The Nation Newspaper

Category: Politics

‘Let the people decide who governs them’

Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Alhaji Kola Oseni spoke with reporters on the succession battle in the Centre of Excellence and the future of progressive politics. Musa Odoshimokhe was there.

How can the tempo of development be sustained in Lagos State?

The social and transformational development in the state emanated from Alhaji Lateef Jakande. He laid the foundation of everything in the state. He opened up the state by initiating the metro-line and gave the financial backing to it. When the military got there, they made nonsense of the projects. In our regime, the Jakande’s regime, we created three new cities. You should note that what determined what is called a town depends on its population. If you go to Abesan Estate, is it not a town? If you go to Isolo Housing Estate, is it not a town? If you go to Iba Housing Estate, is it not a town? The essence of governance is to serve the people and the idea of Alhaji Jakande was to serve by making housing available to the teeming population, by using models that are adopted in the civilised society through mortgage. In a civilise country, nobody buys house on cash. They would accept some mortgage. This was the idea of the Jakande Administration. Politics is service to the people.

How is the APC handling the succession battle in Lagos State, taking into consideration zoning, religion and other matters?

I will use the word, political synergy. It simply means political tricks, political manipulation. There is a difference between the church and the state. We should not mix it. When King James wanted a divorce and the Pope refused it, he started the Church of England. When Martin Luther now discovered that James was doing nothing to punish the Methodist, the Lutherans came out of it, and then ,the Baptist came out of it. There is different between the church and the state and we should not bring it into politics. Can anybody go to Abia, Imo, Anambra, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states and say there must be a Muslim candidate for the position of the governor? Democracy is the government of the people, by the people for the people. You cannot go to Zamfara, Katsina, Kano and Jigawa, say there must be a Christian governor. You cannot go to Ondo State, Ekiti State and say there must be a Moslem governor? Why are we mixing the state and the church in this matter? It is never done. Let everybody go to the primaries and whoever wins, let it be. Let the people decide for themselves. You are playing with fire. We don’t want religious war. It is very painful for anybody to make that pronouncement that religion should be the basis for the selection of the next governor of Lagos State. Religion should be detached from politics. Jesus Christ was clear on it. When he was asked whether to pay dues to Caesar, he said, give to God what is God and give to Caesar what is to him. That is separation of church and the state.They should go to the primaries. If a Christian emerges, good luck. If a Muslim emerges, good luck. I am Alhaji Kola Oseni, had gone to hajj 25 times, gone for Umrah 29 times and I don’t discriminate. My mother of blessed memory had nine children; one of my sisters died, leaving eight of us. The twins that are immediate after me; one is a CAC member, Kehinde Oyesola now Fausat Oyesola, she is Iya-Ijo, the Taiwo, Modupe Odofin; she is now Mary Odofin, a catholic member. Abiti, that is Fatimo, who is a Director of Finance in the Ministry of Information, is a Christian. Kola Peregrino is a Christian. Funke is a Christian. That does not mean we did not come from the same womb. Am I going to say Fausat, Abiti and Yeye, who started as Muslims, are no longer my sisters? Am I going to disown them that they are not my sisters? We don’t want religious war in Lagos. So, whoever is saying this thing should shut up.

But’s the party has its constitution…

The Yoruba in their proverb says, the name that a child would be christened would remain private affairs. By this act, we are challenging Muslims. If you slap them, they would fight back. I am not part of what is outside the constitution of the party. Let everybody go to primaries. Who knows who will do the best job for Lagos State? If you say it is a Christian and it turns the other way, what happens? If you say it is Muslim and it turns the other way, why don’t we leave it to God?The Bible says a house divided against itself will not stand.

You once said you preferred academic than politics. Why?

Deep down in me, I don’t believe in politics. My playing ground is democracy. Anything outside democracy is not the politics that interests me. After the demise of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, I became tired of politics because of the unfolding inconsistencies. I think I should have remained in the academic.

Though you paid glowing tribute to Alhaji Jakande, but you rebelled against him along the line. Why?

Why I broke up with Alhaji Jakande was not because of personal reason. I love the man and God knows I love him. But, at that point in time, he was surrounded by sycophants. The only destroyer of any leader is tilting to the caprices of sycophants. When we were considering the person to become the governor of Lagos State, we all sat down and agreed that Dapo Sarumi will become the governor. All of a sudden, like they are bringing religion into politics now, they brought ethnicity into politics.This turned out to be a bad decision. Sarumi is an Eko Epe man while Femi AgbalaJobi was Ijebu Epe. They began to whip ethnic sentiment, instead of looking at competence. That was the beginning of my rebellion because they were now toying with our collective decision to support a candidate we agreed was viable. I had been standing by Sarumi for over a year, supporting him for the governorship. Suddenly, others backed out and wanted me to do similar thing. It was like what should I tell him now? That he was no more in the picture? I am not that kind of person who changes suddenly. Our party paid dearly for it. The effect of the mistake was the emergence of Michael Otedola as the governor of the state. Agbalajobi and Sarumi were disqualified. It was Abiodun Ogunleye and later, Yomi Edu who later became the party’s candidate. But, through the inconsistency, the party lost the governorship position to Otedola. At that time, there was no party like the SDP. It was like the rock of ages. But, what happened? We lost.

May 21, 2014
Lagos strategises ahead of 2015 elections

At a parley in Lagos, members of the Lagos State Executive Council and legislators have resolved to chart a new way forward for the Centre of Excellenece, ahead of the next general elections. Miriam Ekene-Okoro reports.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola will bow out of office next year. He has promised to sustain the tempo of achievements till the last day. How to guarantee more dividends of democracy to Lagosians was the focus of the recent Executive/Legislative parley in Lagos.

