Mr. Kayode Oduoye is a young businessman and politician from Ikirun, Ifelodun local government of the State of Osun. In this interview with SODIQ YUSUF, he x-rayed the internal and external factors that returned PDP to power in the State. Excerpt:
YOU were at the forefront of restructuring the PDP in the State of Osun six years ago, how do you feel now that the party is now in power?
I am very elated. I feel accomplished. I feel fulfilled because it was a journey that ended up well, in spite of the challenges. The restructuring, refocusing and repositioning struggle was aimed at getting the party to be acceptable to our people in Osun after the 2014 governorship election. It was a journey I spearheaded by the grace of God. It was energetic, money gulping, energy and time consuming. So, I feel very elated, very happy, very accomplished and very fulfilled, and finally the PDP is back to rule Osun.
Report had it that the restructuring agenda was aimed at dislodging Senator Iyiola Omisore who was a major player in the PDP then. How true is this?
Otunba Iyiola Omisore was one of the big wigs of the PDP then. He was the gubernatorial candidate of the party in 2014, and the aftermath of that election spiraled into 2015. We lost at the national level, we lost the presidency and the state constituencies. That was one of the reasons that led to the call for a rebirth, rebuilding the PDP; and the need to strengthen its membership. What happened then was that some of us did not believe in him (Omisore) coming back for the second run; we did not believe in his ability and capacity to win the governorship election; so, we did not want him to have the ticket of the party for the second time. It was more like a clash of interest. We wrestled for the interest, we saw that we squandered the opportunities we had; we had a lot of things that were wasted. We saw that things could be done better. It was just more like disagreement in principles with respect to approach; and why things should be done in the party going forward and we knew that if certain things were not addressed, the party would not progress. The way some of us viewed, it was going to be difficult to sell PDP to the grassroots and the people of the party after the 2014 show. In my interactions with people at the grassroots in the state, it was important for us to rebrand the PDP. So, if that was supposed to happen, there would be a clash of interests. Otunba Omisore was not willing to let go of the candidacy that he had. He wanted to run again and some of us said no, let us rebrand the party, the party must be formidable enough to attract so much and so many others in it if we go on this way. How and why he left PDP, I am sure he can handle explain that. But he exited PDP in 2017 for SDP and from SDP, he cross carpeted to APC. But the good thing is that the journey we started then has ended well, irrespective of whoever the candidate is.
How will you address the arbitrary defections of Nigeria politicians from one party to another in spite of differences in party ideology?
I think it is absurd. Our politicians lack integrity. It shows we do not politick for ideology, it shows they are in there for what they just want to benefit and gain; and that is why leadership is a major bane for us in Nigeria till date, because people lack quality leadership. Politicians just throw money around, sweet-talk people, make empty promises and at the end of the day, they cannot deliver because they do not have the capacity or the virtue to make them commit themselves to the transition of change in the lives of the people. Nigeria is suffering now not because we do not have resources, the management of the resources is the issue. You keep having people who do not have the capacity and moral sanctity to understand that they are committed to the future of their own coming generation. Whatever you do today, you are not doing it for today alone, it is going to be part of the foundation of what will affect tomorrow. Unfortunately, as Nigerians, we have not come to understand that leadership for us is not about the promises people make, it is about the pedigree, integrity, character and the antecedents of what makes the person. People must also come to understand that leadership is about service and sacrifice. If you cannot lead not just by example but lead in serving and sacrificing for people, then, you are just going to end up having the same circle of people that you have now.
To what will you attribute the July 16 victory of the PDP to?
So many factors. Osun people are tired of so many wrongdoings. Osun people are tired of bad governance. You can only measure a government by the economic performance. If life is comfortable for the average citizen, they will support the government irrespective of whoever or which party is there. APC has not done well. They did not do well. So that gave us the window to be victorious. My sincere desire is that we will meet the expectations of the people. We would do so well with unity, and the unity can bind us together to achieve a greater good for the common people.
One of the factors that led to the defeat of the outgone governor, Oyetola, is bad governance. The unity within PDP with a determination that whatever it is, APC must go irrespective of our differences. We had this mindset that whatever your views are, just go and get APC out. Whatever is left, we would come back to the table and resolve it. That is what I preached to our people. You cannot tell me your differences is that deep to allow Oyetola to come back for a second time, what would you have achieved? 100% of nothing. That is the second factor. Then the third factor is the public sympathy. They knew we were robbed in 2018 and the people stood firmly behind us in 2022. We also thank INEC for BVAS. If not BVAS, history might have repeated itself. What happened in 2018 might have reoccurred. People also know that the Adeleke family is well to do. They do not have anything to take from government. They just want to sacrifice themselves like a sacrificial lamb. There were a lot of factors that culminated in the victory of the PDP and the defeat of the APC.
There was insinuation few weeks to the governorship election in July that you ordered your supporters to support the second term bid of former governor, Adegboyega Oyetola. How true is that?
