…says Tinubu best choice for the job
By Mandy Park
Former Senator Soji Akanbi represented Oyo South federal constituency at the Senate Chambers.
He has also represented his constituency in the House of Representatives and is known to be a strong voice.
Senator Akanbi is the Chairman of, Committee on Strategy and Policy (TSGCC), Member, Committee on Election Planning and Monitoring (PCC) and the initiator, Coalition Movement for Bola Ahmed Tinubu (COmBAT).
The former lawmaker, speaks on 2023 elections and challenges ahead, why the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu, is less enthusiastic about Townhall Meetings among other crucial issues
Excerpt
Most Nigerians are dissatisfied with the scorecard of your party, All Progressives Congress, APC, especially, when you look at the economy, security, corruption etc. Infact, Nigerians seem to be leaving the country in droves, what we now know as the “JAPA Syndrome” due to a hard time. What is your take?
First and foremost, I am a Nigerian, and APC is my party, but what I want you to get clear is that it is obvious that our economy is struggling and security is not in the best form, no reasonable and sane person will run away from that, things are hard, no doubt, and looking at the Nigerian economy, we can see the price of food items rising, some basic things are turning to gold…I sincerely agree with you and sympathize with Nigerians. But let’s not forget that most economies in the world are struggling too and we know what is happening in other parts of the world that it has not been quite easy. But that notwithstanding. Ours is a third-world country where the institutions are weak and there is not enough palliative for the people. So, it may be wrong to compare our country with those of the developed world with strong institutions and established social services and all that. But I think the critical question to ask is if the party, APC is addressing the issues…Yes, they are doing that. What I want to make clear to you concerning your question about the security, about the economy is that APC is a platform that has structure, that has spread and the candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu coming on board now is using the platform, not generally as continuity for the security challenge or to continue with the economy the way it is…No. No individual will like to continue with the way things are. OF course, when Tinubu said continuity, it is that APC will continue as a political party and remain in power with the mandate of Nigerians, not that the security situation or the economy will continue as they are, no. It is only those who want to be mischievous that are misinterpreting it. When you talk of continuity, you are talking of the party remaining in power but the new leadership will also come in with something new, something fresh, and perhaps, with another approach or style of doing things. You know when you are taking over from a government, you have to actually sieve out the good and the bad, you look at what the out-going government did well and the areas they did not do quite well, and you know the reason for such failure, then you now know what to do to avoid a repeat of such. That is why government is said to be a continuum. You look at the strength and weaknesses or the area of failure of the out-going government if any, and then you fashion out your policies and ensure you avoid the mistakes. Nigerians are complaining about insecurity and the economy, and I believe that Tinubu, by God’s grace, if Nigerians give him chance to lead this country in 2023, will turn those things around. He has the ability and capacity to do that as the track record is there for him. He is the first governor to expouse the frontier of governance by creating more local government and why? He knows that local government is very close to the grassroots and through that, you take development and democracy to the grassroots. You can see that he is a thinker and a doer and you know what he went through to sustain that in the hands of Baba Obasanjo and Atiku but he stood his ground because he believed that it was the best thing that can happen to the grassroots. This is the type of man that Nigerians need at this point. Tinubu of 10 years, 15 years ago is more energetic now, more agile, and more experienced. And at the moment people and our dear country are looking for such an experienced leader that has the courage to bring positive change. But let me also say here that before President Buhari and the APC came to power, the insecurity was such that territories were taken then, they (Boko Haram) were hosting their flags but the insecurity came in other dimensions, especially kidnapping but if we want to be fair with the government, you and I know that government is not folding its arms but making every frantic effort to ensure the situation is under control. I agree with you that the security challenge is a serious one and anybody can be a victim, but the government is definitely doing something. You know that security issues are sensitive issues and you may not have known all that the government is committed to it. I am not holding brief for the government but I know that the government is not folding its hands. But the Tinubu that I know loves to take challenges head to head and will stop at nothing to ensure things are well fixed for the joy of all. It’s wrong for anyone to outrightly condemn or write-off the APC government because in the area of infrastructure, for instance, no previous government has done or come close, so you cannot compare it with any previous government. This is not contestable. And I can tell you that President Buhari-led government has been fair to everybody…Don’t forget the money he gave to governors to offset salary backlog, pensions, among others. As I said before, Tinubu will be coming with his own team and we all know him and his ability to put the right peg in the right hole.