The theme of the parley was: “Public sector management re-engineering: the continuing Story of Lagos”. It was organisd by the Political and Legislative Power Bureau.

The forum brought the commissioners, special advisers, House of Assembly members and federal legislators under one roof.

They converged with one accord on the Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac, as members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). At the forum were Fashola, his deputy, Mrs. Joke Orelope-Adefulire, House of Assembly Speaker Hon. Yemi Ikuforiji, top government officials and APC leaders.

The parley offered an opportunity to them to share experiences, review policies and brainstorm on the way forward for Lagos State.

One of the issues on the front burner is the proposed general elections. To the forum, the poll is a collective enterprise involving the active participation of stakeholders.

For ensure free and fair elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be impartial. Apart from urging the INEC boss, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to be above board, the forum also called for the reversal of the order of the 2015 elections by the National Assembly.

In a 15-point communiqué, the forum articulated the need to fast-track post-election litigations. Urging the INEC to remove the time limit on the conclusion of electoral petitions after the general elections, the forum said: “The National Assembly should review and reverse the order of the 2015 general elections, starting from the local to the national”.

The forum reflected on the Boko Haram insurgency. It called for increased intelligence and counter-terrorism actions, adding that multinational military cooperation and foreign assistance, based on agreed parametres of engagement that will not compromisesovereignty, will be helpful.

But, Lagos, the commercial hub, also needs security. The participants urged the government to strengthen the Security Trust Fund, with a view to making the security arrangement more productive. They also brainsormed on the maintenance of law and order, judicious allocation of resources to meet specific demands, the provision of infrastructure, promotion of human rights and sustenance of the effective revenue collection.

According to the forum, “the laws designed to protect fundamental human rights must enjoy a measure of immunity from legislative review and amendment and credible bodies must be vested with the power to blow the whistle when the parameters of the constitutional covenant are transgressed”.

Noting that Public Private Partnership (PPP) is effective, participants advocated the training of public officers about its workings so that “the arms of government can support them to strengthen private investment in the development of public infrastructure for job creation”.

Government, the forum said, “must work with people to organise economic institutions in such a way that there is no oppression, based on class, social status, ethnic group or state.” In addition, the participants stressed that “a distributive equity is an important cornerstone in the act of national objectives for the government’s programme on reconstruction and social reform”.

The forum also called for an urgent global action “to halt the alarming pace of climate change and environmental degradation, which pose unprecedented threats to humanity.” It explained that that urgent action has become expedient to save humanity from extermination.

The participants urged the government to focus on the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to ensure. It added:“There is no time to lie at ease or be complacent, despite the progress made so far, and hence, we must set new goals and reach for greater heights”.

Fashola charged the National Assembly to make laws that will strengthen security.

He said the security challenges underscored the need to review the country’s laws to conform with modern trends.

Fashola stressed: I will not leave this event without a word or two about what I think our national legislators can do and be looking at, in view of the challenges we are facing . I believe that the most urgent and compelling issues our nation faces now is law and order. That is the bedrock of good governance and foundation for economic growth .

“ I think the time has come for our legislators to dig deep. No nation that has the kind of challenges that we have must refuse or continue to refuse to be imaginative about law enforcement. Whatever the argument and fears about state police may be, we have nothing to fear than the fear itself .

“We must find the courage now to do something urgent and different to bring collaborative capacity to policing and law enforcement.”

The governor argued that the constitution has never prohibited multi-level policing. He said: “Since that has not been forbidden, many legislators who are imaginative can come up with laws that will allow the establishment of multi-level policing”.

Fashola said that the laws that tend to pitch the state against the federal authority should be reviewed in the interest of cooperative federalism.

He alluded to the National Inland Waterway Act, which limits the power of states to freely use inland waters creeks and canals. He said, if this act is reviewed, it would boost the capacity of the state to explore the waterways.

The Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Matters, Hon. Musiliu Folami, said the theme of the conference has provided an opportunity for political office holders to interact and brainstorm on ways of moving the state forward.

He said: “The parley also affords members of the state executive council a strategic opportunity to rub minds with our legislators at the state and national levels as well as our party chieftains in the state.”

May 20, 2014
Bamidele: I’m still contesting

FOR those doubting his participation in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, Labour Party flag bearer Opeyemi Bamidele as emphasised that he was still contesting.

Bamidele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti that he was not considering stepping down for any other contender in the poll.

He said no amount of intimidation and attack would make him succumb to the wishes of those who he claimed saw him as a threat.

According to him, those spreading the information that he was no longer in the race were only jittery over his rising political profile.

Bamidele, who also said he had no working arrangement with any candidate, added: “Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, I never held meetings with any individual or group where it was agreed that I would team up with a particular candidate.

“I have never regretted my actions or inactions and this governorship race will not be an exception.

“Before I venture into any project, I usually seek the face and direction of God and God has not told me to make a U-turn.”

He called on his supporters across the state to disregard such speculations, saying they were false and diversionary.

“What is paramount in my mind at the moment is to concentrate on my statewide campaign so as to sell the manifesto of our party to the electorate.

“I have the conviction that the Ekiti people who know my antecedents, will make the right choice come June 21,” he said.

May 20, 2014
Fayemi vs Fayose: Between political expediency and moral exigency

In this piece, John Ajayi contends that Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi deserves a second term because of his pedigree and achievements in the last three and half years.

