Lagos politician Mr. Jimi Agbaje has joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he is expected to unfold his governorship ambition. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the shift in political allegiance and implications of his ambition for next year’s election.
Jimi Agbaje, pharmacist, Afenifere chieftain and former Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) governorship candidate, is on the weighing scale. Although he has never been power for 15 years, he has managed to remain in the consciousness of Lagosians. Now, eyes are on him as he is warming up for the governorship race on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
When the Lagos State PDP Publicity Secretary, Ganiyu Taofeek, told reporters that the politician had defected to the party, there were mixed reactions. Many expressed surprise because of his progressive views. Others said that defection is part of politics.
In the last four years, chieftains of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and PDP have mounted pressures on Agbaje to join their parties. The offers were attractive. But, a source said that he rejected the invitation by ACN leaders because he was still bitter over the outcome of the party’s 2007 governorship primaries. Yet, he also tried to evade overtures from the PDP leaders due to ideological differences.
One of his associates disclosed that Agbaje turned down the offer of the PDP card, following the crises that engulfed the party in Lagos. When Chief Bode George invited him to join the fold shortly after the death of Mr. Funso Williams, he said that the time was not ripe. Agbaje told George: ‘If I had come to your party, may be, it is me you will be burying now.’ At that time, the ruling party at the centre was described as the nest of killers.
However, few months ago, top PDP leaders introduced him to President Goodluck Jonathan, who persuaded him to come on board. Agbaje, according to the source, listed his terms. He said that he could not be motivated to join a crisis-ridden party. It was a vague reference to the bickering and division in the Lagos PDP. The chapter was made of caucuses revolving about George, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, which are working at cross purposes.
Agbaje’s second complaint was that he loathed deceit. He explained that, since his priority was to serve as governor, he was not prepared for any dirty politics, blackmail and character assassination. He said his followers were skeptical about the intention of those urging him to join the PDP, adding that it would amount to moving from frying pan to fire, if he is denied the ticket. Agbaje was said to have also asked the PDP leaders whether Obanikoro had dumped his governorship ambition.
To convince him, the President directed that Obanikoro, George and Ogunlewe should iron out their differences and demonstrate a commitment to harmony. The three leaders met and agreed to sheathe their swords. A source said that, since Obanikoro was offered a ministerial position, he may not vie for the governorship. Obanikoro’s associates have denied this, saying that his right to participate at the primaries is sacrosanct.
Prominent PDP chieftains in Lagos have hailed Agbaje’s decision to join the fold. There is the feeling that, if he joins the governorship race, Lagosians will take the pharmacist-turned politician seriously. But, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said that he has mocked his antecedent as a progressives actor and principled Afenifere chieftain. “It is a loss to our side. But, he will face some adjustment difficulties in his new abode,” said one of his associates, who is a commissioner.
In 2010, Agbaje staged a popularity walk at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos. Characteristic of his 2007 campaigns, he stormed the stadium with pomp. As the cynosure of all eyes, his excellent gait and electrifying presence charmed the audience. He waved in customary gestures to the crowd, reflecting charisma, carriage and dignity. On sighting him, top shots ushered him to the VIP seat, the exact portion of the high table befitting his status. In a twinkle of an eye, shouts of ‘Jay Kay is okay’, the slogan of his platform, filled the air.
It was at the national convention of the ACN. Many thought that he had come to defect to the party. But, he was only a guest representing the DPA National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae. There was wild jubilation. He was not new to accolades as a cosmopolitan politician. But, what surprised observers was the setting. Two years after defecting from the AC, Agbaje could not be ignored by members of his former political family. He was not treated as an outcast, but an actor without blemish and tainted pedigree. The warm reception showed that he passed the popularity test. Anxious reporters bombarded him with inquisitive text messages to know whether the rumour that he was considering a return to his former party was true. His former colleagues moved closer to him to exchange greetings. Many hugged him. Some flung their arms around him. Women waved the brooms, the symbol of the AC, at him. Youths hailed him. The master of the ceremony, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, introduced him as ‘one of our old progressive colleagues’. In hush tones, party stalwarts sought to know whether Agbaje was back in the fold. But, he never defected.
His presence at the convention rekindled the memory of old times. Agbaje took off from ‘Idile’, a group of promising professionals bubbling with transformational ideas. But, he rose to prominence as an Afenifere foot soldier, serving the umbrella Yoruba socio-political group as treasurer. His activities should have earned him a cabinet position in the Tinubu Administration in 2003. But, sources said he declined the offer.
In 2007, there was a succession battle in Lagos. His dream was to succeed former Governor Bola Tinubu on the platform of the AC. At the governorship primaries, he was defeated by Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN). Agbaje alleged that the shadow poll was not free and fair. He and other aggrieved aspirants-Olufemi Pedro, Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Remi Adikwu-Bakare, Abiodun Ogunleye, Oyinlomo Danmole Kaoli Olusanya, Ganiyu Solomon, the late Kunle Lawal, and Tola Kasali-kicked against the nomination process.
