By Daniel Kanu
Hon. Rotimi Makinde, who represented Ife Federal Constituency, Osun State in the 7th National Assembly, was the deputy chairman, Human Rights Committee in the Assembly. He was notable for his great contributions in legislative matters.
Makinde, an APC chieftain was in the forefront in the formation of the South-West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA), a vocal platform that campaigned vigorously for the Bola Tinubu Presidency.
In this exclusive chat with Sunday Sun, the former lawmaker speaks on what the APC leadership should do if they are serious to send governor Ademola Adeleke packing from the Government House in the next election.
He also speaks on emergency rule in Rivers State, and the security challenge is the country, which he said is a war Nigerians must unite to confront, among other national issues.
In one of your latest interviews, you boasted that your party, the All Progressives Party (APC) will send Governor Adeleke-led PDP government packing. How did you come to such conclusion when your party’s leadership and gladiators seem to be working at cross purposes?
Thank you very much for this issue that you have just raised. I have said it loud and clear that APC will beat the ruling PDP government in Osun State, but I remember, I also added that it is if our party leadership in the state takes proactive steps and come together as a united force to take vital or critical decisions. There is no governance in Osun State under Adeleke, and I can tell you that he is not in-charge. His government has been hyjacked from him. He is not in control, not in command. You cannot compare his leadership with previous APC governments that have been in command of affairs of the state. You can go and sample the views of the people in the state and they will tell you that democracy dividends are far from being delivered. You cannot sustain bad governance with cheap propaganda. Even the little democracy dividends are not being shared fairly. Many areas are neglected, abandoned as if their welfare and development don’t not matter. Let me tell you, Osun State is for easy grab if our party leadership put their acts together. The people are yawning for change, they want the APC back to power, but I can see that our party leadership is not doing what they ought to do, they are not doing what I expect them to do. APC, as progressives, the leadership always know how to organize, categorize and place their gladiators in order of seniority, competence, marketability and other criteria used. But it appears our APC leadership in the state are keeping silent making way for individuals to engage in personal struggles. This at the end leads to disunity, anger, divisiveness, rancour among the gladiators. I am saying that the leadership should be bold enough to provide directions expected as progressives. I would like to see our leaders coming out clearly and making pronouncements for us to begin this job in the earliest. We must not dilly dally for too long and allow ambitions to cause further divisions in our party. The political gladiators must know where they stand and what is expected of them.
Experience has shown me that our leaders have their way to position any one for the challenges ahead and If I go by the recent successes, I feel one can conveniently predict where the pendulum is likely to go. I came to this conclusion by the manner of empowerment and appointments.The option before us is to align and prepare to work for the party and in other case to fall out. Who among us that would not be interested in the victory of President Tinubu come 2027? To me, personally, I would rather take it as fate, destiny and pray for the best to come. What I am saying is that Osun State is there for us to win the election with ease, going by the poor performance and injustice projected in the system by the Adeleke government. But our party leadership must rise up to the challenge.
Are you saying that the political gladiators are having problem on who may finally be chosen by the party leadership, but are they even qualified for the position?
Of course, we have very qualified gladiators . Let me mention a few. Alhaji Bola Oyebamiji, a gentleman to the core and very amiable personality. I have predicted him as a candidate to beat for about three years now, being a strong ally to our leader. He is a welfarist and experienced politician. He is competent. Senator Iyiola Omisore, probably the most experienced among the gladiators so far, he’s been a veteran in this game, and he stands better to enjoy block votes to neutralize the opposition. Benedict Olugboyega Alabi. By the tradition of the progressive, if there’s no any other factors which, of course, may be unknown to me, if the former governor is not going further, we may have a big task to explain why he is not to be considered. Senator Christopher Babajide Omoworare, a fantastic personality, very experienced and grassroots political person, his steadiness and commitment remain superb. Senator Omoworare would get much votes in his domain and he’s well exposed to the national politics as a former aide to the former President. Dotun Babayemi, this is a politician that I can say has no blemish of any kind in all camps and someone that must not be underrated should there be contest. He is a crowd puller that has influence across party’s. Senator Ajibola Basiru, this is a potential candidate that must not be underrated in any way, rich and sound in knowledge and well exposed. He understands what it takes to cause victory for the party. He is well loved and generous to the majority of members. I believe he knows a lot about how they work. It’s going to be very interesting and I foresee many other people coming to declare very soon. It is the reason, I am saying that the present silence in the party leadership is dangerous. It’s time for them to speak out for these individuals to know their stand from the onset. If you don’t let them know their positions now or how and where you want to use them in the battle ahead, you may be creating a big problem in future that can ruin the chance of the party in the election. Party leadership keeping mute now is not golden. My take as I said earlier is for the leaders to be proactive to speak out in an indelible manner with the fear of God.
What is your take on the insecurity in the country which is likely going to be a problem for your party at the national level in the re-election of President Tinubu?
The rampant nature of this crime has severe implications for the nation’s security, economy, and overall well-being. As a nation, we must jettison the idea of describing it as a sin against the ruling government. We must not forget that it’s a war that has confronted each successive government. To effectively address this menace, it’s imperative to declare a state of emergency and implement a comprehensive strategy to tackle the root causes and consequences of kidnapping. Let’s ask ourselves: How have we been living with each other as brothers and sisters before now? what has happened to the lost love? The reason I believe is that it’s such an external aggression against us. I really wonder why the most hit region, the northern part of Nigeria, is failing to admit this satanic attack as a tactical and strange re-colonisation coming from outside, and why our various security agencies are not looking at it from that perspective. Not until we all see it as a war not of the Hausas, but of a tribe seeking to dominate the larger Nigeria with intention to establish their colonies in this jet age, then we shall continue to handle it with levity. It is as bad as that. The North, the worst hit must raise their voices and escalate what is happening. They should not pretend over it . No where is safe in Nigeria today and until we realize it is a war we all must be united to fight, we will not win the fight. It is a war against Nigeria and we must fight it collectively. It is not an APC thing or President Tinubu war, no. It has become a war Nigerians must be united to fight for us to be victorious. You can see it’s negatively affecting our economy, agriculture and peace of the land. Nigerians’ must be united in the fight and I expect leadership to up its game.
Speak on the state of emergency declared in Rivers State by President Tinubu…
I think declaration of state of emergency is in the constitution. It is bad the gladiators in Rivers went the way they did and no one should expect Mr. President to fold his hands and watch. I think the state of emergency was timely so as to restore peace. I don’t think it’s proper to allow things to degenerate, to allow violence that would led to loss of life and property before declaring a state of emergency. The most important thing is for peace to be restored and for those involved to embrace peace.