AFayemi vs Fayose: Between political expediency and moral exigencys the contest for the June 21, governorship election in Ekiti state gathers momentum, John Ajayi who reviewed the political undercurrents in the on-going electioneering campaign writes that political expediency and moral exigency will be critical to the chances of would be winner.”

Fears and apprehensions about the forth-coming gubernatorial election in Ekiti state have been pervasive. Real or imagined, these fears are palpable as they loom ominiously large in the present political firmament of Ekiti state. But, wait a minute. Should this be so? Without any doubt, there shouldn’t be any fear or apprehension whatsoever about the governorship election slated for 21st June in the state.

This is especially so, if all stakeholders, in the forth-coming contest will spare a thought for the good counsel of Mathew Arnold, a British poet and cultural critic who lived between 24th December 1822 – 15th April 1888. Talking about the sanctity of the truth as it affects the affairs of man, Arnold advised:

“We must hold fast to the austere but true doctrine as to what really governs politics and saves or destroys states. Having in mind things true, things elevated, things pure, things amiable, things of good report; having these in mind, studying and loving these, is what saves states.”

Indeed, a deep reflection of Arnold’s words as revealed should allay all fears in the minds of men, especially in view of the unfolding political brouhaha in Ekiti land. It is no longer news that the contest in the election is going to be a straight fight between incumbent Governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, (JKF) of the All progressives Congress (APC); former governor, Peter Ayodele Fayose of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party candidate, Mr. Bamidele Opeyemi. What is however news is the fact that beyond securing a party’s gubernatorial ticket, success or failure in the contest will be determined by the personality and personae of each of the political actors and gladiators.

A very keen observer of the political developments in the state can attest to the fact that the forth-coming governorship election, and in particular, the chances of Governor John Kayode Fayemi and Peter Ayodele Fayose as well as Opeyemi Bamidele will be adjudged both by moral exigency and the political expediency of the time. While it is exigent that a new election to determine who runs the affairs of the state in the next four years should hold next month as planned, and that all political parties registered by the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) field candidates for this top position, it is also politically and morally expedient for these candidates to pass the simple test of integrity and moral up-rightness.

The emergence of each of these candidates as flag-bearers of their respective parties is too well known to all. But surfix to say that each of the parties had earlier conducted primaries, a statutorily mandatory pre-condition to be qualified for registration by INEC in the event there was no consensus, and the exercise produced the three gladiators. While JKF emerged without any controversy as APC’s candidate, ayo Fayose emerged through a highly contentious and controverted process. Out of about 15 other gubernatorial aspirants of his party, he was said to have scored over seventy percent of delegates votes to emerge winner. The disclosure rattled other contestants who swore to reject the outcome of the election which they unanimously described as “a charade.”

However, these aspirants, or political way-farers have since made a 360degree u-turn on what they earlier objected. The recant was said not to be unconnected with the Aso Rock presidential directive insisting on the candidacy of the former governor as the choice of PDP for Ekiti state. The presidential order has since been backed up with the open declaration of the proposed election as ‘a war’ by Vice-President Nnamadi sambo, a hitherto suave and peace loving architect turned politician. Indeed, the PDP’s seeming “morbid obsession” (apologies to Olatunji Dare, the great journalism oracle) has no doubt aggravated the atmosphere of fear and apprehension amongst the local folks and other well meaning Ekitis.

Perhaps reading the minds of his selectors correctly, Mr. Fayose has been junketing from one village to the other like a conquistador already counting the days of his assumption into office which he once occupied with neither pangs nor pains but later booted out without fanfare.

For the Labour Party candidate, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, his emergence as flagbearer was a forgone conclusion since he decamped from his former political party, the Action congress Party (ACN), the platform which gave him the Ekiti Central Senatorial District slot at the House of Representatives. Though a former accolite of JKF, he naturally felt embittered and unhappy with his erstwhile political co-travellers, hence, he decided to jump ship not withstanding persuasions and pleadings to the contrary. Since he picked the ticket for the Labour Party, Bamidele has left no one in doubt that he is poised for the governorship contest. While he has embarked on his campaign with all energies and political sagacity acquired over the years through his days as an activist, he has been cautiously treading Ekiti political turf with some level of political decency but has once in a while been throwing jabs at the least expected quarters. The labour Party candidate’s recent attack and vitriolics on his kinsmen and political mentor, former Ekiti State governor Otunba Niyi Adebayo was seen in most quarters as quite unbecoming.

However, anyone who is no stranger to politics and politicking in this clime will see the development as in sync with the tradition of our politics.

For Governor kayode Fayemi, the contest is such that requires all the wits and intrigues that it deserves. Although the urbane intellectual politician has truly made issues the bane and focal point of his electioneering campaigns, the debonnair war strategist appears to have turned full circle as a politician of no mean repute. Not only has he been visible on every political platforms to woo the votes of Ekiti electorates, despite huge achievements in his first term, he has doggedly and cleverly moved beyond old political divides, mending ways with old political foes who actually share in the collective good of the Ekitis.

Governor Fayemi’s recent political master-stroke in wining erstwhile Governor Segun Oni to APC is nonetheless a well thought-out political brinkmanship. Getting an Ekiti political heavyweight like Segun Oni, a man without any known moral, social or political baggage into the bargain is an indication of a true political heroism. The governor who took his political campaign to the doorsteps of his former rival in his Ifaki-Ekiti hometown recently got a rousing welcome by the politically articulate Ifaki Ekiti indigenes.

