Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele
Fayose, speaks with Punch about President Muhammadu Buhari’s health, his role
as an opposition leader, relationship with Obasanjo and other issues
Your tenure is drawing to an end.
You have one year and three months left before you are required by law to step
down for another successor. How has your second coming been?
What is important is what we have
made of time spent. We have demonstrated leadership by example. We have made
ourselves accessible, accountable and respected by our people. If not for God
and my achievements, my enemies would have gone the whole hog to attack my
person. Because my people believe in me, I came back into this office based on
my previous performance – during my first term as Ekiti State governor. My people
have given me the trust and cooperation to serve them. Thus, I’m happy that we
have made credible achievements and impact in their lives.
What are the most memorable
moments for you as governor of Ekiti State?
One of them is the trust that I
have enjoyed, even in the face of being a prominent opposition figure. The
people have shown me love beyond my imagination. One of the things I want to be
remembered for or that we have done differently is stooping to conquer. Let me
tell you, even if you have 50 years in office, you cannot finish it all. You
keep working and giving your best to the people. It is only God that can
acknowledge your performance. We will never finish serving and there will
always be a desire in an economy. Where you are managing poverty and trying to
meet the expectations of the people, you have to continue trying.
What would you say are your
strengths and weaknesses as a leader?
Anybody can have money but it is
not as important as the openness and the access enjoyed by the people. We
mingle freely and allow people to have free access to us. That has given us
more support than we can imagine. I sincerely appreciate the cooperation of the
people.
What about your weaknesses?
I’m a mortal. I’m not infallible.
Sometimes, we get angry and, sometimes, we do things the way people don’t
understand. But we retrace our steps in line with the will of the people. There
is no perfect man, so I can’t claim that (to be perfect). I have only decided
to be humble. Today, anybody coming after me has a lot to do to be trusted by
the people because the stakes are very high – the people know what they want.
It is no longer about the roads we have tarred; schools and markets we have
built or other infrastructural development we have brought (about); it is about
our personal relationship with the people.
Your role in the current
administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and Acting President Yemi Osinbajo
places you as the spearhead of the opposition. Why did you take on such a
responsibility?
Like I always say to people, life
is not about your personal attainment of goals and aspiration; it is about
being counted for the people. If you don’t stand up for something, so many
things will stand up against you. Some people say it is because I enjoy
immunity. What about others that enjoy immunity? A lot of leaders today are afraid
of speaking the truth. But I know there is no gain without pain. We stood in
the gap for the people. I am the longest-serving governor. I served under
former President Olusegun Obasanjo with the likes of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and
former President Umaru Yar’Adua – then, former President Goodluck Jonathan was
a deputy governor. I later served under Jonathan when he was the president and
now under President Muhammadu Buhari. I have traversed many administrations and
worked alongside some of the gladiators in Nigerian politics today.
I’m an experienced man. At
different times, I have made contributions to the development of Nigeria. As an
opposition figure, I’m truly expected to give the government of the day a run
for their money. I must make them give value for the votes given to them. The
opposition is an integral part of democracy; without that, you have autocracy.
Someone has to be the voice of the people in this trying period because we
cannot all see things the same way. The government must be put on its toes at
all times and be made accountable to the people.
Can you speak more on the warning
you gave to Nigerians that you ‘put life and death’ before them as regards
voting for Jonathan or Buhari in the 2015 presidential poll?
I’m a man that enjoys God’s grace.
The Bible says before I was born I was in my mother’s belly, God knew what I
would be. I’m the man God wants me to be because God gave me a woman after his
heart knowing my limitations, my excesses and my pains. Beyond politics, we are
different people before God. Things some will do and get away (with), some will
do and never get away. I have gone through so many challenges, but today, I’m
still standing. Many thought that by the time Buhari got to power, Fayose would
be dead. That is not a democracy. We are not afraid of battles; we are not
afraid of saying the truth. Moses, Joseph, our Lord Jesus Christ and Prophet
Muhammad (SAW) stood in the gap to stand up for the truth. For me, there is no
personal issue between me and the President. But I want to establish that I was
a young man when he became the (military) head of state. I watched him closely
with his deputy, Gen. Tunde Idiagbon.
So, I was a young man who saw
tomorrow and never shied away from narrating the story. I said repeatedly that
President Buhari did not have the capacity to rule Nigeria and I did not hide
it. Concerning all that I have said so far, I have no regret. I always say the
abundance of a man does not consist of things he possesses. Life is not in the
realm of what you have achieved and what you have not achieved. Generations
come and go. Everything I have said will come to pass. Our president is very
old to rule. We wish him good recovery but not to return as president if he
does not have the health to back it up. If I said the President was not well at
the time, it has manifested. We will continue to pray for him. Anybody can get
sick but one must be honourable enough to say when he doesn’t have the capacity
to continue (to serve the people).
As the only Peoples Democratic
Party governor in the South-West, do you see yourself at a political
disadvantage in the region?
