Tag: Ogun politics

 Until recently when he relocated to Lagos, Ola Oduwole was based in the United States of America, and was the National President of Yoruba Descendants in North America. The Ogun State born activist/politician has been involved in politics as an APC member to ‘effect change’ in the country. He spoke to a group of journalists on the outcome of the Presidential/National Assembly elections and what lies ahead for the nation, Oziegbe Okoeki, who was there, reports

How do you see the victory of Buruji Kashamu of PDP as Senator-elect for Ogun East, where you come from; do you see this as a threat to APC’s chances in the governorship/House of Assembly elections?

Ogun State is an APC state, same as Ogun East Senatorial Zone. However, it is not the popularity of Kashamu that won the election; there is more to it. It is just that in some areas, politics have turned to something else; I mean a lot of thuggery, money bags, intimidation, which can come in different ways. So, in a nutshell, I don’t think it is his popularity that won the election. I have a feeling that the truth will come out in a short while. I believe he did not win the election.

 Just before the election, former Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel, reportedly insulted Ogun people, as a citizen what is your reaction to the statement credited to him?

Probably he did not mean what he said, I don’t believe he said something like that and if it is true that he said what he was reported to have said, then it is too bad. Because he has been a governor for eight years and if he could not do anything about that general flaw in Ogun citizen, then it is too bad. I am sure he might have been misquoted.

 In the light of the opposition from people like Chief Segun Osoba and Kashamu, what do you make of the chances of Ogun governor, Ibikunle Amosun, in the April 11 governorship election?

I will tell you that Amosun is the best governor we’ve had so far in Ogun State. He is in the mould of Bisi Onabanjo who ruled the state between 1979 and 1983. And remember he has only been there for three years and see what he has done. I don’t think anyone has governed Ogun State like him and the people of Ogun State know that. I am 100 per cent sure he will win the election, Osoba or not. Let me tell you, Osoba is no factor at all and you can see it from the just concluded Presidential/National Assembly elections. They did not win any seat, whether senate or reps. Osoba is just a name, their time is over. And we are in a new political dispensation. If he cannot win in his polling unit and his son cannot win, how is he a factor. Even when President Goodluck Jonathan came to Ogun State, he gave the governor kudos as one of the best governors that have performed. So, we all know that he has performed and we in Ogun State all want continuity and with the help of God, now that APC is at the federal level, we are not going to be in opposition. This does not mean we are going to take things for granted.

With the attitude of our politicians and the recent victory of APC, people like Osoba and Kashamu might want to defect to APC; will the Ogun chapter of the party be willing to accept them into its fold?

Well, that is not going to be my decision or one persons decision, it is going to be the party decision. But if they like they can come, but it is about who you are dealing with. The important thing is that we know their antecedents and we will deal with them according to their antecedents. There is always going to be an opposition; we have been in opposition in the past, and that is why our party must not take the people for granted, because now the people have shown that they have power.

 Why do you think Nigerians rejected President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP at the polls?

A lot of factors: number one, impunity. They believe they are ruling not governing, so whatever they did, no one can challenge them, so they did it with impunity. They corrupted every section of government, be it legislature, executive, judiciary, everywhere was corrupted. Corruption is unprecedented; it’s like it has been institutionalised across the board, everywhere, there is nothing you can do in this country without bribery. Everywhere and anywhere, you can’t do anything without bribe. Then power, they talk to people anyhow. There is nepotism; it is just too much and people are fed up. And I hope we have a new deal, the change that we have been yearning for where things can be straightened out, we have the discipline, integrity, etc. There are a million and one reasons why the people rejected them; unemployment, insecurity, light, you name it, it’s numerous.

 How would you asses Professor Jega and INEC’s performance so far, especially in the Presidential/National Assembly elections?

All in all, I think Prof. Jega has tried, he has done his best. But to me I don’t think his best is good enough for the country. But he has improved tremendously on what we had in the past. I hope whoever takes over from him can do better because there are still some lapses. Take the issue of PVC, why must it take them four years to produce PVCs? Some people have not gotten theirs uphill today. There is no rocket science about all these things. In US for instance, you get your voters card the very day you register; you can even change your residential address and it is done immediately. You can do all this things through the internet and you get your new card through the mail. However, having said that, considering the usual Nigerian factor, where some people deliberately try to sabotage others’ efforts, these things do happen. But there must be an immediate way of changing polling units when you move to another location so that you can vote. There should be continuous registration exercise, not waiting for another four years and collection of PVCs should also be a continuous exercise.

 You are very passionate about South-West integration; do you still see it possible with governors Mimiko and Fayose pulling the region to an opposite direction?

