[caption id="attachment_51132" align="alignright" width="336"] Henry Ajomale : Photo by Ademola Adegbamigbe[/caption] Chief Henry Ajomale wears two political caps. He is the Chairman of All Progressives Congress in Lagos State. Also, he is the Chairman of all states APC Chairmen in Nigeria. He was part of the process that wrestled power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which boasted that it would spend 60 years in power. That bragadocio went off in a puff when the APC juggernaut hit it! Ajomale told ADEMOLA ADEGBAMIGBE and LANRE BABALOLA the factors that made the defeat of PDP possible. He appraised the one year in office of President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State. Ajomale revealed that despite his being older than Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the two are great friends and political knidred spirits. It is one year that the APC government came to power. Let us start by you briefing us on what actually happened that APC was able to torpedo the PDP which boasted that it would rule for 60 years. As an APC insider, how was that feat achieved? Well it was possible because if there is a will, there is a way because if the people decide to join hands, there is nothing that cannot be achieved. There was unity of purpose. We started this by the leadership of the core party initiated by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and when we started this we were able to get our party, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Buhari’s party. We started this together in Abuja, many of us delegates from each of the party, I think we were 32 from each of the party that met in Abuja. Then the following day, we spread our dragnet to capture All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). ANPP came in and that was how we started and we were joined by APGA, the wing of Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha. We held this meeting and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and leaders could not believe because of their pride. They entrenched themselves, that nobody could shake them, and nobody could move them. Stupidly, they thought Nigerians are gullible, that they could continue to dominate the scene for 60 years as they claimed. Unfortunately, they could only do 16 years out of the 60 years! When we started, they were looking at us that we were birds of different plumages that can never flock together, that we had opposing views. They didn’t know that when God makes something possible nobody can change that. It was a correct time, the time we decided to unite because Nigerians were tired of the PDP ruling because they were taking us to that abyss of no return. If they had won that election, we would have probably been a begging nation by now because I was thinking when Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela was telling the world that Nigeria’s economy was buoyant then, and I was wondering: Can we be an island to ourselves? When other countries, including American, Britain and all the developed countries are having effects of global economy that is creating problem for everybody, Nigeria alone is saying that nothing is wrong with its economy. That governemnt said “We are this, we are that”. Then we knew they were reeling out lies. And then we started with forming the name of our party, logo and all. As we were doing these, it was going freely, they thought we would disagree amongst ourselves, the pressure was going on among the governors who were united up there and ensuring that those of us who were in that committee were convinced that we much needed this change in Nigeria. It is a question of determination but the governors gave us the impetus, the energy to move ahead to break all barriers because when they thought that the name would separate us, we were united. They thought the logo, the colour, the manifesto were going to divide us, but God said no, this is the time. We continued, we were able to achieve what people thought was not achievable, and when we were doing that, we had this rebels from PDP who decided to opt out… Can you assess the significance of the contribution of the five PDP governors ….. Yeah it had an impact at the beginning but everybody had his own motives of jumping on the bandwagon and that motive is what is happening now because those who came later, some of the governors who came with us later on left. It had an impact, serious impact because Kano for example, with the population, was very crucial in this election, so we were happy when the three of them came, though Kwara could not have been significant than Kano but Saraki himself is very key to ensuring the victory of the party. And that had a profound impact on our plan. Like I said we were planning that the generality of the party that if we won, the people had spoken because the people were tired, tired without them seeing what was going on, we probably would not have won that election but they were tired It is only the Southeast that felt comfortable because they were able to be part of that government, so they were making their way. PDP got much support from south south where Jonathan came from, but if you look at the north east, north west, north central and south west, those four, population wise, they are far more than what we can expect, we were able to bring them and we made them realise that there is a better tomorrow, that the government can be