Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Ekiti State chapter, Chief Jide Awe, in this interview with ADELEKE ADESANYA speaks on the antics of Governor Ayodele Fayose, the chances of his party in the 2018 gubernatorial election in the state and the current brouhaha in the Senate over certain controversial issues. Excerpts:
In 2018, the people of Ekiti State are expected to elect a new governor who will pilot the affairs of the state for another four years. What is the APC doing ahead of this time?
For now, we are expecting the directives from the Independent National Electoral Commission. When they bring out the brief on this development with timetable, description of campaign, those interested in the governorship position will be allowed to roll out their programmes. For now, as a party, we are already gathering supporters, but INEC has not given us the go-ahead for the campaign. That does not mean mobilisation is not going on; work is going on to have our people together as one, so that we can have our state back. Also, we have party members who are interested in governorship position, but the party has not given them the go-ahead.
But there are rumours that the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and former governor, Segun Oni, have all signified their interest. How true is this?
You know that sometimes, there is information that travels among the people that you in authority will not be privy to. But despite this, we expect these people at the right time to prepare and make their intention known to us in the party. Of course, there will always be policies and rumours flying around over one issue or the other, but at the end of the day it will be opened to those who are interested.
If it is now that all these things are coming out, it means we have a lot of problems in this country. The Senate needs to sit down and investigate these issues thoroughly to save its head
Governor Ayo Fayose has proved to be a formidable force to reckon with in Ekiti State politics. Do you see him as a hindrance to your party reclaiming the state?
I wouldn’t want to comment on Fayose. Whatever he likes, he may be, but I know him as a comedian. Moreover, winning an election is not determined by a single person. But for us in the APC, we will make sure that we do all that is necessary to make us victorious in the next election in 2018. Fayose is not the umpire but INEC. This time around, he will fail totally. Let me tell you, those that put him in power in 2014 are still under questioning. For him to be bragging about 2018, that means he is trying God, and I can tell you that he would be put to shame.
Fayose recently said some people in the APC were calling on him to join the party, but he won’t do so. Did your party truly reach out to him?
I want to tell you that that would be the last thing we will do, and we are not contemplating anything as such. You know this man can go to any level to say whatever he likes. He is full of unguided statements that are not verified. If he speaks in the morning, in the afternoon, he may even be lying. So, I think people should have known him very well by now. Even the level at which the PDP is in the country, he is not able to help them out. So, of what benefit will he be to the APC? He can say whatever he likes, but as far as we are concerned in APC, we are not contemplating that, because he doesn’t have the qualities that we need in the party.
Governor Fayose is no doubt known to be a master of grassroots politics. Are there programmes by your party to counter him come 2018?
For us, we can’t do all that. As a matter of fact, he has brought shame on us in Ekiti State to the extent that outsiders are wondering if we are humans beings or not. You see, for you to win the heart of the people, you may not necessarily use his (Fayose’s) ridiculous trick. This funny attitude of his is unbecoming of a governor. As I’ve told you, I won’t make comments on his behaviour. But I tell you, we are not at peace with what he is doing. You know, even the election that brought him in, we are still contesting it. Some people have suffered because of that election. So by his going around, eating ‘ponmo’ and uncooked rice in the market, I just hope he doesn’t contact cholera at all these dirty places, where he is eating.
The APC at the national level is having various challenges, among which are educational certificate scandal, clash with the Customs CG and the SGF by a National Assembly with an APC majority. What is your perception about these?
If we look at the issues critically, we will see that some of them have a lot of secrets they hide from Nigerians. Soon, one after the other, they would be exposed. We have seen what the people want to see, the drama is very clear, even to those of us outside. I believe that the National Assembly should be able to do something, but they are doing something else. But very soon, sanity will come to that place and prevail on them to do things right.
Are you saying that the secrets of the lawmakers are being exposed?
That is exactly what I said; the drama in the National Assembly is now revealing what they thought they were hiding, especially regarding their credentials. The other time, it was the Comptroller-General of the Customs about wearing uniform or not. They ought to know whether it’s an administrative position or a political position. For me, I believe whoever is in the position should abide by the rules and regulations.
But lawyers said there are no laws compelling the Customs CG to wear uniform…
The lawyers at times may not be able to see the things that we that are not lawyers are able to see. For example, you join Customs today as a graduate; you will be aiming at the highest position by promotion through the ranks. The person occupying that position must respect that seat and abide by the rules and ethics of the position. The Comptroller-General of Customs is an administrative position and he cannot get there, expect he has been part of the process. Of course, I know that ordinarily, Hameed Ali, being a retired Army colonel, would find it difficult to wear the uniform, but according to the late Chief MKO Abiola, if you don’t like the aroma in a kitchen, you better get out of that kitchen. So, if you can’t wear uniform, please don’t take the position. This is my own position on the issue. I believe the salary and allowance of that office, Col. Ali is taking them, and wearing of uniform is part of it. So, you have to abide by everything about it.
