Honourable Adeyemi Abidemi is an All Progressives Congress (APC) member representing Yagba West Constituency and minority whip at the Kogi State House of Assembly. In an interview with AYODELE ADESANMI, he states what the APC requires to win 2015 election. Excerpts:
What do you think is responsible for the absence of a vibrant opposition in Kogi, despite the presence of some strong politicians from the state as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) both at the state and national level?
The structure of politics in the state in itself is against the emergence of that type of vibrant opposition you are talking about. However, from my own point of view, you don’t need a party to build an opposition. Every man on the street is an opposition member; once their right and their welfare is not guaranteed and attended to. We are all opposition member as long as our interests, our right and our welfare are at stake. It’s not that there are no opposition members here, but the party has been structured and totally hijacked by forces and people that are not truly democratic.
What are those things you think that the party is required to put in place in order to come alive again?
Firstly, the party must imbibe people friendly culture. Secondly, it must clearly differentiate itself from the practice of existing political parties, and be on the right path with the people and must be ready to bear their burden. In order to get it right, we must not do things the way other political parties are doing things. In most cases we keep saying we are opposition and what other parties are doing we do it, like imposition of candidates and not imbibe the rules of internal democracy. So, if we can place ourselves above board, I think it will go a long way in helping the party and democracy and help the party where it should be.
Are you saying there is no internal democracy in the APC?
There is, but it’s not enough to the extent of the expectation of the people and presently it’s not where we think it should be. To me, l believe that we can do better than what we are doing now within the party. Expectedly, there have been some challenges, especially in some states. However, we have to create a platform a parameter within the system, with which we can reappraise ourselves; we can challenge ourselves; we can oppose ourselves; and not just one way traffic not just a unidirectional thing. It must not be a group thing or a caucus thing or even a leaders’ thing. It has to be something that looks up to a new generation, built in transparency and in a real progressive way.
With some pockets of crisis presently rearing their head within the party, especially in Ogun State, where Governor Ibikunle Amosun and former Governor Olusegun Osoba are not in good terms and in Lagos where a traditional ruler is supporting one gubernatorial aspirants against the other places. Do you think this is a good omen for the party in those states as they are regarded as the traditional seats of the party.
Let me tell you, these are the problems we created by ourselves because we did not allow a full democratic process to work . If we had allowed internal democracy to be on display, even if at all there is going to be crisis, tit will be minimal; we should be able to manage. When you feel aggrieved, when you feel you have been cheated, when you feel you have not been consulted before taking certain decisions, all these created tension and could lead to a political crisis. But if we institutionalise the process that accommodates all shades of opinions. Often times, if people are angry, they are against the institution. Therefore, we should try and build the democratic culture round the institutional process and with that, all these challenges will reduce naturally. However, we still have a lot of chances to make a lot of positive changes. Presently, we have executive committee from the wards level to the national which should reach out, sooth the frayed nerves, call everybody to the round table, examine various interests and then, see how we can make it work for the good of the party. l think the APC has a lot of future in this country. But in spite of that, it still has a lot of issues to address within itself.
Do you believe APC is an alternative to PDP come 2015?
Let me tell you whether you like it or not and putting aside the minor challenges, which are peculiar to all other political parties, that the APC is presently facing, it is therefore obvious that APC is an alternative to PDP any day, anytime. Naturally, with the mood of the country presently and challenges which the country has gone through since 1999 ,citizens of this country want a change and would like to see something different. Remember that PDP has been in power since 1999 and of course, nothing has changed; is it poverty, is it insecurity, is it provision of basic facilities, is it inflation? With that, things cannot improve. So, I think APC in that regards has a chance to come and make the necessary changes. With 2015 around the corner, l have no fear if credible election is conducted, APC could emerge the winner and turn things around.
With the way things are going in Kogi, is the APC ready for election come 2015?
Presently, we have five members in the state House of Assembly. This might not be a big number, but it is a starting point. I can confidently tell you that the party is on ground in Kogi. Yes, we do exist at any point in time. We are ready to challenge the present government in the state. Nowadays, it’s not about APC again; it’s about what you have done. It is what you have done that will give you challenge and an edge in 2015. What did you do when you were there? What has your party done, what has your group done? What have you done as an individual? I believe that either PDP wins the 2015 presidential election or APC wins, none will change what is on the ground, because we have got used to it. Therefore, what we need is political revolution in Nigeria and one day it will happen. When I say political revolution, I mean parties that are based purely on ideological lines, both in practice and formation, that will come together to take over the government and not the kind of parties we have at present, where almost all the rules of democracy are not given the chance. Personally, I don’t believe those types of parties that will take Nigeria into the Promised Land. I think the kind of parties can take Nigeria to the future have to be a little bit fundamentally different from the way we are practising it present. Change must surely come to this country and it will come. We just don’t know how it will come, but we pray to God that it’s going to be very peaceful one
You said you wanted to contest for the Senate come 2015. What gives you that confidence that you could jump from the State House of Assembly to the Senate?
There are precedents; my debates, my struggles, my motions and my fights. Besides, l am a progressive. I feel that if I bring all these to the federal level it will go a long way. Besides, the face of power now needs a new generation all across the country. If we have a new generation, then we now start to have a different thinking and approach. It is time for a new generation to come out at all levels and change the face of power. The Senate can do better, but they must respond to the needs of the time and the need of the time is the change with new minds and the new generation. I’m saying it with all conviction that we need a new generation that will bring in new ideas, new energy, new fiat, new agitations.
