INTERVIEW: Oyo APC Chieftain, Barr Akeem Agbaje Speaks on Party’s Comeback in 2027

•…Legal Luminary Faults Makinde’s Priorities, Advocates for Local Govt Autonomy

Barr. Akeem Agbaje is a legal practitioner, prolific investor, gubernatorial aspirant and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.

Barr. Agbaje hails from the noble family of Chief Agbaje Salami L’Ayeye and the family of first.

Here is a radio interview (Agbami Oselu) granted by the legal luminary and monitored by this newspaper, Africano Trumpeters, on Fresh FM, Ibadan, on Sunday anchored by the ace broadcaster Abolade Salami.

While fielding questions yesterday on the Agbami Oselu programme of Fresh FM, Barr. Akeem Agbaje has maintained that the court is the last hope of the common man.

While queried on how to end corruption in Nigeria, Agbaje maintained that ending corruption is possible, but it rests on leaders’ integrity, trustworthiness, and determination to serve people.

On the implementation of CONFAB-2024’s recommendation, Agbaje hinted that,”Its core resolution is to readopt the 1963 Constitution, which prioritises regionalism. For example, whatever the Southwest zone generates is ours, and we can spend it for development as we like without interference from the federal government.

“My view is that the constitution is not our problem but the type of leadership we practice. Some people, when they get to power, become obsessed with it and turn the people they are supposed to serve into their slaves. There’s a saying that ‘the problem is not in our laws but in ourselves.’. So, the ways we’re using laws are problems, not the law itself.

Agbaje continued,”If you look at it critically, most of the sitting governors do always see themselves as demigods. Even some local government chairmen behave as if they’re superior to others, so far as they’re the council helmsmen. So, simply put, these are the reasons there’s no accountability because no one can hold them accountable. Some of them even see themselves as emperors,’Kabi Ọ Osi’.

On assuring Nigerians of pro-people governance, Barr. Agbaje stated that,”President Bola Ahmed Tinubu knows his onions.” The legal practitioner cited subsidy removal, which he maintained blocked corruption perpetrated by ‘subsidy thieves.’.

Agbaje saluted people’s patriotism and resilience in the face of current economic challenges and urged the government to initiate robust palliative measures pending the time the APC-led administration’s pro-people policies start yielding lasting impacts. “Yes, to destroy is easy, but to build takes time and patience.

When asked how Oyo APC will reclaim the state come 2027, Agbaje maintained that,”We’re convinced that Oyo State loves us.” The presenter interjected, But your party lost in 2019 and 2023.” The illustrious son of Ibadan land responded that,”Yes, we lost due to internal wranglings and lack of internal democracy then.

Agbaje continued,”If we unite, by His Grace, we’ll reclaim Oyo State in 2027. A party out of government for four or eight years and serious about returning to power would have definitely gotten themselves right.

Agbaje hinted that many people, Muslims and Christians included, are looking towards having a Muslim governor after the tenure of Engr. Seyi Makinde, come 2027. “Irrespective of geopolitical zone, to me, any interested indigene of Oyo State who meets constitutional requirements is eligible to contest as Oyo State governor without discrimination against such a person either based on religion, race, gender, or ideology. So, it’s now left to such individuals how they can work towards becoming Oyo State Governor.

Responding to a question on forming a coalition to dislodge any ruling party, Agbaje stated that with or without a coalition, come 2027, but with unity of purpose, Oyo APC is fully capable of dislodging the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State.

Agbaje lamented that people are displeased with the PDP-led administration in the state.”If we must say the truth, PDP has failed Oyo State people. Yes, the state government has failed in all sectors of government. For example, infrastructure is complex, and the most important aspect of it is light. Look at the education sector too; schools are dilapidated, and the health system is also worsened.

Agbaje fumed over the hijacking of the local government’s constitutional roles by the Makinde-led administration. “Motor parks are built with billions of naira. So, all these show that PDP lacks capacity, and you can’t give what you don’t have. For example, how can the government be using diesel to power streetlights? It’s mandatory for the government to prioritise what will benefit people.

Agbaje commended the Makinde-led administration on the security of lives and properties in the state and urged the government to intensify efforts.

While commenting on party ideology,”To maintain that there’s party ideology, there must be party discipline. Conservatives are now in the progressive fold (APC), while progressives are also in the conservative fold (PDP). Also, in Nigeria, we’ve also evolved into politics of personality and politics of individualism. Now, everything has been submitted to the hands of governors, and everybody is now at the whims and caprices of the governors. Most of the governors do pocket party, forgetting that this is the institution that can guide them. So, if we’re talking about party ideology, I don’t think we’re really realistic about it.

Agbaje hinted that,”There’re genuine efforts on reconciliation. We’re out of government for more than six years now, and we’re coming to take over in 2027 and stop PDP mismanagement of our dear state.

On unhealthy rivalry in politics, Agbaje affirmed that,”Aspirants do intend to outsmart each other and drag party structures into the mud. On Oyo internal crises, he is optimistic.”Now, we are trying to have a common front and be very reasonable with our approaches.

“We’re conscious to put our best forward, and the habitual manipulators will still try to outsmart others, but the party has put mechanisms in place to check such.

Agbaje dispelled the insinuation that there is no rallying point in Oyo APC.”To me, the party chairman should be the party leader.

On continuity of policy, Agbaje hinted that,”In Lagos, they have established a system of continuity.

Agbaje faulted Makinde for prioritising upgrading Alakia, Ibadan airport while there are other more important issues of development. “In Oyo State, we have no airline. We have no substantial businesses that demand such. We have no tourism business. Most of the industries are in a comatose state, so what do we want to use to create a hub? No one can make an airport viable with that limited demand.

Agbaje also commented on local government autonomy.”Yes, I believe in local government autonomy. If the local governments are not in a comatose state and they have not been stifled, they will have the ability to spend their own federal government-allocated money without interference, and there will be development. For example, I reiterated that it is ridiculous for state government to be building motor parks.

“I believe fundamentally that local government must be allowed to operate independently, and I’m not paying lip service to that stand. Local governments have the capacity to deliver, and they should allow them to breathe,” Agbaje emphasised.

Barrister Akeem Agbaje, a legal luminary and illustrious son of Ibadan land, hailed from a family of many firsts: late Dr. Anthony Saka Agbaje, the first medical doctor of Ibadan origin; late Chief Abdul Mojeed Folarin Agbaje, the first lawyer of Ibadan origin; and late Hon. Justice Abdul Ganiyu Agbaje JSC, the first Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria of Ibadan origin.

Barr. Akeem is a progeny of the legendary Agbaje Salami L’Ayeye. The Great Agbaje Salami was an earlier Ibadan billionaire, first-generation Nigerian politician, influential statesman, and notable philanthropist who immensely contributed his own quota to the sociocultural, socioreligious, and sociopolitical advancements and progress of Ibadan Land and its environs.