In this interview with our POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, KAYODE ADEOTI, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Alhaji Sheu Ahmed Koto speaks on the qualities and chances of former chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Ladi Hassan in the gubernatorial race among other sundry issues. Excerpts.
Since the preparation for the 2019 general elections began, many political players across the 16 local government areas of the state have signified interest in the governorship ticket of the party. What is your take on the number of aspirants gunning for one seat?
Having large number of politicians coming out now, is a sign of development in democracy and I believe, the more the merrier. In the past, we used to see few people gunning for the number one seat in the states but as the parties are advancing in every states, more people are getting interested in leadership. The PDP believes as a party that the more the aspirants, the more the merrier. Where we don’t have much persons coming out, that is when the party goes into shallow congress and lots of manipulation are perpetrated in the process, but in the case all of the politicians vying for the number seat in the state want to go into congress to test their ability, popularity, personality and to test for their loyalty. I think what is happening is the best thing for us.
Ladi Hassan is one of those gunning for the governorship seat in the state, looking at his person, would you say he is not a misfit?
He has what it takes, he is an experienced politician, he’s one of the best if not the best among the aspirants. He has been an astute politician because he joined the party later in 2001 when the party Secretariat was still at Baboko area. He enrolled into PDP the same time with the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and since that time, he has remained in the party. He never defected until when occasion called for that. He believes in open door policies, so detribalised, committed and loyal to the party elders especially the late Baba Saraki who happens to be the icon of Kwara politics as well as in Nigeria.
(Cut in)… What more do you think will stand him out?
He has sterling qualities and has experience in banking, education sector and business. Indigene of Ilorin West. He had his primary, secondary school education here in Ilorin. He even attended polytechnic here before proceeding to Lagos State University and he has served in many institutions. As far as political administration is concerned, he started as SA Domestic, he attended to everybody’s need irrespective of political affiliation, and discharged his duties with dedication and loyalty. He was later made SA Inter-governmental Affairs. He did his job flawlessly. When he was Chief of Staff, one did not need to book appointment before you see him, he has listening ears and associates with grassroot politicians. He was also in the Ministry of Health, the staff at the ministry were happy to have him because he impacted their lives positively. In all the places he served, he created employment. He is the only person the grassroot can boast of having because he is someone who will serve their interest.
You once mentioned that he’s a grassroot politician, how do you now react to the allegation that he’s not?
It’s a false allegation, this is because at his ancestral home, whenever they have event, be it marriage, special prayers, Ladi will be there physically; he attends to whoever comes from his area first before others, he is the head of his constituency, Mogaji Ngeri and if he’s not a grassroot politician, he can’t be. He sees to the equitable distribution of posts in his area and hates being partial. He is very transparent.
We have quite a number of aspirants from Ilorin West local government, how can the party manage this?
We have a sort of screening method, that’s how we’ve been doing it. Most of these people, the charisma Ladi has, they don’t possess, so we’ll do a sort of indoor screening. There was a time he had no appointment, and most of these people contesting with him are coming from one position or the other, for him, he had rested for some years, the present appointment is just to ensure he doesn’t sit back home. Also, some of his contenders joined the party at the later hour and they’ve been in and out of appointment.
There has been agitation from the Kwara North region that it’s their turn to produce the next Governor, but your candidate is not from that region….?
Every region is making claims to that except Kwara Sourth whose Governor is about to leave. The issue of zoning has been put aside this time around, what determines election or nomination of a candidate is number. Kwara Central determines the party that wins election since all these days going by the record, and if this is the case, you can’t throw your governorship to where you will lose. There are some local governments that insisted that they are going with President Buhari, that means, one cannot zone the governorship ticket to such area because no party will want to lose. They will all go for primaries, the indirect type through delegates and whoever wins will be the party flag bearer.
One of the things Kwara State has always been respected for is, violence free election, what is the secret behind this and what do you forsee of the forthcoming poll?
I still believe after the end of the primaries, the propagandist will be shown their way out. Those who cause violence are empty noise makers. Every reasonable politician will not want violence to occur. Where there is violence it leads to sorrow and pains, so what gain can one get from that. I still strongly believe we are going to have violence free election and we will all be happy for it.
Integrity seems to be the driving force of this present administration, in line with this, what can you say of aspirants for various seats in the state?
I have confidence in Ladi Hassan. His integrity is undoubted and it’s incontestible, he is very humane, even when you hurt him, he will never show it neither will he blow it out. He is very charitable, the downtrodden are his friends. When he started this exercise, he didn’t boast of money, knowing fully well that he has the capacity. It is wrong to give government to the person who has no loyalty, commitment and love for the people. Those that came out for governorship ticket have held one position or the other before.
If your candidate eventually gets the ticket, do you think he will be able to subdue the APC-led federal governments’ might?
President Buhari has promised us free and fair election. Under this situation, there is no way APC can defeat PDP in Kwara State. This is because majority of the followers and the electorate believe in Saraki dynasty which has made and profitted so many people in the state. We have our people in every household of the state and the deviant are not many. We’re cooperative and confidence. Also, you rig where you’re popular, I’ve been in politics since 1978, holding series of posts. So rigging is not possible even if you have money but not popular, people want someone who is always on ground with them. The Minister, Lai Muhammed will only come when there is election, and once it is over, he leaves us. He is having double registration personality. He has a son in Lagos State House of Assembly and also somewhere. All his properties and belongings are in Lagos, it will however be dangerous for one to leave his fate in the hand of such a person. He has not done anything significant even in his Oro town. There is community development fund. Lawyer Yusuf Ali SAN who is not a politician, we can all see what he donated to the University of Ilorin. At his residence, he dugged borehole which many people are benefitting from. Those shouting about have nothing to show for it, they have no experience of politics
Your message for the electorate and Kwarans
I want to urge our people, the electorate and Kwarans to remain peaceful, they should go to the poll cast their votes for candidates that will develop the state and our future.
