I Know How To Cage Alao-Akala, Says Teslim Folarin

Former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, tells Sunday Punch's Olufemi Atoyebi in this interview that despite the departure of those aggrieved with his emergence as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State to other parties, the PDP will still win in 2015.

How will you describe what is going on in Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party?

There is nothing going on that is unusual in the PDP. The party is in great shape in the state and we are on the right path.

But you are aware that some members left the party after the party’s primary elections. Is that not something to worry about?

There is nothing wrong in what those people have done. There is freedom of movement. Thus, those who left have the right to move on. It is not the first time such things will happen in politics and it will not be the last time. Movement of members among political parties is not limited to the PDP alone. We have people joining the party from the All Progressives Congress and the rest. We are in the season of movement from one party to the other.

For us, we are in great shape because we now know who are with us. The worst thing in politics is to have enemies throwing stones within but when they are outside the fence, we will know how to tackle them. We are delighted and we look forward to the battle ahead.

On the day you emerged as the party’s governorship candidate, a former governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, walked out of the party to join the Labour Party. On Monday, Seyi Makinde also joined the Social Democratic Party. Are you comfortable with big players leaving the party at this period?

I don’t know what you mean by big players. Alao-Akala, yes he is a big player in Oyo State politics, but what is the parameter for ascribing the tag ‘big player’ to Seyi Makinde. Is it that he had contested before or what is his pedigree?

Considering his financial contribution to the party, people say you cannot strike out his name from the list of people with big influence in PDP.

Are you saying that everything in politics is for sale? He is not the only one that has contributed to the party; everybody has done the same. The media have the responsibility to put things in proper context. Alao-Akala is a big player but we have a strategy to cage him. With all due respect, how many people have followed him in Ogbomoso? PDP still has its federal lawmakers in the area; Mulikat Akande-Adeola is the House of Representatives’ Majority Leader, she is still with us; Segun Odebunmi is there; Saka Balogun is still in PDP; Senator Ayo Adeseun is still with us. These are big players and we are comfortable with those who are with us.

The city of Ibadan witnessed a large crowd that followed Makinde when he declared as a governorship candidate. Will you be comfortable losing that number?

Anybody with ₦2m can get the kind of crowd you are talking about. What we are talking about is people of substance, not crowd. Let me not talk too much about individuals. We are just okay in Oyo PDP. It is sad they have gone and I wish them good luck.

There are controversies surrounding the primary election that produced you as the governorship candidate. One of them is a ruling in an Abuja High Court sitting, which nullified the exercise. What is you reaction to this?

What sort of politician would generate delegates’ list in all the 33 councils in Oyo State and present it to a court as the authentic list?

But a judge gave a ruling which spelt out the list of delegates to be used but the PDP set it aside and settled for statutory delegates. Is this right?

Parties are at liberty to decide the delegates they want to use. They can combine ad hoc and the statutory or use what they want. PDP made a decision and we played by the rule.

In clear terms, did Oyo PDP act outside the rule it set to guide primary elections?

The party decides what it wants in an election like this. You cannot go to court and generate a list for the primary. If the National Working Committee of the party could no longer function, then, will the court take over its duty in a democratic setting? That is not possible. It doesn’t make sense to me. I think the party did the right thing.

Two PDP ward congresses were held in the state with no results. Why was it difficult or impossible to conduct a credible ward congress in the state?

There were results but some people were trying to be funny. During the first ward congress, some big people went to the wards to snatch result sheets. The second one was okay but some people went to court because they have money to generate their own list. They got the court to dabble into the work of the National Working Committee. At least, it is all in the past now. We demonstrated internal democracy in PDP, instead of selecting or imposing candidates.

People have linked you with Senate President David Mark, claiming that he imposed you on the state PDP. How true is this?

I worked with Mark for eight years when I was in the Senate. He is a big boss but he did not come to Ibadan to organise the primary elections. I have friends and he is someone who is very honest with me. He is a big brother. The last time we met, he told me that we must ensure we win back Oyo State. People have friends and I will not deny Mark.

What did he do to ensure you emerged ahead of Alao-Akala and others?

Don’t think he has the powers to do the works of the NWC. He is busy in his state because he is also contesting.

Would it have meant anything to him, if you had lost out?

Yes, he would have been disappointed. I did not come to the state with a big stick to ensure I emerged; after all, I lost out the last time.

Is it true that you hijacked the party’s structure in the state by planting your people in strategic positions?

I think that is what a good politician should do. That is what politics is all about.

Could it mean that you have been nursing this ambition for the past two or three years?

I have nursed it for four years.

Are you fulfilled now?

Not yet until I become the governor of this state. I want to see if I can make a difference. I lived abroad and got used to a standard. When you come back home, it is normal to see if you can use your experience to make a difference. We want to help our people.

Have you put into consideration the complex nature of the state?

That is the point I am making. Oyo State is an old state with entrenched interests. These interests are used to do things in certain ways. We will respect them, but then, we will bring in our own idea on how to make things work. You cannot use old idea to solve new challenges.

You have been out of the centre of political activities for about four years, how confident are you to make a return and contest against Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Alao-Akala?

We are very confident. Otherwise, we will not be in this race. We have different styles and approach to politics. Some candidates make so much noise but let us wait and see the result.

In the last three and a half years, we have been talking to our people to know the challenges facing them. When we roll out our manifesto, I am certain that our people will appreciate how much we care for them.

Click here to READ FORMER GOVERNOR ADEBAYO ALAO-AKALA'S REPLY

Credit: Sunday Punch