PDP’ll flush out Aregbesola, Fayemi this year – Jalo

In this interview with JOHN ALECHENU, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Abduallhi Jalo, speaks about the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as the party’s chances in 2015

Doesn’t your party feel threatened by the defection of some of your big names in the South-West to the opposition APC?

Which of our leaders are you talking about?

Chief Bode Mustapha, for example.

Bode Mustapha is a political spent force who does not have the clout to adversely affect the fortunes of the PDP.  There is usually a yardstick for those who want to leave one party to go to another. The most common is a situation where an individual feels he is being denied an opportunity to offer himself to stand for an election to serve either for a party position or for a position in government at any level. Or he feels an injustice was done to him and he feels he has exhausted all means of seeking redress and has failed in his quest to get justice. These are the usual things responsible for defections from one party to another among Nigerian politicians. None of these applies in the case of Bode Mustapha. So, he has no basis for doing what he did. Besides, our National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’Azu, has promised that the party was committed to conducting free,  fair and transparent process to elect officials of the party and of course, the party’s flag bearers for the elections ahead. Some people just do things to get attention. We are however appealing to our members even those who feel aggrieved to come back home, because we have the capacity to resolve our issues internally.

Has your party addressed issues raised by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his letter to President Jonathan?

You know, there are party issues which are not for discussions in the media. This is one of them. As a party, we are dealing with our issues internally and you will agree with me that our respected former President is still a member of our party. We are looking at the issues. That is all I can say.

The opposition has accused your party and President Jonathan of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians especially those in the North-East. They cite the party’s recent rallies to buttress their point. What is your response to this allegation?

You will recall that the President has put off the Yola rally. So, it is not an issue. I would like the opposition to remember a Hausa proverb which says gwano baya jin warin jikinsa, meaning, the soldier ant does not perceive the odour oozing out of its own body. When they were going round the country holding rallies to receive (Aliyu) Wamakko, (Rabiu) Kwankwaso and the rest of them, when they were gathering and dancing all over the place, there were bombings and killings, did they not know at the time that the victims were also Nigerians? The President was on his feet taking steps to solve these problems while they were moving about. Is it now that they have suddenly realised that the President and the PDP are holding political rallies? We must also understand that these people (Boko Haram) want government to grind to a halt, we are saying no. While we are dealing with the challenge of insecurity, government must continue to provide service to the people. That is what the PDP is saying. This does not in any way suggest that we are insensitive to the plight of our fellow countrymen. We empathise with the victims of the bomb blast in Nyanya and we are equally concerned about our children kidnapped in Chibok, this is why the relevant agencies of government have been directed to spare no effort in freeing the girls. If there is any political party that is concerned about this issue, it is the PDP. If not for the purposeful leadership given to this nation by the PDP in the last 14 years, I don’t know where this country will be by now. With the cooperation and prayers of Nigerians, we will ensure that this nation takes its pride of place in the comity of nations.

Some Nigerians have said your party has an agenda to destabilise the South-West. This, they argued, informed the party’s decision to hand over its governorship tickets to Ayo Fayose in Ekiti and Senator Iyiola Omisore, in Osun State, respectively. What is your response to this?

Allegations will remain what they are – allegations. They can never take the place of truth. Fayose was a governor in Ekiti State and throughout his tenure, there was no record of thuggery, killings or any form of lawlessness, the records are there. Each time he goes out to campaign, everybody sees the crowd of supporters he commands. He is respected by the people; the ordinary Ekiti person loves and respects him. Remember, Fayose contested with 20 or so others and he emerged victorious. That tells you something about his popularity and level of acceptance. In the case of Omisore, first of all, those trying to cast aspersions on his person are basing their arguments on allegations that he was involved in the Bola Ige case. This, like I said, is one of those allegations. This country is built on the rule of law. Let those making these baseless accusations produce evidence because there is no record anywhere that our candidate was found guilty of any offence. He has not been convicted of any crime. If he was a convict, the PDP would not have allowed him to even contest the party primary which he won convincingly. There are people making wild allegations which cannot stand anywhere.

Let us go back in history. The violence which they are talking about in the South-West started a long time ago. In fact, the history of political violence in the area has its roots in the 60s when the Action Group had problems with other political groups. Some of the members of the Action Group are today the leaders of the All Progressives Congress. Their violent antecedents are well known to those who know the politics of the South-West. The opposition is peddling rumours about a non-existent plan by the PDP to unleash violence, I appeal to Nigerians not to allow themselves to be deceived by cheap propaganda. The whole plan by the opposition is to try and distract attention from their well laid out plan to cause mayhem in the desperation to hold on to power. They are yet to come to terms with the reality that the people have rejected them. It is an open secret that the APC leaders are schooled in the art of violence, but the people are tired of this type of politics. They are now determined to have a governor and a government that cares. Governor Kayode Fayemi in Ekiti knows that his time is up, Governor Rauf Aregbesola in Osun knows that his tenure is coming to an end, the APC is also aware that our two candidates have what it takes to provide the positive change the people deserve. This is why they have been trying to attack the credibility of our candidates; they will not succeed because the people of the South-West are now, more than ever before, better enlightened.

With this level of insecurity and some of the short comings of the PDP-led administration -which are daily being pointed out by the opposition, can you say your party has a chance of returning to power in 2015?

Politics has gone beyond sloganeering. The printing of posters and handbills, putting up big billboards and putting paid advertorials, allegations and mudslinging, do not equal politics. The people remain the core of politics. Today, by the grace of God, the PDP has been privileged to provide leadership for this great country for the past 14 years. I can tell you without fear of contradiction that no fewer than 80 percent of Nigerians will vote for the PDP, if elections are held today. Like the human beings we are, we cannot claim perfection because only God is perfect. Whatever mistakes we made since 1999 are honest mistakes. Nigeria is making progress, even our detractors acknowledge this. So, the issue of whether the party will form government in 2015 is not an issue. Mr. President who is the leader of our party has a mandate and he is putting his best to deliver on it. But I can assure you we will have a transparent party primary and elect candidates who can deliver the goods. As soon as we do that, we will campaign vigorously to sell our candidates to win the elections at all levels. The advantage we have as a party is our national spread and the fact that the people of Nigeria know us and are now convinced that our experience will serve them better. The PDP will, by the grace of God, form government in 2015 and beyond.