PDP chiefs covered Jonathan’s eyes to his defeat – Sen Ogunwale -

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Senator Felix Ogunwale represented Osun Central between 2003 and 2007 on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ogunwale bares his mind in this interview on what led to the failure of the PDP in the last general elections and suggested a way forward for Muhammadu Buhari. Excerpts:

Do you agree with suggestions that Buhari rode on the back of Yorubas to the presidency?

That assumption may be wrong because majority of the whole of the North voted for Buhari and as you know that the former geo-political zones are North, West and the East. If you say that if the Yorubas had not voted for him, that he probably may have had some difficulties, then I will say yes. More so when he was facing a very hostile   opponent; an opponent that does not really understand how to play politics. But thank God we voted for him.

Do you think he will not turn his back against the Yoruba interest at the long run?

Ogunwale

Against the Yorubas? I don’t buy that idea. Yes, Buhari may decide to probe some happenings of the past, but I think Buhari will not be selective in his fight against corruption and injustice. His polices will affect all the six geo political zones, not for the Yorubas alone.

As a former chieftain of the PDP what do you think led to the failure of PDP in the last election?

The leadership of PDP here in Osun are afraid to say the truth when there is the need to do so. They covered Jonathan’s eyes from recognising people like us that are grassroots mobilisers that can mobilise votes for him. They went to Abuja and told Jonathan that they are all in all in Yorubaland, thereby making Jonathan to offend the membership of BOT that built the party. They shielded Jonathan from us, so we said okay we will see how they will do it and the result is what has happened. I can say that loud anywhere. Whenever Jonathan gave them money to come and spend on politics here, they pocketed the money; the money didn’t reach anywhere.

We know Buhari as a personality that hates corruption,  but don’t you think he will step on toes even within APC should he decide to fight corruption?

If he does not step on toes, then he is no more the Buhari we know and voted for. Let me say this, what Buhari and Idiagbon did in 1984 were done in a hurry, if they systematically handled the issues then, they will recover more money than they recovered from the politicians. It is not by throwing everybody to jail that can make you recover stolen money, no. I know Buhari is a wise man but am only trying to advice that he should go about it systematically.

Advice Nigerians on the governance of General Buhari

Well, Buhari will try but I wonder if he will be able to do it all alone. Nigerians should expect the best from him but we should pray he has lieutenants that will say the truth because it is hard for our people to say the truth, what they are looking for in politics is money.