Receiving Fayemi and his entourage, former Governor Oni was quintessentially at his best. No pretense, no deceit nor a conceit. he told his guests and those who cared to listen the reason why Ekiti state should not be thrown to the dogs. According to Oni, “I take the decision to support fayemi because the future of Ekiti state is the most paramount more than any material gains.

His words;

“Today, we are erecting a new platform to build the future for the state. To us, the future is paramount in our hearts and what our children would say about us.”

“Though, we might have a past that was rough, but we have to let the past be past. We must think of who can take the right decisions for us to build a prosperous future for the state”.

The people of the state, Oni further explained, “must ask themselves what type of legacy they want to bequeath on the next generations adding that “we must think of how we can make our tomorrow better than our past and today”. What else can one say? The thoughts and non thoughts of former governor Segun Oni, a man of gentle mien but solid strength of character perfectly encapsulates the thinking of all well meaning Ekitis, home and abroad. For those who do not understand the real personae and the true essence and character of an Ekiti, being principled and self respecting with good natured-ness is second to none. You may be quick to adjudge an average Ekiti as ‘arrogant’, yet, you cannot deny him or her the honour he deserves when it comes to being principled and righteous on any issue that bothers on integrity of purpose. The western education which the mass of Ekiti have acquired irrespective of the limitations of birth and social millieu will readily come to play when ever situation and circumstances demand.

It is on the basis of this that the forth-coming election will be assessed and determined. Of the three major gubernatorial hopefuls, Fayose, the most voluble and politically vivacious ostensibly because of the Aso Rock backing is a candidate that has lots of questions to answer the Ekiti electorates who he once served and disappointed! If our politics were to be refined, an Ayodele Fayose would have long been consigned to the dust bin of political history. How does one explain the arguments of his newly recruited loyalists who were once his opponents in the last “controversial” primary election of his party. Though some of them once sworn never to work for him in his bid to return to the top position, they later gave up on their words as they were ‘forced’ or whipped into line by a desperate and confused presidency. Anyhow, that is still politics for you.

However, what is as certain as daylight about the next month election is the strength of character, personality and the pedigree of each of the gladiators. The Ekitis are too knowledgeable and forthright enough to allow a polical charlatan or ‘garage’ economists to lord it over them. Not even the intimidating power of the presidency can prevent the application of the native intelligence of the Ekitis.

For the political umpire and those beating the drums of war as regards the forthcoming election in the state, they should be guarded and guided by the immortal words of Mathew Arnold. He it was who had cautioned on what really governs politics and saves or destroys states. The nation’s leaders cannot afford to plunge Ekiti State into an unnecessary war because of cheer desperation to capture the votes of the people. The earlier these apostles of political violence, war-mongers and election riggers realise this simple truth, the better.

Indeed, the die is cast!

May 20, 2014
Lagos council boosts Fayemi’s re-election bid with materials

APapa Local Government Area of Lagos State has joined the list of donors to the re-election of Dr. Kayode Fayemi as governor of Ekiti State.

The council has donated hundreds of branded T-shirts to the John Kayode Fayemi’s (FKF) Campaign Organisation in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

House of Representative member Hon. Bimbo Daramola, who doubles as the Director-General of the organisation, took delivery of the sacks of the shirts from the Secretary to the Apapa Council, Mr. Oluwole Adele.

Adele said he was making the donation on behalf of his chairman and the good people of Apapa, who he noted, identify with the performance of the governor since he took the saddle more than three years ago.

According to him, the Lagos council made a similar contribution in the run up to the 2007 governorship election when Fayemi first took a shot at the governorship position.

“On behalf of the chairman and the good people of Apapa Local Government, we are making this donation to the reelection of Governor John Kayode Fayemi for continuity to the glory of God and for humanity,” he said.

Responding, Daramola described as encouraging that such contribution was coming from a council in Lagos, a state he said is bonded with Ekiti in terms of performance and service delivery to the citizenry.

According to the campaign chief, Fayemi would not only be impressed by the materials but encouraged to keep the flag of performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government flying in Ekiti State.

May 20, 2014
APC inaugurates office in Bwari

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated a campaign office in the Bwari, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The General Secretary of Alliance for Credible Election (ACE), Emma Ezeazu, who donated the office, said that Nigerians have been suffering from the misrule of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ezeazu, who is now a chieftain of the APC, called on the FCT opposition leaders to build the party.

He said the battle to take over from the PDP will not be easy, adding that it can only be achieved through commitment to change.

Ezeazu added: “ The APC will take over from the PDP. Our people have suffered the misrule of the PDP. I call on APC leaders to join hands in building the party and also ensure that we prepare our followers for the election that is coming.”

The FCT APC Chairman, Abdulmalik Usman, said that it will not be business as usual, urging Bwari residents to register and obtain their voters cards, ahead of the election.

He urged members shun activities that could distabilise the party.

Senator Sidi Ali charged the APC women and youths to work for the party so that it can have an edge over the other parties. He also charged them to win more members for the party.

A party chieftain, Musa Diko, assured that the APC will resolve the security problems, if voted into power.

May 20, 2014
2015 aspirations divide Edo APC

Old and new members of the progressive bloc in Edo State are fighting over the soul of the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of next year’s elections, reports Otabor Osagie.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in Edo State are making frantic efforts to unite the party, following the crisis that broke out over the recent ward, local government and state congresses.

Observers believe that the crisis may spell doom for the party, if it is not nibbed in the bud. Already some chieftains led by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu have defected from the party.