Well, I think I am more hopeful now than before and the reason is that majority of the states in the South-West are under APC. Our two obstacles have been eliminated too, because now I believe they will stop all those impunity because of the new government. And the integration of the South-West may be easier than before, and I hope the president can use the geo-political zones to develop this country so that they will have a common thing they share together.

A lot of Nigerians are expecting a miracle from the incoming government, but considering the current economic situation, do you see Gen. Buhari meeting the people’s expectation?

People’s expectations are different, and there are a lot of expectations out there, however, it is going to be difficult to meet all expectations. But I can understand because of the deep knowledge and understanding of what has transpired in this country, how bad the economy is. So we have to rebuild from ground zero. I have no doubt that Buhari and the APC government will perform. I believe we cannot go down further than where we are now, but things might not move as fast as people think, but if they can be patient with the PDP government for 16 years, Nigerians will have to be patient with the new government and give it support to benefit all Nigerians not a section of the country.

About five months to the general elections, it is yet unclear who is where in Ogun State. Who are the governorship aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party? Who is contesting for what office on the platform of the All Progressives Congress? And, is the Labour Party still attractive to those seeking one to hire for 2015?

In concrete terms, is President Olusegun Obasanjo still a loyal member of the PDP? Would he be willing to back the official candidate of the party for the presidency and governorship? In view of the hijack of the party by Chief Buruji Kashamu and his men, could the party accommodate the former President?

Also, former Governor Gbenga Daniel appears to be floating. Is he staying back in the LP? Or would he cross over to PDP and join forces with others to fight Governor Amosun?

Another former governor, Chief Segun Osoba, is a bitter man. He could not fathom what Governor Amosun is up to. Osoba’s men are already talking to the PDP and would only accept to work with the governor if he agrees to cede as many legislative offices as he got in 2011 to him. This appears an impossible condition for the Amosun faction that believes it was shortchanged in 2011.

The worst hit of the political parties appears to be the APC, as Chief Osoba is already looking out for new friends. He used the National Conference as an opportunity to point out to suitors that he was available and, his men, especially those in the National Assembly, have started jumping ship. This could be dangerous for the Amosun bid.

The PDP success in Ekiti has shown that politics is actually the art of the possible. The terrain in all the states of the South West is actually slippery and whoever thinks he stands firm should beware lest he falls.

Amosun is generally believed to have performed creditably in his first term. The model schools and roads constructed by his administration attest to this. But, again, as Ekiti showed, voter behaviour is not altogether dictated by performance in office. The same people hailing him for bringing their communities closer to humanity could be influenced to vote against him for sentimental reasons.

The two main gladiators for the APC need to realise that the progressives stand to lose more than the conservatives. It would be a reproach to the political tradition of the region following the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko to the PDP and Fayose’s emergence in Ekiti.

Chief Osoba should realise that the term elder statesman is not a mere appellation. It is earned through experience and tolerance. He has paid his dues, both in journalism, his first love, and politics. However, it would be myopic to expect that the governor would easily yield ground to him by ratifying the greedy allocation formula of 2011.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun, too, has a lot to lose if he fails to make concessions. While not expecting him to lay a foundation that would lead to the collapse of his political edifice, it will do him no harm by finding means of acknowledging that Osoba is one of the respected elders of the party.

The crisis rocking the APC in most of the states is an indication that the elders have a lot to do yet. And in no time too. The likes of the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former chairman Chief Bisi Akande, General Muhammadu Buhari, among others need to work out solutions to check the slide.

Already, the party has lost Ekiti and Adamawa States. Nasarawa is not particularly sure given the ethnic division and PDP dominance of the House of Assembly. The party is facing a peculiar challenge in Oyo State where Accord has a foothold and could split the APC votes in Ibadan.

Ogun is not irredeemable. Should the elders step in now, and, if the combatants decide to put aside selfishness, neither the PDP nor Labour stands any chance. The reality is that the elections have to be woven around the governor. He holds the structures of the party and has proven his charisma and sagacity at the polls.

In 2007 when he was handed the governorship ticket of the little-known All Nigeria Progressive Party (ANPP), he came a close second to the ruling PDP. The ACN was a distant third. This accounted for the head-hunting that led to making him the ACN candidate four years later. He did not disappoint as he resoundingly defeated the heavyweights in the PDP and PPN. Now that he is in power, it is inconceivable to shove him aside and impose unrealistic conditions on him.

In Ogun, Amosun is the man of the moment. Chief Segun Osoba is an elder and should be pacified to accept the new reality. However, should both men decide to go different ways, the wall of the party would have split open and the lizards would thereby gain access. The PDP is a foe that should not be underrated. A divided house cannot stand.