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Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, PRINCE SUNDAY FAGBEMI, discusses the party’s clean sweep in the recent local government elections, securing victory in all seats, as well as other national matters, in this interview with David Olusegun.
The Peoples Democratic Party has said that the local government election, where your party won all the seats, was the worst in the state. What is your reaction to that?
They (PDP) were not prepared for the election in the first instance. They were relying on taking victory through the courts, but the court refused to be an accomplice. So, they did not prepare. They engaged in hurried preparations after the court judgment, which were inadequate. The government has been doing well since we came to power. They have endeared themselves to the people, and the confidence the people have in us has not been eroded. We did it in 2019 and 2023 because the people have confidence in us. So, what was expected to be different in this one? We have been scoring 100 percent, and we have surpassed that in this election. So, what is the fuss about?
They said there were no elections in some local governments and in other areas, there were not enough ballot papers. Why was this so?
What do you expect them to say? As I mentioned, they were not prepared for the election. All they wanted to do was disrupt the election, but we avoided every form of provocation because we knew we were going to win. So, why fight with someone who wasn’t prepared?
Are you saying elections took place in all the local governments?
Yes. In fact, this is the first time that the election was violence-free. Despite the PDP’s claims, all the proper processes were followed. I give kudos to KWASIEC for conducting the election. In most cases, materials were there on time. It is the PDP who were unprepared and wanted to disrupt the process. I came out early, voted, and left. There was no movement, but I was receiving reports from all local governments. From accreditation to voting, ballot counting, and result collation, everything was duly followed. So, how else could an election be conducted?
One surprising thing for some is that the APC won all the local governments despite the participation of other political parties. How was this possible without rigging?
As I said earlier, in 2019 we won all the seats in the national election. We did the same in 2003. Why should it be different now when the government is responsive to the people? There are developmental projects everywhere. Do you think people would vote for those who impoverished them? It defies logic to expect a different result. Observers’ reports did not contradict the outcome of the election. So, they are just crying wolf where there is none. APC has come to stay in Kwara State.
There are concerns that hardship in the country has worsened since the APC took over from the PDP. Why have things gotten so bad?
The PDP was living on borrowed time. The malfeasance of their actions is manifesting now. There is no gain without pain. To correct things, this government had to face reality and tackle issues like the removal of the fuel subsidy. Yes, it has impacted people, but the economy is improving globally. The President has assured the nation to be patient, and I am sure things will improve.
Some argue that the process of subsidy removal should have been done in a way that would not hurt the masses so much. What is your take on this?
We operate a monolithic economy dependent on oil. Even a minor subsidy removal has a significant impact because other sectors of the economy are not growing. Yes, insecurity is also a challenge, but the government is working hard to improve the security situation. Soon, by God’s grace, we will overcome these challenges. As the President said, there is light at the end of the tunnel. We must be patient and bear the pain to enjoy the gain later.
The PDP has said that if given another chance, fuel prices would drop to N200 per litre. What do you say to that?
They have made many promises, but Nigeria will not give them another chance. They destroyed the country, and that is what we are dealing with now. It is easy to tear down, but rebuilding takes time. However, things will improve, and Nigeria will thrive.
Given the hardship, insecurity, and other challenges under the APC, many feel the party has failed the people. What do you say to that?
I disagree. Efforts are being made, and more will come to address these issues. On insecurity, the government has consistently recruited more Nigerians into the police force. The number of security agents is being increased, and soon there will be a visible improvement in securing the country. Security agencies are already neutralizing criminals. These challenges will go away in time, but it cannot happen overnight. Everyone needs to cooperate, be our brother’s keeper, and provide information to the security agencies.
The Hope Agenda given to Nigerians seems dim to many due to the current situation. Is there hope for the youth?
There is hope. The President has introduced the National Conference for Youths, where their issues will be addressed. The President is ready to listen and implement recommendations. Criticism without understanding the efforts being made is unhelpful. The PDP seems to want things to go badly so they have something to talk about, but they should cooperate with the government.
But this is not the first time Nigeria has held a conference, and previous ones were not implemented. What makes this different?
This time, there is the political will. President Tinubu is ready to accommodate other opinions, and he has the political will to act on them. We should not be pessimistic. Let’s be optimistic that this time, it will be different.
