*Says PDP ‘ll retain Ogun State

Explains the voluntary work of Jonathan/Sambo Campaign in Ogun

By Jide Ajani, Editor, Northern Operations

It was sudden and it came as a rude shock. Chief Joju Fadairo had been known to be the factional chairman of the Ogun State Chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP – the faction loyal to Governor Gbenga Daniel. Then, suddenly, he was made the coordinator of the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation in Ogun State.
As far as Fadairo is concerned, he can sleep easy on the matter, his conscience, intact.  When it was decided that there was need to interrogate the events in Ogun State further, it was agreed that Fadairo would make an interesting copy.  He needed to be tackled.
He explains, in this interview, why and how he broke ranks with his ‘factional’ leader, Gov. Daniel.
“I endured a lot while working with my governor.  We remain very cordial and I don’t have anything against him except he has something against me, but I do not believe in the method he is running the party and that is the crux of the matter,” Fadairo said.
“I told him that I cannot be in PDP and be working for PPN.  He has proved me right. PDP brought him in as governor twice and he is now trying to use the dividends of PDP for PPN and that is what I cannot do. He cannot be in PDP government and be raising the hand of PPN. PPN is a one-man show and we know who the one man is.  The tragedy of what is happening is tantamount to anti-party activity and some people appear to be walking on the threshold of suspension and expulsion.  You cannot say because you are not interested in a party, then you should scatter it.”
He touched on the voluntary work being done for President Goodluck Jonathan, why PDP would retain Ogun State, as well as the man, Olusegun Obasanjo. Excerpts:

What would you consider your major challenges on the job at hand – Ogun State Coordinator, Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation – when interfaced with the fact that your were the factional chairman of PDP (the Governor Gbenga Daniel faction)?

Well, there are challenges, no doubt, primarily to ensure that PDP remains one entity in Ogun State because some people have been propagating all over the media that they are in the majority whereas they are not, that challenge is there, specifically, the Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN.  That is a challenge.

But the fact that I am coordinating the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation has brought a lot of succour to our people because they see in me an individual who can rally people. A large number of our people keep trooping into our office, pledging that they remain in PDP and even some people whom we had thought would join PPN are not there.  A majority of our people are in PDP and we have collaborated with the harmonised executive in the state, we have complemented the Olurin Campaign Team and we are moving forward.

It is interesting that you were seen as a factional chairman with loyalty to Gov. Daniel but, today, you would be campaigning against PPN.  What sense does that give you?

Personally, I believe in the rule of law, whether the court judgment was done with justice or without, all of us know that once a court of law gives a judgment, we are bound to obey it.

Chief Joju Fadairo

I know they wrote a letter of harmonisation from the office in Abuja, but we were never dissolved but the court said we were dissolved.

And, since I did not bring any name from heaven, since I did not bring any accolade from heaven, and since I did not bring any appellation from heaven, and the chairmanship issue has a tenure – the day they made a pronouncement that we were harmonised, I believed my tenure finished, because I believe in the rule of law.

In any case, what is in a position?

I am a leader in the party and I am an elder in the party. I cannot because of position allow the party to scatter or go to pieces. There is nothing to be benefitted from that.

But leaving the faction you were supposed to be leading and climbing on the bandwagon of the Obasanjo team has left the party even more scattered.

No!  Don’t mix things up.

I made it clear that once the court said we were dissolved, everything regarding factionalism ended and, that, legally, according to the pronouncement of the court, gave way to the harmonised exco.

I have never been known to be a person who jumps from faction to faction or party to party.

Even what you are referring to, whenever journalists asked me about the factional crisis in Ogun State, what I normally tell them is that we do not have crisis in the state but that what we have is misunderstanding and, if that is the case, as an elder of the party, one should ensure that the party wins the election.

If you were to attempt to convince an average Nigerian about the qualities of President Jonathan, what are those things you would point at as his qualities and reasons he should be voted for?

First, President Goodluck Jonathan comes from the minority in a minority area. Second, his area has been producing the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. How else would anybody speak of fairness, equity and justice without referring to a situation where an incumbent president is allowed to seek re-election as it is constitutionally guaranteed? But that is about geo-political balancing.

