All Progressives Congress chieftain and former Minister of Communications Adebayo Shittu opens up on his Oyo State governorship ambition, Governor Makinde’s plan to impose a successor, President Bola Tinubu’s chances in the 2027 poll and more, in this interview with ADEBAYO FOLORUNSHO-FRANCIS
How did you receive the news of your appointment as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Dave Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences in Ebonyi State?
Well, it was not what I expected from the government. I expected a more executive position where I could use my brain, ideas and dynamics. But when it came, I saw it as an opportunity to also excel in managing that university which, unexpectedly, is in the heart of Igboland. I had been so scared about moving to Igboland in view of a lot of negative reports about the security. But I find Ebonyi a very wonderful place. Anytime I’m going there for meetings, I see it as homecoming. It is a beautiful place, and the stats are particularly very peaceful, more peaceful perhaps than some other states in Igboland. So, I’m okay and happy. The management of the university has been very wonderful in cooperating and collaborating with me and the governing council. I’m determined to do my best to ensure that that university grows by leaps and bounds.
Some people actually believe you lobbied for this job.
I could not have lobbied to become Pro-Chancellor of the university. I have been a minister for four years. Before that I had been commissioner twice at age 30. That was in 1983. I was a commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture in the larger Oyo State. In 2007, I was Attorney General of Oyo State before becoming a minister. So, I could not have lobbied. I wanted more executive positions where I could use my experience over the years, almost 45 years political experiences and so on. But when I got this appointment, I took it in my stride and I’m putting in my best to justify it.
Are you saying some of these appointments, including yours, are not some form of compensation package for Tinubu’s electoral victory?
As I said, it was not what I bargained for. But I took it in my stride and I’m trying to make the best out of it. I’m still active and politics has always been my number one engagement. So, in the near future, I could still play more important political roles.
But some critics still believe you could be one of the President’s ambassadorial nominees or a minister in waiting ahead of 2027. Are you not excited by the prospect?
Number one, I don’t want to be an ambassador. I am 72 years old. How can I leave Nigeria at this old age? I don’t want to be. If the ministerial appointment comes, okay. If it doesn’t come, I have been a minister before. What I want most importantly is to become Governor of Oyo State because as a product of the Awolowo School of Politics, I want to re-enact the Awolowo type of governance with the aim of life more abundant for the ordinary citizen. That was Awolowo’s philosophy. For instance, Awolowo would tell you that if you fail to educate the children of the poor, they would ensure that your own children cannot sleep with both eyes closed. Why do you have banditry in the North now? It is because a lot of people are outside, young, strong people, who suddenly discover that they are growing up and don’t have a future. They don’t have jobs. They are not educated. They don’t have homes or decent places, and so they rebel against society. I want to have an opportunity to ensure that all of Awolowo’s four cardinal programmes are re-enacted in Oyo State. Free education at all levels, free health services, integrated infrastructure development, and full employment will be in place. I have great ideas about how to implement all of this.
So you are confirming you still have your eyes on Oyo’s governorship seat and possibly replace Seyi Makinde?
I am praying to God to allow me to exemplify what beneficial government could be and should be. And I believe if I have the opportunity, all other states, by the grace of God, will be coming to learn.
But Makinde, the governor you are seeking to replace, is already talking about bringing in a successor…
Just ignore Makinde. He is not God. Did anybody ever predict or prophesy that Makinde himself would be a governor? It is God alone who dictates who gets to power. So, he can begin to daydream and think that he would be the one to impose his successor. I don’t take him seriously about that because I know that God is the one who puts people in power, and he is the one who removes people from power. I am praying to God to be able to benefit from that power to enable me to be governor.
Now that we are talking about Oyo politics, some critics have raised concerns that Ibadan region has been producing virtually all the governors while other areas are marginalised. Do you align with this notion?
