Sikiru Tae Lawal was deputy to former Governor Segun Oni in Ekiti State. Having had issues with his party, PDP, Lawal contested the July 14, governorship elections on the platform of the Labour Party, LP. He is, however, back to the fold of his former party after he lost in the polls. In this interview with Priscilla Ofunre in Ado-Ekiti, Lawal said Nigeria fared better under the PDP administration, adding that the current All Progressives Congress, APC, government of President Muhammadu Buhari has thrown Nigeria into the abyss.
He also reeled out the many democratic dividends of the Segun Oni led-administration in the state.
You joined other members in Ekiti State to quit the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and actually contested the governorship seat under the Labour Party, but now you are back; what brought you back?
I discovered that PDP is a party to beat. I contested the governorship elections because I believed I was qualified to contest and there was no level playing ground. The selection in PDP was not democratic and I wanted to show my resentment for that. That was why I contested. Eventually it was marred by ‘see and buy’.
I came back to PDP because there were lots of consultations; there were lots of meetings. If you look at the situation now and what the situation was when PDP was in government, you will see that the PDP is the best political party in this country. That is why I am back.
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Views being held in some quarters are that the PDP in Ekiti is divided, resulting in about three splinter groups – yours, Senator Biodun Olujimi and former governor Ayodele Fayose. What is your take?
We are not in groups. PDP is one united family but we have some caucuses, which are trying to reposition the party, as some of us believe in repositioning the party. As for me, I don’t have a group. But there are some of us, who are committed to some mistakes that have been made, some undemocratic actions have been taken. Let us talk to these people; let everybody come back and join hands to build this party, which is our party and after the Congress we will all come together. Any party that is going into Congress will have issues here and there and like I said earlier, PDP is a big family and we are going to come together during the Congress to strategise on how to win the seat back in this state. And I can assure you that PDP in Ekiti, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Senator Duro Faseyi, myself, Senator Clement Awoyelu, Yinka Akerele and so many other big leaders, we are all together and together we will win our seat back in this state again.
How did you feel losing the governorship election in the July 14 polls?
It was not a do or die affair. I don’t and never approach any matter as war. I am a politician. I contested the election. I did my best and that was not enough to win the election. I accepted it; no problem. There is still going to be another day. I never felt bad. Sometimes, you lose; sometimes you win. That is life. You can win today and lose tomorrow. You can lose today and win tomorrow. The whole essence is to serve one’s community. I didn’t feel bad at all and I am not feeling bad. I am in politics and in politics for good.
What were your experiences during the elections as against views and allegations in some quarters that it was marred largely by rigging, vote buying, violence and use of federal might to snatch power?
It was crystal clear and very glaring that people were paid to vote, that ballot boxes were snatched, that results were manipulated and the reports of some Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, that witnessed and monitored the elections even said this. People can tell you how much a particular party paid voters. The agents of the party in particular were giving out money to voters and security agents were watching. The experience of that election showed that politicians capitalised on the level of poverty of the people. Some voters were paid N5,000. Some were paid N10,000. It all happened there, we saw it. But by and large, we will get things right one day in this country.
You were deputy governor to former Governor Segun Oni; how would you compare your administration with the succeeding ones?
I was a major player in former Governor Segun Oni’s administration and we did our best. Salaries were paid as at when due. All arrears of pension of over N3 billion were paid within six months. During Oni’s administration, we brought the Court of Appeal, the Central Bank, the Prisons was relocated, the new State Security Services (SSS) was built. We built and dualised roads. In fact, it was Segun Oni’s administration that completed the creation of Ekiti State, because prior to our coming to government, anyone travelling from Iro-Ekiti, would have to go through Irun in Ondo State to come to other towns in Ekiti. It was Segun Oni’s administration that linked the road from Iro-Ekiti directly to other towns in Ekiti. So, accessing other towns from Iro-Ekiti was no longer a nightmare. The roads linking the northern axis, the Ifaki, Omuo, Kogi roads were constructed. The Ikole, Ipao roads were built. Also, Ero Bridge in Ilejemeje Local Government was built. In fact, our administration opened up the state. We built the silo along Poly Road. We facilitated the establishment of the famous Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD. The College of Medicine where you have students graduating now was resuscitated by the administration of former Governor Segun Oni. Potable water was everywhere in the state. The human capital development of Ekiti increased from 43 percent to 51 percent, which was the highest in Nigeria. The Segun Oni administration was really a golden era in Ekiti and up until today, our administration is still referred to as a reference point. I am writing a book, which will soon be published that will catalogue all the achievements of this administration. The 132 KVA was completed by Segun Oni’s administration and so many other good things. The Segun Oni administration is and will continue to be a reference point in Ekiti State.
Oni is currently having it rough with some powerful elements in APC because he challenged in court the eligibility of incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi for last guber poll. Do you have any advice for him?
Former Governor Segun Oni is a God-fearing-gentle man; a politician with a difference. He follows the rules of law. People call him Mr. due process. He loves things done normally and rightly too. I believe Segun Oni’s thinking is very different from most of his colleagues in the party. That is why he is having it rough. He believes in contributing his quota to the state and country and I am sure with time things will go right.
How do you assess Nigeria under PDP government and in the last four years of APC?
Do you want to look at it from the economic, political or the security perspective? From whatever perspective you want to see it, Nigeria was far better with the government of PDP than what it is now. This government claims to be fighting corruption, yet corrupt people are being appointed into high offices. The naira under APC government has lost its value completely. The security situation under APC government has grown worse. This is the first time security agencies in Nigeria will be fighting one another. Nigerians now know and can tell that PDP government was by every standard better than the present APC government.
PDP lost power in the last guber polls in the state, due to, of course, certain shortcomings. What is your party doing to re-strategise for next polls and possibly take the seat back?
By the special grace of God, PDP is coming back to government in Ekiti State in 2022. PDP has majority of the people in this state. Ekiti people are PDP. We lost due to the level of poverty and infighting. That is why we are now repositioning the party. We are all coming together and by the special grace of God, PDP will win come next election.
Governor Fayemi has been dragged to court by 17 Obas for his appointment of Alawe, as the chairman, Council of Obas. Do you see any political miscalculations in this?
I didn’t do the calculations with him. The matter is in court.
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As an elder statesman, does the country have hope with the way she is being governed?
As a student in my school days, I had just one project: Project Nigeria. As a civil servant, I had just one project: Project Nigeria. I believe in Nigeria. I believe we will get out of this and still be a better Nigeria in future. Some of us are committed to making Nigeria better and we are trusting that Nigeria will be better. Developed countries all over the world went through all we are going through now. No two cases can be the same. Ours is taking a long time no doubt about that, but we will get out of it. In the past, when you are corrupt, people don’t get to know about it but today, names of people can be called, people can tell who is corrupt. By the special grace of God, we will get there.
As regards the recent ministerial appointments, some of the appointees had been identified as having corruption cases wrapped round their necks. What do you say to this?
As far as I know, the Ekiti State representative is a very gentleman. Otunba Niyi Adebayo is a gentleman par excellence and intelligent. I can assure you he will add value not only to his ministry, but also to the government and Ekiti State stands to benefit a lot from his office.