Exclusive Interview: Powerful forces in Buhari government behind Tinubu ordeal in APC.

Otunba Henry Ajomale is the chairman of the All progressive congress (APC)
In lagos state and a close ally of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the party. In this exclusive interview with Iniobong Iwok,he talks about the internal crisis in the APC, the  rumoured plan of the Tinubu camp to form a new party ahead 2009 elections, among several others sundry issues.
Excerpt:


Questions


How do you access the Ondo election,The PDP have accuses your party of electoral fraud?

They are just crying over spilt milk. It is their undoing if there is controversy in their party and they become wiping tomb then whose fault?They want the election to be postpone,that is just one out of the 28 parties, they should look how impossible that may be; if it was the APC that asked for postponement; and I want them to look because the constitution is clear on the issue of postponement of election. The victory of Apc is clear; one can be grateful for the people of Ondo for allowing the APC  to be in power,it is right time for Ondo to be part of the sweeping change in the southwest,we are enjoying It in lagos,Ogun,Oyo and Osun and it is time for them to enjoy.

But there are allegation of INEC colluding with federal might and Jegede said the election should have been postponed?

Ask them if the election was rigged. because all the foreign observers have said that election was free, fair and credible. They should not be taken seriously. The PDP is the architect of it woes; If they are having problems in their party who should be blame for that? Because it is the court that gave INEC the authority that Jimoh Ibrahim should be recognised as the party candidate. so what do you expect INEC to do? And when another superior court gave judgement that INEC should recognise Jegede they obeyed.

But Edo election was postponed?

No,it was the people on the ground that notice that there was security breach and it was not safe to hold election in Edo state at that time. It was not our party. look at what happen in kogi state: when we asked for postponement when our candidate die, but INEC refuse, they went ahead and the election was held.


Tinubu was not happy over Akeredolu emergency, have that been settle now that he as won?

It is only people that are imaging things, Tinubu have never oppose Akereodolu candidacy. Don't forget that in the last election in that state it was Asiwaju that brought Akeredolu out,even in the face of opposition.

People did not like Akeredolu. So if Tinubu this time fault Akeredolu, he as the fundamental right to his opinion on issues especially as an individual. what he said on that was his opinion.
And Asiwaju have not been around for sometime now to begin to ask people to vote or not.

Tinubu has nothing against Akeredolu he had nothing against his candidacy he as won and won,and he is the governor. Asiwaju has not come back but he has send his congratulatory message to Akeredolu.


Is the Tinubu camp happy with the level of input interm of appointment in Buhari government so far?

Yes, Asiwaju worked and laboured assidiously to the formation of the APC. out of the four parties that form this APC: it was the only the ACN, that went in with 4 governors, APGA,CPC all came with one or two governor. Then if someone who want the best for this country put aside their his personal interest, but had interest of the generality of nigerians, and for the first time and opposition party won an election in the country.



So the Tinubu camp is not happy with the no of positions it has received so far?

What we are saying is that the appointment given is not commersurate with the input that we put into the victory of the party.

what we are saying is that if you sacrifice everything and come into it; you put your influence to ensure the victory for the party: I think the offer has to be Commensurate to the effort of each of us who contributed to that success story.

If some people now fill that they can go to mr president and destroy the reputation of Asiwaju and try to create problem between the two,Thank God both of them are still friends. Those that did not even contribute to the success of the party are trying to create problem with in the party.

That is why Asiwaju was saying what he said and no body can challenge him and he as no apology, that is what they saw, Asiwaju is not a stupid man that would just wake one night and say that man, should go and resign and that man should go.
If you are close to him like me, you would know that.

As there still feud between Tinubu and Oyegun?

There is no feud, it is a matter of principle. It is something that Asiwaju Saw that it should not be like that. This thing should not be like this, take note as the chairman, because we don't want to be like PDP and he was the first to come out and speak for the sake of the party, and am sure he must have seen some things to say that.

Who put him there in the first place: it is Asiwaju, and when you put a son in a place it mean you would always have his interest.

There are insinuation that Tinubu is gearing up to Form a new party ahead 2009 election how true is this?

No, that is what people are just speculating, there is nothing like that in his agenda. He would not leave the party like that. He is not a man that build a house and run away frm it. Asiwaju build this party and have come to stay no body is going any were, that fight have come to stay, we would fight and settle. I don't see Asiwaju forming a new party, he is still APC member, he is one of those that build the party, he is an APC man: nobody is going any were, he would not run away from any man, the party belong to all of us and we would fight and settle within us.

Why have lagos state Government under the APC refuse to conduct the LG election?

Don't forget that out party is also waiting for that election. LASIEC have jut be restructured and they are the one to plan and execute the program and conduct the election. So it is not us, if LASIEC they would do it, and if what am hearing that they have not been giving voters list form INEC and some other things like that. So if they have not been giving this thing I don't  see how they are going to work,if they call us anytime we are ready for the election.


Nigeria is in recession and the living condition of Nigerians has worsen,have your party deliver the change it promise so far?

The most difficult human being to satisfy are nigerians. By the time we promise change we did not know what would happen, it is was only on the bases of the plan we had on our hand, when we saw what was on ground it was then we realised that thing were not the same.

The rust that was left and you have to try to clear the rust; the government  tackle that and then corruption which was  endemic among the people, everything is been exposed. Before now we were practically trading in a word economy that you can not buy anything without dollar.

People are now concious with doing something with their head rather than depending on free money from the federal government.  That is the change, there is no place where there is change an the people do not suffer to enjoy later. Nigerian can achieve more and get out of this quandrum and be the largest economy in africa. look at America:  when Obama came in the house policy was not working,he pick it up and look at where they are now nigerians have to be patience.


There has been increased agitation for a restructuring of the country what is the position of your party?

We are in support of restructuring I because we believe if we do that there would be competition among the state have competition among the regions ,personally we should go back were we are in the first republic let convert the state to region before indepent the north south etc. there would be competition amount the region.
Look at the first republic the western region was the first in africa to set a tv station and the east follow and they said second to non there was competition among them.

But the president in not in support?

It is not him, I think some elite in the north are suspicious of this move. Again because some zones in the north like north east is having problem,  because of their crisis,they think this region may not be able to compete with other regions in the next ten years, because of the rehabilitation, yes i agree but the federal government could give them  help.
But you have to realise It is not about the president alone, there must be conviction from all part of nigeria to do this.


The anti graft war, there have been complain from the opposition that they are been targeted?

Who was in the government? if you are found to be corrupt, and you are in that government that is corrupt, then any body found should face the law. They must be asked to come and answer for their deed. what of those people that have die in the process,look at what happen to the military equipment fund. It is not true that they are targeted: Is it all PDP members that have been arrested? Those people found, must prove how they get hugh money in their account.


How do you access your tenure as the state chairman of APC?

What is going on now, I think lagos is getting the dividend of democracy and the government is trying it best to make lagos a mega city. At the end of this term the new railway  would be going to marina and festac, it is not easy; go and ask those doing it how much it is, and this is a  state project that lagos handling on it own. They are doing ten lane to extend to Badagry and the fourth main land bridge is also been constructed .

If this is done lagos would be in vintage position. If you go to lekki you would realise it was not like that ten years ago: if all this can be in place in the next eight years, you would know that lagos would be in the league of the big cities. I think that all the governors that have assume office I became chairman of APC in lagos state have done their best to develop the state.


Quote: "What we are saying is that the appointment given to us is not commersurate with the input that we put into the victory of the party.
what we are saying is that if you sacrifice everything and come into it; put your influence to ensure the victory for the party, I think the offer has to be Commensurate to the effort each of us contributed to the success story".