Well, I must confess that I have been part of that campaign. Why am I saying so? Over the years in Nigeria generally, most presidents have always come from the North. Of course, understandably, the North controls the majority of Nigeria’s population. So if we go strictly by population distribution, the North will continue to be president. But we know that it is not in the best interest of a stable polity. But for the fact that the North conceded, out of their magnanimity, President Goodluck Jonathan would not have been President. Jonathan comes from one of the minorities in Nigeria. But they conceded to him by way of rotation. Even the current President, if the North had not conceded to him, would find it difficult. If it strictly comes down to tribal voting, a Yoruba man would never have been President. So, we are saying that over the last 30 years, out of the seven or so governors we have had in Oyo State, six are indigenes of Ibadan. Only (Alao) Akala from Ogbomoso became governor by default because there was an impeachment of an Ibadan governor at that time, Rashidi Ladoja. So, he was deputy and he became the governor. So, what we are saying is, let this thing move around because we have seven zones in Oyo State. We have Ibadan 1, Ibadan II, Ibarapa, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Oke-Ogun. Ibadan has 11 local governments. Oke-Ogun has 10, Ogbomoso has five. Ibarapa has three. Oyo has four. Even though the population in Ibadan is about 52 per cent, nobody can say that all the 52 per cent are exclusively Ibadan indigenes. I mean, there are Okeho, Ijebus, Egbas, Ijeshas, and all kinds of people from other tribes living there too. We know Ibadan is a potpourri of settlements. There are people from all over. So, what we are saying is, let this thing go around. Ibadan has produced about six governors in the last 30 years. Let the thing move around for people from other sections to have a sense of belonging. You can imagine if Tinubu had not been allowed to become President, Nigeria would not have been as politically stable as it is now. So, it is in the best interest of all of us. From my little experience, and I am saying this with all sense of humility and sincerity, during Akala’s government, the Ibadan people really enjoyed it because no non-Ibadan would be governor and want to do anything to dissatisfy Ibadan people. They would want to satisfy them so they wouldn’t feel they are being marginalised. If the table was to turn and it was Ibadan that has not had this opportunity, of course, there would be agitations. So, what we are saying is that we are all one. Many of us, including someone like me, for instance, have been living in Ibadan for 45 years now. I have at least two houses there. I have an office and a residence. In fact, I also have a third house by one of my wives in the same Ibadan. I have played all my politics more in the region. Again, three Ibadan daughters have children for me, a total of 13 children, who are partly Ibadan and partly Shaki and so on and so forth. So, besides, I am also the Agba Akin of Ibadanland. So, I am not a stranger. But since we see that this disequilibrium has negative political potential in the feelings of people from other zones, I think we must make a deliberate effort to ensure that the thing is rotated.
Now that we are discussing rotation, are there some particular regions or areas you feel should be next in governance?
Well, automatically, with due respect, it should be Oke-Ogun because Oke-Ogun’s population is next to that of Ibadan. As I said, Oke-Ogun has 10 local governments, and Ibadan has 11. It is for that same reason that Oke-Ogun has been producing deputy governors perpetually.
The Sharia Council of Nigeria recently lamented that with regards to the Muslim-Muslim ticket, the President has not been fair to the Muslims, who it claimed are marginalised in this government. What’s your perception about this?
Well, there are feelings, you know. I mean, I was sure when the Muslim ticket issue arose a lot of Christians were agitated that it would necessarily affect Christianity and Christians. But I said the Bola Tinubu that I know would not necessarily be swayed by religious considerations. So, in regard to appointments, I am aware that he is trying to be as fair as he can. But Muslims, particularly in Yoruba land, felt they deserved much more than they were having. These are feelings, perceptions and so on. But you would also agree with me that in the north, a lot of choice appointments are going to key sectors of the north. And I’m happy to also say that the South-South and even the South-East are having their fair share. So, this perception is only limited to Yoruba land, to the best of my knowledge.
I believe you have been following El-Rufai’s cry that President Bola Tinubu abandoned the North and how the region plans to ambush and give him the Goodluck Jonathan’s treatment in 2027. Do you think he has a point?
Well, I am convinced that to the North in general, President Tinubu has been sufficiently equitable, but one thing that I believe is happening with regards to El-Rufai is that I keep remembering the pivotal role he played in getting the North to support a Tinubu’s presidency. I mean, there’s no running away from that fact. We know also that Tinubu really courted his support with promises that he would be brought into governance. So, when we see what has happened, naturally as a human being, El-Rufai will be disappointed. For me as an individual, and I’m speaking the truth in accordance with my conscience, I don’t see any northern politician who did much more for Tinubu’s emergence as El-Rufai. I don’t see it, and I’m being fair because being a very courageous person, when other people were not sure of supporting Tinubu, he came out boldly agitating and mobilising. You also recall that at a stage, he took the Buhari government to court when they were playing pranks about money redesign and all of that. So, I think that President Tinubu should try and forge a new alliance with him. It is very important, and it is only fair. To whom much is given, much more is expected. I think he should be rehabilitated and brought in. It is better to make more friends than allow your friends to become enemies.
