Date: 2014-07-20

Chief Gbenga Awoyale is a chieftain of the People Democratic Party, PDP, and President-General of the Orisun Igbomina, a socio-cultural association for the people of Kwara State. In this interview with AROWONA ABDULAZEEZ, he spoke on salient issues of national importance. Excerpts;

Sir, how would you describe the outcome of the governorship election in Ekiti State?

Although, I am not in anyway surprise with the outcome of the Ekiti State election because when you look at the entire scenario, you will discover that the People Democratic Party, PDP, had done its homework correctly by presenting former Governor Ayo Fayose who has been tested and trusted by the people of the state for once. In fact, you will also agree with me that prior to this period, Ekiti State is synonymous to PDP not until when the judiciary done what could be called "Kangaroo verdict" which eventually sacked Cheif Fayose from office and that also applied in some states too. There is no doubt that the Governor-Elect is a grassroot politician whose love for his people transcends self interest and pursuit of personal agenda.

Moreover, the people of Ekiti State have spoken through the ballot without the use of rancor, force or bullet anywhere during and after the election. Their decision showed that they are in tune with the change needed in the states controlled by the All Progressive Congress, APC.

But what really surprised me most was the way Governor Kayode Fayemi comported himself by accepting that only God gives power to whoever He desires. He has set a pace for Nigerian politicians to see politics not as the end of everything but as a means to an end.

In the history of Nigeria's democracy, no incumbent leader has ever behaved in such a mature manner Governor Fayemi has done but I am optimistic that his attitude will definitely pave way for him and earn him better opportunities in the nearest future because he has proved to be reliable and patriotic.

Therefore, PDP should apply the same tactics to other states where urgent change is needed by presenting popular candidates for elections into different offices in the forthcoming general election. The chorus on the lips of Nigerians is Power to the People!!! We need grassroot politicians not runaway ones. We need people who have suffered for the unity and well-being of the party. We need people who have impacted positively on the people of rural areas. We need people who are directly recognized by the grassrooters and not people who believe in imposition or federal might.

By so doing, I am confident that we shall have the replica of the situation in Ekiti State and PDP will win in all the 36 states of the federation without any fear, coercion or intimidation under peaceful atmosphere. I congratulate Chief Fayose on his electoral victory at the poll and I also commend the people of Ekiti for their courage. Let it also be on record that whenever PDP win in any election, you hear the opposition crying foul that the election was rigged. At least, Ekiti situation is a good and clear example that opposition can and should also be instrumental to peaceful transition by accepting defeat honourably. Our next target is Osun State where PDP will swing another surprise by sacking Governor Rauf Aregbesola from office. What has the man done for the people of Osun? He distributed PC Tablet computer (Opon Imo) to students. Go and check now what the students are using the computer to do; they are using it to watch pornographic film; they have downloaded all sorts of software causing more havoc to their learning skills.

He also converted a Comprehensive School to viewing centre. So, tell me what signal is he sending to younger generations? By the time he looses in the governorship poll coming up next month, he will then understand that governance is not all about propaganda but rather, doing desirable projects for the populace.

There is speculation that APC is in charge in Kwara State. What is your take on this?

If anybody tells you that APC is in charge in Kwara State such person may mean that the current Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed and his political godfather, Senator Bukola Saraki, have dumped PDP.

Such message is clear and correct but I can tell you categorically that APC doesn't have any clout in Kwara politics. PDP is fully controlling the largest numbers of followers because people are sincerely tired of Governor Ahmed's government. In fact, as I talk to you, he is grossly confused because he cannot tell his boss that he wanted second term and his boss is also yet to tell him where the pendulum is swinging to in 2015 owing to the fact there is a pact of four years single tenure signed in 2011 which paved way for him to emerge as the PDP candidate then.

So for now, both Saraki and Ahmed are confused and they don't know what next do after several efforts to return to PDP failed. So, let us wait and see. PDP will take over governance in Kwara State in 2015 because APC is alien to the people of the state and nothing will change their love and interest for the growth and development of the state knowing fully well that enslavery cannot/never be an alternative to freedom. I personally went to Senator Saraki when he was still in PDP

So, what is the situation in Kwara politics?

