Alhaji Mohammed Kpatako is a member of the Lagos State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He is also the Chairman, North Central Community in Lagos State. In this interview with AYO ESAN, he speaks on the issues as they affect Lagos and the country as a whole. Excerpts:
Let us look at the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the APC. What do you think his candidacy portends for Nigeria?
Senator Bola Tinubu’s emergence as the presidential candidate of the APC is the best thing to have happened not only to the party but also the country. If you are talking about anybody who can make a positive impact in politics and governance, Asiwaju Tinubu is the one. He has emerged as the APC presidential candidate and we thank God for that. Though as human beings we have different opinions on issues and everybody is free to express his opinion, but the majority of the members of the APC are happy that Tinubu has secured the party’s ticket and they are waiting for Election Day when they will elect him.
For me, the emergence of Asiwaju as the presidential candidate of the APC is a positive development for the country. The country needs his experience and we believe that he can deliver the country from the multifaceted problems facing it at the moment. There was a day he came to address us in Lagos, that was before the primary, and he assured us that by the Grace of God, he would get there and God would see him through. We are happy about his emergence and we thank God for that.
What Tinubu has done in Lagos is a testimony to what he will do at the national level if he is elected. Thank God, Lagos is cosmopolitan. To some of us, none of the other aspirants are close to him in terms of achievements.
If you look at Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP, how optimistic are you that Tinubu will win the presidential election come February next year?
Election time is getting near. If you took a closer look at politics in the country, you would discover that victory is a done deal for the APC, by the Grace of God. I hope you remember that the APC is the ruling party in the country. So Tinubu, who is our candidate, will enjoy tremendous support across the nooks and crannies of the country. Don’t judge our chances by what recently happened in Osun State. That is just an exemption. We are going to coast home to victory in North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-West, South-East and South-South. We are going to win. So no other candidate can match Tinubu.
How solid is APC in Lagos State as you prepare for the general election?
We are doing well. For instance, I am one of the leaders of the ethnic nationalities in the party. I have been with Asiwaju for the past 15 years. In my hometown, they only believe in APC, nothing more and no other party. What Tinubu has done to non-Yoruba speaking people in Lagos will be in his advantage. Look at the state cabinet, we have Igbo, we have Hausa and representatives of other people from the North-Central . I am from the North-Central. So you can see that Tinubu doesn’t discriminate against anybody or tribe.
As the leader of the North-Central group in Lagos APC. How are you carrying them along and what role are they playing in the progress of Lagos APC?
You know we have different tribes in the North-Central. We have Nupe, Igala, Tiv, Idoma and so on. Initially when we came on board, we came on board as one tribe, Nupe. When Fashola came on board in 2007 we now invited other tribes into our fold, Igala and Ebira, among others. But today, the North-Central is now the largest platform among ethnic nationalities in the Lagos APC. You know we also have the Igbo Community and the Arewa Community in the party.
Governor Sanwo- Olu has also got a second term ticket. What are you people doing towards ensuring that he secures a second term in office?
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has done tremendously well. I believe that when you are doing what you should do for the common man, God will reward you. People are willing to vote for him.
PDP leadership in Lagos State are boasting that they will win all elections in the state. How do you see their threat?
Honestly, the PDP cannot win an election in Lagos. The structure of APC in Lagos is well founded and with what we have been able to put together since 1999, PDP cannot match us. What we have, they don’t have.
One of your members in APC, Dr Jide Adediran (Jandor), is now the governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State and he is boasting that the PDP will win the governorship race . What is your reaction to that?
Jandor cannot win the election. You are just overrating him. What is his strength? He doesn’t have any strength. He is just like one councillor in APC and he moved away. He cannot deliver any vote. You will see it and I am assuring you that the PDP cannot make any impact in the forthcoming governorship election in Lagos State. The North-Central people in Lagos State will give block votes to Tinubu and Governor Sanwo-Olu. We have been doing it in the past. We will still do it again. We are working and we know what we are doing. Please forget the noise on social media. We are going to win the election.
Our party leaders should unite. There is no party that doesn’t go through a crisis, but when it arises, we should settle it peacefully. The reconciliation committee is doing well to bring unity to the party. This is the month we are waiting for, the month of the beginning of the campaigns.
What is your advice to INEC as we get set for the forthcoming elections?
Let them do the election right. We are not soliciting for their support, but they should be impartial and live up to their name by being truly independent.
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
