The Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe, tells TOBI AWORINDE that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s alleged nonconformity to party politics is responsible for his defeat at the APC governorship primary
What really transpired behind the scenes in the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress in the few weeks leading up to the dramatic primary election?
The thing is that the (APC) governorship primary was held yesterday (Tuesday), even though we understand the (members of the National) Working Committee (electoral panel) that were sent from Abuja thought that the method of the electoral process was not acceptable to them and they went on the air to say that nothing had taken place. But it was wrong because there was a massive turnout of people and there was indeed an election in the state. The winner emerged and the loser emerged.
When they (electoral panel members) saw the weight of the evidence of that election, I think they had to correct themselves. And as I speak, they have signed the result and made it public this morning (Wednesday) at a press conference. That settles the matter. But don’t forget how the (APC) National Chairman (Adams Oshiomhole), who saw the video of what transpired in Lagos, issued a statement that the (electoral panel’s) decision should be reversed, and of course, they (panel members) had to make a U-turn and do the needful. So, the matter is closed.
But why should the APC National Working Committee panel and the Lagos APC disagree on the conduct and outcome of the poll in the first instance?
I wouldn’t know. That is what we cannot explain because to suggest that nothing happened, giving what we saw yesterday (Tuesday), was not on the cards at all. It was potentially dangerous and I think they realised. You know, by the time the national chairman stepped into the matter, they wouldn’t have had much to say. They would have been given a directive and they would have to comply because you cannot toy with Lagos State; Lagos is too important to be toyed with. Such a thing would have caused a big problem in Lagos. Being a state where civilised people live, I think they managed to uphold the will of the people.
What is your reaction to the Ambode Campaign Organisation that initially disputed the conduct of the election?
It is allowed. There is nothing you can do. When those who are supposed to organise an election begin to give conflicting signals, it provides room for this kind of thing. So, we will grapple with it as we move on. It is settled anyway. The margin is unimaginable. The zeal of the people I saw yesterday — I am not saying that because I am an APC spokesperson — but what pushed the people to come out the way I saw them yesterday in my area where I voted is what politics is all about. I learnt a lot.
It was alleged that there was a secret meeting on Monday between Ambode and the election panel prior to the governorship primary on Tuesday. Are you aware of the meeting?
I am not aware of it. You know I speak for the APC; that is why I am talking to you. I am not aware of that.
The national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, commended Ambode as a governor while castigating him for failing as a party man. How has the governor failed politically?
You know Asiwaju is the leader. I am just a servant for the party. But nobody is disputing the fact that Ambode has performed, but I think in the human angle of it, he failed in some areas. People feel that he does not take advice. Elders say he does not pick their calls or listen to suggestions, or once he makes up his mind on something, he goes into it. And these are the things; playing the real politics is the problem. For you to have democracy, people will have to live. You need all these people’s votes. If there is nobody visiting Lagos, there would be no politics. There would be no cars on the roads; nobody would drive them. There would be no movement anywhere because everywhere would be barren; you wouldn’t see anything. So, all politics is local.
In the place where I voted yesterday, one man was supposed to carry the banner of Ambode, while another person was to carry the banner of Sanwo-Olu. In that place where I voted — and I am being factual, before man and God — nobody could carry Ambode’s banner to stand. When I am saying this, you think it is just playing politics. I begged one man, ‘Carry the banner, so we have this semblance of democracy’. I said, ‘Okay, if you don’t want your face to show, use the banner to cover your face’. This was in Itire-Ikate. That man queued up and voted for Sanwo-Olu and then went back to carry that banner (of Ambode). What does he want? That man cannot be made a commissioner. He cannot be made an adviser because he didn’t go to school. Anytime we would have elections in my ward or polling unit, they would have a carnival and we would cook for them. We celebrated like we were all poor; we would sit under the canopy and drink. We would vote and dance. These things are not happening any longer.
Sometimes, people would run to you and say, ‘I need money to pay my children’s school fees.’ These are things we were doing before; we can’t do that anymore because you can’t get anything from the system. I tell you that it’s difficult for me as the publicity secretary of the APC in this party. I was poorer in the past three years than what it used to be in the last 16 years. I am not saying I should be given all that we were given in the past, but at least, we played the politics. We listened to the people. We shared ideas and we gave people attention so they could talk to us. People feel happy when you relate to them, pay attention to details.
When you find yourself in power, you look to those downtrodden people. These are the people that matter; they are the people who vote. Big men don’t vote. Big men don’t go to polling booths. It is ordinary people that vote, especially women. With Gala and a bottle of Coke, they will vote for you and they will be happy. These things are nothing. That is somebody that will come out and stand in line for hours. Majority of the people that vote don’t have anything. If you empower somebody, who is a relation of somebody, a whole family has been empowered. All these things are just about playing the real politics. Politics is all about people, especially the downtrodden. You can’t dismiss that with a wave of the hand. But people complained — leaders, commissioners and special advisers and these things go to our leader every day.
Last Sunday, Ambode made some serious allegations against Sanwo-Olu, of which some have called for investigations. Do you think the claims should be probed?
I don’t know if it is real. If you want to know yourself, go to politics. People will exhume your body. They will turn you up and down; you will become a book in the eyes of the people. All those things are politics. But some people think it is dirty politics. Also, some people feel that Ambode also should be investigated. I have read it also. But we’ll leave that to history. Let people be the judge.
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