Buhari Can Run

•Ajomale

•Ajomale

The Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos State chapter, Otunba Henry Ajomale, speaks with P.M.NEWS about how opposition parties weathered the storm to form the grand alliance now known as APC, the Buhari candidacy in 2015 and other issues bordering on the polity

How did the leaders of ACN, CPC, ANPP, etc. pull off the merger that culminated in the formation of the All Progressives Congress?

•Ajomale
•Ajomale

Let me say that the good Lord had a hand in it because when we started, we had the problem of the composition of the party but we overcame that and then we started in full. Many thought that even the name that we were trying to get will tear us apart because the PDP was hoping that the dream was dead even before it started. But like I said, God had a finger in it and we were able to overcome them. When we finally agreed on it, that one baffled them and shocked them and that was why they were running round to go and register a party with similar acronym. They did everything to frustrate us. But we overcame their antics.  After that, the next hurdle was the choice of logo for the new party. Again, after a lengthy discussion, we were able to overcome that too.  When we came to the area of flag and logo, there were several suggestions and proposals brought by all the merging parties but we sat down, reviewed all of them and finally took the broom which they thought again will tear us apart.  Again to the issue of constitution and manifesto, they thought that one will also break us, especially when the faction of APGA and DPP joined. They thought again that we were becoming too wide and they thought we were going to battle ourselves. Of course, we did the constitutional review and the manifesto without any problem. Again they were looking for our destruction, but it was not forthcoming. We thank God that we were able to wrap it up and waited anxiously for the approval from INEC.  It was then that the intervention came again through the floating of their own APC. Like I said God had a hand in it and that was why we were able to pull it off. Today we thank God. We have a party registered with INEC because they did everything possible to frustrate us and to make sure that INEC did not register us.

Who are you referring to? Is it the PDP?

Of course it was the ruling party. They knew we were a threat to them so they tried everything to ensure that our merger did not work. But like I said, we thank God that their efforts were all frustrated.

In all these, were there compromises among the merging parties?

Of course there were compromises by the parties. Before we arrived at  the name, they were agreements. People negotiated and several proposals were forwarded. Many people had to make sacrifices for the good of the party. For instance, the National Chairman of one of the merging parties had to abandon that position for the good of the country. So you could see that they were lots of sacrifices.

How are you positioning APC now for 2015?  Are you hoping to capitalize on the current crisis within the PDP?

I tell you, if God did not have a hand in this matter, all what is happening now, would not have happened. The issue is that any house built on sand will definitely collapse. You can manipulate the people for some time, but you cannot manipulate them forever. The truth is coming out now. I still maintain that  God helped us to achieve what we have achieved so far.

During the launch of the APC in Ogun State, some key political players in the party were absent. Was this an indication of a problem somewhere?

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There was no problem in the party during the launch. Some of the party members who did not attend the launch were simply on other national assignments. For instance, Segun Osoba was in Delta State on that day on a national assignment, so there was no way he could have been in Asaba and at the launch that day. For some House of Assembly members, who chose to stay away, all I can say is that in any association you will always find people who are ready to go ahead with the party. Any party member who wishes to join another party has the right to do so. People move from one party to another as they like, so it is not an issue. It has always been there.

PDP and APGA have been threatening to withdraw the candidacy of those joining APC. What is your reaction to that?

They cannot do that because there is division in those parties. The PDP had capitalised on crises in other parties before. It is not new. If they are decamping from their own party to another party, they cannot be removed from office. The PDP has done that to us before. When we were in AD and there was a split in the party, they capitalised on it. Senator Musliu Obanikoro who was then elected on the platform of AD moved to PDP. We did not do anything.

 Political observers believe that Gen. Mohammed Buhari’s presidential ambition is still potent and that APC may adopt him as its candidate. How true is this?

We have not got there yet. APC has not chosen its presidential candidate. When we get there, we will cross the bridge. But let me say that every Nigerian has a right to aspire to any position he wishes. If Buhari wants to put himself up for election as a presidential candidate of the party, he has a right to do that. Buhari cannot just come forward and say he is representing APC when he has not been elected by the congress.  He will go through the party primaries. That APC will adopt Buhari as its presidential candidate is mere speculation and I  don’t believe in speculations. I deal with facts.

Nigerians appear to be looking forward to APC in 2015. What is your agenda for the country?

Nigerians prayed for change and change is here. We intend to bring about dynamism and progress in this country in the shortest possible time.  We intend to bring about advancement in this country. We intend to create jobs, improve infrastructure, health, education, women and youth development. We willl focus on the plight of the disabled. The disabled are Nigerians and they must be taken care of. They are part of the core programmes of the party. We will ensure that everybody in this country has a sense of belonging. Our foreign policy will certainly be reviewed to ensure that no Nigerian is taken for granted or molested by any country. When we come into power, certain policies as that of the UK imposing entry visa fee on Nigerians, cannot stand. Good leadership is the bane of this country and when this is put in place by APC, Nigeria will see the difference between light and darkness.

How will tackle the problem of election rigging?

There will certainly not be any rigging during the 2015 general elections. There will be trouble if anybody attempts it this time around.

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