Exclusive: The Essence Of Politics Is Knowing How To Interpret The Collective Dream And The Necessary Means To Realize That Dream – Helen Mukoro Idisi

Swift Reporters recently interviewed Spanish Politician and 2016 Presidential Candidate, Helen Mukoro Idisi. Below is the full interview:

SW: As A Nigerian Who Is In Spain, Why Do You Want To Contest Spanish Presidential Election When Nigeria Is In Peculiar Mess?? Why Can't You Bring Your Experience To Nigeria?

HMI: I am contesting for Spanish presidency because I want to serve my country, my dream will take Spain to the change we need. I am a Spanish citizen, and cannot contest for Nigerian presidency. Many Nigerians complain and tend to shout because there is no capital, despite the effort and sacrifice they have made over the years. I think the state will change the day that people who become authorities, serve the country and not with the conviction that it is the only way to be a millionaire, the day they understand that they were elected to serve and not to be served, that day Nigerian will be great and will no longer be a ''fantastically corrupt country'' sitting on a bench of natural resources. We see daily how the future is out of your hands, dissolved in a present field of scary conflicts that Nigerians could avoid if they knew how to look beyond their religious, ethnic and cultural differences and join forces. A clear example, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu ''wife of late Biafrans warlord, Odimegwu Ojukwu'' was Nigerian Ambassador to Spain when the Biafrans opened an illegal Embassy in Spain in 2015. Will this encourage trade or investors to invest in Nigeria? Will it attract tourism to Nigeria? I will welcome immigrants who are ready to be part of nation building; I will ask those who are criminals and those who come to Spain to form illegal associations to fight their countries to leave Spain with immediate effect. No illegal group will fight their country from Spain.

SW: What Are The Qualities You Have That Qualifies You For Spain Presidential Race?

HMI: For me, the essence of politics is knowing how to interpret the collective dream and the necessary means to realize that dream. Since I got involved in politics, it drives me with a sincere desire to change the world, to contribute my bit to build Spain.

SW: As A Nigerian And A Black Woman, What Value Do You Think You Can Add To The Politics, Economy And Leadership Of Spain In The Midst Of White People?

HMI: The virtue of a politician is not knowing what to do, it is to do. The proposals I prepared with my technical team are the result of listening to thousands of people, to meet their concerns, their ideas and aspirations. I am convinced that to achieve the future I must be able to imagine it first. I know we have achieved important goals in politics, economy and leadership, but I also know there are many things to change and improve. I believe in Spain, my country, and I am their hope. I do not want to find out when Spain screwed up, I prefer to think that we have a way to be back again.

SW: The Economy Of Europe Including Spain Is On The Down Ward Trend, What Are Your Plans To Bring Back The Economy Of Spain?

HMI: I am "capitalist" and I am completely convinced that investors are needed, that the only way to generate money is working without looking at others, and expect the state to solve problems. I want to be a president behind that goal, that vision of the future that includes everyone, without exception. And while some think it is a utopia, I know it is possible.

SW: in 2012, nigeria entered into a bilateral relation with spain on tourism and investments, have you seen any improvement? How do you plan to strengthen these relations?

HMI:  According to official data by ICEX Spain, there's little or no improvement. Investment: Nigeria and Spain signed an Agreement on Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments, in 2002 which remains in force. However, both flows remain very modest. Source ICEX España the flow of Spanish gross investment in Nigeria, to the last date for which we have data, are null since 2012, the accumulated between January and March 2015, it reached 4,810 €. The investment flow of Nigeria in Spain, reached € 3,100 in 2012, 7,600 € in 2013, was nil in 2014 and 865,930 euros in January-March 2015. Exports: With the loss of purchasing power that has hit the country with falling oil prices and the depreciation of its currency, Nigeria has fallen from 63rd to 68th position as a customer of Spain in 2015. Tourism: According to data from UN Service Trade, Spanish tourism in Nigeria is virtually nonexistent and no data on the Nigerian tourism in Spain. I believe there's no improvement because investors say, to invest in Nigeria is like a vague adventure ''fantastically corrupt'', take for example the Nigerian Embassy in Madrid, staff and diplomats commit criminal acts by collecting huge amount of money at the gate before serving citizens, as a result we began to sketch a light to indicate the reasons, causes, motivation, absences that allow its emergence and existence. No document endorsed at the Nigerian Embassy in Spain is accepted by the Spanish authorities, all documents including Spinster, Bachelor and Birth Certificates, etc, must be issued in Nigeria and endorsed at the Spanish Consulate in Lagos.

SW: What Are Your Views On The Free Healthcare Reinstated For Illegal Immigrants In Spain?

HMI: The Ministry of Health has a unique model of health care for illegal immigrants who are registered with effective residence in a municipality of the Autonomous Community, which lack sufficient resources and do not hold the position of beneficiary/insured by any public administration, that cannot export the right to health care from the country of origin and who cannot access health coverage in the National Health System under EU regulations and existing international conventions on health care. The Decree is fair enough, but we can do more, I will provide unregistered foreigners or authorized as residents in Spain health care under the same conditions as Spanish nationals.