That is not true. It is an insinuation, so I am debunking it now. It is a wrong insinuation. It is nothing but a figment of some innocuous imagination. You know in life, perception is about beliefs. As I speak with you now, the God of heavens is my witness, the last time I set my eyes on the former governor was when he attended the Fidau of the late Akinrun. That was a public place where he greeted me and that was the last time I saw him. I have never had any discussions with him. I do not have his contact. Of course, as a politician, efforts were made to make me work for his interest, but that would not work. Just like we lured some of them to join us, they wanted to lure me too but I never gave into it. All my life, I have never supported or voted for APC till we speak. If I don’t believe in something, I would not support it.
After the 2018 governorship election, you appear to have maintained a low profile, what is responsible for that?
Politics is a combination and conglomeration of so many ideas, beliefs, concepts from people of different backgrounds, opinions and views to issues. I realised that over the past years till 2018, God has enabled me to build a political stature that has positioned me to be a threat in the face of some people. I stepped down my governorship ambition then because I believed that the party must be united. We must adopt an attitude and approach that will not disintegrate the unity of the party. If truly, there is a conceptual belief that Osun West should produce the next Governor, then, why should I run? Why will I want to ruffle feathers when I know that that is not what the majority wants, the clarion call was for the West, so everybody from Central should just go and support the West. So, I stepped down carefully and joyfully for the support of the West and that is why you saw that all through 2018, I was with the Adelekes, and even till now, I have been backing the candidacy that eventually emerged as the Governor of the state.
We believed in the West Agenda and by the grace of God, Senator Ademola Adeleke from Ede, Osun West senatorial district, is now the Governor of the state, with the support of every member of the party and most importantly, the people of the state. I want to assure you that Governor Adeleke will do very well. One of our dearest concerns and prayers is that we must not disappoint Osun people. We must better their lives. That is why we are in politics. So, whatever I am bringing to politics should be my contributions and thank God that Senator Adeleke is also from a family that is well to do. So, he is not there for the crumbs. He is also coming there to bring something to the table. So, my appeal to all members of the party, whether aggrieved or not, as long as you are a card-carrying member of the party, we must support this government. This government must be successful and this government must meet the yearnings and expectations of Osun people. It is very key for me, because that is what would make a meaning of the journey we started six years ago.
If Osun West Agenda was what you supported, then, why did you not support Prince Dotun Babayemi? Why the choice of Adeleke?
So many reasons. All the while up till this moment, I have only supported the Adeleke family. All my life since I have been a politician, I have only supported the Adelekes. Let me take you down the memory lane. In 2014, late Senator Isiaka Adeleke also contested in the primaries. I did not support Senator Omisore but I gave Omisore my full support after he became the candidate of the party. I am a party person. My conviction has been with the Adelekes for long. Why? We have been family friends for long. My father enjoyed a fabulous relationship with Late Senator Isiaka Adeleke (both of blessed memories now). My father committed me to the project, even before he died. I have known Senator Isiaka Adeleke way back 2003, when my father and him contested for gubernatorial ticket where Oyinlola emerged. So, there is that emotional commitment, there is that family relationship that we cannot wish away. I am like a child to them, irrespective of whatever anyone wants to believe or say. I believe that I owe that family my commitment. These are the people we have been together for long. I respect them and politics did not even affect the relationship. That is why I did not support Ogunbiyi or any other person in 2018 and 2022.
By the time we were rigged out in 2018, we came back to the table and said we had to give it a shot again. I enjoy a fabulous relationship with Senator Adeleke, Dr. Deji Adeleke and Chief (Mrs) Dupe Adeleke-Sanni. These are individuals that if you have a one-on-one with them, forget the public perception or impression, they are likable people. So, with the personal relationship I have had with them and the extension of the relationship my father and their brother had, will that not make it difficult for me to support another person? Definitely, it will.
We worked together in 2018 and we started rebuilding together again. It all started in my house at GRA in Osogbo; we started mobilising people and canvassing them for support. So, it was very difficult for me as a peace-loving person not to support the Adelekes. I did not say other aspirants are not members of the party or that we won’t relate with them. Unfortunately, people have brought bitterness into politics. We could have managed our differences without resulting into crisis. It depends on the handlers. Those who wanted to play the front role this time around chose to play it differently from the way I would rather love for it to be played.
Why did you decide not to re-contest for the ticket of your party for the House of Representatives?
I did contest. A lot of people did not know I contested. It was a last-minute decision. It was a bit clumsy but because of the pressure. Left to me, my direction and focus was on how we would win the state being the last election before the general election; put in forward again with more efforts and win at the national level. I did contest like I said but if I go deep into it, we will not finish the story.
What is your utmost goal in politics?
What brought me into politics in the first instance is the ability that God has given to me. I have a lot to offer to the people in terms of service. Service and leadership is what I am in politics for. For me, if it is a call for service, I am ready if there is an opportunity to do so.
Are you eyeing any political appointment in the state?
It is the prerogative of the Governor to appoint who he likes. Yes, I am close to him. But, in politics, they tell you a day is as long as one year. You never can tell. From what I believe and I know, we are all together and I’m sure that if the government finds me worthy of any role, I will offer my service. What is important to me is that Senator Ademola Adeleke will succeed. He has no option than to succeed and He will. The people should expect delivery of good governance.
