Spokesperson for Jimi Agbaje, Modupe Ogunbayo, speaks on allegations that the Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the just concluded election, Mr Jimi Agbaje, shunned the party leaders during his campaign, among other issues, in this interview with MUDIAGA AFFE
It appears the PDP in Lagos is divided over the outcome of the governorship election, with some party leaders blaming Agbaje for the defeat. What is your reaction to this?
Mr Jimi Kolawole Agbaje campaigned vigorously across the length and breadth of Lagos State with a campaign slogan of ‘Freedom for Lagos’ from the oligarchy holding the state to ransom politically and financially, which has traumatised many indigenes of Lagos emotionally and socially. Any shrewd and unbiased observer of the political scene in the recent governorship campaign in the state would agree that Agbaje ran the best organised, focused and issues-based political campaign in 2019.
He was not defeated in the election. Rather, the people’s wish was subverted by anti-democratic forces. Their voices were muffled through intimidation and harassment and genuine democracy was truncated through massive vote-buying of Permanent Voter Card before the poll. There was widespread vote-buying on Election Day as well as large-scale alterations of poll results at collation centres. Besides, voter apathy, deliberately induced through violence two weeks earlier at the strongholds of Agbaje, played a part in the final outcome. Based on these factors, every right-thinking person can conclude that there is no logic in the allegations.
Is it true that Agbaje did not carry party leaders along in the campaign?
A governorship campaign involves the collaborative efforts of people coming together to execute tasks and implement strategies to achieve victory in good faith and trust. Mr Agbaje held weekly meetings on Mondays with the leaders and executives of the party in Lagos State often at the Jimi Agbaje Campaign Office headquarters. On Tuesdays, Agbaje held meetings at a location in the GRA Ikeja with the South-West party leaders, former office holders from the party and other senior officers. Other impromptu meetings were sometimes held and he had two media parleys with Chief Bode George. He attended town hall meetings with the revered leader, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, and the state PDP Secretary, Muiz Dosunmu, among others. Throwing up dust that Mr Agbaje did not carry members of the party along in his campaign is like a husband querying the paternity of a child after a DNA test has confirmed the offspring as his. Then, one must ask such a man what really is his angst.
They also accused your principal of failing to listen to advice from party men. What is your reaction?
Mr Agbaje is a fine gentleman. He hails from the Sokun noble family of Ikorodu and Onilegbale royal home of Lagos Island. Apart from being of noble ancestry, Agbaje is very cultured. He is well read too. He tempers all these attributes with great humility and generosity of spirit. As a politician, he accords honour and respect to honourable individuals. In political settings, advice pours in from countless sources, topmost of which he gives best consideration from those coming from party men. With every sense of humility, he knows good and well-intentioned advice when he hears it. And he follows such totally.
A former Chairman of the state PDP, Tunji Shelle, has said Agbaje will not be given the opportunity to contest in the party again. What is your reaction to this?
Agbaje has noted with great hilarity the exchange of batons from one vociferous talker to another, trying vainly to cast aspersions on his character. Anyone who read that would think they are worried about the PDP in Lagos. In reality, many of them worked in connivance with other parties to scuttle victory for Agbaje at the polls. The current Chairman of the PDP, Dr Adegboyega Dominic, admitted this at a public inter-party meeting after the election in the presence of Agbaje and other senior party officials.
Agbaje remains the sublime face of the PDP in Lagos State. He disbursed campaign funds directly to the PDP candidates and not through them for the 2019 polls in Lagos. By virtue of being an elder and the two positions he previously held, it is not expected that he would collect funds for the administration of the state secretariat and instead of disbursing, pocketed the money.
How do you react to the accusation by some PDP leaders that Agbaje does not have the charisma to lead the state?
Agbaje inspires his followers to believe in an idea more than they believe in it themselves. He is very persuasive. Often, they see themselves executing for him what they do not believe in at all. Volunteers were trooping to his campaign so much that we had to start turning back many at a stage. Capt. Tunji Shelle, who is saying this, has shown his malicious intent. All know that Agbaje inspires the kind of loyalty that many of them are spending tons of money to have; yet, this has perpetually eluded them. Many would do anything for him. Many would stick with Agbaje till the end of time, no matter what. Regardless of what they get up to, many still want him. That alone, is enough to cause sleepless nights for them.
The Punch