If you are encouraging Tinubu to pacify El-Rufai, what happens to other aggrieved figures like Rotimi Amaechi, Salihu Lukman and Babachir Lawal?
Look, I will take them one by one. Salihu Lukman is one person I’ve never met, and really I don’t know his grievances. But I know he’s a very intelligent person, I know he’s a key figure in the party, but honestly, I don’t know him in person. But as for Rotimi Amaechi, he’s my friend, but I think that he’s been most unfair to the process. There was a primary election to produce a presidential candidate. He participated in it. Tinubu participated too. When he lost, he was claiming that Tinubu bought the delegates. Could there have been anybody who did not pay delegates either for transportation or for whatever? I think he’s just bitter at being a bad loser. Besides, how old is Rotimi? He still has so many years ahead of him and needs to be patient. Just because you lost an election, you are now trying to throw away the baby with the bathwater. I think it is not reasonable and it is not in his long-term interest. He’s not too comfortable in his state. At the national level, instead of him to continue to sustain friendship through peace building and all of that, he’s very antagonistic. I don’t think it is in his best interest. The election has come and gone. That is the primary election. If he had issues, he ought to have gone to court to challenge the process. If he was sure that he could have won or that immoral measures came into the success or triumph of Tinubu. But he didn’t do that. So, merely mouthing all over the place condemning Tinubu on the baseless allegation that people were bought, how does he hope to prove that? And how does that remedy his loss? As for Babachir Lawal, I feel very sad about him. We were in the same cabinet together. He told me that it was Tinubu who recommended him for appointment as Secretary to the Government. Before that appointment, who knew Babachir Lawal? You don’t bite the fingers that feed you. So, his fight against Tinubu because of the purported Muslim ticket was unnecessary. If they had picked him instead of Kashim Shettima, could he have delivered the votes that Shetima delivered? In his state, he is a minority. In the North, generally, he is also minority. This is an advantage that Shetima had over him. Babachir was expecting that because of the friendship he had built over the years with Tinubu, automatically he would pick him as a Christian cadet. But Tinubu was strategic in choosing the people who could deliver votes. That was what was important at that stage, not religion. So, Shetima, number one, was a Borno person. He was also a former governor and had influence in the North-East region of Nigeria. Again, the majority Muslim North would still prefer a Muslim who could represent their interests, I mean, perceptibly. So, what would it have paid either Tinubu or even Babachir if they had picked him and he lost the election? Recall that the presidential candidate of the PDP (Atiku Abubakar) is a Muslim from the North. So, if you are not having a presidential candidate from the North and all that you could get from the North is a vice presidential candidate, should you not go to the majority force in the North to pick a candidate who could be seen as representing their interest in the North? It’s bullshit. .
With two years left in his four-year mandate, do you see Tinubu winning his 2027 re-election campaign?
I think Tinubu has 75 per cent hope of succeeding in 2027 and I’m being realistic. I mean, I’m not a vague person. I’m not somebody who engages in just talking for the fun of it. Let me tell you, the only thing that Tinubu did which affected people’s thinking about him is the removal of fuel subsidy. But remember that the three foremost presidential candidates at that time stated that they would have done the same thing. But if you see the number of politicians from various political parties crossing over to APC now, not just from PDP but also from Labour interestingly, you will know that the chances of Tinubu remain bright. That is one. Number two, key projects that Tinubu has introduced would earn a lot of support for me. There is this NELFUND project where people who never had hope of getting money to finance their education benefit from. You think they would want to kick the bucket of their benefactor? Of course not! They know that they have benefited from the Tinubu presidency. Again, a lot of funding is being made available for entrepreneurs, business people, market women and other small business owners. That has been undertaken not only by the Tinubu presidency but also by the First Lady of Nigeria who has been crossing rivers, sectors and regions of this country to lift women out of poverty and deprivation. Again, those people would feel that they have a benefactor in the Tinubu presidency. However, we know there will be a larger part of the population who will probably disagree going by this hardship that they are feeling and still felt. For instance, the hardship occasioned by petrol prices. It is reducing. I don’t have all the financial statistics but the signs are there that things would continue to reduce in terms of pricing. There is also the opening up of this country through road infrastructure. We’ve never had any project as beautiful, fantastic and beneficial as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which is about 700 kilometers at the stretch. Imagine how many communities that road would open up. Imagine the opportunities for investment, development and growth it would open up. There’s also the Lagos-Sokoto Expressway.