Their resignation followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued by Ize-Iyamu’s supporters to Governor Oshiomhole to cancel the recent APC membership registration and congresses at the ward and local government levels.

The protesters had other demands. They have accused the governor of monopolising the control of the party. They also wanted him to carry along other party leadersm, including former Governor John Oyegun, in the running of the party.

Apart from Ize-Iyamu, those who left the chapter include the Chairman of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Prince Tony Omoaghe, Edo State Deputy Chairman Alhaji Usman Shagadi, House of Representatives member from Etsako Constituency Mr. Abubakar Momoh, Mr. Godwin Eshieshie, Chief Alemoh Akhigbe, Kasimu Dokpesi, APC Senatorial Woman Leader Mrs. Bekilas Imisara, Mrs Evelyn Omorodion and Mr Lukman Mohammed, former member of Edo Sate House of Assembly.

Others are three members of the House of Assembly-Patrick Osayimen (Oredo East), Jude Ise-Idehen (Ikpoba-Okha), Patrick Aisowieren (Orhiomwon North) and Friday Ogieriakhi (Orhionmwon South).

Omoaghe, who read the communique issued at the end of their meeting in Benini-City,the state capital, said the members of the party were thirsty for a sense of belonging. “The relinquishing of control and monopoly of the party will pave the way for an inclusive political system, which respects the sanctity of internal democracy, devoid of deliberate sponsorship of rancour and fractionalisation within the party,” he added.

The communiqué reads in part: “The governor has encouraged division and fractionali-sation in all parts of the state and ensured the marginalisation of party faithful, who have refused to join his faction of the party. He single handedly handpicked the current interim executive committee of the party and has given them a marching order to do his bidding, to the dismay of party faithful.

“The governor has marginalised most members of the legacy parties, which came together to form the APC, especially those from the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), in total disregard of the directive of the national body. The governor has blurred the lines between government and the party structures by using the machineries and functionaries of government to hijack the party to serve very selfish political interests.” The governor denied the allegations, saying that he has promoted internal democracy and cohesion.

Before the expiration of the ultimatum, Ize-Iyamu met President Goodluck Jonathan and Chief Tony Anenih in Abuja. At the meeting, he unfolded his plan to dump the APC.

Sources said that Ize-Iyamu was offered the deputy governorship ticket by the PDP while other defectors were promised juicy appointments. They were also told to register at their various wards. Now, plans are underway to receive into the PDP by President Jonathan in Benin-City.

It was learnt that when the group returned from Abuja, Oshiomhole called for a peace meeting. But, their demands shocked the governor. The demands include the sacking of some commissioners and the harmonisation of the elected party officials in their favour.

Many party chieftains are of the opinion that Ize-Iyamu’s ambition to succeed the overnor in 2016 is responsible for division in the party. Signs of a crack had emerged in 2012 when the pastor kicked against Oshiomhole’s choice of Dr. Pius Odubu as his running mate, ahead of the election. There were protests and political bickering against the choice of Odubu. But, the governor was resolute.

Odubu has not declared his intention to run for the governoshing election. But, close associates have confided that he is interested in the number one seat because there are indications that the APC will zone the ticket to Edo South Senatorial District, where both Ize-Iyamu and Odubu hail from.

Party sources said that other members of the Grace Group led by Ize-Iyamu may defect, if the governor fails to reassure them that they will have a sense of belonging.

In the past, the group coordinated the political onslaught against Anenih when Chief Lucky Igbinedion was the governor. Members of the group were deregistered from the PDP, making them to defect to the ACN. Analysts believe that the group is still intact in the APC.

At different times, Oshiomhole had boasted that the defunct ACN was not just a party, but a mass political movement that has redefined politics in the state. He was misunderstood, until the APC conducted its ward and local government congresses.

The ‘mass political movement’ reared its head at the rescheduled ward congresses in Edo South District. An earlier congress was cancelled after supporters of Ize-Iyamu protested against the alleged harassment, intimidation and disappearance of electoral officers. Ize-Iyamu was however defeated. He won in only eight wards out of 77 wards. At his Ugbokoniro ward, there was no election. The group loyal to Odubu insisted on the accreditation before voting. But, Ize-Iyamu said voters on the queue should be counted without accreditation.

Party sources however, said that Oshiomhole may not even back the deputy governor at the primaries as another successor is being groomed.

Smart Osagiede, a loyalist of Ize-Iyamu said: “A bad process can never result to anything positive. The process was a sham, it was designed to fail. Some of us had lost faith in our democratic process, until a couple of years ago when Edo State began a new trail and became a reference point. However, with what we saw during the ward congress, it is obvious that we are back to where we thought we have left behind.”

The APC Interim Publicity Secretary, Comrade Godwin Erhahon, denied the allegations. He said in a statement that the demand for the cancellation of the ward and local government congresses after defeat was the ranting of a crumbling political bloc.

He said the party has advised the governor not to submit to the group’s blackmail. According to him, “Edo APC will be better off without traitors and desperadoes in its midst.”

Erhahon added: “It is Pastor Ize-Iyamu who desperately wanted to hijack the party and manipulate the process for his governorship desperation. Shortly after the registration of the APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, had attempted to single-handedly nominate the chairman and members of the Interim Committee as a ploy for manipulating the party structures towards his governorship ambition.

“When he failed to achieve his selfish goal that night, he stormed out of that meeting, into the waiting arms of PDP leaders, who held another meeting with him, in the residence of his friend, at Aiguobasimwin Crescent, GRA, Benin City, where he told them to prepare for his return to the PDP. By 6 a.m that same morning, the PDP was already celebrating in social media that the APC was crumbling.

