independent, then
we have democracy. Yes, we are having civil rule not military rule. But I don’t
feel we are there yet in terms of democracy. How free are the institutions of
democracy? How free is the various security apparatus of this country even with
military and various security agencies including DSS and others? The judiciary,
how free is it? All these are the components of government that make democracy
work. How free are they?
Those prosecuting these cases how free are they? Is somebody
coming after Macaulay because somebody has said go and probe Macaulay? Or is it
that the institutions are actually convinced that Macaulay has actually
committed a crime and we need to go after him? Is what they are doing now based
on intelligence? And when someone has written a petition, do you call him to
swear to an affidavit that this petition that he has written against this man
is true? Do you interview him to be sure what he has petitioned is true? These
are the things done in civilised societies. This is my idea about democracy. I
didn’t say those who want to celebrate shouldn’t. You know this country we love
holidays a lot. So once we say we want to give you a holiday people are happy.
Not because they believe in it but because. They want to stay at home and won’t
go to work.
When you celebrate what percentage of people actually have a
good understanding of what it is all about? Do they know what you are
celebrating? How many Nigerians know what May 29 is all about? Do a random
survey and it will shock you that very few Nigerians know what that day
represents. This is my take on Democracy Day.
You held sway in the labour movement for many years. In
retrospect, how would you describe the civil society of today?
Well, like when you want to discuss the issue of corruption
and you want to narrow it down to politicians that they are corrupt. I don’t
agree. The decadence that the country is passing through cuts across all
aspects of life. It cuts across various bodies whether labour, politics or
police. It cuts across all spheres of life.
Some two, three decades ago, we were active in labour, we
were not doing it for personal gains. The greatest happiness we had then was
when we were able to return someone who had lost his job; it is the day we were
able to fight for a good work place so that we get the management to reason
with us and change the place so that workers can have a descent place to work,
and when workers are not treated like a third class citizen, when people are
given their rights, treated with dignity and respect. Those were the values we
fought for.
At the end of my tenure either as NUJ president or NLC
chairman what concerned me was what have I achieved for the people? But today’s
focus is what am I getting, not how much joy have I have been able to bring to
the people; not how much changes have I have been able to bring for the people.
I can beat my chest today that in my time I introduced both the Workers Housing
Scheme and Car Loan. I fought the former governor, Chief James Ibori for these
things and he granted them. And every year I sat down and ensure they in the
budget. It used to be a minimum of N100 million and I sustained it throughout
my tenure.
I made sure that the secretariat was computerised and that
workers had cars. Workers had air conditioners in their offices. These were the
things we fought for not how much I got. To the glory of God I was able to
build one of the best labour complexes, not just a secretariat in the country.
It is still here. No state had such complex. It is still there almost 15 years
after. I have left office. And I am of the firm belief that in the course of
your working, rendering true service to the people, God will reward you from
somewhere else. You do not have to mortgage your conscience.
People who appreciate you will ensure you do not lack. I was
not a pauper as a labour leader. But nobody either in this state or in this
country will say as a labour leader ‘Macaulay had compromised our rights.’ I
don’t want to say that where I left labour it has down more than 50 per cent. I
am not sure anything has been added to the edifice I left many years ago. The
priorities are very different now and I don’t know whether it is the general
hunger situation in the country. But the decadence in labour had started before
recession that showed up just last two years.
When I went into government and I began to see the kind of
files and requests from labour leaders to government, I wept in my heart,
because this is not what we left. I am sure leaders like Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole will also be weeping in his heart because this is not what we
bequeathed.
That is not what we fought for. If what the people are
managing the system now is what we did we could not have been able to carry out
all the fights we were engaging governments then with, especially the military.
This is a democracy regime that you can actually walk in and make your points
under the democracy doctrine. Nobody gave us that forum. Everything was a
struggle. We were hauled into cells at all times but we didn’t give up with all
the threats. But today it is a different ball game. Like I said it is not
limited to the labour movement. It is a general situation because priorities
are different and values have changed. All everybody wants is how much can I
make from this venture.
Years after I left the leadership of NUJ, one of those who
got into office in my line of succession came and was saying he won’t leave the
office without making money. Then I told him if that is the kind of mindset he
entered the office with that he won’t leave there in peace. True to my
prediction it didn’t take three months crisis started in his administration.
The accusations were that monies were paid into personal accounts and he ended
up being impeached. That is what happens when priorities are gains first.
For me the principle is service first. When you serve
sincerely you will be rewarded. When I was called to come and serve as a
commissioner I didn’t apply for it. I was invited. And I keep thanking God and
the man God used in helping me, because I was on my own when Chief Ibori sent
for my CV. I never went to ask for an appointment. Thank God he is back and
alive I didn’t go for to ask for it. That is why I said when you serve
sincerely God will use people to reward you. So you must keep thanking God and
remain grateful to those who God has used to help you. Today, service is
secondary as there is no commitment to service, which is why the country is
going down.
The 2019 elections are around the corner and politicians are
already gearing up. What is your advice to those aspiring for offices,
especially as INEC has come out with its timetable? Secondly, are we expecting
you back on the turf as some are suggesting that you are most qualified to run
for senate?
I don’t know what you mean by back on the turf. A man who
has no job you are asking if he wants to run for an office in a country where
money is the determining factor. I think that is a very tall ambition. But like
I always believe, my destiny is in the hands of God. I can’t tell you what God
has destined for me tomorrow. Only God knows that. Whatever comes is fine by
me. But what is uppermost in my heart is for God to give me life and let me be
strong, and I will do whatever He decides for me to add to His glory.
People have been nursing all the ambitions and putting all
sorts of things on my head. But between God and myself I don’t have anything in
mind as at today. If it turns out that anything turns my way by tomorrow, fine,
but as I am sitting here with you there is nothing in relation to that.
And to politicians, if the real essence of seeking elective
office is to serve the people then let the people decide. You don’t force the
people to serve them. If they want you to serve them they will make it clear
and then you will serve them and be accountable to them. When I left office I
went to Oleh the headquarters of all Isoko people to render my account. Three
years down the line nobody has come out to dispute it because the facts and
figures are there, clearly there in black and white what I have done for my
people.
I don’t want to go outside there because as someone who
served the state as SSG I served the whole state. But since I am from Isoko
they should be the first people I should give my account of stewardship to.
Retired General Paul Omu, who was then the President General of Isoko
Development Union, (IDU), was the chairman of the occasion. So let politicians
render account of their stewardship.
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