There is no other situation other than the fact that the APC have started planning to vacate the Government House. They planned their failure by themselves. For instance, there are about 193 wards in Kwara State and no fewer than seven appointments came from Share in the Ifelodun local government area where the current Governor comes from at the expense of the remaining 192 wards many of whom are imported and imposed because they are not resident in the community. Some areas are left without appointment, not even one. In an attempt to balance and correct their wrong, they decided to turn appointment of Special Advisers/ Assistants to bonanza in preparation for the general election whereas; many of the appointees don't even have offices to sit. They are just roaming about the corridor of Government House.

In fact, many of them don't even have responsibility to carry out. Majority of the Commissioners serving under APC government have expressed interest to join us in PDP very soon because they also very broke but they need means of sustenance till then. When you look at governance in Kwara State, Bukola Saraki has centered everything on himself as a way of checking Governor Ahmed. So, I want you to know and believe that the Governor cannot perform any miracle. to be sincere, people that know much about governance and how politics works have all deserted Saraki; they are no longer with him; he is now left with people who are only looking for means of survival. It was after my accusation that Sen. Saraki is arrogant, that was when he started going to viewing centres within the Ilorin township mixing and watching football matches with youths, buying sachet of pure water of streets. Did he think people are fools?

As I speak with you no local government can boast of N5million project in the rural communities and if there is any, I stand to be challenged. The APC government has used JAAC to impoverish all local government areas leaving them with salaries even though, salary payment is been rationed occasionally.

What is your take on the performance of President Goodluck Jonathan in the last three years?

To be sincere and precise, no government in Nigeria has ever performed like President Jonathan. He has touched virtually all the facets of Nigeria's economy despite the insecurity challenges which had bedeviled the peaceful co-existence of the people of the country. But unfortunately, the media hype of the opposition is so much that they tend to claim some of the projects executed by the federal government in some states under their control thereby claiming their glories.

For example, majority of projects in Lagos State that have further transformed the state are embarked upon by the federal government whereas, Governor Raji Fashola is cajoling Lagosians and visitors to the state that he is the executor of the projects. Let someone ask Fashola that what has he done for the people of Alimosho where bulk of votes come from in the whole of Lagos State? I will rather advise the leadership of the PDP especially the office in charge of publicity of the party's programmes to wake up to their task of promoting the image of the party in such that ambiguities would be made clear to the people at the grassroot so that they can appreciate PDP leadership the more.

Such slumber will take the party to no where because opposition are well equipped with propaganda not minding the implications on the growth, peaceful co-existence and development of the people of the country and even the on the reputation of the country among comity of nations.

What are the fascinating projects you would point at embarked upon by President Jonathan?

As I have earlier said, Mr. President have tried in fixing all the facets of Nigeria's economy but interestingly, he has done so much in the area of agriculture which is capable of absorbing larger percentage of the citizenry by getting them engaged through aggressive agricultural policy implementation.

The focus is to assure food security, reduce expenditure of foreign exchange on food imports, diversify the economy, generate foreign exchange and create jobs. In a major departure from past approaches, agriculture is now being treated as a business, not a development program.

Recent research has revealed that the transformation agenda sets out to create over 3.5 million jobs in the agricultural sector, from rice, cassava, sorghum, cocoa and cotton value chains, with many more jobs to come from other value chains under implementation.

It also aimed at providing over 300 Billion Naira (US$ 2 billion) of additional income in the hands of Nigerian farmers. Over N60 billion (US$ 380 million) is to be injected into the economy from the substitution of 20% of bread wheat flour with cassava flour. In total, the agricultural transformation agenda will add 20 million metric tons to domestic food supply by 2015, including rice (2 million metric tons), cassava (17 million metric tons) and Sorghum (1 million metric tons).

As implemented, the policy is focused on major reforms to eliminate corruption in the seed and fertilizer sectors, improve the functioning of market institutions, establish staple crop processing zones to attract private sector into areas of high production to reduce post-harvest losses, add value to locally produced crops and foster rural economic growth. In addition, the agenda includes improvement in rural infrastructure and access of farmers to financial services and markets. This is just to mention but few out of the intervention of the federal government in the agric sector.

So, let Mr. President be rest assured that he has the numbers of followers to return him in the forthcoming election even though, many people from the opposition angle will join the train very soon.