Why politicians are defecting to APC -Yusuf

From Okwe Obi, Abuja

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ismael Yusuf, has explained the reasons people,  especially high profile ones like the governors, are defecting to the APC.

Excerpts:

We have seen a lot of opposition political leaders defecting, especially governors, to the APC. When they give their reasons, they will say it is because of President Bola Tinubu’s leadership style that is making them to defect. But many opposition parties do not think that way. They feel that we are tilting towards a one-party state and it’s dangerous for our democracy. Do you agree?

My opinion and strong opinion is that President Bola Tinubu is doing very well. And if you remember very well, under the President Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration, a lot of governors defected to the PDP. In fact, it was only Tinubu that was a one man’s squad. Those who refused to defect to PDP, were removed. Osun governor, Bisi Akande; Ekiti governor, Niyi; Ondo governor, Adebayo Adefarati; Oyo governor, Lamidi Adesina. Most of them were removed because they refused to join the PDP. A lot of people joined the PDP. Today you see a president that has not removed anybody or causing chaos in anybody’s state. This is a democratic president. If you decide not go with him, he will not force you. Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State did not go with him. He remained in APGA and the people voted him and they announced him as the winner. Abia governor, Alex Otti, is still in the Labour Party. Nobody has caused chaos in Abia. Nobody has said that he must follow Mr President. So those who think they need Mr. President as their friend, and want to go to where their friend is, are free to do so. It is within their rights. If President Tinubu had not done well, do you think they will go with him? It is because he has done very well that is why they are joining him in the APC.

Are you not afraid this might ause dictatorship if one political party is ruling the country?

Have you seen any dictatorial tendencies of President Bola Tinubu in his policies? This is one president that has not gone after those that have insulted him in the past. This is one president that has not gone after those that have caused a lot of problems in this country. It is Nigerian system that is going after them. Nigerians will decide what will happen in the next election. All we pray for is long life. I think this man is one of the best presidents we have had. Before now, politicians were compelled to join the ruling party. When you refuse to join, they will force you. Today , we have a man that is focusing on policies and how to revive the economy. At his age, you should give him kudos. I do not know of most of our fathers at his age that can still work around in their compounds.

Is the new tax system not going to kill a lot of businesses?

I am a businessman. I run close to ten successful companies. And I am also a politician. But the fact still remains that  you cannot run away from tasks. If you are a type that has traveled the world, you will know that most countries survive on taxes. Switzerland survived on taxes, Scotland survived on taxes. The British government survived on taxes. A lot of people survived on taxes. So if you don’t tax the people, how will the federal government make money? On the norms, you are not supposed to even print more money. You are supposed to make money from the money that is outside by taxing the people. So the enabling environment is already there. People are doing their businesses. Nobody is harassing businesses. This is the first time that we have a government that is not going after businessmen. The policies of businesses are more liberal than investors are coming into the country, everyday. Go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and interview the ministers and see how many investors are trooping  into this country to invest. We have the mineral resources. We have the manpower. We have everything. So we have to tax from what we have to make money.

Will the withdrawal of security details from politicians not endanger their lives?

If you have traveled to some developed countries like I said initially, you will see that some presidents do not even have enough security the way we have. So I think we should face our fear. We should face our fear. If you have done very well with your community as someone who has been in government or as a businessman, will anybody attack you? The security is made to secure the country. It is not  for the VIPs. If the VIPs need security, they should go to a security guard company and apply for security. And I have one. I have one known as Atus Security Guard. The work of the police and DSS is to secure the country, not VIPs because they think they have money. When we were growing up, we had elderly men and women walked freely in their villages because they did very well. In the evenings, villagers bring out food and people ate with them freely because they know they do not hurt their communities. Their hands are clean with their communities. They should get the services of the civil defense to protect them.

Businesses are folding up because of the harsh economic reality. How have you been surviving?

In Nigeria today, we have a lot of young guys that have ideas, but funding is their major challenge. So, when I started, funding was a major problem. You know, the humble background, where you came from, where you have nobody to help you. You have to put one or two together to reach where you are going. So, it is still a very big challenge, but today, we thank God. We are appreciating God where we are today.

How do we address security generally because most traders cannot travel to buy goods freely?

I think when we were growing up, insecurity had been a problem in this country. In fact, it has been one of the major challenges we have been having right from the beginning. I remember several times, if you are traveling from Lagos to Abuja, many years ago, they would tell us to be careful, they are real armed robbers on the road. Then we had armed robbers with names. But, today, what we have on the road are kidnappers and bandits. So, we have to urge the government to do more, because most people do business on the road. We do not do business on the road that much, because I am not a manufacturer. But those that transact businesses or sell commodities have to be saved.