‘Fayose’s choice of deputy as PDP guber candidate in order’

Honourable Ayodele Oladimeji is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Ado Ekiti, Irepodun- lfelodun federal constituency of Ekiti State at the National Assembly. He explained, in this interview with AYODELE ADESANMI, the reason for the endorsement of Professor Kolapo Olusola as the PDP candidate for the 2018 gubernatorial election in the state by governor Ayodele Fayose.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State  is in a crisis of confidence as a result  of the endorsement of the state deputy governor, Professor Kolapo Olusola by Governor Ayodele Fayose; do you think the present situation will not affect  the chances of the party in the coming election.

Let me erase the impression that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State is in a crisis. Honestly, we are not in any  crisis, but more united. To me, the political arena is a jungle and almost a violent place. In such a place, gentlemen are not found there. What is actually happening in the state is that the stakeholders are struggling for survival and as a result of that, there is a resemblance of division and separation. But we divide and separate to survive. However, when the time comes, we would come together. Already, many aspirants are campaigning  to be the gubernatorial candidate of the party in the next election and each of them must find the means to survive, but presently, everybody who has interest in coming out to be the flag bearer of the party  must obey the  natural law of selection and only the fittest would survive.  In spite of what is going on,  there is still unity of purpose  at the state and the  national level. What is happening presently in Ekiti State within the PDP is natural. If you compare what is going on with the PDP with other parties, you will agree with me that there is still unity of purpose, both at the state and the national levels. The governor consulted widely the stakeholders before he took the decision to select his deputy.

I have no fear about what is going on within the party; everything would be resolved amicably very soon. People always say that the sky is more than enough for birds to fly; there are other opportunities as it is not only the governorship seat that is available. The prayer we  should embark on presently is for the PDP to come back to the centre. In spite  of what is going on, l am confident that the PDP would still win the next gubernatorial election in the state. The victory of the PDP in 2014 in the state was as a result of the way the All Progressive Congress (APC) government of Dr Kayode Fayemi misruled  the state. That government borrowed too much. Unfortunately, when the present administration came in, the revenue had dropped drastically. A good example is the July 2017 federal allocation, which  was N2.93 billion gross; with that, we are number 34 out of 36 states, and net was N1.935 billion. That left a difference of  N1.25 billion to service debt. Fayemi’s  government threw the state into a mess financially. Ekiti State presently is indebted to the tune of about $67.3 million and we are now tenth on the indebted table of the federation.

Despite the situation of the state financially, the present government has done much. Visit the state capital, Ado Ekiti, and move round the state and see what the governor  has been able to do. I strongly believe that people are learned, wise and have discerning eyes and can see the difference between the two governments.

After your four-year tenure at the House of Representatives, are you going to retire from politics?

When the vision about my political career became clear in 2004 by providence, l quickly came to my ward in Ekiti State and registered as a member of the PDP and since then, I have remained a member. My coming into politics was more  of a conviction than an ambition, as I had already put in 27 years in the banking sector as a chartered accountant and chartered broker. Since I came in 2004, I’ve learnt from some role models; their weaknesses and capabilities. One of the role models is  Governor Fayose, who I met in 2012 and since then, our relationship has remained cordial. I have since recognised him as a good leader; you only need  to be closer to him to know many things about him. His vote is one among others that ensured my victory in the last election.

However, the future would tell concerning what step I would take next, but the most important thing for now is for me to concentrate on the task l have at hand and do it to the best of my ability. My  preoccupation at present is to do as much as I can with the opportunity God, my constituents and my party gave me for now. Therefore, within the period that l have been here, I’ve tried my best. People, however, erroneously believe that the only function of a legislator is to make law, but we still monitor how the law is being implemented.