Now to achievements:  If you remember, when he came on board, the temperature of the already overheated polity came down. Forget about those who have suddenly made it their duty to create an atmosphere of violence and terror but who the president has decided to take decisive action against.

Here is a man who is very dedicated and committed to the Nigerian dream and the Nigerian project. He tends to be able to allow Nigerians to enjoy the dividends of democracy. Look at the slight improvement in the power supply situation in the country! Things are looking up and things are getting better.

Let’s not talk about the power issue because I’m sure you would have heard people say that the so-called improvement in power supply is because of the elections.

Yes! I’ve heard people say that but what I ask them is:  Will the positive impact or the improvement that have been recorded in the power supply be reversed?  Why do people not want to believe in positive things? Why do people reason like this? He would continue to improve on all the things he has done so far. He is a young man and he is committed to ensuring that Nigeria, this our Nigeria, becomes a better country that all of us can be proud of. Look at the on-going power sector reforms!

That is a lofty programme. Look at the gas revolution that has just been unveiled! It comes with the potentials of making Nigeria a much more self-sustaining nation. There is the issue of education for all that is being tackled head on.

Obasanjo is seen by many to be the national campaign coordinator for President Jonathan. How has it been working with him?

You see, it’s been very interesting. When you see people from a distance and you try to say one or two things about them, you might be guessing and whatever you may end up saying about that person might be no more than sheer guess work. You might also be assuming or deducing and none of these comes close to knowing the person first hand. But when you are close to an individual and you have interaction and you discuss with the person, then you can try to judge the person. Even as we are talking now, if people see us, some would have some negative feelings about our being together while others might say it is a good union. That is a natural phenomenon; people say all manner of things about other people.

But the former President (Obasanjo) was actually the one who created that position, the Jonathan/Sambo State Coordinator and I remember that day when I was being presented.

He said to me, ‘Joju, I have an assignment for you and I want you to do it very well for me.’

And, I told him that ‘I will do it very well.’ Today, I am very happy to say that the former president himself is happy with what I have done so far regarding the campaign and he said he told Mr. President that we are doing a good job for him in the state.

That part of former President Obasanjo in terms of spending money, how has it turned out so far?

Ha!  You need to understand Obasanjo.

The former president is a person who does not believe that to win election – even if that is the vogue in Nigeria to day – you need to throw money around.  He believes you should engage people, tell them what you want to do for them and ensure that they can hold you down to your promises.

I am saying this from my experience as the Chairman/Coordinator of the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign in Ogun State.

But would you not be accused that it was because you wanted a job, that was why you agreed to chair President Jonathan’s campaign in Ogun State?

*Fadairo

Job!  Money! The way we are operating here is that we have not been funded from anywhere. All of us in that organisation contributed money and what we are doing is voluntary and it is an open thing.

We have not gone to anybody to go and look for money. I also made it known to everybody in that campaign office that it is voluntary and everybody is happy doing it and we have very dedicated people involved. We have field officers who are bringing reports back to us everyday. We do give them a stipend but because they have the interest of Nigeria at heart and because they believe in what they are doing, they remain committed. They are doing a lot for us without being paid.

This thing you say these people believe in doing for President Jonathan, yet, there are some people who complain that the President is not firm enough and that he appears a bit uncoordinated.  What would you say in respond to defend him?

You see, if you look at the expression on somebody’s face and you use that to judge him or her, then you are not being fair.

It is not I, but that is what some people out there are saying?

And, I am putting it to you that they are wrong. Now, tell me, which one is better, somebody who looks very smart and deceptively so, and who, knows how to say all the nice things that people would love to hear and who at the end of the day, would pull this country further down the morass; or somebody who, as you have said or as you said people are saying – which I wouldn’t even accept – somebody who knows what is right and is going about it the best possible way without much noise?  Tell me, which one is better?

He has gone round the country and he has been telling Nigerians what he would do. To be direct: I know he is a firm person. I know he is coordinated. I know he knows he has a vision and he is going to implement his vision. Here is a man who is unassuming and that is why people are saying all that they are saying and, usually, when you are asking for votes, you do not have to be harsh or vulgar and the fact that he is not insulting his opponents does not in anyway mean that he is not firm. He is not of the fire brigade. He has outlined his programme and the fact that he does not talk in a rambunctious manner does not mean he is not firm.  Noise is not sense. He is a very hard working person.

