The 2023 elections have come and gone but reactions are still being expressed from different quarters, with some commending the process and the outcome, while some pour out condemnations.
In Oyo state, post-election assessments have begun after the major opposition party APC, lost the governorship to the incumbent, Engr Seyi Makinde of the PDP.
Ametrocopy had a sit down with one of the Chieftains of the APC, an aspirant at the primary election, a legal luminary, and the scion of Agbaje La’yeye dynasty in Ibadan, Barrister Akeem Adedeji Agbaje, where he shared his opinion about the election, the defeat of the APC in Oyo State, and the way out of the doldrums.
What is your assessment of the last general election, both at the federal and state levels?
We need to look at it holistically. If you look at the elections in terms of one single unit, you might not appreciate the extent of the progress we have made in terms of the conduct of elections. Look at INEC, how would you assess their performance? On a scale of 100, I’ll give them 80 and I’ll give the politicians 30. This is because most of the challenges we have arose from the way the politicians conducted themselves. To a large extent, INEC tried as far as I’m concerned, the BVAS has reduced the incidence of most electoral incidences. In terms of INEC, they have done well. No system is perfect and I think they can always improve though. In terms of the politicians, I think the desperation of politicians is terrible. With the issue of voter oppression, ballot snatching, and violence in polling units, the law needs to be enforced against conduct like these. The security agencies largely tried. This is my assessment of the elections.
Do you share the same sentiment on the state election?
I observed Oyo State and I can only talk about it. Things were really good, there were not many cases of voter oppression. We had incidences of vote buying but not too much violence. Generally, it was a reflection of the will of the people.
So you agree with the outcome of the election?
Even at the federal level, it is a reflection of the people’s will. It has never happened that three parties won twelve states each. Asiwaju won not because he won the most number of states but because he had high numbers in some states while other candidates didn’t have high numbers. Places in the North Asiwaju came second, they were high numbers.
What would you say was responsible for the defeat your party, APC, suffered in Oyo State in the last election?
There is a saying that, ‘As you lay your bed so shall you lie on it’ Both parties had issues. It was how each party managed the fallout from those issues. I think PDP managed it better than APC. We had a primary that was not satisfactory but after the primaries, the steps taken were such that we could not have done better than we did. In terms of the federal election, we did better than in 2019. We won the presidential which we lost in 2019; 3 senators as against 2019; we had 9 reps confirmed. We still have the option of 2 more. Although our performance was not as bad as people portrayed in terms of the governorship election. The lesson for me is that in picking a candidate, the party should look more in detail as to the acceptability of the person we are pushing forward.
Would it be safe to say that the party would have fared better if it had fielded other candidates?
It would be safe to say that. There is no point playing the Ostrich. We know that If we had a better candidate, we would have done better. In Oyo State, they hardly vote party. Historically, Oyo State votes on candidates since 1979. It has always been about the candidate and not a party. This is the only state you would find that, consistently, you have one added party in office so it’s not about party politics for us. Your candidate must be someone sellable to the general public.
Would you say the demise of the former governor Abiola Ajimobi played any role in the present state of APC in Oyo State? Good or bad?
As a Muslim, we live for today. Ajimobi came, played his role, and left. To blame him for where we are now, for me, is a bit lazy. We have people that were very loyal to him and loyal to our candidate as well so if we blame Ajimobi, it is not fair on him; we are not being realistic.
What efforts are being made to prepare APC for the 2027 election and to mend the fences?
I think we are in the early days. 2-3 weeks after the election, we’re still taking stock. No doubt we need to come together to heal the wounds of the last elections.
Are you looking to decamp?
It is not even being considered in the nearest future. Although I had offers it is not about the offers, it is about you. You may be hurt by an electoral process but you need to be realistic because it can happen otherwise. The term ‘jagba’ is more entrenched in our electoral process. It is the aftermath that causes the problems within the party which is carried over to the elections.
How would you describe your style of politics?
I am just a realist. If you do ‘jagba’ you are bound to fail at the end of the day.
Are you expectant of offers from the federal level?
I am a politician so if I get an offer, I will take it. I worked for the emergence of Asiwaju, I was the secretary of the Tinubu/Shettima independent campaign council and I believe we did well towards the outcome in Oyo State. Legitimately one has to be hopeful that something good will come out of it.
What is your Easter message to the people?
What we need most in this country is love. Genuine love amongst ourselves, from the leadership to the followership, we need love. The hatred and lack of empathy are too deep so we need to love. It will start the healing process.
