Category: Politics

 Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye is 80 today. He spoke with  EMMANUEL OLADESU and JEREMIAH OKE on the journey so far, the controversial pact bewteen Alliance for Democracy (AD) and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Afenifere crisis and constitution review.

In the aborted Third Republic, you joined politics and vied for the Presidency. Do you regret not being President of Nigeria?

I am not regretting it at all. There cannot be two presidents at a time. By the time I ran as presidential aspirant, there were 12 of us in the primaries in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and 11 in the NRC. A friend told me that someone told him that, if anyone should be considered, it is Durojaye because he is the most qualified, in terms of integrity and knowledge. I contested and the thing was cancelled on October 17, 1992. I would have done well for my country, but, if they don’t want me, I’ll go back to where I am coming from. It is good to have independent means of livelihood. That is why I am one of the people advocating that parties should not nominate people who have no means of independent earning, so that when they fail in elections, they will have something to fall back to. As a qualified lawyer, I have nothing to worry about at all. I knew if I could not serve my country as a President, I could serve as a good citizen and that was what I have been doing.

As a Senator, what value did you add to the system?

The major landmark achievement and the value I added to the system as a senator was the nine reasons I canvassed against the impeachment of our leaders. In 2002, President Olusegun Obasanjo and Senate President Ayim Pius Ayinm were at loggerheads. At the beginning of that year, they were very good friends. When we opposition parties moved that certain corrections should be made on the electoral bill in 2001, which was tampered with before an ascent was given, he supported Obasanjo. When we resumed in January, we said no, the bill has to be abrogated and reenacted as we wanted the electoral bill to be. The President of the Senate was saying we should forget it because we are one nation, regardless of the party affiliation. Then, I said ‘I don’t trust your friendship with Mr. President; we are supposed to be watchdog, it is normal to be loyal to your man, but be careful. Let us oppose what is wrong and do what is right’. However, I don’t know what happened within their party. The President was recruiting some supporters to impeach Ayim and Ibrahim Mantu his deputy. But Ayim used the advantage of incumbency because he had the larger number in the house and none of them had the two-third that was required to impeach. Therefore, every vote counted. Meanwhile, I was a bit indisposed and went to treat myself in America. The Whip of my party, Senator Emmanuel Differ, was calling me on phone that they needed me at home. I decided to fly back home. I traveled back home overnight and the first thing I did was to interview Ayinm and I said to him that, remember I told you that that man, a solder, is a hard nut, don’t knock your head against Obasanjo because it will not pay you, because you are like a son to me. Meanwhile what we are reading in the America newspapers were uncomplimentary for the image of the country. Many awful things were published in the papers. The supporters of Chief Obasanjo were accusing Ayim and Ayim’s supporters too were hitting back and the thing was echoing abroad, so I was worried. I saw Ayim around 11pm and by the time I would see President Obasanjo, it was about 1am. Senator Peter Adeyemo representing Oyo could beer me witness because he was with Ayim. I called the Alliance for Democracy (AD) caucus leader in the Senate, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfemwa, and requested him to summon a meeting. That morning, I drafted nine reasons why Nigeria cannot afford to impeach any of its leaders. Those of us in NADECO cannot allow the democracy we fought fought to crumble. I argued that the impeachment should not take place. So, every three hours, the Radio Nigeria, NTA and the private electronic media across the country were broadcasting my nine reasons against impeachment. That was the end of the crises.

I also helped the retirees to make a law that would enable them to receive their gratuities on the day of their retirement. Alhaji Yayale Ahmed was the Head of Service. Each time he wanted to give out the cheques, he would call me to come and present to some of the retirees.

Also one of my colleagues, Senator Wahab Tafida, the Nigeria High commissioner to Great Britain, always commended me for the role I played in the establishment of the National Assembly Service Commission.

Along with the late Senator Chuba Okadigbo, I was part of the team that investigated the Odi massacre. I wrote a fine report.

I want you to reflect on the controversial between Alliance for Democracy and Obasanjo, ahead of the 2003 elections.

