Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose explains why former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should not contest for president in 2027
It is in the public domain that your party has suspended you. Have you been reinstated or you still stand suspended?
I am not aware of the suspension, but those things don’t bother me. The current situation in our party has made a mockery of suspension and counter suspension, especially at that level of leadership. Sadly, these developments have taken the party so low, causing us huge avoidable embarrassment. I have paid my dues to the party. I defended the party. I was the only voice against the maladministration of President Muhammadu Buhari. At this stage, we are taking a back seat. And we can only act in an advisory capacity. So far, I don’t care about rumoured suspension. Those days of worry over such issues are gone. What do I need the party for? Most honestly, where is the party? Kudos to a few of our governors who are managing their states so well. Can we say that the party is in shape? How can anyone be talking about suspension? We should ignore that.
What do you think is at the bottom of all the controversies in the PDP? Is it not the struggle between Nyesom Wike and Atiku Abubakar for the structure of the party playing out ?
Elections have come and gone. Then there was a G5 network, then. But, that is in the past. And because the party suffered a loss, I think the consequences of that loss are haunting the party; the mismanagement and the arrogance of a few are haunting the party. When the head is sick, the whole body is gone. It will take God’s intervention, I mean a miracle for this party to be put together again. Ha, when you hear of suspension on the left, counter suspension on the right at that level, then, a lot has gone under and several other things must be addressed.
For me, mentioning names or persons does not solve anything. This is because the party is bigger than individuals. The decay in this party is spreading. Party politics is about interest. But the challenges facing our party now are enormous. And unless everybody begins to look back, we will not be able to cure the future.
You are a friend of Nyesom Wike. Is it not correct to say that the whole drama playing out is a struggle between Wike and the former Vice President Abubakar?
There’s no doubt that your past will haunt you. That is the story of our party today. There is no doubt that everybody will struggle to have control for whatever use and purpose. That is party politics. In the instance, the party in itself is not helping matters. When last did this party have a NEC meeting? When was the last time we sat down to talk together? We only hear of suspension here and there; people exiting the party, people going their separate ways and this is very unfortunate.
There are those who believe that if not because of your friend, Wike, who wants to take over the leadership of the party, the PDP won’t be in the quagmire.
Would you agree he is the problem here or what’s your view?
If I have reasonable information to that effect, I will say it. I read in the media that the state chairman of the PDP of our current acting national chairman went to court. And the court said there must be no removal, and on the strength of that, I want to believe that the acting chairman of the party must have taken steps to remain in office. I can’t speak categorically about matters I do not have facts. But on this one, I can confirm to you that the acting national chairman and the party’s chairman in his state, which is Yobe, approached the court. And there was a judgment. I will therefore put this at the footstep of the national chairman, who wants to remain in control of the party.
When you see the national chairman visiting key governors of our party, yet there was no brouhaha, or resistance from these governors, where do we go from there? Damagum visited the governor of Bauchi State and other governors, which means they are with him.
But you heard your friend who once said those who come after him, he will put fire in their states. Are you able to speak on that, too?
When I was the governor of Ekiti State, I had nothing to hide. A governor said he will put fire in my state, it is either I am not strong at home or I have lost it in my state, then, I have a lot to fear. I speak my mind, I don’t hide. The moment you have a grip of your state, you know you have nothing to fear. But when you don’t have that grip, obviously, you have issues in your hands to face. So, as a sitting governor you must position yourself to lead the people well. As an ex-governor, why has it been difficult for your party to find a pathway out of this quagmire?
It is simple. The party is not sitting on truth, equity and fairness. That was why I gave the narrative in Yobe PDP. The BoT cannot deny the knowledge of the matter in the court in Yobe. And now there’s a judgement. The court has simply tied the hands of the party. The only option for the party is either to appeal that case, or accept that fate. I am a former governor and I don’t go to sitting governors’ meetings. I have had my time and am now sitting at the back. So, whatever the leaders tell us, we take. This question is better answered by a sitting governor. I am only a member of caucus and NEC. As of today, I can’t make some categorical statements, but what is obvious is that the party is in trouble.
But your party has gone this route before. Why is it becoming increasingly difficult to fix things this time around?
There is a lot wrong with the National Working Committee as it stands now. Let us even say that there was suspension, is the solution a counter suspension? We should be taking our issues to the NWC, but that organ of the party is dancing naked in the public space.
Are you suggesting that Damagum should step aside?
