‘Those calling for Oshiomhole’s resignation are enemies of APC’

The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr Tunde Balogun, in this interview spoke on recent developments in the party, and the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the state, among others. Excerpts:   What is your assessment of the Sanwo-Olu administration so far? Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been implementing his […]

The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr Tunde Balogun, in this interview spoke on recent developments in the party, and the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the state, among others. Excerpts:

 

What is your assessment of the Sanwo-Olu administration so far?

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been implementing his laid down programmes. He has a plan, which he titled: Themes. T stands for transportation and traffic management. H stands for health and comprehensive health insurance. E stands for education and technology. M stands for making Lagos a 21st century state. E stands for entertainment, and making Lagos the centrepiece of African tourism. S stands for security. The administration is centered on these.

In the area of transportation, he has prepared ground, not only for the use of our roads, he has made efforts to ensure that Lagos makes use of the inland waterways. He has made arrangements for the procurement of some ferries. Some of the jetties in Lagos are being developed. The available ones have been enlarged, extended and consolidated upon for effective use.

Of course, I give credence and commendation to him for the fact that, not only has he been able to tackle traffic gridlock, he identified at a point that we have 60 traffic gridlock points in Lagos and he has been making sure that the gridlock disappears. Of course, he has mended some roads. He has fixed roads where necessary to ensure smooth transportation and ease of movement on the roads. A lot of works has gone to mending roads, fixing roads, filling potholes where necessary. The inter-connectivity of various areas in Lagos is being enhanced now.

On the issue of health, he has done a lot in the various hospitals and the teaching hospital. Now, the effort in education is considerable. He has gone round to see schools that are in bad shape and he has commissioned committees to embark on renovation of schools across the three senatorial districts. That has been going on in the last six months. Kudos to him a lot of things are coming on board.

It is gratifying that the governor will be paying the N35, 000 minimum wage for workers in Lagos. This underscores his commitment to the welfare of workers. The workers will be motivated by this to increase effectiveness and productivity at work.

We noticed some vacant positions in the Lagos State Executive Committee of the APC under your leadership. How and when are they likely to be filled?

Yes, there are three vacant positions brought about by the appointment of three members of the committee as members of the State Executive Council by Governor Sanwo-Olu. Commissioner and special advisers are among the three. Those positions will be filled. We have procedures. That procedure must be our guide. It is not being delayed. We want to ensure that things are done properly and appropriately so as not to run foul, of the procedure and the law. They would soon be filled.

How is the party addressing the concern from some local governments and constituencies complaining that they are not adequately represented in the Lagos State Executive Council?

The APC is a strong family in Lagos. The members see themselves as one family. We don’t discriminate between one local government and the other. All local governments in Lagos State are having a sense of belonging. They will be represented as much as there are vacancies. We make all efforts to ensure that they are equally represented. Expediency comes in. Geographical location comes in. Some appointments are mainly and most of the times based on merit in Lagos State. Of course, the educational backgrounds of candidates are looked into. Their contributions to our elections and victories are put into consideration.  I mentioned expediency. In past years, some local governments were not represented in the exco. Some of them may come in now while those who have been there in the past would have to wait. That is what is happening. Not all the local governments will be in the exco. It may not be possible. We have about 40 thereabout to represent about 20 million people. You have to consider a lot of things.

Is the state government carrying along the party in its activities?

We just held a ‘Community Day’ that brought together the communities in Lagos; rural as well as urban communities, we were together with the governor and myself at the Ikeja Police College. We interacted in various ways. That is the kind of interaction you are talking about. There are interactive sessions between the governor and the people again. This is done regularly. Also, every month, he organises meetings so that people can bring to the fore whatever they feel should be done, their needs, schools, infrastructure.

What about the House of Assembly? Are they carrying the party along in their activities as well?

There are Constituency meetings. Members of the House of Assembly go back to their constituencies. That was done about two months ago. The lawmakers were in their constituencies to meet with the people, give accounts of their stewardship and getting feedback from their constituencies.

There have been series of complaints about local governments not performing. How can we improve their capacity to deliver service effectively to the people?

I know the local governments have the capacity to work along the line of programmes laid down by the state government. The local governments need to complement the efforts of the state. They should work with the state to achieve the development of their areas; clearing drainages, making roads, doing all necessary things that are important to the people in their various local governments. We expect them to be working to complement the state government.

What is the situation with the crisis at the national level in APC?

This brings me to the issue of wanting the leader of our party, the national chairman of our party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to resign. The call is not only selfish; those people calling for his resignation are not only selfish, they are driven by the fact that they are elements of destabilisation. The call for his resignation was untimely as it was illogical. What do I mean by it was untimely? Oshiomhole was elected by the unanimous vote of APC members across the nation a year and few months ago. He was elected for four years. Why don’t you give him a chance? Unless he has a gross misconduct, there is no reason for removing a leader who has been able to lead his party, not only to win a presidential election that returned APC to government, but also won in many states.  Why don’t you give him a chance to complete his term for which he was given mandate? He was given a mandate for four years. He should complete his mandate.

Oshiomhole is supported by many APC state chairmen for the reasons of survival of our party and stability of our party. Those people want to create confusion, they want to see our party destabilised that is why they calling for his resignation. He will spend the four years for which he was elected because he is doing well. We support him. He is enjoying the support of majority of us who are in the Forum of APC State Chairmen.

What is now the way forward to the crisis in the party?

A reconciliation committee has been set up to reconcile and resolve differences in the party, especially in Edo State. We want to give the committee a chance to reconcile those who are involved in the crisis. President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the national chairman of the APC, Oshiomhole, for what he has done so far for the party. He commended him for his energy. He must have been impressed by the energy he has committed to ensuring that our party becomes victorious.