I was not a party to it, but I cannot absolve myself from the responsibility because, if I did not share the opinion of our representatives, I should have kicked against it. But I was equally at fault. We trusted the solder, contrary to the advice of our leader, the late Abraham Adesanya. He said the first lesson a solder can teach anyone is deception because, if they offered the right hand to you in hand shake, you should be careful because the other hand may have a dagger. So, he said to the governors who led the delegation to negotiate with the PDP to be careful. People were ridiculing Obasanjo as the man without constituency because Obasanjo could not deliver his constituency. The late Lam Adesina appealed to us that we should advise our people in his local government to vote for him at the local government level, but when it comes to other elections, they should vote for our party, so that he could deliver his constituency because Obasanjo is our man. Though I warned against that, despite the fact that I was not at the meeting. But I am not pointing accusing fingers to our governors. If I had thought they were wrong, I would have said no. But it was only Tinubu who had that foresight to say that, with the advice of Baba Adesanya, he will not go with this arrangement in Lagos. What the soldier later did to us was shocking.The Awujale and the people of Ijebu were strongly behind me because they knew I performed. So, they wanted me for the second time, but we were rigged out by the solder because we were too trusting. It’s all history now.

What are the circumstances that led to your brief detention during the military regime?

It was not a brief detention because I spent up to one and a half years in detention with one meal a day, sleeping on the bare floor and mosquitoes nearly ate up the whole of my body. In fact, at a time I suspected that the security men were unleashing mosquitoes to come and deal with me. It was too much, and the circumstances were because we stood for the truth. Abacha is dead now; may his soul rest in peace. He sent for me through Gusau. I was the President of Kuru Alumni Association. He said: “Our President, we all admire you and we like you, but each time we received a security report, your name is always among the people who are attempting to destabilise this country. Why are you doing this?” I said am not destabilising this country and he said, but the President is worried about that and he respected you. Those military people, Abacha, Gusau, Babangida used to show civility when they see an elderly person. Akinriade always calls me egbon. So, they show respect. I was released when Abacha suddenly died and Abdulsalam Abubakar, whose name “Abdulsalam” means peace, became the Head of State and released the first nine people.

Is it not confounding to you that, up to now, the two factions of Afenifere are not ready to resolve the crisis?

I did my best as an individual, but our people undermined my effort. When the things happened, I aligned with the governors in our group. The elders criticised me that I am older than those governors, why should I follow them? I said the governors’ argument was right. If you really want Nigeria to move forward as one country, we should have a political party that will cut across the whole country, so we should build the party across the country. That was the argument of the governors, but some of our elders in Afenifere did not feel that way. They felt any stream that forgets its source will dry. They also claimed that, under Baba Awolowo, Afenifere was AG and AG was Afenifere and that was where they missed it up. One thing is that electoral process was altered, right from the time of Baba Awolowo till our time. People are so reliable at that time; people voted their conscience and election was based on merit in those days, money was not the major factor. Awolowo knew the psychology of our people and people loved.

Next year, the federal government will roll out the drums for the centenary celebration. What do you have to say on that?

Any centenary is worth celebrating, if it is a centenary of freedom from bondage. Yes, we should thank God we are alive to witness it, provided people will not use the opportunity to siphon money unnecessarily. But we should celebrate in moderation. The amount they devoted for it should be scrutinised properly. Not that we should not celebrate, but we should spend judiciously because our being together till today is worth celebrating.

What is your position on the Southwest regional integration?

Yes it is good thing. It has happened before and that was what gives the West the edge over other regions, in terms of education. But people call a dog a bad name in order to hang it. We are not breaking away from Nigeria.

Now that the National Assembly set to review the 1999 Constitution, what are your expectations?

The National Assembly is too busy with many assignments. It should not be their business. The Federal Government should set up a committee, just as Babangida set up the Constituent Assembly in 1988-89, of which I was a member. there is no way they will work thoroughly if they are saddled with the responsibility of reviewing the constitution.

If it boils down to contradiction, perhaps, only Olusegun Obasanjo, retired General, Balogun of Owu kingdom and Ekerin of Egbaland can resolve it. To many observers, the civil war hero, former military Head of State and President of Nigeria has become a man of contrasting personality at the twilight of life. No doubt, he is a military tactician. If it is true, as the late Yoruba leader, Senator Abraham Adesanya, once put it, that the first rule in the military is deception, Obasanjo’s style as a military politician aptly marks him out as a man of inexplicable tricks.