“The result of his disregard for the majority, promotion of fractional strife, peddling of false rumours, which have often backfired, is the woeful defeat of his group in the congresses . The APC women’s wing has been praying to God to flush out from the party such divisive elements, economic wolves and infidels, who constitute obstacles to the developmental strides of the comrade governor. We can only now thank the women’s wing for the efficacy of their prayers.”

Pastor Ize-Iyamu however, said it was not his governorship ambition that led to his defection. He said: “The problem in Edo North that warranted Alhaji Shagadi, Abubakar Momoh, who is in the House of Reprentatives to resign, was it Ize-Iyamu’s ambition that caused that? There are fundamental problems in the party. I read somewhere that they also said those of us who left were actually like cancer in the party. With this confession, they are also trying to say that the party is terminally ill. If they think that the cancer has left because we have left, let me tell him that they will now realise that the cancer has not left because when you have cancer, which is a terminal illness, what it means is that the party is set to die.

“In the next few days, you will see more people leaving the party. It is regrettable that a party that we laboured to build is going this way. Unfortunately, the governor is being held hostage by people who have no idea on how a party is run and how a party is managed and their utterances have confirmed that.

“What makes you think that because I am in the APC, I don’t have a right to see the President? And there is nothing wrong in interacting with people in other parties. I am not detained in theAPC. My membership of the APC cannot reduce the freedom that the constitution confers on me to interact and to associate. So, for him to say that going to see the PDP leaders and the President amounts to anti-party activity tells you how shallow they are. Nobody forced us into the APC and nobody can detain us in the APC.

“So, I sympathise with some persons in the APC, but it is clear to me that, as long as they have the present leadership they have at the state level, the party is doomed. And for some us who have little political experience, we would rather not be there when the party is destroyed and that was why we left”.

A leader of ‘Edo in Safe Hands’, a pro- Oshiomhole group, Mr. Godwin Imoudu, said that the defection of Ize-Iyamu will not affect the party. He also said that, after completing his two terms of eight years, the governor will hand over to a competent person.

Imoudu said: “As a member of the APC, I will continue to appeal to all parties to tow the path of peace because no other platform will give them the opportunity of redeeming their image and become a part of the effort to rescue Nigeria. Governor is building a new crop of young leaders and the old brigade is fighting this new order.”

A Benin-based socio-political group, the Global Democratic Initiative (GDI) has however, appealed to warring groups within the APC to sheath their swords and resolve their differences.

Its Coordinator, Odoligie Edebiri , urged the Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu-led group to accept whatever wound inflicted on them during the party congresses as sacrifice for democracy.

Edebiri said that that the harmonisation of party structures, based on the principle of equity, will promote peace.

He said: “We waited till now because we hoped that the appeal panel set up by the party from the fall-out of the party congresses would have submitted its report.

“This would have been the basis for the reconciliation of the warring factions. Unfortunately, the findings is not forthcoming and our great party is being torn into shreds.”

A chieftain of the APC, Mr. Onoguekhian Eboigbe, a lawyer, said the internal crisis has its premise on the succession battle in the APC, ahead of 2016. He said Edo people looked forward to the emergence of a succeessor who will continue with the governor’s developmental strides.

Eboigbe added: “The reason the group loyal to Ize-Iyamu resigned wass because the members believe the APC belongs to them. But they failed to realise that younger ones are coming up. Pastor Ize-Iyamu is popular among the old ACN. These people cannot win election. Our party is strong and we will win.”

May 19, 2014
‘Fayemi is best for Ekiti’

Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Otunba Joseph Alake has urged the people to vote massively for Governor Kayode Fayemi in the interest of development.

The politician described Fayemi as the best candidate for the job, stressing that he has achieved a lot in his first term.

Alake, who spoke with reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, laude the administration for fostering security and peace in Ekitland.

He said the governor has endowed his postion with honour and visibility, adding that he has restored the pride of the state.

Alake stressed: “There is no local government you will visit today and you will not feel ther impact of governance. Ekiti now has better roads, better hospitals, better schools and pride of dignity. It was not so in the past when people lived in panic in an atmosphere of political tenstion and intolerance.”

The politician praised Fayemi for his reforms, which were designed to reposition the state for excellence. He said their impact would be felt beyong his administration, urging the people to renew his mandate.

He alluded to the governor’s fidelity and commitment to transparency and ggood governance, pointing out that he has utilised the scare resource with prudence.

The APC chieftain said Fayemi has blocked the loopholes and prevented graft in high places, making his administration a model in the Southwest zone.

Alake commended the eminent indigenes who have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC for making a correct and logical decision in the interest of Ekiti’s future.

He said the election is about the next generation, charging the people to vote for a credible leadership.

Alake added: “The name of Fayemi will be written in the letters of gold. We need to vote for him again so that he can build on what he ha done. The young man has restored our pride in Ekitiland.”

Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Otunba Joseph
Alake has urged the people to vote massively for Governor Kayode
Fayemi in the interest of development.

The politician described Fayemi as the best candidate for the job, stressing that he has achieved a lot in his first term.

Alake, who spoke with reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, laude the administration for fostering security and peace in Ekitland.

He said the governor has endowed his postion with honour and visibility, adding that he has restored the pride of the state.

Alake stressed: “There is no local government you will visit today and you will not feel ther impact of governance. Ekiti now has better roads, better hospitals, better schools and pride of dignity. It was not so in the past when people lived in panic in an atmosphere of political tenstion and intolerance.”

