Why have you decided to challenge your present boss for your party’s governor-ship ticket for 2011?

I’m sure you are not a stranger to Plateau. The Almighty God knows that when my governor invited me to be his running mate in the governorship of 2007 election, I accepted with an open heart. I thought, together, two of us could build  a new Plateau, Unfortunately, to my greatest dismay, things did not work out the way I wanted.

 As a mother, my dream was to see the entire people of Plateau State united, for united we stand, divided we fall. Regrettably, we had these, divisions, unnecessary cleavages, that culminated in the crises we have witnessed so far. We all know that without peace, there can be no meaningful development.  All the dreams and aspirations we had could not really materialize. Before now, I had avoided talking to the press. I never opened up but we have reach a stage that I must respond to this question you are asking me now.

What makes you think or believe you can fight and win election in Plateau State today?

It’s is only a fool that thinks he is better than everybody else or believes he has the power to get what he wants, but I want all Nigerians to know that power comes from God. He gives it to whoever He wishes at the time he wants and to the person He wants. My dream is to unite the people of Plateau and to ensure peace on the Plateau. This is why I’ve decided to answer my people’s call.  I picked the nomination form under severe pressure and persuasion because elders, women and the youth believed in what I stand for. We may deceive ourselves but we can’t deceive God.  God sees the heart; God sees the hearts of all these aspirants. My prayer is that let God choose the best for Plateau.  Because of the situation we find ourselves in today, there is nothing exciting about the governor’s office.

Some say that the government has not done much to restore public confidence or build mutual understanding between the diverse communities in Plateau state and you are a part that government. But here you are,  wanting to be governor.

It’s difficult for me to say much on this issue. I’m sure you yourself know the place of the deputy governor in the Nigerian Constitution.  It doesn’t give powers to make anything happen in the state, except if you want trouble with your boss and as a mother and a well brought up woman, from a disciplined home, I will never be part of any crisis situation with my boss.  The best I could do is to give my advice but if my advice is not taken, there is nothing I can do.

What you are saying is that Governor Jang does not take your advice in most cases?

Of course, that is an open secret. I have been kept out of governance for long.

How do you feel in your present situation?

Well, power, as l earlier said, comes from God. I pray for my dear state and I keep praying for God to give me the grace to continue to bear the unfortunate situation I’ve found myself in.

With the ongoing realignment in the PDP, will one be right to say that its internal crisis is over?

I don’t want to call it a crisis. PDP is a family and in every family, there are bound to be  little disagreements. This is the greatest party, not only in Nigeria but also on the African continent. The problem in the party is being looked into; elders of the party are handling it.  We thank God, we have got a well disciplined and mature, seasoned national leader in the person of Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo with whom we formed this party in 1998 and have nurtured it ever since. So he knows the party well. He and other members of the National Working Committee and the President who is the leader of the party, are all handling the matter and very soon, the situation will be permanently resolved.

Are women getting their fair share of political power nationwide?

Well, I won’t say yes or no but it is an open secret that women have not been given their deserved place in national politics. Women are more committed, women are more sincere, when they give you their word, and they stand by it.  Women have suffered in this party. However, the situation is changing. I am sure you are aware I am a member of the BOT, representing North Central Zone. The last NEC meeting that 35% of positions in the party be reserved for women, in the spirit of affirmative action.

What is your take on the PDP power sharing arrangement, zoning in short?

We all know that there is zoning in PDP.  The Obasanjo Administration which ran two full terms of eight years was a product of zoning. The present President that came into office as the Vice President of our late Umaru Musa Yar’adua, is a beneficiary of zoning. When President Musa Yar’adua was elected President, nobody knew that he would die before his time was up. It was divine intervention that made Goodluck Jonathan president. You should realize that Umaru’s ticket and Goodluck’s were one ticket.  That is why he has been allowed to complete their term. If Umaru Musa Yar’adua were alive, being from the North, he would have still had his second term if Nigerians believed in him. But this is an unusual situation that is divinely arranged and we feel, in the interest of peace and the unity of Nigeria, we should allow the sitting president who was a part of Umaru’s ticket that would have had eight years if Umaru were alive, to give the presidency a shot. Yes, we know that it is the right of the North but in the interest of peace, and unity of Nigeria, I am appealing that Nigerians see reasons and support President Goodluck Jonathan to complete the eight years stipulated by the Constitution for his ticket with Yar’adua.

Benue state governor, Gabriel Suswam, who coordinates the Jonathan/Sambo presidential campaign in the North-Central zone, spoke to a handful of journalists in Abuja on Wednesday on his relationship with his predecessor George Akume (now a senator), his second term bid, the 2011 presidency and northern political leaders’ call on President Jonathan to resign over the Independence Day bombings in Abuja.  Political/Features Editor, Tom Chiahemen, was there. Excerpts:

The dumping of toxic wastes in Koko village in the Niger Delta area in 1988 by an Italian firm was the biggest environmental challenge that the country had had to tackle in the first 50 years since independence. At the peak of that saga during the military regime of former President Ibrahim Babangida, one man that was constantly under fire was James Tsado Kolo,