better ruled, controlled and the benefit can be for the people of the country. That was because as at that time unemployment was so high, the poverty level was so high and up till now, that is the result of the last administration that we are still suffering now. Now when we came in we saw the tremendous damage that has been done to our economy. What did we do? As a matter of fact, nobody knew that it was going to be worse than what we thought because when we were doing our manifesto, we put there, free food, salary for unemployed graduates and because at that time we were relying on the information from the government without knowing that they had destroyed the economy to the level that there is nobody that will come in there that can perform miracle. If the economy had been ok, we would just ride on to be able to ensure that there will be a continuous progress of what was left, but what was left was the rot that we inherited. So it became so massive. The treasury has been so looted by the outgoing administration to the extent that Nigeria was almost bankrupt, because when you look at the foreign reserve, how much did we have at the time we took over? It cannot even last one month. You talked about the damage done by the last administration, but all along you knew that the government there was corrupt and you made promises, people are saying that majority of the promises you made are difficult to fulfil. The major problem is that nobody was a magician to know the extent of damage that has been done to this economy. We relied on the information from them. That the economy is buoyant, nothing is wrong with the economy, we relied so much on it because we did not expect them to lie, it was when we got there we saw that if the government did not take over probably by now, we would have been bankrupt or people would have decided to flock to other countries- if not by the grace of God that this government came to power. The salvage that they are doing now is just for some time, because we are just one year. Nigeria’s name had been bastardised, they don’t even trust us, America didn’t even trust us, they are not ready to give us anything because if they advanced anything to Nigeria, they felt that it would be diverted, that is the level of corruption. So when we came in, it now dawned on us that nobody would want to come into government because of coming sake, because you want to become president, you must be able to do something better that the person you took over from. That is what the people expect but some people were even saying that, forget about corruption, face your own, how do you face the governance without having settled the problem that is on the ground? [caption id="attachment_51131" align="alignright" width="336"] Henry Ajomale [/caption] A lot of people are complaining that it is one year now and nothing has changed... Forget about the time! It is not the time that is important but how well. Are you doing it now for the sake of tomorrow? If Nigeria is better tomorrow probably in the next one or two years it would be better. Muhammadu Buhari was given a mandate of four years, so how can you start criticizing him in one year? If they criticize that he travels a lot, they criticize that he doesn’t take care of Chibok girls, is it the spate of bombings that used to characterize the former administration that is happening now for Christ’s sake? Give the government some credit for what they have done, the situation was bad, so bad before, but it cannot take miracles to settle this thing in a year, it is impossible. Buhari feels the cost of administration is damn too high. You know how much time he took before he can get his cabinet together, those who are willing to work with him, we have seen exactly what is going on at the level of corruption, the way Nigerian money was looted, it is coming out everyday, now people can relax and allow EFCC to continue with their job, so that the president will continue to face the administration of the country. We held this meeting and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and leaders could not believe because of their pride. They entrenched themselves, that nobody could shake them, and nobody could move them. Stupidly, they thought Nigerians are gullible, that they could continue to dominate the scene for 60 years as they claimed. How would you access one administration of the APC government in Lagos state In Lagos, I think, Lagos has even done better in terms of infrastructural facilities. When Akinwumi Ambode came, you know he inherited a very buoyant economy and infrastructural renewal was going on when he came and he started on that note to progress on what was going on. