A PEEP INTO PETER OBI’S PRESIDENCY :
– Col Hassan Stan-Labo Speaks Out
By Trek Africa Newspaper
L-R: Presidential Candidate, Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and Counter-terrorist expert, Col Hassan Stan-Labo
Q1. The elections are just around the corner. Are you satisfied with the preparations the Independent National Electoral Commission has made to curtail electoral malpractices?
RESPONSE:
Yes I am impressed with their effort but they should not relent. They must remain steadfast and on their guard at all times.
The nobel idea on the introduction of the B-DAT technology, the electronic transmission of election results and the exclusion of Form E8 from the entire process are all initiatives that must be commended.
They bring a lot of transparency and integrity to bear on the process itself.
Q 2. Are you impressed with the jump in voter registration and what do you think is driving young Nigerians to turn out enmass?
RESPONSE:
The exponential increase witnessed with the Voter registration exercise is quite impressive. It is a clear indication of voter’s awareness.
The unexpected out turn of events within the political space as seen in the emergence of the Labour Party candidate Peter Obi has ignited the entire nation. It creates a frenzy that cannot be ignored.
For the very first time in contemporary Nigerian body politics an unprecedented number of citizens consisting mainly of Youths showed interest in the political process. It is a welcome development.
Col. Hassan Stan-Labo (rtd)
It speaks volume of the Competence Capacity and Character of the candidate of the Labour Party.
It separates the Grains from the Shaft, Men from the Boys and finally it is a clear statement on the nature and Character of persons the citizenry yarns for this time around.
Q 3. Do you foresee any disturbances if their expectations are not met in the 2023 elections?
RESPONSE:
If their expectations are dashed due to rigging or some form of unholy connivance with INEC then for sure expect that hell would be let loosed. That is quite predictable because the ordinary citizen as we speak has had enough, he’s been pushed to the wall and Nigeria today is at the brink.
Q 4. You are affiliated with the Labour Party, as the National Security Director of the National Obidient Patriots. Do you sincerly think the Party has a chance against the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party’s well oiled machine ?
RESPONSE:
These are all dead parties awaiting their funerals. Can’t you see them limping already into the election season? They are all weighed down by numerous internal problems.
If I was not sure of Labour Party’s success at the polls I wouldn’t have identified with it. I don’t associate with failures.
The Labour Party does not only have the potentials to win but has a candidate who is squared up both physically and mentally.
The candidate’s intellectual capacity, competence, integrity, prudence profile and go getter attitude endears him to me.
Q 5. We don’t see much of Labour Party interests in the national assembly contests. Should the Labour Party candidate win the presidential elections, how would he be able to ride along with a Senate and House of Assembly made up of predominantly APC and PDP lawmakers?
RESPONSE
That is already been addressed as we speak. We are quite cognizant of the fact that the President needs a comfortable majority in the Parliament to protect his tenure, see to the safe passage of bills and avail value added representation that would yield dividends of democracy for the people.
The bulk of citizens concern today has to do with the poorly managed power at the Centre that could have turned things around for the country and avail the much needed change.
All we see as citizens in the last 8 years is a reluctant lackadaisical nonchalant attitude in leadership. This is coupled with a carefree lay back attitude to State matters requiring utmost urgency.
This is not acceptable to we as citizens and hence the prioritisation of the office of the President.
We must know and interrogate who is coming into that office irrespective of tribe, religion, ethicity, etc.
Q 6. When Macky Sall of Senegal became President of Senegal in 2012, he carried out political reforms for which that country is better off today. Do you foresee a similar reform carried out by the Labour Party presidential candidate, if he wins?
RESPONSE :
Definitely the nation will witness some radical changes smack of a paradigm shift. It cannot be business as usual.
Governance process would be reviewed with the aim of forging new impetus that would cut down cost, waste and leakages within the system.
A change process would be initiated aimed at transforming Nigeria from a Consumer nation to a Production nation.
Q 7. Certainly insecurity, social and economic problems the out-going administration has not satisfactorily solved, how would the Labour Party candidate tackle the hydra-headed monster that has brought the country to the edge?
RESPONSE :
The out going administration only succeeded in wasting 8 years of our national life and sending us decades back.
However, like Peter Obi would always say, no government was elected to come and complain but to solve problems for which it was elected to address.
Appropriate solutions are currently been sought in line with these pending challenges.
You must be aware of the numerous trips of our Presidential candidate of late.
He is not only consulting and courting the good will of friends of Nigeria but also ensuring that all instrumentalities for a smooth and immediate take off on hitting the ground are put in place.
Q 8. Electrical power supply is a demon so to speak successive administrations have failed to exorcise, do you think the Labour Party government can change the narratives and turn on the lights?
RESPONSE:
The visit of Peter Obi to Egypt was specifically meant to study first hand how that country came out of its power challenge.
Egypt grew its power requirement from 4000 MW to 50,000 MW within
a very short span of less than 5yrs.
The point is that, you can’t sit at home, keep doing same things, experimenting with people of poor vision interested only in enriching themselves and expect positive results. You must pull-out and see how others are achieving their success stories and adapt it within the peculiarities of your challenge.
Q 9. A good number of Nigerians believe their country has let them down, if the Labour Party is able to win the elections, what would be the priority of the administration of Peter Obi?
RESPONSE:
I will not sit here and set Peter Obi’s priorities for him. However we all know that his love and concern for the welfare of the ordinary Nigerian on the street would see him paying serious attention to Security, the Economy – ensuring the initiation of policies and plans that would transform it from a Consumer economy to a Production economy.
He would therefore inline with that prioritise such sectors as Agriculture, Health and Education.
Q 10. Do you honestly agree that Peter Obi is not just a candidate, but a movement. Do you think the many obidient supporters can go the whole hog and permanently retire the likes of Tinubu and Atiku from Nigerian politics?
RESPONSE :
Take this from me today. Obi’s emergence on the Presidential race is divine.
It is DIVINELY ORDAINED.
It is not just a movement but gradually metamorphosing into a political and social revolution.
Every Obidient knows he is in this as a sacrifice in the emancipation of our motherland from the hands of Leaders turned Looters and Oil thieves. Our collective patrimony is been ravaged and squandered daily by the very leaders we entrust them to as custodians.
Dont be deceived by empty official narratives. Oil theft within the context of the National pain we feel today is an elite activity directed and controlled by elements from the Top echelon of the Presidency, NNPC, IOCs, Security Agencies and a host of External collaborators.
Under an Obi Presidency such acts of indiscipline and official rascality will not be condoned. That I can assure you.
Col Hassan Stan-Labo is a Counter-terrorist expert with huge operational experience spanning his participation as part of the Nigerian contingent to Liberia, Sierra-Leone, The Darfur and Bakassi Peninsula.
He is a card carrying member of the Labour Party and currently serves as the National Security Director for The National Obidient Patriots – a mobilisation platform for the Peter Obi Presidency come 2023.
