In this interview with Eniola Akinkuotu, Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, speaks about the tussle for the leadership of Yoruba race and other issues:
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has been described as the leader of the Yoruba and the successor of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Being a close associate of Awolowo, do you share this view?
That is part of the nonsense being peddled by the media. How can Tinubu be the leader of the Yoruba race? The background of Awolowo’s leadership was never because he was in government. It was his integrity and track record. Now, they are calling Tinubu the leader because he won an election. Is that the qualification for Yoruba leadership? There is no way you can compare Tinubu with Awolowo and I regard it as an insult. What is the knowledge of Tinubu? How many books has he published? Awolowo propounded theories and established philosophies such that a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Harold Wilson, said Awolowo was qualified to rule America. Even though Awolowo was the leader of the opposition, the then President, Shehu Shagari, honoured him with the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic title despite the fact that the title is preserved only for Heads of State. That shows you the pedigree of Awolowo. What of the background of Awolowo? Can we say the same of Tinubu? Comparing Awolowo to Tinubu is bringing Yoruba leadership to the ground. When did Tinubu come into prominence? Awolowo fought colonialism for years. But because Tinubu just won an election, those he has put in positions are now shouting ‘leader’. All those calling Tinubu Yoruba leader are his creations. They are Tinubu apologists. They are the ones he made governors and appointed commissioners. No prominent, self-respecting Yoruba man will accept Tinubu as a leader. How can Tinubu be a leader in a country where Prof. Wole Soyinka and others are? We have bigger characters in Yoruba land.
But who is the Yoruba leader?
That is not a question for now. Tinubu does not even qualify for that position. Go and look at all those who have been branded Yoruba leader and look at their pedigree and antecedents. There is no yardstick for quality today. How many Yoruba politicians who lived during the First Republic accept Tinubu as a leader? Is he a leader? Yesterday, he was extolling Babatunde Fashola but now he says Fashola must be crucified. Yesterday, he was extolling Kayode Fayemi but now Fayemi must be crucified. Whoever disagrees with him must be crucified. The yardstick of quality has gone to blazes
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo even said Awolowo was never the leader of the Yoruba but was only elected leader by his supporters.
Luckily, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo is alive, so you can approach him to confirm whether this is true or not. But let me tell you something. Chief Awolowo was not in government when he was elected Yoruba leader. It was during the military era. The military summoned all leaders in Yoruba land not long after Awolowo was released from detention. There were no political parties at the time and all Yoruba leaders including Adisa Akinloye and TOS Benson were at the meeting and no one ever questioned the leadership of Awolowo even though they may disagree politically. Unfortunately, I blame the media for making Obasanjo what he is today.
What has Obasanjo done to make himself a judge over everybody? He behaves and talks as if Nigerian never existed until he became the President. Of all the colonial leaders who contributed to the struggle, have you heard Obasanjo say anything positive about them? Have you heard Obasanjo speak well of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello or anyone? Has he ever praised them for anything? These were nationalist leaders. And even when Obasanjo became President, none of his successors or predecessors were good in his eyes. He is the only saint. He is a tragedy to the Yoruba people and this is not a laughing matter. All he does is condemn people but he has nothing to show for his more than eight years in office.
Here is a man who came to build three refineries when he was in government for three years as a military officer but when he returned as a civilian President, he could not build a single refinery and couldn’t repair the existing ones and he is talking. He was the Minister of Petroleum for eight years. He alone held the portfolio. He was a man who former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar said was bankrupt before he became President. Atiku said it was himself and Chief Oyewole Fasawe that prevented Obasanjo from declaring bankruptcy by putting N200,000 into his account. He has not refuted these claims but he is one of the richest men in Nigeria today and yet he accuses people of corruption.
Do you think President Muhammadu Buhari should probe Obasanjo?
Yes. If Buhari is sincere, there should not be any selective probe. Will it be fair to say that corruption started under Jonathan’s regime? Was it not Ibrahim Babangida that started a dedicated account which Sani Abacha later probed and led to the Okigbo inquiry? Should all these be discarded? What of the Haliburton inquiry that involved Obasanjo? What of Abdulsalami Abubakar? I am not saying that everybody should be probed but everything must be fair.
There have been allegations that Buhari may marginalise Yoruba going by the appointments he has made so far
For me, it is too early to judge Buhari. I don’t want to rush him. He hasn’t even spent 100 days in office and he has four years to perform. I am expecting him to use his four years to prove wrong those of us who did not approve of his election because I don’t want him to fail as this will not be good for Nigeria. I want him to prove us wrong by showing us that he is a changed man. I know him as a dictator, a tribalist and a religious bigot. Let him prove me wrong and I will accept him as a true leader. Let him rectify all that is wrong.
Credits: Punch