We need someone like Tinubu to lead Nigeria as from 2023………Hon Makinde
Hon Rotimi Makinde was a member of the National Assembly in the 7th Assembly. He represented Ife Federal constituency, Osun State. Before his foray into politics, he worked as an accountant with Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). He was also a prominent actor in Nollywood. Recently, he joined other top politicians in the Southwest to form SWAGA, a group promoting the presidential ambition of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. In this interview with the Editor-in-Chief AYO FADIMU, he speaks on why he is supporting Tinubu, his foray into politics and other issues. Excerpts…..
How well do you know Asiwaju Tinubu ?
Well to a certain extent I know Asiwaju (Tnubu) very well and I am not too young in politics not to know a lot about Asiwaju. I might not have worked with him directly but I know Asiwaju as somebody that represent progressive and I know his role in politics in Southwest and he is credible to the best of my knowledge. I know him as somebody who is capable at this material time and we need a person like him who believes in the unity of Nigeria and he has demonstrated that from his sojourn in politics as Lagos State governor where he appointed non –indigenes as commissioner, that tells he is not just thinking about Nigeria now, he has been thinking about it for long.
You said you are SWAGA means Southwest Agenda for Asiwaju, Is that right?.
Correct, I am one of the very few who thinks it right to set up SWAGA and the reason is we feel as a region, Yoruba as a Nation, we should come together and confront future politics of 2023 in a more united manner, meaning we have Ogun, Lagos, Oyo Osun, Ondo and Ekiti to be seen rallying round so that what we lost in Awolowo, what we failed to gain, what we lost in MKO Abiola and what we didn’t gain in Abiola we will not lose it in working disunitedly, this not to say he is the most credible but this is a situation when we need widely accepted somebody and we are not loosing focus that other side will alo develop interest in the Igbos or Hausas but we need to push someone who can confront the political situation, someone who can proudly deliver and at least he is doing it in his state and to certain extent, in his geopolitical zone someone who have well wishers and whose friendship cut across Nigeria, and somebody to will be very difficult for anybody to rubbish. We zeroed our search on 1,2,3,or 4 people and beforenarrow it down on Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. He is not the one funding us, its voluntary.
But some people argue that is it a if the whole region is putting their egg in one basket or don’t you envisage other aspirants coming out from that same region?
We recognize that but, you cannot tell me the disadvantage of unity. Once you are united in life, you stand a better chance. Of what benefit is for somebody to come from Ife, somebody comes from Osogbo, and somebody comes from Abeokuta here and there? I think it would be unfair, why don’t we checkmate each other and come forward with one person and rally round? that’s the way it should be and that is an ideal way when you know you are not just going to be handpicked, whoever that emerges in Southwest, let’s not forget that person will still be subjected to other competition or other people from other region.
As a follow up question to that one, you as a member of APC, a leader of APC in Osun State, and assuming Asiwaju did not get the ticket in APC but a fellow Yoruba man gets the ticket, will you support the other man?
Well am not in politics because of just my tribe, and I believe in my party, if they drop Asiwaju and pick someone else, I pray the process is very fair and transparent but if it’s nepotism, I don’t see myself supporting such.
Let’s go to Hon Rotimi Makinde a former member of federal house of Representatives, Ife federal constituency are you still interested in going to Abuja (House of Representatives)?
Well I’m still a politician and I think I’m still unfulfilled in giving back to the society, but my party and my people are the deciding factors but I want to tell you I have the experience and the wherewithal and the willingness at all times to represent my people because I feel and I believe I was born because of them.
What made you think that your people can elect you again?
Well, my pedigree will speak volume.
What have you done before one or two things that are visible for everybody?
I was elected as a lawmaker and I did that to the best of my ability, as at today, I stand to be corrected, I want to see an idea or somebody who has been so privilege like me who has moved as much motion and bill as a law maker.
How many motions and bills did you initiate or raise in the house sir?
Close to 25 sir, and I can mention one or two or three. If by now this country is considering the idea that our security(police) are been mandated to carry fire arm at all times, it was done by the likes of me who believe that it is only in this country that police run away from crime scene, I was the one that initiated a bill that it should be made mandatory for every police man in this country to carry fire arm at least any policeman that has spent 10years, to the best of my knowledge he must have attended lots of training and be guided and must be somebody that will be responsible enough, that is it.
The need to translate Nigeria National anthem into various indigenous language so that the message there in will sink to heart and the mind of our people was done by me.
The need to cut waiver for prison inmate to enjoy education even while serving was done by me and so many other like that.
Any one related to your constituency?
Yes you can see I’m a National Legislator l, I don’t have to think just about my constituency, the constitution will affect my constituency positively as a Lawmaker. However,I actually intervened in some situations through lawmaking that may better the life of my people. I intervened when the most modern market in Ife got burnt, I called NEMA to salvage the situation, when there was a kind of windstorm, I called the attention of the relevant agency to intervene.
I moved a motion that caught federal government attention to do a kind of interstate bridge and when you talk about direct impact on my people, I will tell you ,solely I facilitated through my intervention to complete schools in Ile-Ife not to talk of so many people I empowered, so many people I gave scholarship and so many participation I made in peoples’ life.
Now as a leader in APC or in Osun State, did you think this current problem will not rob APC the governance of Osun State in the forthcoming 2022 election?
You have to be precise which problem are you talking about.
The TOP versus Gov oyetola’s imbroglio that is currently going on, recently the minister came out to publicly declare as a member of The Osun progressives and categorically stated that Osun APC has factions and we are in the election year.
It is no longer a secret that there is problem between the leadership of Osun A. P. C namely the Governor and the former Governor which is polarizing and dividing and causing lot of unrest, I will describe it as unfortunate that may make or mar a party but not withstanding . I want to send appeal to the people concerned to go sheath their sword in the interest of the party. It is my wish and my prayer that we return the Governor back to back. I can’t but appeal to those who are aggrieved and especially those who are fanning embers of discord that they should think deeply about the consequences, the best thing is to work in unity. I have always been canvassing for peace, and I love peace and I believe if united, we are a party to beat anybody.
What is the position APC in Ife federal constituency?
APC Ife federal constituency to the best of my knowledge are positioning themselves, work in unity and conduct a common election and I pray for our leaders they also consider the same unity, same spirit to build unity across a party in a way that we can approach the next election in unity.
Did you think that you can win PDP the current occupant of Ife federal constituency seat in Abuja in 2023?
I think a day is always too long in politics, I don’t want to speak about the present honourable but the community will decide on who they think best and what will work for both parts is our Pedigree, our profile, our party and how committed we are ,when we get to the bridge we will cross it.
