Interview

Why I challenged only APC female ‘lawmaker-elect’ in court – Hon Gbenga   

 

Hon Yusuf AbdulWaheed Gbenga representing Essa/Sawo/Igbodun constituency of Offa Local Government is the chairman, House Committee on Energy in the Kwara State House of Assembly. In this interview with HEAD POLITICS, MUMINI ABDULKAREEM, he gives more insight into the struggle for the ticket with a colleague in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the only female that was initially announced winner by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) among other issues in the polity. Excerpts:
Your father Jimoh Kolawole popularly referred to as JK is a popular politician in Offa, why did it take you  long to join politics?
My father was a former councillor before Offa was created out of the former Oyun Local Government and was once the Deputy Chairman of National Republican Convention (NRC) during the two party system days in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Although I was very young then, but old enough for me to understand the rudiments of politics and I ventured into it partially combining it with my job as a civil servant. Today, this is where I am  and I thank God.
Your election was an interesting one considering the tussle with the only elected female lawmaker before the court gave you the ticket. Can you insight into what transpired?
There was no issue of gender at all here. In politics, the party gives the guidelines on how the game will be played; when the screening and primaries will take place among other decisions. We all went through the screening and engaged ourselves in the Direct Primaries, which was adopted by the party to run the process, in which every card carrying members of the party participated. So, nine people from my constituency got the form and under the rule of the party, we were qualified to run and at the end of the day, I won landslide.
How come there were issues with the electioneering and votes then?
We have seven (7) wards in my constituency but we could only conduct election in five because of alleged malpractice and vandalisation of voting materials by thugs and we had to make do with the results from the five wards which produced me.
Why was the ticket initially taken away from you for Hajia Maryam Joy Adeniran?
During the APC’s House of Assemblies primary, the lady in question came a distant fifth but because of the way we play politics these days; she believed she could get anything because she had a godfather. But thank God for President Buhari who gave those aggrieved by the process then the opportunity to approach the court. But in our case, we had a clear winner at the primary. But funny enough when the result came out, somebody else’s name was passed to INEC through the party and it became a confusing matter worth challenging. Initially, Hajia Maryam Joy Adeniran was not even in the picture, it was one Kazeem Bukoye that was even being mentioned who incidentally came seventh. But I had to stand up for my right and I went through the party structure with petition complaining that the five chairmen in the wards where the election took place had the authentic results of the poll. The people knew who they voted for and there was no issue of anybody being fooled.
In all of these, what was the position of the party or did they just allow both of you to sort it out yourselves?  
The party directed the state chairman to do the needful  by returning my mandate. But after I was given the mandate, it was challenged by Hajia Maryam Adeniran from nowhere who came fifth at the primary at the state High Court. Surprisingly, she was given a result which carried the party logo, but we were sceptical about the genuineness because I believe it was a fraudulent act and wanted to sue her for forgery. However, I later decided against it because I know the court will not recognise any result that was not assigned by the national chairman of the party. Shockingly she got judgement from the High Court and I had to approach the national leadership of the party over what was happening. My argument was that if the party wants to win the election, they must do the right thing by returning my mandate and prevent clear daylight robbery. I challenged the High Court judgment at the Federal Appeal Court here in Ilorin and the party gave me all the necessary documents to ascertain my position with a covering letter by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the national chairman of the APC which I presented at the court. That was how the appellate court upturned the judgment because I was standing for the truth.
Back home in Offa, how did the people receive the news?
They were very excited especially to know that the days of cheating the weak were gone and the reason for their votes have been actualised. One thing I forget to say was that before the Appeal Court judgment, the general election came up but the case was already in the appellate court. Although I campaigned during the period, her name was already with INEC having won the state High Court judgment and her name appeared on the INEC list when the result was initially pasted even though she didn’t embark on any campaign. Seeing this, I felt it was necessary to challenge it at the Appeal Court and my mandate and certificate of return was given back to me. What further amazed me was that despite the bad case she had, she still went to approach the Supreme Court and I had to look for money to pursue the case at that level which was quite expensive because I was convinced she will not get my mandate. Eventually, the apex court threw out the case without judgment, saying that it lacked merit and her counsel was put to shame for bringing such a bad case to the Supreme Court in the first place. So I thank the people of my constituency for their support, prayers and for believing in me. I am a proud person today and I believe I have a lot to offer them which they are already seeing through the dividends of democracy.
In the course of the case, she was able to garner lot of public support from groups and different organisations sympathetic to her cause, would you have opted for amicable settlement if approached?
This is not a case of sympathy but an issue of who the people wanted and voted for. Moreover, the people have eyes and they can see. Without any political position, I have done a lot for my constituency. She was a former councillor and former speaker during the last administration among other political appointments including SA to the immediate past Governor. But while in office, she didn’t do anything for the people. So as a fresher, the people believed they have seen someone that can change the tide and I thank God for where I am today. There was nothing like gender issue in all of these, the people would have voted for her if they needed a woman. They didn’t want her and they spoke with their votes and they believe they have chosen their son.
But don’t you think having a male dominated Assembly will be a blight on female representation in the state?
It is just a coincidence because the lady was not the only female that contested for the election. There was another female that also contested from my constituency. Promoting the narrative of gender imbalance to me is out of the point. The other lady accepted her fate and has moved on but Hajia Adeniran wanted people to believe she was cheated and yet she came a distant fifth. She was banking on the top people she knew in the party to secure the ticket for her but this is the time of change and we have moved on. The people of Esssa/Sawo/Igbodun have said no to her, she cannot force herself on them. She should rather go back home and resolve to do more to further impact the community.
You came in to replace a former House Leader and a two term lawmaker who was seen as one of the highfliers of the 8th Assembly. Are you confident that you are up to the task?
My parents have taught me to always move at my own pace and never to run at a speed that I cannot maintain. Occupying his position in our constituency does not change who I am. I have only come here to represent my people and I have promised to do it better. There is no basis for comparism. What the former House Leader has done will be there and my own contribution will be a legacy to follow. I believe I must surpass his representation and that is why I am trying my best to improve on what he has done. Others coming will also try to better what I will leave behind. Although, I am not the House Leader today but my contributions have been very meaningful to the 9th Assembly.
What is your blueprint for your constituency during your tenure, how would you react to this?
It is to make Essa/Sawo/Igbodun a different constituency in Kwara State in the areas of infrastructure, health, educational amenities, relevant bills and a little bit of stomach infrastructure to make them happy. The motion on health which I recently moved on the floor of the House has gone far and we will be reaping the dividends very soon. I am also working closely with the Governor as the chairman of Energy to improve power supply.
Some of the actions of the 9th have been ascribed to lack of experience?
Rome was not built in a day and we have ranking lawmaker and a very intelligent clerk of the House who has really been nurturing us. With time, experience grows like a plant and we have been moving on the right track. The suspension of the Local Government chairmen for instance, was is to allow for proper investigation to take place.
Your advice and message for the youth?
They should believe in themselves and God and not anybody. Such belief has brought me where I am today. I want them to use my case as a case study. They should not let anybody intimidate them. I want them to trust this government under the leadership of Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and to be rest assured that we will not let them down.
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