NigeriaDecides2023: Votes now count, APC must brace-up, live up to expectations — Hon. Abiru

In this interview with journalists,  stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Hon. Rotimi Abiru speaks on the dynamics of the Saturday March 18 gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly (HoA) elections, the state of voters turn-out, credibility of the process, as well as rising civil enlightenment among Nigerians. Harping on observed political enlightenment, the former Chief Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly emphasised why his party, the APC, must brace-up to sustain its place as the leading party in government, warning from the premise of the general elections that “votes now count.”. According to him, the Party must far more entrench the principles of due process and be more meticulous in the choice of candidates presented to represent it in future elections.   On Lagos, Abiru a long standing member of  the Lagos State House of Assembly (6th – 9th), who represents Somolu Constituency II (Bariga),  stressed the need to review certain legislations of the State to blend them with human face appeals. Expressing his confidence in the wishes of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for Nigeria, he said a huge task lies ahead of the Party from the Central to the States, noting Nigerians may not be willing to tolerate excuses. Moses Adeniyi brings excerpts of his comment on the day of the polls:

What is your assess ment of the gubernatorial and State Assembly elections?

So far so good, it’s been reasonably peaceful. The process has been smooth, but the turnout was not as experienced on February 25  – the presidential and National Assembly (NASS) polls. As for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I want to commend them for early arrival and they were all at their duty post. On the BVAS (Bimodal Voters Accreditation System) machine, I don’t think we had issues with it any where. Unlike the last election when we have shortage of ballot papers on specific elections, particularly the senatorial elections, that didn’t happen this time (gubernatorial/HoA elections). On the part of INEC, I want to give them a high pass mark and from the process, I think the election is very free and fair, and reflective of desires and wishes of voters.

What’s your position on your party’s lot in this election?

We will triumph in the election, but what we are experiencing is a clarion call for elective political office holders to begin to be responsible to the electorates. Clearly, votes are counting now and I think Nigeria is on the part to greatness. From what happened in the last election where we saw governors losing senatorial elections to go to the Senate, it is commendable, because Governors being the Chief Security Officer of their States have the tendency to manipulate the process to favour themselves, but what have been seen now is a pointer to the fact that people are freely expressing their desires through the ballot and if Governors lose, it speaks volume. What it simply means is that political parties too will have to look at the process through which candidates emerge. The process has to be democratic, it has to be transparent and fair for whoever that wins such primaries to enjoy the support of the masses. We are critical stakeholders in this project, we are loyal members of the APC, we agree to party supremacy, but beyond all that, it is also very important that the Party maintains a process that will give credibility to who will represent the Party in future elections. This is important, so that we won’t have the problem of having to go begging people for votes. The demography of the population in this State (Lagos), shows that the youth have the greater number of registered voters, and from what we have seen from the presidential election, what they are simply saying is that they want a better Nigeria. I’m not sure they care who the president is, but all they want is for them to stand with their colleagues anywhere in the world, and say ‘our Country is on the path to success.’

I think the journey of a thousand mile starts with one step, but that step has to be carried in the right direction and from what I’ve seen in the last General Elections, I think we have to put the right footing in the right direction. And we cannot but hope and pray with what we have seen here, that the fairness of the election is replicated in every part of the Country. The process is a system. The path that individuals need to play is very critical. The process does not manipulate itself, it is the people that manipulate the process. So, it is also right for every Nigerian too to play by the rules of the game, so that we can also complement INEC in delivering a perfect system.

What in your view could have been responsible for lower voters turn out during the gubernatorial and HoA elections compared to the presidential and NASS polls?

Anything could have been responsible. It was obvious from the build up to the election and from what we experienced from the last elections, various measures were employed, particularly at the indigenous locations. For instance, we heard that in some localities there were plans for religious cleansing before the Saturday’s election and we heard in some areas the cleansing was scheduled for 12:00am – 4:00am and they had warned strangers to stay in doors; that might have formed part of the reasons, and the zeal of non Lagosians from the last election could be observed to have gone down. Although we cannot by mere looking at any one say he/she is from this particular tribe, yet beyond that, for reasons best known to those who chose not to come out, they may have their reasons for doing that. However, before now, there has been apathy during elections. For the presidential election, people came out more. The postponement of the governorship and HoA polls by one week extension, could also be partly a reason too. From what we heard, those that are not residing in Lagos, some flew in from other States and they must have planned that they were going to vote March 11 initially scheduled, and for the fact that the election was postponed to March 18, it could also be one of the reasons for low turnout because that might have changed the plans for some. But beyond all that, I think Nigerians are getting more aware and they are also eager to exercise their civic responsibility.

Following the elections, what is your advice for your Party?

I have told those who care to listen to me that as the government, we need to do things differently. I want to thank God for the victory of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as President-elect. He is somebody I know closely and I know he is someone who is very intelligent, exposed and understands the dynamics of the Nigerian economy and from what we have seen this year, I’m not sure Nigerians are willing or ready to take excuses from a ruling government. It’s a great opportunity for us. I wish as the Governor (Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu) wins, that all the Assembly members too win, because it is the Assembly members that would ease and hasten policies of the government and programmes. So, we are better off, if we all are of the same party stock. But, I think that we should take a clue from the experience we got during this election, because we had to work seriously to convince people and the truth is I know things can be a bit better than it is and I’m sure the Governor  himself realises that and I pray he will. I also want us to look at areas of concern of Lagosians for us to see that life is more meaningful to the common man on the street. I’m not sure the common man on the street cares about the budget of the State. All they want to see is for them to be able to commute without stress, for them to be able to live in an environment that they see as sane. So, I think it would be nice for us to review some of our laws in Lagos State. One of them is the transportation law that creates LASTMA (Lagos State Transportation Management Authority). Another is our building approval processes. I think we need to improve on these things. Someone met with me who is into real estate and while I was trying to convince him to vote for APC, he sat me down and said a few things to me that for instance, while he was to get an approval for a building, he expected the approval to be holistic. They expect at the point when they want to seek approval from the government, all these approvals should be harmonised together. He lamented he was on a building and it took him years to get the TIA (Traffic Impact Assessment) for a building of N500 million at 20 per cent. I felt what he said and I tried to placate him, but he said the best was for him not to come out to vote because if he came out to vote, he was not going to vote for the APC, but for the fact that I was able to appeal to him, he said the best for him was to stay off the poll, but he never hid is dissatisfaction to some of these policies of the government and I want to charge our great party and the returning Governor, that it is important for us to revisit laws that have to do with the lives of the common man on the street. This also includes the environmental laws of the State. All these things should be addressed so that life can be more meaningful to members of the society – Lagosians.

I don’t have any doubt that the President-elect would deliver on the promises of the ‘Renewed Hope’ right from the centre to the States. I wish the President-elect sound health, long life and we continue to pray for him. I know he is desirous of making Nigeria a greater place for all and by his grace, I have the believe that we would get it right in the next four years.

I thank Lagosians and assure them that their votes for APC would not be regretted _ that we shall deliver on our electoral promises and make Lagos State a better place for all of us.