Former Governor Bola Tinubu was
the only opposition governor at a time in the South-West. Today, by the
cooperation of other stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress, they
conquered Nigeria. I’m going to lead the opposition to conquer Nigeria like
Tinubu did. The fact that you are in the minority does not make you lesser than
those in the majority, in terms of wisdom, understanding, God’s backing and
hope for the future.
Recently, South-West governors,
including you, came out to form an alliance. How will this work with you in the
opposition?
Our working together for the good
of South-West has nothing to do with politics. Everyone needs to contribute to
the growth of this country, so is this region. It doesn’t matter the party I
belong (to). They are only saying we should stay together in terms of security,
agriculture and have peer review. Hunger does not know political party. People
want good roads, water, services, etc. There is no way party politics will make
me not to cooperate with my colleagues in the South-West.
You said you have 11 damaging
photos to prove President Muhammadu Buhari’s health is deteriorating. How do
you feel when governors and aides close to Buhari are saying the President is
recovering?
We thank God that the President is
able to come up and talk that he is hale and hearty. My statement put pressure
on the Federal Government – because since the President left no one heard
anything about his health status. If you listened to the Ebonyi State Governor
(Dave Umahi), he said it was a miracle that the President recovered. If
something is a miracle, it means that what I said about the President’s health
was the truth. With due respect, everything I have said is the truth and
remains the truth. The fact that one is placed on life support does not mean
that the person cannot recover. But the question should be: does one have the
health to continue with rigorous work of office?
Do you think you should have been
included on the list of governors invited to the United Kingdom to see Buhari?
I’m indifferent. Nigerians wanted
me to be there. But I believe in the judgment of my colleagues. If Nigerians
wanted me to be there but they (Buhari’s handlers) didn’t give me the access,
what can I do? I have to move on and join them to wish the President well. What
is important is Nigeria. When Senator (John) McCain was sick in the United
States, he came out boldly to say he had a brain tumour. The health of the
President is a public issue. It is the handlers that are causing the confusion.
Like I said, I don’t want the President dead, but we want to know the true
state of health of our president. For me, I’ll love to go there (the UK) to see
(him). But if they say they are not giving me a passage, it is all well and
good, as long as the President is hale and hearty. If he is not fit, let him
resign.
Why do you think the presidency
failed to include you on the list of the latest visitors to Buhari in the UK?
The President denied drawing the
list, saying it was the governors’ forum. I’m not desperate to go there. If
they feel it is important I represent – if not, I’m still an opposition figure.
Many people are not comfortable with me and I don’t blame them. They may feel I
would want to come and tell Nigerians what actually transpired there. But I
cannot lie; I can’t say what is not true; I can’t make up things. I can’t
celebrate lies. That does not mean that my colleagues that went there are
lying. What we are praying for is that the President should get well.
Do you have any personal
relationship with President Buhari?
None whatsoever.
If you have the opportunity to
meet him, what will you tell him?
I will wish him well – and that,
if he is not fit to continue (to rule the country) he should resign. What else
would I say? Everything I have said, I will stand by it. The offices of the
president and governors require a lot of energy. Whatever interest we
represent, we cannot deny that. Our adversaries – our opponents – know that we
are saying the truth. But because they are the beneficiaries of what is going
on, they will defend it. But I’m not afraid of speaking the truth. Truth heals
and endures.
You said you are the next
president. If your prediction comes true in 2019, don’t you foresee a heated
polity?
I never predicted my presidency. I
have a right to contest and I said I will contest and I will win. When I
predicted that I would come back as governor of Ekiti State, many people
doubted (my prediction). But because man has no capacity to see tomorrow, they
can write you off. Those who wrote me off then see me in the position of
authority today. When I was down the valley, they thought I would never rise.
But the Lord said in Psalm 23: ‘I will set a table before you in the presence
of your enemies.’ In this country, I’m going to the (Presidential) Villa. I’m
saying that, by the special grace of God, those who doubted me today will visit
me in Aso Rock as the president or the vice president – as the case may be.
What is the next step for the PDP,
now that its two-year crisis seems almost resolved?
We are holding a non-elective
convention on August 12 to work and extend the tenure of the (Ahmed) Makarfi
National Caretaker Committee to give us a structure that will take us to the
next level.
What do you think is the solution
to herdsmen’s attacks on farmers?
We have the prevalence of certain
crimes because they are being aided by the powers that be, either in the
security agencies or otherwise. The moment the system is functional, a lot of
crimes will disappear. Everybody knows the consequences of their actions and
knows the system will not shield them. We should stop aiding evil in this land.
Are you in support of regional
government?
I’m in support of strengthening
the states. I’m in support of devolution of powers from the centre to the
region or the states. As it is currently constituted, the centre is becoming
dictatorial. They want to tell you what to do in your state, but we are all
federating units and should be respected in line with the constitution.
You have identified with Nnamdi
Kanu, someone who was accused of openly seeking money abroad to buy weapons to
fight against Nigeria. Why?
