Col Hassan Stan-Labo is a card carrying member of the Labour Party and currently serves as the National Security Director of The National Obidient Patriots – a mobilisation platform for the OBI-DATTI Presidency come 2023. In this chat with Mainland Metro News he talks the possibility of having a new Nigeria with the emergence of Mr. Peter Obi candidature for President of Nigeria, saying a social revolution is underway.
MMN: The elections are just around the corner. Are you satisfied with the preparations the Independent National Electoral Commission has made to curtail electoral malpractices?
Col Stan-Labo: 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 BMAT tech, the electronic transmission of election results and the exclusion of Form E8 from the entire process are all initiatives that are commendable. They bring a lot of transparency and integrity to bear on the process.
MMN: Are you impressed with the jump in voter registration and what do you think is driving young Nigerians to turn out en masse?
Col Stan-Labo: The exponential increase witnessed with the Voter registration exercise is quite impressive. It is a clear indication of voter’s awareness.
The unexpected turn of events within the political space as seen in the emergence of the Labour Party candidate Peter Obi ignited the entire nation.
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. It speaks volume of the Competence Capacity and Character of the candidate.
It separated the Grains from the Shaft, Men from the Boys and finally it was a clear statement on WHAT and WHO the people want.
MMN: Do you foresee any disturbances if their expectations are not met in the 2023 elections?
Col Stan-Labo: 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 loose. That we all know is quite predictable because the ordinary citizen as we speak has had enough, he’s been pushed to the wall and Nigeria is at the brink.
MMN: You are affiliated with the Labour Party, sincerely, do you think the Party has a chance against the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party’s well oiled machine ?
Col Stan-Labo: 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 the Labour Party’s success at the pools I wouldn’t have identified with it.
It not only has the potential to win but has a candidate who is squared up both physically and mentally.
The candidate’s intellectual capacity, integrity, prudence and go-getter attitude endears him to me.
MMN: 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?
Col Stan-Labo: 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 yielding dividends of democracy for the people.
The bulk of citizens annoyance today is informed by the poorly managed Presidential power or Federal might at the Centre that could have turned things around and avail the much needed change.
All we see as citizens in the last 8 years is a reluctant lackadaisical nonchalant attitude in governance, coupled with a carefree lay back attitude to State matters requiring utmost urgency.
This is no longer acceptable to citizens and hence the prioritisation of the office of the President.
We must know and interrogate who is coming there irrespective of tribe religion ethnicity etc.
MMN: 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?
Col Stan-Labo: Definitely the nation will witness radical changes smack of a paradigm shift.
Governance processes would be revolutionised in manners that would cut down waste and leakages within the system.
A change process would be initiated aimed at bringing Nigeria from a Consumer nation to a Production nation.
MMN: Certainly insecurity, social/economical are 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?
Col Stan-Labo: The outgoing administration only succeeded in wasting 8 years of our national life and sending us decades back. Like Peter Obi would always say, no government was elected to complain, but to solve the problems for which it was elected to address.
Appropriate solutions are currently being sought in line with these pending issues. 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 is put in place.
MMN: 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?
Col Stan-Labo: 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 4-5yrs.
The point is that you can’t sit at home, keep doing the same things, experimenting with people of poor vision interested only in enriching themselves and expect positive results.
MMN: 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?
Col Stan-Labo: 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 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 Agriculture, the service sectors of Health and Education.
MMN: Do you honestly agree with people who say 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?
Col Stan-Labo: Take this from me today. Obi’s emergence in the Presidential race is divine. It is DIVINELY ORDAINED. It is not just a movement but gradually metamorphosis into political social revolution. Every Obidient knows he is in this as a sacrifice in the emancipation of our motherland from the hands leaders turned looters. Our collective patrimony has been ravaged and squandered daily by the very leaders we entrust them to as custodians.
Dont be deceived by padded 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.