The politician praised Fayemi for his reforms, which were designed to reposition the state for excellence. He said their impact would be felt beyong his administration, urging the people to renew his mandate.

He alluded to the governor’s fidelity and commitment to transparency and ggood governance, pointing out that he has utilised the scare resource with prudence.

The APC chieftain said Fayemi has blocked the loopholes and prevented graft in high places, making his administration a model in the Southwest zone.

Alake commended the eminent indigenes who have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC for making a correct and logical decision in the interest of Ekiti’s future.

He said the election is about the next generation, charging the people to vote for a credible leadership.

Alake added: “The name of Fayemi will be written in the letters of gold. We need to vote for him again so that he can build on what he ha done. The young man has restored our pride in Ekitiland.”

May 19, 2014
Osun poll: Public Complaints Commission warns against violence

The Public Compalaint Commission (PCC) has advised politicians in Osun State to shun violence, ahead of the governorship election. The commission also urged them to steer their supporters away from acts capable of breaching the public peace. It warned that unruly behaviour could lead to anarchy.

The commision’s warning came on the heels of the brigandage, which marred the recent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries in Osogbo, the state capital.The Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Jelili Adesiyan, was alleged to have used policemen to harass and intimidate former Governor Isiaka Adeleke, who competed with Senator Iyiola Omisore for the ticket.

In a letter dated 11 April 2014 and signed by its National Commissioner, Professor Razaq Abubakre, the PCC said that the unruly behaviour at the primaries was a recipe for anarchy. It said that it was capable of sending wrong signals to stakeholders to obstruct peace, fair play and justice.

The letter entitled: ‘Complaint on Arbitrariness and Abuse of Office’ read in part: “I wish to recall the disturbing incident of 3rd April, 2014 at the Ideal Nest Hotel, Ilobu Road, Osogbo in which you were alleged to have used policemen to harass, intimidate and embarrass Senator Isiaka Adeleke, the first civilian Governor of Osun State and the contestant to your own favoured candidate in your party for the gubernatorial ticket in your capacity as the Hon. Minister of Police Affairs.

“It is obvious that this reported conduct is a recipe for anarchy, if all ministers were to act in the same manner. As a citizen of the State of the Virtuous, your reported action, if correct, will send a wrong signal to all the believers in justice and fair play around the globe.

“Thus, there is need to thread with caution to avert insinuations making the round that you are acting out a script in collaboration with the Hon. Minister of the State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro to cause problems in the Southwest.”

Abubakre added that the commission, as the ombudsman, has a duty to draw attention of anybody whose act may lead to injustice against any citizen.

He said that the intimidation and embarrassment could engender injustice and causing anarchy, adding that such a behaviour was worrisome during the electioneering.

Reacting to the letter, Adeleke’s media aide, Mr. Olumide Lawal, said: “This is definitely a cheering time for Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who was allegedly unjustly molested and humiliated by the trio of Senator Iyiola Omisore, Hon. Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abdul Jelili Adesiyan and Sogo Agboola at the Ideal Nest Hotel Osogbo, before the PDP primarries.

“To those who are aware of the alleged ugly incident, it was only Senator Adeleke’s political maturity and patriotic zeal, that saved hell from being let loose on the day under reference, Senator Adeleke proved, that he is truly a statesman who will not hurt a fly to achieve any political goal or whatever ambition.

Senator Adeleke, as a man of peace, took the incident with philosophical calmness and thereafter sent a petition to President Jonathan, which was published in the newspaper of April 4, 2014 and copied major stakeholders in the PDP, to alert them principally, about what he went through in the hands of his fellow party men, over his rightful intention to partake of the April 5th, 2014 PDP governorship primary, which he eventually boycotted, out of his desire not to put lives of his supporters on the line, going by what he went through as an exalted personality at the Ideal Nest Hotel, Osogbo, Osun State.

“It is indeed a welcome development that not all hopes are lost after all, as far as getting a listening ear to the complaints of oppressed members of the public of which Senator Adeleke was a victim, from those in authority, which the Public Complaints Commission has acted with precision and in good faith.

“This exceplary official conduct by Osun State Public Complaints Commission should be emulated by those saddled with serving and protecting public interests. At last, Senator Isiaka Adeleke is vindicated and his peaceful conduct on the day of the alleged incident under reference has paid off. The chicken has come home to roost.

“Senator Adeleke has counseled politicians and their supporters not to see their endeavours to seek political offices as a matter of life and death. He advised politicians to abhor violence and other ungodly conducts, as we march towards August 9 governorship election in Osun State, as God alone gives positions to whomsoever He willeth without hazzles”.

May 19, 2014
‘Why I want to be senator’

The Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Independent Communication Network Limited, Prince Adebayo Onanuga, is a senatorial aspirant in Ogun East District. The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain spoke with ADEBISI ONANUGA on his ambition and plans for his constituency.

In your opinion, what should be the focus of government at this time?

If you want to run for an office and you cannot provide free education, you cannot provide employment, you cannot provide good health, then, you have no reason going there. Government should make the country a place where an average Nigerian would wake up thinking of what to cook or purchase what to eat, not wake up thinking that the landlord is coming soon to knock at the door requesting for the house rent debt. Government should begin to look into welfare programmes that will have positive impact on our people.