But most Nigerians will not agree with you that Tinubu is still energetic as he was when he was Lagos state governor…?
(Cuts in) But that is the truth and those that are close to him know this. That is why some of us laugh when some individuals say he is no longer energetic and all that. Some are talking from the point of ignorance; some are simply born out of mischief, for want of nothing to hold on to. Of course, they are entitled to their wrong opinion, but we know Asiwaju is still very energetic, firm, solid, strong, and as fit as a fiddle. The truth is that the Tinubu of today is even better experienced and equipped. So if he did creditably well as a governor, his performance as the President will even be exceptionally outstanding because he is now, even more, courageous to take up the greater challenge and step on toes if need be. He isn’t a man you can pocket; he is not one you can bully.
On some occasions, we have seen him (Tinubu) gaffe or appear to forget what to say…?
(Cuts in) He is not the only one that did that. There are situations that even Obi, LP Presidential candidate has gaffed with wrong calculations, even his deputy Datti and some others have at one time or the other made mistake. Sometimes pressure can be on them and there may be a mistake with the thought flow. So the gaffe is not with Tinubu alone and I am sure you will agree with me. I can send you some video clips where some other candidates gaffed, so it is not something that should be blown out of proportion. When a person has spoken for a long time the probability of making mistake may not be ruled out and that should not diminish the individual, especially, when you already know that the person is brilliant. Obi was governor for 8 years, just like Tinubu, where are the commissioners that served under him? Are you not surprised they are not coming out and strongly campaigning for him?
It may depend on those that you know because I have not seen, so far, any of his commissioners attacking him?
But you can see the solid support Asiwaju is getting from those that worked with him, attesting to how great the leader Tinubu is. I was not in Asiwaju’s cabinet but you can see how people who have been in his cabinet or worked closely with him revered and respected him. It is a good sign of a leader that cares, of one that carries others along.
You also know that the way Southeast plays its politics is different from the Southwest style?
But anyway, that is by the way but what I am telling you is that Tinubu is a leader’s leader, very courageous, and knows how to attract talent, harness talent, creating a team of round pegs in round holes, poised to deliver transformative leadership. Government is not about I, an individual, it is about ours, it is about we, and who are the we? It is about the people you put together; it is about others that you are willing to serve.
How will you also react to those who say that Tinubu is dodging attending debates, for instance, The Arise TV town hall meeting?
He is not shying away from any debate but when the debate is no longer focusing on real issues but on things that are not relevant and of course you know he is very busy. Out of the time you spend there… will not be based on what knowledge you have but will be on: What is your age? Where were you born? How old are you? Which school did you attend? Those things are irrelevant and that is what is going on now in our media houses. Let me tell you something…you can’t determine who will be your parents by yourself. Nobody can tell God that: I want to be born by this or that parent, no, it is God’s prerogative and he chooses your parents. God chooses the place where you are born, your village, and your country. It should not be things of abuse. And that is what they are debating in a town hall meeting. We have seen people who did not come from “Great” families, so to speak but are breaking records, record breakers. So, I think we should focus on real issues rather than on things that are unimportant, and irrelevant to one’s capacity, and competence. I tell people, community leaders, the media, Civil Society, and all relevant stakeholders to be educating the people, so as to be better informed about the candidates. We must go for a candidate that has a track record of performance, a courageous personality, one who can dare, one with focus and love for the unity of the country. That is why we at SWAGA (SouthWest Agenda for Asiwaju) is committed, working harder to see him emerge as the next president of Nigeria in 2023. This country will be great under his leadership.
