On this week’s edition of PARROT XTRA Radio Show anchored by Olayinka Agboola on SPLASH 105.5FM in Ibadan, the gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party, LP in Oyo State, ALHAJI (HONOURABLE) TAWFIQ TAYO AKINWALE was our guest. He spoke extensively on his political ambition, the chances of his party winning at the national and state levels and the plight of Nigerians during this era of cashless policy. It was his second time on our Radio Show.
Excerpts:
On behalf of the management of Splash FM and Parrot Xtra Media Network, I thank you for honouring our invitation to be on our Radio Show. This is your second appearance on our show…
I greet all citizens of Nigeria and to everyone listening to this programme, most importantly, the people of Oyo State. I pray soonest, we will sing a song of victory.
I can see you are full of action as far as politics is concerned. So, I want to ask, is everything set and is your party ready for the coming election?
A farmer only tries his best, it is God that crowns his effort. As a political party, there is a limit to what we can do, nonetheless, we are trying our possible best and taking necessary steps. We are leaving everything to God and the people that God will use for us.
Let me appreciate all those who accompanied you to the station in their various capacity, I say a big thanks to you all for coming on the show. I want to ask, have you resolved most of the internal disagreements within your party?
God has taken control and it is all in the past now. God has not forsaken us in the party and we are moving on.
I want to call your attention to something sir, I noticed that most of your candidates only promote themselves and the party’s presidential candidate especially on the outdoor campaign materials while leaving you, the gubernatorial candidate out of the picture. What is the reason for this?
Thank you. You observed well, in fact, it makes me believe that you are aware of the latest events in town. That is the same way I see it but I think it should not be so.
I would like to say something very sincere about it. As far as I am concerned, Labour Party is not a new party. We have never witnessed this kind of elevation in the party. Suffice to say that some people may not know how political parties operate because the party’s candidates are one irrespective of where and what you are contesting for. Anything that has to do with a particular state, it is compulsory that the gubernatorial candidate should feature in anything publicity item whatsoever, because it’s just a tradition and norm in election matters. Let me also say that the leadership of our party may not see the reasons to call the attention of contestants or candidates that they should put the picture of the gubernatorial candidate. However, whether they put it there or not, inasmuch as all of them are flying on the platform of the Labour party, they are also campaigning indirectly for the governorship candidate, because it is on record that we have a governorship candidate. I am not keeping quiet in my little way of dishing the information out to the public. I have billboards too, I have branded cars and I have picture of my principal, Peter Obi and the Vice-Presidential candidate, Datti on them. I also have picture of my senatorial candidates branded with mine. What I am saying in essence is that I know that once we were done with the primaries, everything that happened then should be kept behind. I have been explaining in my little way and to the glory of God, they are getting to know that there is need for us to work together. There is hope that immediately after the election coming up on Saturday, they will start putting my picture on billboards and various campaign materials.
Away from that, do you still believe your party has this chance of winning the gubernatorial election because you seem to be so confident? What is the source of your confidence?
The first time I was on this show, I told you that an event will occur that will make God do whatever He wants to do. Some of the miraculous events that will pave way for our victory will surely happen and it is happening already. This means that our party, as I mentioned the last time I was here, is moving forward always. This has been giving us the confidence that God has perfected His plans for our party.
What are those signs you have seen to say that God has perfected His plans for your party?
There are many signs, and the most important thing is that people are now wiser than before. Those who will vote us have seen clearly that they have tried a particular party for about 16 years and it did not favour them. They also tried another party for eight years hoping to benefit from it, but alas, it turned out to be worse than the party that spent 16 years. They have no choice than to try another party and we thank God that many Nigerians are looking up to our party both at the federal and state levels. Therefore, it gives us the assurance that our party will form the next government on May 29, 2023. Let me also state that everyone is experiencing the same situation including the rich and the poor considering the present economic crisis in the country. What we are facing presently in the country is a pointer for us to choose wisely after making mistakes twice, and it is very important that we avoid making the third mistake because what we are experiencing are being caused by man and not God. This is due to bad policy because governance is continuity and one will keep trying until one gets it right.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has finally released the list of 1.5 million party agents registered by 18 political parties in 176,974 polling units for the 2023 general elections slated for February 25 and March 11 respectively. The statistic of agents from the prominent parties shows that your party as led by Dr. Peter Obi has 134,874 agents, Atiku’s PDP has 176,174 agents while Asiwaju Tinubu’s APC has 176,974 agents too. Let’s beat it down to Oyo State level: your party has 3,564 agents, Accord has 6,320 agents, PDP has 6,393 while APC has 6,378. Does this mean that your party is not ready to go about this battle on March 11?
Thank you very much. Monitoring of votes by party agents is of no use now. If anybody studies the electoral act very well, you will observe that the agents will only be at the polling units for being there’s sake because BVAS will do a lot of work that used to be done by agents and others and yet, there used to be manipulations. The reason party agents are planted in the polling units is to checkmate all manipulations and riggings. Most times, it is always not correct because many party agents used to be compromised after being induced. Having said that, I do not know how we are going to compare ourselves with the two big parties that have a lot of money at hand to pay these agents. Our party is just coming up, so we can only cater for those agents we have on ground now. Another reason is that I have breaking news and the news is that ADC party nationwide has decided to be with Labour Party. Therefore, their party agents will be added to ours. Also, the leadership of ADC called me to discuss how we can fine-tune the coalition. I believe we are going to win this election by God’s grace.