Since the middle of last year, Obasanjo had become the internal opposition leader in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He has repeatedly criticised President Goodluck Jonathan for his slow motion approach to issues of national importance. For example, the former President, who is believed to be Dr. Jonathan’s benefactor, has openly chided the federal government for its poor response to the security challenge, especially the Boko Haram threat.

Obasanjo is also at the centre of the PDP crisis. He and the President are holding antagonistic views and positions on the lingering PDP civil war. The former President, party sources said, was injured by the judicial removal of his lackey, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, from the position of the PDP national secretary. The party chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who is a loyalist of President Jonathan, has not enjoyed cordial relations with the ousted scribe. Recently, Obasanjo’s men have been attacking the activities of Jonathan Administration. Former Education Minister Mrs. Oby Ezekwesiliese has accused the government of reckless spending. Another former minister, Femi Fani-Kayode said the government lacked focus. The general feeling in the party is that the former President is rooting for another presidential candidate for 2015 elections.

When Obasanjo stormed the Aso Rock Villa, the seat of power four days ago, many people were taken aback. It was a surprise visit. But what he did was more surprising. Contrary to his previous disposition, the former President, who attended the weekly church service as the Aso Rock church, prayed for the success of Jonathan Administration, which his men have accused of ineptitude and lack of direction. According to the report, he also had lunch with the President. However, many believe that the prayers offered by the ‘Ebora Owu’ may not have come from his heart. Others feel that there is limitation to the efficacy of political prayers.

When he was in the saddle as President, Obasanjo had established himself in the habit of creating the impression that he had sheathed his words, only to turn back to hit his target. When the row between him and former Senate President Chuba Okadigbo reached the climax, the former President paid him a surprise visit, conveying the impression of a ceasefire. Okadigbo’s supporters exclaimed that the war was over. During the meeting with the late Oyi of Oyi and his wife, Obasanjo cracked a lot of jokes, exchanged banters with his host and waved the olive branch. Few days later, there was the resumption of hostilities and suddenly, Okadigbo was impeached.

The same tragedy befell the former PDP national chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh. Fed up with the crises ravaging the ruling party, the Second Republic minister wrote Obasanjo, alerting him to the consequences of the Anambra State PDP crisis. He also dissected the administration’s programmes, saying that saying that there was gap between expectation and reality. He also warned that mass unemployment was a time bomb. Obasanjo chided him for going public, despite being part of the administration as a special adviser. Later he closed ranks with the party chairman. When Ogbeh thought that the feud was over, police declared a curious war against him. He was harassed by the security agents. The former party chairman initially put up a feeble resistance. However, when the reality of the looming danger dawned at him, he resigned as the chairman. The former President installed Dr. Ahmadu Ali, who was a Federal Commissioner for Education when he served as the military Head of State, as the chairman.

Obasanjo had dangled the same carrot at the leaders of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), ahead of the 2003 elections. He proposed a pact between himself and the party to enable him have a political footing at home. Former Oyo State Governor Lam Adesina and his Ogun State counterpart, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, became his campaign managers in the Southwest. They promised to deliver the votes to the PDP during the presidential election, while expecting the former President to assist the AD in maintaining its hold on the region.

The leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, the late Senator Abraham Adesanya, urged caution. At a meeting of the group in Lagos, Adesanya warned against collaborating with a military leader, saying that soldiers in politics can hardly be sincere. Reflecting on the controversial pact, Afenifere chieftain Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, recalled that only the former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, took the warning seriously. Tinubu retraced his steps, but others met their waterloo at the polls.

“It was a controversial pact. I was aware of it, and since I did not try to avert it, I share in the responsibility for the wrong step. It was started by Lam, who out of patriotism, drummed support for Obasanjo as a Yoruba, so that he could have a home support in his region. But our leader, Adesanya warmed us because Obasanjo is a military man. Pa Adesanya said the first rule in the military is deception. When Tinubu heard about that, he said he would back out of the pact and that was how he survived the political earthquake of 2003”.