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu established the foundation, Fashola improved on it and that it is how it is supposed to be and the new government is supposed to do better than what Fashola did. So far, what we have seen on the ground is that he has done well within a period. One hundred and something roads were constructed, two in each local government and apart from that, they have constructed so many other roads, rehabilitation of some other roads are on going. So we have now seen that the last town hall meeting that was held in Ikorodu that a new vision has been opened, that the fourth mainland bridge is coming now from Ajah to Ikorodu. Before Ikorodu it splits, which will take you to Ibadan expressway. If they can achieve that within the period we are talking about, if he is going for a second term, I am sure many Lagosians will do that but because of the impatience, when he started, they started crying. Their noise is not doing anything. But the first thing he did when he got there was to use billions of naira to buy two helicopters for the police, buy security cars, armoured vehicles, motorcycles and gadgets, if you look at the rate of robbery now in Lagos, it has gone down. The level of traffic has reduced, except the oil problem that we are having now there should not be any holdup in Lagos. We have done very well, interms of infrastructure, hospitals, schools – primary schools have been rebuilt in less than one year by this administration. When you look at it again, the rail, the blue rail will be completed soon, at least one line will get to Marina and then terminate in Marina and National Theatre, The one that is going is phase one which will be completed, and when this one is completed, a thousand of people will be moved from Mile 2 and Festac area, straight to Lagos, and those from Badagry axis will benefit because they will park their car in Mile 2 and join the rail to Marina, National Theatre and others. The other phases are coming, and the road to badagry will commence soon and it is going to be done like the one that has been done straight to Badagry, and it takes you about 30 minutes to get to Badagry when it is completed. It is the extension of the existing one from mile 2. As they build from Orile to Mile 2, so also it is going to be on Badagry. So the rail line is going to Badagry too, so as you are driving in the inner lane by the traffic, the rail line will take the outer lane, So when that one is decongested, that is no one point that will make Lagos one of the best in Africa. The second phase when it comes, the Fourth Mainland bridge when it comes will decongest Ajah, whoever is going outside Lagos, whoever is going to Ikorodu and the other one to Ibadan expressway, you have virtually decongested all the traffic in Lagos state, Lekki and other environments because it is going from there straight, you don’t need to come to this side at all when you are going outside Lagos. As somebody who knows much about the APC and the government in Lagos State, people have been talking about: Tinubu, do your own and step aside; Fashola, do your own and step aside; Ambode do your own and hand over to someone else… Is there a particular blueprint that all of them are following? Yes. There is a blueprint for the development of Lagos State, it is there. It was done during our time, I was a commissioner under Asiwaju Tinubu, so I know it exists. Forget about the time! It is not the time that is important but how well. Are you doing it now for the sake of tomorrow? If Nigeria is better tomorrow probably in the next one or two years it would be better. Muhammadu Buhari was given a mandate of four years, so how can you start criticizing him in one year? If they criticize that he travels a lot, they criticize that he doesn’t take care of Chibok girls, is it the spate of bombings that used to characterize the former administration that is happening now for Christ’s sake? Give the government some credit for what they have done, the situation was bad, so bad before, but it cannot take miracles to settle this thing in a year, it is impossible. Despite all the achievements of Ambode within the last one year, people still complains that it floods whenever it rains There will always be flood. The flooding has always been there. Let me ask you something. In Britain, last year there was flooding, serious one. In Germany, people were being airlifted by helicopter, the thing was so much it covered buildings in some part of Europe during last year raining period. It happened in America.We should thank God that it is only small flood that we are talking about here. If rain falls today and it is flash flood here and there, give it some hours, in less than two hours, the thing has gone, I think we are trying in Lagos and God has been so kind to Nigeria that we have periodic flooding here and there and it is not as much as the ones in Europe and America, where do you derive the word Sunami from? Where did it happen? In Nigeria? So if it can happen in Asia, America, Britain and Germany those that are developed but could not find solution to it because it is a natural thing, it can happen in Nigeria. [caption id="attachment_51132" align="alignright" width="336"] Henry Ajomale : Photo by Ademola Adegbamigbe[/caption] Whether you like it or not, there would be rain, it is not something that you can avoid, you can’t. Nigerians create the problems for themselves because you will block the drainage where you are expected to have free flow of water, all the trash in their homes are going to be dumped there, where do you expect this water to go? They say water will find its level, even if it is blocked, it will find its level, either it goes straight into your house or finds somewhere to escape, it must move so if we try to cooperate with government and not to put thrash in the drainage the flow will be easier and you can avoid the damage storm can do in the environment. Go to Oshodi, the drainage system has been blocked. We were there. About three years ago we saw that the place was so much prone, a big canal was blocked, tyre, everything was dumped inside the canal and the canal is not something that you can