Some people will disagree with you. Are you aware there are speculations that the projects you mentioned were merely an inroad for this administration to siphon money?
Well, I don’t have any such evidence. I don’t have any such evidence. But what I know is that once those roads are accomplished, it will open up a lot of opportunities. One thing I know is that you don’t, because of the fear of people siphoning money, refuse to do infrastructure because infrastructure means growth, it means development. In my community in Saki, that Lagos-Sokoto Road will pass through my place. In fact, on that road I’m building a university there. The road is passing through the frontage of my ICT university. So, you think I would not appreciate what that means.
Are you ruling out a possible upset by the opposition in 2027?
Which opposition? Come to think of it, those who are capable of challenging Tinubu in 2027, their parties are already in tatters. Talk of PDP, Labour Party or which other party are you insinuating will spring a surprise to defeat the APC?
Many still believe Peter Obi will always be a threat. Are you saying Tinubu didn’t know this much?
Well, I don’t know. I mean Tinubu has not told me he feels threatened. I don’t know where you get your own fact that Peter Obi is still a threat. Obi had had the best of his time in 2023. That was his time. Look, even in Lagos, his candidates are pulling out of the party. His LP national chairman, they are not in good terms again. And that national chairman is a lawful, legal, valid chairman for the party. Are you even sure that Labour Party will give Peter Obi ticket for presidential election in 2023?
One can argue that. But he still has a fiŕm grip on his cult-like Obidient followers.
I don’t think so. The Obidient Movement is a nebulous term used for everybody in Labour. But even Labour is in tatters now. You cannot say that movement as of 2023 remains what it is now. Even if there are one million Nigerians there, it is still a movement. But that does not mean it will win the election. What’s important is to have a sizable population that can win elections.
You were one of over 109 APC NWC aspirants at the 2022 National Convention persuaded by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari to step down with a promise to refund your nomination fees. Is it true that the ruling party refused to refund, leading to a chairmanship aspirant dragging Ganduje and the APC to court?
Your question is interesting. If one was contesting an election and you are persuaded to withdraw from it, morality demands that you refund monies. But that was not done. I wanted to contest governorship election in 2019. I was illegally disqualified after I paid N20m. Again, I was interested in vying for the post of national secretary and paid N10m. Again, I was persuaded to withdraw. It is only fair that those monies should be refunded. I remember the then President Muhammadu Buhari had publicly instructed the party to withdraw these funds. But the then national chairman (Abdullahi Adamu) told me at that time that it was the responsibility of the states. They are telling the states to refund those monies. And the question I asked is this, is it the states we paid money to? What about states which are not governed by the APC? He didn’t have an answer. That was the former national chairman. But I have not taken the matter to court. I remain loyal.
Are you still thinking about dragging the party to court?
No, I will not. There is no basis. I am hoping to be able to get the ticket of the party to contest the governorship election in Oyo State. So, there would not be any basis for me to drag the party to court.
Now that you mentioned Oyo politics, there are rumours that Ganduje favours the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, for the governorship ticket. Have you thought of that?
With due respect to Adelabu, he is my junior brother and we have a very good relationship. But on two occasions in 2019, he was imposed after I was disqualified for him to get the ticket. He lost the election. In 2023, when he didn’t get the ticket of the party, he went to another party to contest election and again lost. I am not a soothsayer, but I know that with agitations for rotation in Oyo State by party elements and even people outside Ibadan, there will be a change. If, for instance, Adelabu is imposed again, because he is from Ibadan, and the PDP picks somebody from outside Ibadan, APC would be in big trouble. Other people outside Ibadan want a sense of belonging. So, I just pray that the party would take the necessary good counsel and do what is right because in 2019, when he was imposed, a lot of our party men worked for Seyi Makinde of the PDP to win the election. Even the then governor lost the senatorial election. You can imagine a sitting governor losing such an important election. It was that bad. Maybe that’s why they say the man is just an accidental governor. He’s just been lucky all the time.