The AC leadership appreciate Agbaje’s worth. They therefore, reached out to him. He was asked to consider the option of representing the Central District Senatorial District in the Senate. But, Agbaje rejected the offer, saying that it would amount to injustice, since the former chairman of Apapa council, Alhaji Muniru Muse, had already got the ticket.
Agbaje, Afikuyomi, Danmole, Lawal, and Adikwu-Bakare defected to the DPA. A week after, Afikuyomi went to the All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP) and emerged as its governorship candidate. Pedro left for the Labour Party (LP). Later, he went to the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). In DPA, Agbaje defeated Adikwu-Bakare at the primaries. Lawal became his running mate. The former Commissioner for Women Affairs hurriedly left for Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA).
On the podium, Agbaje projected the image of a clean politician as he sought for votes. But, he and Fashola approached Lagosians with the same manifestos. Throughout the campaigns, Agbaje and Fashola only disagreed on one point, which was, the viability of the Fourth Mainland Bridge. While Agbaje said it was not a priority, Fashola insisted that the people needed it for ease of transportation.
But, the battle was fought with vigour. Across the parties, there was tension. The flag bearers-Fashola, Obanikoro and Agbaje, who were AD chieftains, had been divided by politics and ambition.
Many believed that the DPA candidate ran a neat campaign devoid of thuggery, unlike the PDP. Agbaje is a rich politician who had saved for the raining day. His rich friends also contributed to his campaign fund. His adverts were captivating. His radio and television jingles won souls. He toured the grassroots and made impressions. He avoided scandals like poison. Stressing that he was a credible alternative, he urged voters to reject “the same of the same.” Political watchers said that, during the campaigns, he demonstrated self control, which reflected his shome training, sound education and integrity. When his convoy was attacked in Ketu, a Lagos suburb, by suspected thugs, he asked his supporters not to retaliate, saying that the contest was not a do or die affair.
But, there was an instance of emotional outburst between him and Pedro. It was during the live television debate. Pedro had inquired from him, derisively, the experience that qualified him to vie for the governorship of Lagos as the owner of a patient medicine store, with not more than five employees under his control. Agbaje noted the scornful look and the attempt to diminish his profile. While defending himself, he returned the missiles. He reminded Pedro that when he was the Managing Director of a bank, he was a shareholder and director, which implied part ownership. Agbaje also asked Pedro to explain the circumstances that led to his exit from the bank. Besides, he added that the former deputy governor should respond to the allegation by his boss that he had not given his account of stewardship. Pedro flared up, taking exception to those remarks. He explained that when he left the bank, the organisation held a befitting send-forth for him.
One the eve of the election, Afikuyomi had stepped down and directed his supporters to vote for Fashola. Later, he emerged as the AC Chief Agent at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, Yaba, after the close of polls.
Agbaje was a strong contender hindered by his weak party. His main backers were the old Afenifere leaders-Falae, the late Alhaji Ganiyu Dawodu, Chief Olaniwun Ajayi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Supo Sonibare. Their mobilisation was shallow.
According to observers, Agbaje lost the election, but not his honour. He alleged that his photograph and logo disappeared on the ballot paper. Therefore, he prayed the tribunal to invalidate the results announced by the INEC. But, the court rejected his prayer and affirmed Fashola’s victory.
Initially, the DPA, inspired by Agbaje, played the role of the opposition. Later, the party lost steam. But, Agbaje did not go into oblivion. He has lent his voice to burning national issues, including electoral reforms, constitution amendment and the quest for true federalism, good governance and justice. Many youths perceive him as a role model and mentor. His reservoir of goodwill has not been deflated among admirers. At the regional level, he has contributed to peace efforts in the Afenifere.
Sources said that Agbaje succumbed to pressures to team up strange bedfellows in the PDP for political survival. Although his associates are convinced that he is not driven by primitive accumulation, the politician, recognising his limitations, embraced the reality that politics and morality exist in clear cut antithetical relationship. But, some of his supporters are in dilemma over his decision to opt for the PDP. However, if Agbaje emerges as the candidate, he will have the advantage of the federal might. But, Lagos is a different terrain. During the electioneering, it may be difficult to convince many Lagosians to endorse the PDP at the poll, unless they are convinced that the Federal Government has impacted positively on the metropolis.
In the Lagos PDP, there is, for now, artificial unity. Agbaje has a duty to unite the fold, preparatory to his declaration of intention. The Obanikoro camp, which is threatened by his ambition, is to complaining that a new comer has come to reap where he did not sow. Sources said that the group may insist on primaries, based on the projection that it can use its numerical strength and other tactics to truncate Agbaje’s ambition and tilt the pendulum of victory toward Obanikoro’s direction at the shadow poll. At the weekend, another aspirant, Dr. Segun Ogundimu, said that, if there is any plan to impose Agbaje as the consensus cvandidate, it will not work.
The course of events in the APC will influence the PDP’s preparations for the contest. The APC is the ruling party. Its structure is formidable. The party also wields the power of incumbency. Analysts are of the view that, if post-primary crisis is effectively managed and a united APC goes for the next election, the odds will favour its candidate.
The puzzle is: if Agbaje becomes the PDP candidate, can he defeat the APC candidate?
