The Asiwaju Eruwaland, Chief Moses Folorunso Fagbohun, in this interview advises the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oyo State chapter to consider Mr. Seyi Makinde as the party’s standard bearer for 2015 governorship election. He also called for fielding of young candi­dates for other political slots in the state. Excerpts: As a leader and chief in Eruwa who is at the forefront of the development agenda of the area, how has the journey been?
No man is an island when you talk of politics and a tree does not make a forest. When you talk of Eruwa or Ibarapa politics, I can make mention of names that are very vital. People like Chief Wale Atanda (Alase) who is a pillar to reckon with, Alhaji Atanda, wale Opadeye, Prince Pade Babalola, Honourable Ramota Okemakinde and a host of others. The young ones, the women, old and young who have been giving us support, it is a participatory politics and that is where our success comes from. All votes count and there is no discrimination and that is why we have the teeming followers of PDP in the area.
With what you just said, do you see the party wining 2015 governorship election in the state? Nothing is impossible.
Is there anything on ground to give your party a chance as said? Number one, it is not always easy to dislodge a serving governor who performs. The party must be cohesive, you have to present a right candidate, you have to strategies very well. If all things are done properly, you will be surprised that there is going to be a huge success.
You said it is not easy to dislodge a serving governor who has performed, what is your assessment of governor Abiola Ajimobi?
I am not playing politics of destruction or hatred. What is wrong with our politics in Nigeria is destroying ourselves. You cannot say a governor has done nothing. As far as I am concerned, to an extent that Ajimobi can go, he has tried his best. But for me to say Ajimobi has done nothing, no, I am matured beyond that. What I want to say is that whoever comes after him should endeavor to do better. There are some things that Ajimobi did which others didn’t do. Enough is enough of playing politics of distraction and condemnation, that’s not politics. If you notice in America, Republicans and Democrats, when an American president stands up to talk, partisan politics apart, if he does well, there will be ovation from the two parties. That is what is called politics. The politics of progress, development, changes, the slogan is that you create, elevate and you actualize. The PDP has to put its house in order to ensure that things turn around.
As as an elder, what can you say about the choice of PDP candidate?
I know all the gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of PDP for 2015 elections. We are all friends and colleagues. A host of them have been in position of authority at one time or the other. But currently, I must confess, like nowadays globally, you don’t push the elderly people into executive power anymore. And that brings me to the point that if I am going to support anybody, Engineer Seyi Makinde in my own opinion should be considered as appropriate.
This, in the sense that the age is there, he is around 46 years. When Barack Obama became American president, he was just around 47. Clinton was under 50, George Bush was about 49, the Italian president today is about 38 years, David Cameron of Great Britain is within that range also. When you look at Makinde, he is a reserved fellow and a result oriented person, an engineer of repute for that mat­ter. Seyi Makinde cannot be the governor of the state and we have less quality roads or ones that will need attention within one or two years they were constructed. I overheard that when he was asked that if he contests and loses, he said, “yes I go back to my work.” Some who seek to be governor don’t have means of livelihood, they are only seeking power for money.
This is a young, hardworking and listening fellow. He is not erratic, that is the kind of person we want as governor. And psychologically, I think he is a man who will carry people along. This time around, to the youths in Oyo State, they prefer Seyi Makinde or nobody. And that is where things should go, I am not con­demning others, they are all my friends, colleagues.
Our former governor Chief Alao-Akala tried his best. Senator Rashidi Ladoja tried his best. It is time for change and we should change. If I can advise, I will prefer our leaders to put heads together and when I say our leaders I can mention Chief Yekini Adeojo, Chief Lekan Balogun, Dr Saka Balogun, Baba Ola Adigun Irawo. They should put heads together and put Seyi Makinde forward. He is young and articulate and can be advised to come for­ward to rule Oyo State. I have said it in the beginning that some aspirants are desper­ate. But Seyi Makinde is not desperate. He is poised to win to serve and not winning to serve himself. He wants to work to bring changes about. We don’t want praise singers as governor, we want a governor who will concentrate on governance and I can tell you, the way I see that young man, he is sellable. So, PDP should be careful, not to present a wrong candidate. You can see what happened in Osun. Performance speaks for itself. And I repeat it is difficult to dislodge a serving governor. Ajimobi has been trying his best as far as I am con­cerned and I will not condemn him. So if anybody wants to slut it out with him, he has to be better, work harder. So in es­sence, let us focus on Seyi Makinde. It is the like of him that other nations will use as presidential candidate.
Apart from the governorship candidate, would you still preach changes especially for the youths, for other political offices, come 2015 in PDP ?
There is room for changes no matter how good you are. Let me tell you, we have been having ministerial appointments in this state but just look at Jumoke Akin­jide’s case. She is a woman like a pillar, a pride to Oyo State as Minister of State for FCT. That lady is fantastic, she has repre­sented us well. I give kudos to her. Other members like in the House of Representa­tives, they are also trying their best. Like Honourable Muraina Ajimobi who is the chairman of petroleum upstream, he is an articulate learned and humble fellow, Hon­ourable Mulika Akandet, who is the house leader, and a host of them like that. They have tried their best, but there is always a room for change, yes always room for change. So for Oyo State, we are poised for change across the board. We need to change, let’s put the younger fellows there, those who can think on their own and could not be pushed around and who will be original in thinking. Creativity is good.

Oyo guber: Why PDP should consider Makinde, by Fagbohun