What about now that Col. Ali has been asked by the Senate to resign?
Well, that is where checks and balances come in. Even the united States of America makes use of it. We will see how far the issue would be resolved. But as far as I’m concerned, if you can’t abide by the ethics of a profession, you don’t need to dabble.
Apart from the Customs’ boss, the SGF also shunned invitation by the Senate. How do you see this?
You see, I pity us in this country. If Babachir Lawal is not from the North East, it would have been something else concerning the issue that made him not to come to the Senate. In the North East, thousands of people are suffering. So, if he has made away with the IDPs’ money, it calls for concern. I know he is from that area; he should examine himself very well and do what is right. His relatives are there, so covering himself with illegal excuses, going to court and other things will not help him. So, he should come to the National Assembly and explain himself. What is the big deal in that; at least he is not being compelled to wear uniform like the Customs’ CG.
How would you react to Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff ’s investigation of an over N4 trillion revenue leakage in the NCS between 2006 and 2016?
Well, this is tantamount to witchhunting of one arm, because this issue had been there before now. Why is it that it is now that the Senate just woke up on this case? I believe the Senate should limit itself to its constitutional roles, which the Senate as the parliament should do. Then, they need to sit down and examine themselves first. You see, anyone coming to equity, must do so with clean h a n d s . There are a lot of things that are being r e v e a l e d and that are getting into the public domain, which I believe had been there before now. Why is it that it is now that we are hearing about the importation of vehicles by the Senate President that these issues are now coming out? Even some aides of the Senate President are alleged to be involved in some scam relating to the Paris Club loan refunds. You see, before we can take them seriously, some of these cases have to be thrashed out, because it’s like they have seen themselves as above the law. And if I may tell you, it’s the citizens that will suffer the consequences of all these. That is why people say where two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. The Nigerian populace, what they are expecting is quite different from what the Senate is doing. We all know what is happening to Dino Melaye regarding his certificate issue. If at the end of the day, he is found wanting, the image of the Senate will be at stake. So, as a party, we will try as much as possible to do the needful in the area of resolving some of these issues. But I believe the primary assignment of the Senate is the welfare of the people who elected them. But as it is, I don’t see them achieving any tangible results at the end of their time, and this will do no one any good.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has alleged that Senate President Bukola Saraki and some of his aides laundered N3.5 billion Paris Club loan refund. What is the implication of this for the President Muhammadu Buhari anti-corruption crusade?
That was what I was saying. You see, if it is now that all these things are coming out, it means we have a lot of problems in this country. You see, the Senate needs to sit down and investigate these issues thoroughly to save its head. The role they are supposed to play at the Senate level has to be clear. The time is running out and yet they are faced with a lot of distractions. Tell me, when will they fulfil their mission? They have four years and the time is fast running out. If at this time, all these scandals are coming out from the leaders of the Senate, it will get us nowhere. I just pity Nigeria.
Do you see this issue causing a disquiet between the legislative and the executive arms of the government?
You see, most of these issues are arsenal to the principles of democracy. You can see that there is no proper harmony among the three arms of government. Whereas, they are supposed to relate and make sure they deliver to the citizenry dividends of democracy, but in a situation where the primary function of the legislature is abandoned, how will their goals be achieved? They are supposed to work hand in hand with the other arms of government to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people and that is where checks and balances come to play. When you voted them in, a lot was expected from them in the area of security, putting food on the table of the people, and making like comfortable and meaningful for the people. But as it is now, the reverse is the case.
Some APC stalwarts at the national level are currently urging the party to sanction Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State over the memo he wrote to President Buhari. What is your take on this?
Now, the letter written by El-Rufai, I learnt, was written some months back, but some people went and dug this up and now presented it as a fresh letter. Whichever way, the issues are supposed to be settled among the actors, but I know someone is there to achieve his selfish mission on this, which is normal in politics all over the world. But to me, the party as mother of all, should know how to settle the case among its members, because the moment this issue is not settled now, it is the people that are at the grassroots that will bear the brunt. So, I am saying that whether El-Rufai wrote a letter or not, the basic thing is that to what extent are you relating with the people? To what extent have we been able to fulfil the campaign promises that we made before the election? I hope the leaders of the party at the federal level are taking note of all these in order to have a resolution that will bring a better relationship among us all.