Whatever my suggestion does not matter in the face of a court order. As a former governor, I am just on two layers back of the party, which are caucus and NEC. I can’t speak on behalf of the sitting governors. I can’t act like a current governor. If there’s no judgement from the court now, I can decide to make some statements.
Are you also interested in becoming the chairman of your party?
I am aware of a video making the rounds over the weekend saying I was interested in becoming the chairman of our party. That was the height of irresponsibility. That video was not from me. I don’t want to be anything in the party anymore. I don’t even want appointments of any sorts in the party. Nigerians should not read headlines of the stories alone. They should read the content. I am not the only Fayose in Nigeria. There are Fayose from Osi, Ekiti; Owo in Ondo State, Ilesa, Osun State. I never declared myself as the chairman of the PDP. God forbid. That seat is too hot for my age now and I don’t want such. I will only be responsible in the public space.
On Atiku Abubakar, I am sure at his age, with all due respect to him, he would rather stay away from politics of contesting elections again. By the time incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu finishes his first term, Atiku will probably be 80 or 81 years old. At that age, what would be the attraction? We should leave the stage when the ovation is loudest. I think Nigerians are craving for younger generations. So, on what basis will Atiku want to contest again?
I have always said that we can defeat the APC but when you don’t have a party, how do you defeat them? When you complain about APC, but you don’t have a party, how can you make any strategic move? As it stands now, the candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, is almost becoming the opposition voice now. So, where is the party? The party is gone! The party is gone!
You spoke like a prophet and warned Governor Sim Fubara during his inauguration not to quarrel with his boss, Minister Wike. Did you see their fight coming?
Since you said I am becoming a prophet, then, I can say I am becoming one indeed. Maybe the journey of my life will end up in the vineyard of the Lord, whoever can tell! I said all I said in good faith and that is what it ought to be. I said that to ensure harmony between Gov Fubara and Minister Wike. But, the turnout of event has given everybody a serious concern.
Are you worried with the level the disagreement between the two leaders has gone and how do you think this can be resolved?
This crisis is unfortunate. It is very, very unfortunate. I believed that the matter had crossed the rubicon. The matter has gone far. Even if you want to resolve this matter, how do you resolve the issue of trust between them? I rather want to believe that the matter is too far for resolution.
It has been about two years since Governor Abiodun Oyebanji became the governor of Ekiti State? What’s your assessment of his performance?
As of today I am a member of the PDP. The governor in Ekiti belongs to the APC. But, the meeting point is that I am a leader in Ekiti. Like I said before, whether we lie or speak the truth, we shall die. Governor Oyebanji has done exceedingly well. I don’t know the miracle that will be defeated in the next election in the state, except something changes between now and then. Forget the party and let us be realistic. The PDP is in a bad crisis in Ekiti, too. Anybody can come here and deny that, I don’t care. Everybody is a leader in Ekiti PDP. Time will tell.
But in terms of performance, leadership quality, and somebody doing well as a governor, Oyebanji is doing well. I and Governor Adebayo were busy fighting. I and Fayemi, with Segun Oni, were busy fighting. But this gentle man has come to unite all of us. I am not a member of his party, but he has visited me more than 18 times. So, if anybody is thinking that I will carry an axe, cutlass to cut his head during the election, let them perish that thought. If you want to tell me that I am no more a member of your party, I am still the husband of my wife. I will still be the father of my children. So, I don’t care. If the party wants to take power from Oyebanji, they must wake up to the realities on the ground.
Oh, some might say you are speaking well of Oyebanji because he is patronizing you. Can you say the same about the government of Tinubu at the centre?
Ekiti does not have the resources to patronize somebody like me. Governor Oyebanji visits Governor Oni back-to-back. Oni in turn has visited the governor’s office more than twice. I have seen the governor with Governors Adebayo, Fayemi. So, visiting me has no peculiarity. It’s not personal. That will not shut my mouth to say that Oyebanji has done well and he’s doing well. And if he does well till the end, I will be bold enough to campaign for him. I am not saying this alone. What matters is Ekiti State and the people in that state. I am a 65 years old man and I’m not begging anybody for a favour.
How would you rate the performance of Tinubu’s government?
Yes, it’s not been easy and that is the truth for Nigerians. However, I think that the government naturally is giving its best, though there is a need to up their game. I know that with little time, things will get better. It is a long-term damage to this economy, don’t forget and overnight repairs will not solve the problem.
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