I’m not aware of that fact. But
let me say this, you are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. That is what
the law says. Saying Nnamdi Kalu is this or that is prejudicial and unfair. I
don’t believe in the disintegration of this country, but I believe in the right
of Nigerians being respected. Agitation is normal. This country belongs to all
of us. They should pay attention to the dwindling economy, poverty ravaging the
land and hunger.
Recently, you called for sanctions
against Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his group. Don’t you think this will
further polarise the party?
Sheriff has no followers! That is
the truth. Sheriff is a hijacker; he is an impostor. Every system must have
discipline. If today, Sheriff and his co-travellers had succeeded, they would
have expelled people like me and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. There
must be discipline in the system. If there is no discipline in a system, one is
wasting his time. These are characters that are used to scuttling truth and
justice in our land. That was why I regretted supporting him initially. We
should sanction them. I don’t believe in politics of lies (no winner, no
vanquished) – that is a political statement. Going forward, the party must
sanction some people.
What about factions loyal to him
in Ekiti, Ondo, Edo and others?
There is a lot of make-believe. Let
the people in Ekiti come forward and tell us they are members of Sheriff’s
group. They have taken to their heels and we are going to discipline them. A
few of them that are enemies of the party, we will expel them. The moment they
don’t show remorse, we will expel them.
How do you think Sheriff should be
sanctioned?
Sheriff should be expelled.
Sheriff, by his action – if you see the peace that pervaded this country after
the (Supreme Court) judgment, you would see that there is peace without
Sheriff. If it had gone the other way round, many people would have left the
PDP. Nobody has left the party after Sheriff lost the judgment.
You once reportedly worked against
the interest of Senator Ahmed Makarfi when he aspired to be president. Today,
you fought to ensure he is the chairman of PDP’s National Caretaker Committee.
What changed?
I never worked against Makarfi. I
only said Obasanjo set up a committee and asked us to choose the presidential
candidate. I was with a former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili; others were
with Makarfi. But Obasanjo told me that Makarfi would never be president of
Nigeria and that I should not work for him. That is all. At the end of the day,
Obasanjo moved against Odili. He knew his intention and ambition before he gave
us that order.
Why have you been attacking former
President Olusegun Obasanjo at every opportunity you have?
I’m not attacking him. I’m only
saying things I know about him because I’m a living witness of Obasanjo’s life.
I worked with him and know that Obasanjo is a sadist, an opportunist – a man
who would rather put a weakling in position (of power). How would he ask
Yar’Adua that he knew was sick to be president? I wonder why some media
(organisations) celebrate Obasanjo. Obasanjo has no character. Obasanjo was the
first president that trampled on our constitution in all ways using brute
force. That is why Obasanjo does not have a (foot-) hold, in terms of human
beings, in party politics in the South-West. Obasanjo is only left with the
clout of being a former president. When you say human support, Obasanjo does
not enjoy such in the South-West.
What are the things you did for
and with Obasanjo then that, if given a second chance, you would do
differently?
At the time I was the governor, I
was a young man. I was avoiding Obasanjo because he was from the same zone as
me. One thing I have known is that Obasanjo will run away if you can stand up
against him. Obasanjo is a weak man; the moment you can stand up against him,
he will chicken out. Look at Orji Uzor Kalu and late governor of Niger State.
At that time, I couldn’t stand up (against Obasanjo). I have now found out
that, sometimes, it is good to confront monsters. We are guided by the
constitution and respect for the rule of law. Obasanjo messed up by disobeying
the rule of law and removing governors at will.
As a Yoruba man with respect for
tradition and a beliefs that elders should be respected, don’t you think it is
time to forget the past and move on?
Elders are only meaningful when
they are using their grey hair to lead the people well. Please, let us call a
spade a spade. I don’t want to talk about people who are not elders by
standards expected of them and (who are) not living by examples according to
the true grace of their age. You only respect grey hair when the man is
upright. Obasanjo is not a man to be respected; he is an opportunist.
Former Governor of Ekiti State,
Segun Oni has joined the governorship race. Are you threatened by his ambition?
Former Governor Segun Oni is an
Ekiti son and is entitled to aspire. Because I came back as governor, some
people want to try their luck. Former Governor Kayode Fayemi is there; Senator
Babafemi Ojudu is there too. Let them get the party ticket first.
There is clamour by the Southern
senatorial district to have a shot at the governorship. What is the position of
your party on this?
No position. We will not zone. The
best candidate will emerge.
With the second tranche of Paris
Club refund and the expected federal allocation, how many months’ salary should
workers expect?
This Paris Club refund cannot pay
one month’s salary. It is money between state and local governments. The
state’s salary is N2.6bn, while local government is N2.4bn, which is N5bn, and
I got N4.7bn. Capital projects are there. The Federal Government has
politicised it. My own is that I will declare what I get to my workers and we
will discuss it together. No matter what, the Paris Club refund cannot solve
the entire problem, but it will augment it.
Source:Punch
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Politics