Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Chief Olayinka Amos has reflected on the electoral misfortunes of the chapter since 1999, saying that it lacked cohesion.
He warned that tragedy may continue to befall the party in the Centre of Excellence, unless efforts are made to unite the factions working at cross purposes.
“You have to unite the party first before you can talk about winning an election,” he told reporters in Lagos at the weekend.
Amos lamented that Lagos PDP leaders detested truth, stressing that he was excluded from the preparations for the last general elections because he often spoke the truth about the party without minding whose ox is gorged.
Decrying the polarisation of the platform by the antagonistic factions, he said he neither belonged to Goke Salvador camp supported by Commodore Olabode George nor Segun Adewale’s faction. Amos said: “I belong to the faction of God.”
Tracing the genesis of the Lagos PDP crisis, Amos said: “The leader of the PDP in Lagos was Chief Dapo Sarunmi. Since Obasanjo brought Bode George to the PDP, the party has suffered decline. It was Dapo Sarunmi that brought PDP to Lagos. Soldiers don’t believe in democracy.”
However, he said he loathed the idea of defection from the PDP to another party, saying defectors behave like immature children and they are “chop and chop politicians.”
He added: “I have a soft spot for President Muhammadu Buhari. But, that does not mean that I will leave my party. Defection does not show maturity. If I lea e the PDP, I will go and rest in my house. We say we want to emulate the United States. Do they jump from one party to another in America. People dump their parties because of poverty and greed.”
Amos chided Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose and Senator Buruji Kashamu (Ogun East) for their war of attrition, saying that both are unserious. He said the two politicians are not the leaders of the PDP in the Southwest.
The Ikorodu-born politician said he had refrained from contesting elections because of his perception about elected officials as sinners who eat from people’s sweat.
But, he said he will back Prof. Tunde Adeniran’s national chairmanship aspiration in the opposition party because “he is a less sinner.”
Amos , who applauded President Buhari for his achievements, lamented that the Commander-In-Chief was slowed down by illness. He advised him to shun the temptation to seek re-election.
Amos said: “If the Commander-In-Chief has not been sick, he would have performed more than this. But, after his first term, he should not re-contest. The Presidency is stressful.”
Acknowledging the prospect of a looming succession crisis, if the president does not re-contest, the PDP stalwart urged Nigerians to vet the candidates before making a choice.
He added: “People come to politics for various reasons. Some come to make a change. Some come to steal money. If you want a president for this country, it is better you choose those who don’t have cases to answer.”
Amos also spoke on the presidential ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, saying that he has the constitutional right to join the race. However, he said whether Nigerians will vote for him or not is another matter.
Amos, who left the United States for Nigeria 30 years ago because of racism, , following his university education, lamented that Nigeria has missed the opportunity to become a great country.
He said: Everybody has become a prisoner of hope. There is no accountability in Nigeria. There is the need for complete decentralization to replace centralization. Local government should exist separately. Federal, state and local government should have the same right over taxation. The Federal Government spends money as if they are drunkards. To reduce corruption, you must ensure accountability. City councils should function. Wards should be able to generate money to tar the roads and do drainages in their areas.”
Amos added: “There is no sense of belonging in Nigeria. An average citizen does not believe he has a benefit to derive from the system. A lot of guns is being imported into the country now. If care is not taken, Boko Haram will be a child’s play. The privileged few cannot continue to allocate money to themselves alone. Everywhere is in ruins. You wonder whether Nigeria has oil. What are they doing with the money?”
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