be dredging every year. If you have a government property the community must take over the control, if not, they are the ones that are going to be affected. That’s why we are promoting CDC, CDA now. We are engaging them, whatever you have now, you give it to the CDA, whatever happens to your property, it is your problem, it is no more the government, the government has provided it, you looks after it. You cannot be in Alausa to know what is going on in Ajagbandi for example, so it is the community. When they are doing damages to the roads that have just been constructed, some people will say they want to pass the pipe and they will dig the road, the road that has been done with billions of naira and you cut it because you want to pass water into your house and again you start having bumps everywhere. If government has spent money on the road, it is not only you, they have to spend money on other projects, we cant be coming to your area all the time to repair the damages that have been caused in that community. And that is why they are handing over these projects to the CDC. CDA, it is now your responsibility to look after it. And Asiwaju Tinubu can spend his last penny on any poor man that he finds in a situation. I have never seen any person who is overwhelmingly concerned about the poor.... But I believe genuinely that he has the interest of this country at heart and that’s why some of us follow him. You know his age and you know mine but it is not age. God can put a small boy somewhere who is so brilliant and if God says he is the one that is going to do it, so be it. Why should I be jealous of him or envy him? I should rather learn from him in order to enrich my own knowledge as far as politics is concerned. How will you describe Ambode, is he a party man? Or a technocrat ? We are all political animals. I didn’t study politics anywhere because politics is practical. It is something, everyday affair, I am a professional, I studied Law and today I found myself in politics. It is not something I went to school to learn, so we are all political animals. Ambode is a chartered accountant and if you want to opt in politics there is nothing wrong, so that question is not something that one can answer straight forward because I am not the man. The man as I know, if he is not a politician he wont be governor, he wont contest and nobody will vote for him and once they vote for him or if he volunteers himself, he must have that confidence that he is going to win, if he is not a politician, he wont have that confidence, of how to mobilize the people for him. For me I think he is both, a politician and a professional. Many people have accused him of being gender insensitive especially the women, they look at his cabinet and say he didn’t give recognition to women like Fashola Fashola too started on the second term, he has a job to do. If you look at the permanent secretaries, the judges in Lagos today, majority are women, in the civil service today, majority are women. In terms of appointment, he has been trying his possible best to put women in certain positions, if you have go to the ministry, director this director that, if you go there you find out that majority are women. How can they say the governor is insensitive to women? It is not true. When Asiwaju started, there were only four women but today more than four women in Ambode cabinet, there are special advisers, commissioners, deputy governor who are part of the cabinet. Chairman of the civil service commission is a woman. The committee that was recently created for employment is headed by a woman. How can you say he is a woman insensitive, and am sure the second term if he decides to contest it could be better than what it is today, when you look at it, it is something average. I too support that we should have more, but not necessarily that the woman should take over everything and later on we will start crying that women have invaded our territory! There is no way you can satisfy everybody. During the election, many people lost out to Ambode, tell us to what extent Lagos state APC has gone to reconcile the victors and those that lost out You know this game, this politics, the way I see them it is not a do or die matter because I spoke to all of them before the primary. And I spoke to them after the primary and nobody has anything against anybody. When you are fighting for something, in order to win, you have your own group, the other person has his own group but when somebody emerges, that is the end, we always come together. I called a meeting ad all of them came and I said I hope all of you will extend a hand of fellowship to Ambode. And immediately, all of them hugged themselves and that was the end. They worked for the party after that because they would not allow their party to lose. Many of them have benefitted from this party, many of them have benefited from the past government so why should they now fight against the party? We had our problem with the opposition because they were bent on taking over lagos and look at how the president came to Lagos, he was coming to Lagos and sat down in Lagos (like he was coming to become the governor not the president anymore). He was spending money like it was going out of the market tomorrow! But we thank God. We salute the courage of Lagosians, even though some ethnic groups in Lagos that made their money and living in Lagos voted against us but that is politics for