Now, you and your state governor, how are you people doing it?  He is pushing the PPN agenda and you are here pushing the Olurin/Jonathan agenda.

Look, let’s be honest with one another, Gov. Daniel is with us in body and not in spirit.

He’s double standing because, in the beginning he said himself, the secretary of PDP and I would remain in PDP while the other people, would jump ship into PPN. And, that was exactly the reason for our falling out because I made it clear to the governor that I cannot be in PDP and be promoting PPN. The truth is that it is immoral to dump the party that voted you to power and then you start promoting another political party. That is not in the character of Omoluabi. To now make it worse, the governor has been intimidating our people and sacking PDP sympathisers.

No! That has already been denied by the state government that no such thing has happened, is happening or will happen.

Let me tell you, even now, people are being sacked.  If a council chairman sacks people and the connection is linked to him, how do you defend that?  Some were told to resign and those who didn’t want to resign were sacked.

But, what actually caused the rift between you and your governor?

On March 7, this year, we had a heart-to-heart discussion. At that meeting between the governor and I, I complained about so many things that had been happening, especially meetings held without my knowledge or some that I was never invited to and the governor, in fairness, explained that, because of my age, they didn’t feel it would be fair to subject me to late night meetings.

But I also complained about a situation whereby some people in my local government area were nominated, about 20 of them for offices and I, as state chairman of the party, was not involved and not even a single nominee came from me. The governor made me understand that amends would be made but the real crux of the matter was the matter of going to PPN and I told him that there was no way I could remain in PDP and be sympathetic to PPN.

On the issue of those nominated, I was told to bring an individual forward for commissionership but I thanked the governor for his understanding on the matter but turned down the offer. I endured a lot while working with my governor.  We remain very cordial and I don’t have anything against him except he has something against me but I do not believe in the method he is running the party and that is the crux of the matter. I told him that I cannot be in PDP and be working for PPN.

He has proved me right.

PDP brought him in as governor twice and he is now trying to use the dividends of PDP for PPN and that is what I cannot do. He cannot be in PDP government and be raising the hand of PPN.  PPN is a one-man show and we know who the one man is. The tragedy of what is happening tantamounts to anti-party activity and some people appear to be walking on the threshold of suspension and expulsion.  You cannot say because you are not interested in a party, then you should scatter it.

But if you say that things were done behind you, why didn’t you complain long ago?  Why now?

I am a patient person and I try to suffer fools. But once my mind is made up, it is made up. Even when they formed the so-called PPN, I did not know about it. When I heard that they had done that on March 6, I raised my objections on March 7. I’ve never been known to decamp.

When the formation of political parties commenced in 1998, we had a series of meetings in Bode Olajumoke’s house before Baba Adesanya said we should go to the All Peoples Party, then Segun Agagu and I said we would remain in PDP. In the beginning of the PDP’s ascension in Ogun State, it was Dayo Abatan who moved the motion that we should accept Gov. Gbenga Daniel into the party and it was Osolade who seconded the motion at our meeting.  It was also at that meeting that we agreed to work for him and he became governor.

Is there a co-terminus between the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign and the Olurin Campaign?

Of course, yes. Olurin has visited all the local government areas in the state and the beauty of it remains that the crowd we are pulling now, when compared to what we did in 2003 and 2007, is very massive.

That is the reason for our confidence. The leaders of our party, more than 80 per cent of them, are in PDP and, as I said earlier, many members continue to troop in to pledge their loyalty. The elections will come and go and we will sit together to look at how we won fair and square.  We are working and we are working for our party.

President Obasanjo is said in some quarters to be a rare gem but, in other quarters, there are those who would not subscribe to that.

I said it earlier about people assuming from a distance.  I was in the group that went to beg Obasanjo to come and be president in 1998, while Titi Ajanaku and S.M. Afolabi led another group to beg him to become president.  We met at Obasanjo’s residence together that day. People do not really understand Obasanjo. Whatever anybody accuses him of, look at our history and tell me that he has not achieved so much for this country. People simply misjudge him. Yet, what should concern people really is his world view and make up.