The national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has said that Obasanjo’s visit has drawn the curtains on the rift. But those who know the former President hold a contrary view.

Was the visit another game of deception? Time will tell.

The crisis rocking the pan- Igbo socio-cultural organi-sation, Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, could jeopardise the agitation for power shift to the Southeast in 2015.

The national President of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Youth Council, Mr Francis Orji, who spoke on the lingering crisis, said that it has threatened the unity of Igbo leadership.

He urged the reconciliation committe chaired by Senator Ben Obi to resolve the crisis in the interest of the race. Orji noted that the Southeast Governors’ Forum is worried by the logjam.

Orji, who spoke with reporters after the inauguration of Ohaneze Youth Council executive, Abia chapter, urged the parent body to form alliance with other ethnic nationalities to realise the dream of an Igbo Presidency.

He said they can only form an alliance, if they put their house in order.

Orji also said the Southsouth leaders can only work for development in an atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence. He lamented that over 36,000 youths in the region are unemployed.

He added: “In the recent past, in the North, youths have been empowered. So, we are calling on the Federal Government to consider the Southeast youths. We don’t want to take up arms as the Niger Delta youths have been doing”.

Also speaking, another youth leader, Mr. Peter Chinaemerm, urged the youths to show interest in politics.

He said: “We will not shy away from politics because government policies affect us directly or indirectly. We will support publicly any political party candidate with clear vision or political agenda that will help our state grow, regardless of the political party”.

The patron of the group, Mr. Friday Nwosu, a lawyer, urged the youth leaders to eschew the division and forge unity.

The Chief Whip of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr. Abiodun Ammed-Adigun, has said that the party endorsed Governor Abiola Ajimobi for a second term because of his impressive performance.

He commended the 33 local government chapters of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for reposing confidence in the governor.

Adigun said the endorsement will prevent cracks in the party, adding that it would achieve victory in the future as a united house. The legislator assured that ACN will grow in leaps and bounds under Ajimobi’s leadership.

Adigun spoke on the giant strides of the administration after receiving the ‘Grassroots politician award’ at the Trenchard Hall of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Urging the leaders and people to support the administration, he said it is in the interest of the state to vote for continuity in 2015.

Adigun added:“I want to use this opportunity to commend the ACN members in the state for the recognition given to the governor as the leader of the party in the state. They have shown foresight by endorsing him as the leader of the political family after the demise of Alhaji Lam Adesina. The endorsement of the governor is an indication that the party speaks in one voice and that the good work of the governor has fetched him the honour.

“The unity in the party and the good work of the governor will definitely propel the victory of the party in the 2015 general elections and beyond. I urged the leaders and people to continue to support the governor.”

A group, ‘The People’s Movement’, has said that Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is tackling insecurity in the state, contrary to the claims by critics of the administration.

The group urged the governor to deepen democracy by fortifying the democratic institutions.

The group’s Director of Communications, Mrs. Ibifuro Tatua, said in a statement that the allegations of aiding and abetting the kidnapping of judges in the state was false.

She said: “In a country where some governors recklessly abandon their responsibilities to the people, abuse their offices through ostentatious lifestyles, amid mass poverty, Uduaghan has made a difference by redeeming his campaign promises to the electorate”.

The group warned those peddling rumours against the governor to desist from their nefarious activities.

Tatua added: “Leaders at whatever level must demonstrate a certain degree of decency and exemplary conduct. Desperate politicians; those without ideas and goodwill, are running away from the real issues and resorting to character assassination and personal abuse.

“These people, mainly elders and politicians, are not united by the common desire to move Delta State forward, but to bring down Governor Uduaghan”.

The group extolled the virtues of the governor, describing him as an excemplary leader.

Tatua stressed: “We know that posterity will be on the governor’s side. On assumption of office, Uduaghan promised to leave indelible and enduring legacies.This promise has translated into a lot of viable projects. He has moved in to wipe the tears of the people.

“Apart from the renovation of primary and secondary schools, the government has awarded scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students in local and foreign universities.

“Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission has so far completed 790 projects. The projects completed include school buildings, water schemes, hospitals and health centres.