you. Eventually we have reconciled even those that voted against us, because like every human being, if they are giving money, if you have conscience you take the money and vote against them, if you don’t have conscience you take their money and vote for them. [caption id="attachment_51130" align="alignright" width="336"] Henry Ajomale[/caption] The Senate President is currently facing trial at the CCB, a lot of people has said he should resign his position, because his been tried is bringing an odium to the position, do you agree? I agree with you and you saw the position of the party, the party has announced it has nothing to do in supporting him. That the party is out of it, so it is him alone. If you have conscience you will do what is right, unless you don’t have conscience like any individual too. Left to me I thought he should resign to bring honour back to him and that name but it is just a pity that it happens. Personally I believe Saraki is a nice man but when it comes to this, it is a question of conscience and morality. Morality is very crucial in this case. If I were him, I would have resign but everybody has a conscience. It is left to him to do the right thing. As the chairman of all the state chairmen of APC, I know that what happens in other states is also you concern, in Ogun state there was a reconciliation that was championed by Asiwaju recently between Amosun and Osoba, how real is that? I ask that because the governor was absent that day? Also in Lagos state, during the last election, your constitutiency , the opposition got your constitutuency, and somebody in Ifako Ijaiye called for your removal as chairman of Lagos state APC, have you reconciled with him? You see, what concerns me is the.. am the state chairman am not the local government chairman, every local government has its own responsibility for its local government, mine is the totality. My business is to win Lagos for the President and the Governor, and the rest. That is why we have ward chairmen and Local government chairmen. My responsibility is to ensure that we win Lagos and win the presidency for Buhari and the two I did. So if somebody lost his local government because am from there, there cannot be blame on me. I should not have been crucified for that, what concerns me is what I have done, I have delivered and if you look at the level of spending by Ifeanyi Uba in that zone, it shows clearly that there is no way we can match that spending, there is nothing Ifeanyi Uba did not throw there and because in that area, is where the concentration of his clan members come from, they stay there, they live there. For example, Ajao estate, the population of Ajao estate is about 60 – 40 against the other ethnic groups, Igbos are 60, In Okota it is also the same, in Ilasa, it is about 70 – 30. So when you look at the population of the ethnic group in those areas and with the pumping of dollars and materials, there was no way you can stand that, I can understand that. You and Asiwaju are close, very close. What is the secret to that chemistry? Look there is no secret. I told someone recently, if you know your friend there is no way you can quarrel. Asiwaju is a teacher, he is someone who will never betray his friends, he will rather prefer his friends to betray him than betraying his friends- which they did most of the times. To me, Asiwaju is a leader because he is a very brilliant person, that has the interest of this country, if he is another that has money, why should he fight for the common man, why should he fight for the poor man? Bam bam ni mo yo, emi ko mo wipe ebi npa omo eni kankan ( I am full and I do not care about those who are hungry). Why will he go out of his way to risk his money and everything to fight the last administration? Other people that had that money just reserved themselves. I am not somebody who will follow people like a zombie. I don’t. I’am a lawyer, I was a diplomat and I have served this country in various capacities before I joined politics. It is not because we don’t have money or something to do. When you look at it, if somebody did not say something, in defence of the poor, nobody will do it for them, but you have to encourage them to bold enough to criticize that government that is not caring for them, you must be bold, if not the rich will continue to be richer and the poor will continue to be poor. And Asiwaju Tinubu can spend his last penny on any poor man that he finds in a situation. I have never seen any person who is overwhelmingly concerned about the poor. But I believe genuinely that he has the interest of this country at heart and that’s why some of us follow him. You know his age and you know mine but it is not age. God can put a small boy somewhere who is so brilliant and if God says he is the one that is going to do it, so be it. Why should I be jealous of him or envy him? I should rather learn from him in order to enrich my own knowledge as far as politics is concerned. We are very close because we have the same attitude. I don’t betray my friends, the worst I can do if I feel your ways are not my ways, I can withdraw. That’s my nature. But I learnt a lot from Asiwaju, his progress. We quarrel, we disagree on some issues, but that is not for public consumption. But overall, I think he is a good leader. He is someone that the Yoruba and Nigerians can rely on for advice and strategy, how to move this country forward. That’s why we are close.