Exclusive Interview
Otunba Benji Oloye is a community leader, social commentator and strong advocate of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Ondo State. He speaks with the PATH NEWS on the Akure endorsement of Tinubu by Pa Reuben Fasoranti among others.
What is your reaction to the endorsement of Peter Obi by Pa Ayo Adebanjo led Afenifere Group?
Afenifere Social-Political Group was established by some Yoruba leaders many of who were late now with aim of using the platform to promote, protect and defend the interest of Yoruba race and also ensure we speak with one voice when it comes to national discuss in the country. Personally, I don’t see any crack within the fold of the group but only seeing a man pursuing personal agenda.
Pa Ayo Adebanjo is an elderly Yoruba man I respect so much but taking a look at the numbers of Yoruba leaders supporting his Obi endorsement, you definitely know that Baba is acting alone. Adebanjo and his backers are small when compare to leaders agitating for Yoruba Presidency in 2023.
His opinion does not hold water when compare to the stand of true Afenifere leaders who are ready to defend the position of the founding fathers of the group which is fighting for the upliftment of Yoruba race. We don’t need to be bordered with whatever position Pa Adebanjo has taken, it was a personal script design to confuse our people.
Some few months ago, I remembered granting an interview on this platform where I stated that Nigeria presidency is not a tea party where you get to office on a platter of gold; mere endorsement of Peter Obi by Pa Adebanjo is not enough to make the Former Anambra Governor the president of Nigeria, whoever that wants to succeed President Buhari must work for it and not relying on the support of some groups alone.
What ordinarily should be the responsibility of Afenifere to Yoruba nation?
The group is saddled with the sole responsibility of defending and supporting the cause of Yoruba race and not doing otherwise. It is not the business of Pa Adebanjo and his group to say it is the turn of the Igbo to become president. What is the duty of the Ohaneze? An Igbo Social cultural group. Suddenly, Pa Adebanjo becomes advocate of equity and fairness as if he is the mouth piece of Igbos people. One thing is certain, YORUBA LO KAN ( it is the turn of Yoruba).
If Igbo wanted to be president of Nigeria, they ought to have started in 2015 and join the mainstream political parties like People’s Democratic party and All Progressive Congress. What did they do? They turned themselves to minority opposition party with no national outlook to fight for Igbo presidency.
Are you saying Pa Adebanjo endorsement is worthless and has no effect as far as 2023 presidency is concern?
It has no effect because his position has gone contrary to the aim and objective of Afenifere which is to guide jealously the interest of the Yorubas’. So, the endorsement is a personal ambition and it does not represent the position of the Yoruba Nation. It is within his right to support any candidate of his choice but using the platform of Afenifere to pursuit personal vendetta is what is not acceptable. Yoruba people know who they are voting for and will not be blind folded or fooled by endorsement of one Peter Obi by the elder statesman.
Would you say Obi endorsement by Pa Adebanjo was to spite Tinubu who is not on his good book?
Exactly; the position of Pa Adebanjo was personal and doesn’t reflect the position of the Group. The decision of who Afenifere will support among the candidates can’t be taken by an individual but collectively, they will agree on who to support. No true born Yoruba leaders will leave their son and queue behind another presidential candidate aside Tinubu. YORUBA LO KAN and I believe our people will throw their weight behind Jagaban.
Of what importance is the Akure prayer and endorsement of Tinubu by Pa Reuben Fasoranti?
It is more of blessings from the 96 years old man than endorsement. In Yourba land, prayer of elders mean a lot and Pa Reuben Fasoranti has single out Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for such prayer which many called endorsement. This is real endorsement; our father, Baba Fasoranti won’t join the likes of Pa Adebanjo to work against Yoruba interest.
Some critic alleged that Tinubu induced the nonenagarian financially for the endorsement?
I disagree with the people painting fake picture of Tinubu endorsement by Baba Fasoranti. If it is money, he would as well brought Pa Adebanjo but the truth of the matter is, Pa Fasoranti can’t leave his son and queue behind other candidate. The allegation of financial inducement is far from the truth but designed by some people to discredit the well attended meeting where Tinubu was not only endorsed but prayed for. Pa Adebanjo might have scored to settle with Jagaban because of aged long wound that refuses to heal but Yoruba interest should supercede and overide personal animosity. If he doesn’t want to support Tinubu, that is fine but he should stop using the platform off Afenifere to condemn or malign Tinubu and promote Peter Obi.
Tinubu can’t because of Pa Adebanjo rejection and stop visiting genuine Yoruba leaders of the group, that was why he paid a courtesy visit to Akure to present his manifestos to the former Chairman of the group.
Tinubu christened his manifestos “RENEW HOPE” ; do you see him renewing the hope of Nigerians considering the present state of the country?
Every Nigerian is looking forward to a new government that will ameliorate their suffering come 2023 because many people have lost hope in the present government led by President Muhammadu Buhari. They know that, the only person among the candidates in the race that can restore the lost glory of Nigeria is Tinubu going by his track records as the governor of Lagos State for eight years. The document is anchored on the MKO Abiola 1993 Hope Manifesto, therefore, it was re-christened from Hope 1993 to Renew Hope 2023. It is a rebranded manifestos design to meet today’s reality.
Are your saying there is little or no different between Abiola manifestos of 1993 and Tinubu manifestos?
When you have a situation in your hands and as an intelligent person like Tinubu, all he has to do is to rebrand and bring it to today’s reality. I am nor saying the Manifestos was lifted blindly from Abiola’s archive or photocopy but Tinubu team must have look at the document, pick some segment and work on it.
So, doesn’t that mean Dele Momodu and People’s Democratic party were right when they accused Tinubu of photocopy Abiola’s manifestos?
Let Nigeria have this at the back of their mind, what is good is good. Whether you are good yesterday, today or tomorrow, Good is Good. If the manifestos is good, there is nothing stopping a progressive minded party and leader like Tinubu to consider the document for the betterment of Nigerians. The likes of Dele Momodu and People’s Democratic party crying wolves is unnecessary provided Nigerians are not complaining. What they need to do is modifying the document to suite the current situation. Nigeria needs good government that will ease their burden and ameliorate the suffering.
Some presidential candidates are avoiding national debate on flimsy excuses; is debate a matter of choice or should be made compulsory?
Debate is a matter of choice and not compulsory. It is not in the constitution of Nigeria that candidates should attend debate organized by any organization. Asiwaju has presented his manifestos to Nigeria through a recognize platform other than attending debate. He has been moving from one state to another talking to Nigerians about his Prograamme, holding Town Hall meeting with grass root people who have no access to television. You don’t expect him to leave crucial issues that affect his campaign and attend debate. Debate don’t win election but a sensible politician would rather focus on the people, the voters than attending debate that has little or no effect on the election.
Festus Keyamo, the spokesman of the campaign said Tinubu might not attend any debate due to tight schedule; did Tinubu has anything to loss if he joins other candidates in debating?
The pertinent question is, who is Organizing the debate? If the debate time tally with the campaign of any of the candidate, do you think they will attend? Politician prioritize their plan. It is better spending precious time talking to the people directly than prioritizing debate.
Prior to INEC lifting the ban on campaign, Asiwaju has visited virtually all the states of the federation. How many states have other candidates visited? If other candidates believe the best way to reach out to the people is through debate, I wish them best of luck but to the Master Strategist, he prefers to engage the voters who will determine the next president of Nigeria.