If 100 per cent Nigerian graduate in a year, hardly would 10 per cent of them get jobs. They are abandoned after the one year service to the nation, which is callous of the government. Government can make all Nigerians to have access to employment, good roads, good water, good health, and others. Today, in Nigeria, good health is so prohibitive. When they go to hospitals, they give them prescriptions they can’t even afford. Statistics, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), reveal that about 70 per cent of Nigerians were living below one dollar daily was not encouraging. With a welfare programme in place, it is possible for Nigerians to wake up without thinking about where the next meal will come from. It should not be a problem for any Nigerian who loses his job to think about how he will pay his house rent. It should not be a problem for a man who has worked for 35 years to worry about life after retirement, especially, considering the insufficiency of the contributory pension scheme.

Is it not confounding to you that Nigerians are poor, despite the country’s abundant resource?

It’s very pathetic. We hear the President say Nigeria is a very rich country at a time when all indicators show Nigeria is a very poor country. If the President says we are the richest country, we really need to let him know that he doesn’t understand the problems of the country. Our President needs to go out there, go to markets, and to the streets to see that some people are really living in penury. Politics should not be a thing where one would think, having worked for 40 years and retired, it is where to make money. If you look at the money given to civil servants, the money is too small.

In one’s career as a civil servant, one might not have more than three or four million naira as pension. If you are a politician and even, if you spend one month, the pension is a lot of money. Statistics by the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) stating that about 70 percent of Nigerians were living on below one dollar daily was not encouraging. With a welfare programme in place, it is possible for Nigerians waking up without thinking about where the next meal will come from. It should not be a problem for any Nigerian who loses his job to think about how he will pay his house rent. It should not be a problem for a man who has worked for 35 to 40 years serving his country to worry about life after retirement, especially, considering the insufficiency of the contributory pension scheme.

How do you see the health careservices in the country?

Health delivery services are still generally expensive, as many Nigerians cannot afford basic healthcare. Nigeria should seek to emulate the British example, whereby laws to establish welfare programmes are created, which must be fundamental and enforceable. Our country should begin to look into instituting welfare programmes that would have impact on our people. It is frustration and desperation that forces the hands of youths into vice and the first way to cushion the effects of unemployment is through social support. Politics is not a do-or-die affair for me, but I believe that our nation is condemned to more decades of poverty, until we put the right people in the right position.

How can insecurity be tackled?

Look at the security issue now, the people have been telling the government to establish local Police. But they are deaf, they cannot see it. If there is any security threat, the local police would have known that something is coming. In Nigeria today, there is no intelligence. The security agencies don’t even know what’s going on, they don’t have information. If you have a local police manned by local people, who mixes freely with people, they will have information and know what’s going on. Our communities are not manned by locals.

A police could be posted from Maiduguri to Isonyin where they speak Ijebu dialect. How is he supposed to understand what they are saying? They can even be deliberating on how to kill him and he won’t be able to understand the dialect. Babangida tried establishing local Police but he was stopped by those who don’t understand what the man is trying to do. Police has to be localized for effectiveness. Today in Nigeria, the Police are funded majorly by the state. One day, I was speaking with a senior ranked policeman who told me that all the patrol vehicles in the state were purchased by the Lagos state government. Also, in Ogun state here, all the Armoured Personnel Carriers and vehicles were purchased by the state government.

Then one would wonder what the role of the Federal Government is. Why don’t we loosen the chain of command and let the states have their own share. Let the federal government equip and take care of their police while the states also take care of its own. All the fears, thoughts and ideas that state police will be abused if created are not true. Is the federal one not abused today? Are there no laws in place to see to affairs of the Police? Today, the idea of state police will happen, either we like it or not, because of all these insurgencies and all sorts of anti -community vices. The Federal Government is in charge of the Police and Army and it can’t safeguard the lives of our people. Recently, 276 girls were missing and the Federal Government cannot tell us where they are. State or community police will have great impact as it has been tested and practised in other countries. So, our government should adopt the idea as well.

Our greatest challenge now is that of security and it will hold sway for us to dig deep as a nation on how to address this issue. I think it’s illogical and unfounded to think that the state police will eventually be abused. We must find the courage to do something new to bring collaborative capacity to law enforcement.

Are you saying that the PDP has failed us?

Yes. The PDP has been in government since 1999. They have a very strong state when they came in, but as at today, what we have is a weak state, a fragile one. It is so clear that what we have today is not a state. We are moving closer to Somalia. Boko Haram is coming from the north raiding our people, attacking our cities, killing people and there is no resistance from our so called Army or Police. It shows our state is weak. A state must be able to provide security for lives and properties. Are we providing that? If we don’t have that, what else do we have? Is it all about buying presidential fleet? If I cannot sleep with my two eyes closed, then I live in Somalia. My belief is that, if Nigerians are really thinking normal, no right thinking Nigerian would vote for PDP upon all these failures. The country is unraveling right under their nose. Right thinking Nigerians should vote out the party, they have shown that they can’t govern Nigeria and the time is ripe to have an alternative which APC has provided.

Why are you aspiring to be a senator?

My ambition is driven by the fact I want change. In a modest way, poverty is the greatest challenge. I believe people can be taken out of the poor life they are living. I have interacted with a lot of poor people and I can feel their pain and I want to help them. A senator does not control funds, but he can use his position to leverage a lot of things and there are lots of opportunities to decide on how they can help people. I’m not going there to enrich myself because I don’t believe in enrichment. Too much money is not even good for me. We are being cheated by the leaders. I’m good at home and that’s why my people believe in me. My own primary goal is to constitute projects that will make our people come out of poverty, and enrich people of our constituency even if it is ten thousand. My primary assignment is to ameliorate poverty and get jobs for our people.

May 19, 2014