You feel so confident; don’t you sometimes feel intimidated?
By who? Who among those we are contesting with can intimidate me? They met me in this game.
They met you in this game? Can you explain this better?
Of course, they did! When I was in the local government as an executive, the incumbent Governor was nowhere then. This is his first elective office so I am his senior…
But he’s been contesting since 2007
Contesting has nothing to do with occupying public office. I have been in public office and I’m confident that I am a grassroots politician. I am always reaching out to people. Even though we have financial constraint, it does not equate us in terms of intellectual ability to reach out to people. So, we are ahead of him, though he may not know. Therefore, we have not offended anyone. He has been in office, so he must have offended different people and he’s diminishing in terms of popularity. People will want to try a new thing and we are confident that Labour Party is positioned to take over the leadership of this state. Senator Teslim Folarin of the All Progressives Congress also met us in Molete. I remember vividly when he came; he was given House of Representatives ticket and it was later that crisis erupted between Baba Lamidi Adedibu and Chief Richard Akinjide who claimed to be the political leader in Oyo state while he was in Abuja. Baba Adedibu then proved to him that he was the leader by snatching the ticket from Yomi Akinjide and he gave it to Senator Teslim Folarin who later became a Senator. He cannot talk about how I started, so they are all my juniors in politics.
So you are the senior prefect… (Laughs)
Of course, I am a PHD holder in Molete and senior to them. Even one of them has not been to Molete and that is why his administration does not have human face. That is why his administration is killing the closest government to the people, which is the local government.
As a Muslim faithful, many are saying that when you get to government you will not be all-inclusive in your undertakings. Do you want to agree with this?
I don’t want to agree. I am a very just and straightforward person. I do not consider that a fact because I am a Muslim and my religion teaches me about equity, fairness and justice. And this I’m going to uphold and I have no apology for this. I am very open-hearted in terms of ability to deliver. Therefore, I do not consider you as adherent of a particular faith. What I see in you is ability to deliver and if you see me, you will know I am someone you can describe as a non-bigot person. The reason for this is that I have friends close to 40 years and 75% of them are Christians; the Loyola College Old boys. I am a Loyolan and I’m still mingling, dining and wining with this set of people because they are the major supporters of my ambition. Another point is that my immediate elder sister is a Christian and my composition for this electioneering campaign (starting from the D.G. who is Femi Emmanuel from Ogbomosho) is dominated by Christians. The Director of Administration to this gubernatorial campaign and T.T.A. is Isaac Kayode Atolani. The person in charge of Documentation and Research is Emmanuel Babalola and my press aide is Samuel Abodunrin. Another person that followed us here is a Pastor; Pastor Kayode, so I don’t understand why some people will have that kind of impression about me.
This question I’m about to ask is very important; I heard of a group called Interparty Advisory Council, IPAC; a coalition of political parties in Nigeria, what steps are you taking towards forming alliance with other political parties?
The first alliance brought the incumbent, Governor Seyi Makinde into power and that was when there was a coalition. It was then they discovered the importance of having a coalition because it brings many benefits. Those who failed to join the coalition were left behind. It is important for us to have a coalition for a better plan. I am happy to inform you that the Chairman of our party is the Chairman of IPAC in Oyo State. It is very important he takes the necessary step in order to assist the party because we cannot do it alone unless we form a coalition with other parties. The outcome of this coming presidential election will determine the next step to take in regards to the coalition. Any government that does not values lives of his citizens and the one that takes loans continuously is not beneficial to the people of the state.
Do you think you won’t take loans when you get to power?
Every government takes loans especially when there is financial constraint to execute vital projects. However, taking of loans should not be a habit of any government. Any leader who does not have the initiative of creating wealth for the state will continue to squander any loans he takes. This is because God has given us the wisdom and knowledge to think outside the box and be innovative.
Someone asked that if your party, peradventure, fails to win the presidential election, you step down…which party will you wish to step down for at the gubernatorial election?
Let me state clearly that with the recent happenings in the country, I do not think anyone is happy with the party in power. The suffering is just too much and it is caused by the party in power. Have you ever experienced what is happening in the country before now? The party has impoverished many people including the working class. The working class is seen as being lazy while the rich are seen as being poor. Nothing is working in the country again. Another point is that the party that spent 16 years and did nothing meaningful should not allowed to return to power. I am assuring you now that the youths are now the larger percentage of the people that registered for their Permanent Voter Card, PVC. This was confirmed by INEC. Let me also tell you that many of these youths are members of our party and they will vote massively for us. Also those who have lost their loved ones to terrorism or kidnapping will have no choice but to vote our party into power. If we win the Presidential election, it will pave way for my own victory at the state level.
Are you confidently saying that Peter Obi will win the presidential election? Â
I strongly believe because this election will definitely count. There was a court injunction recently banning transport workers under the leadership of MC Oluomo in Lagos from transporting election materials so as to  avoid any form of manipulation or rigging. Likewise, there are military personnel stationed everywhere in Lagos to provide adequate security and avail people the right to vote for their choice. On the other hand, if there is rigging and our party fails to win the presidential election, it will make the gubernatorial election more interesting. This will give me an edge at the polls.
Before I let you go, what advice do you have for Nigerians?
I want Nigerians, irrespective of their religion to pray for a good leader. We should pray for a leader that will liberate us and make the country better for us all. We should not sell our votes and we should pray for God’s directive for good leadership.
What advice do you have for your fellow politicians?
We should eschew violence and allow people vote for their choice candidates.
