INTERVIEW: APC Will Reclaim Oyo, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Will Win Presidency — ‘Bimbo Kolade, Ex-Ajimobi’s Aide

INTERVIEW: APC Will Reclaim Oyo, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Will Win Presidency — ‘Bimbo Kolade, Ex-Ajimobi’s Aide.

‘Bimbo Kolade is a grassroots politician. The former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters, in Oyo State, and 2023 Oyo central Senatorial Aspirant, Kolade hails from Fiditi in Afijio Local Government Area(LGA) of the State. He is the federal commissioner representing Oyo State under the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission in Abuja.

In an exclusive interview with Africano Trumpeters, conducted by Monsuru Adeyemo, the staunch supporter of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential bid and 2nd Vice President of the Nigerian Institute of Building, Kolade boasted that his party, the All Progressives Congress(APC) will reclaim Oyo-State state from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) “Jagaban” will win presidency. Though, he frowned at how APC leadership managed its last party congresses and primaries but he suggested what APC needs to do, to bring all its gladiators on board, harmoniously and record landslide victory.

Can We Meet You?

My name is Bimbo Kolade. I’m a federal commissioner representing Oyo-State in Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, and Oyo Central Senatorial aspirant in the recently conducted All Progressives Congress APC primaries, ahead of 2023 general elections.

Okay. Sir, as the federal commissioner representing Oyo State in the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission in Abuja, please, can you, briefly, tell us functions of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the achievements of the Commission so far?

The main function of the commission is to monitor all agencies that generate revenues for the government. Thereafter, we equally see to monthly distributions of the accrued revenues(money) to all the three tiers of government. We advise the Federation- Federal, State and Local Governments on issues that have to do with fiscal matters. We suggest things that can make government to generate more fund. As President Muhammad Buhari said during our inauguration that we must think of what we can do to build a bigger cake, for the nation.

Then, you’re a leading senatorial aspirant from Oyo Central, but after the primary elections, you dragged your party, APC to court. Meanwhile, you’ve withdrawn the lawsuit, please, what can you say about the primary exercise and why did you withdraw the case instituted against your party?

Then it’s unfortunate that things happened the way it happened. Of course, I went to court to challenge the processes and procedures through which the primary exercise was conducted, then. What happened is a serious issue to be studied by political scientists in the history of internal democracy. We said we have party primaries but up till this moment, candidates’ lists keep changing. Recently, somebody was still telling me that how would federal lawmakers, about 400 of them in number, went ahead and made a law that eventually shot them at the leg. The new electoral acts shot them out of the processes. That’s the funny part of it because the absence of statutory delegates worsened the situation. New electoral act came in at appropriate time. Though, with many booby traps, so, by the time of it’s implementation, the people that, ordinarily, suppose to be statutory delegates, were no longer there. There are a lot of confusions. In all these, the delegates’ lists keep changing unlike before that we would have known the elected and statutory delegates, before going for the primaries.

Basically, I approached court when I discovered that the petition that I wrote to the party leadership was not attended to. It’s was a big surprise to me. Appeal panel led by Mr. Ademola Adewole Adegoroye, the present minister of state for transportation, came to Oyo state. We submitted our petition to the committee. We did everything. But by the time that appeal report would come out at national Secretariat, there was nothing to show it that we even wrote anything to the “appeal”. Then, the court became the next option. We were in the court and processes were going on. We spent about three to four months in court. So, we were already expecting full hearings to commence but along the line, I decided to stop. I mean, to withdraw from court processes.

Let me make this very clear. Emphatically, nobody, no any reconciliation committee or any individual that appealed to me to withdraw the legal cases. I’ve seen some reports that were saying otherwise and many claiming the glory.

Though, to set the record straight, at a point in time, my friend, a very dear one that I have respect for, Hon. Kehinde Subar who is a former Majority leader of Oyo House of Assembly called me and said that,”My friend, I want to discuss a matter with you. Please, whatever it’s, I want you to meet with Hon.Yunus Akintunde

Yes, I and Hon. Yunus Akintunde, who has been declared as party’s candidate, met twice but during the two meetings, no concrete discussion or agreement was reached.

Also, my very good brother and friend, Sen. Fatai Buhari said,”Bimbo, had I known that you’re heading to court, I would have prevented you from going to court.

Glory be to God that people have already been saying it.”We know him. He’s the fear of God.

Many are saying,”he’s a pastor.

Fine, all well and Good, I took the decision to withdraw this matter from court based on what I believe that God wants me to do. And also, for the sake of the larger interests of our great party, APC. Because, it was actually becoming obvious that at the end of the day, what happened in Rivers state may happen here in Oyo Central Senatorial District. The situation that might have made the party to have no candidate to field in the district.

This is my third term of contesting for Oyo Senatorial District’s seat. My fist time of contesting for a position in the National Assembly was early before 2007, when I was seeking to represent Oyo Federal Constituency, in the House of Representatives. In 2015 I contested again to represent Oyo Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly. In 2019, I re-contested and this time around, I also, contested again, to seek Oyo Central Senatorial seat.

Though, it’s painful but I’m happy that my decision to withdraw the lawsuit has been celebrated by the party leadership and our gubernatorial candidate in the state, Sen. Teslim Folarin

Obviously, I was denied of the ticket, again. But let it also go into records, that again, Kolade has succumbed to party’s supremacy. Yoruba adage says that “Amodun Kojina Ki Enin Ma Mun Ebu Isu Je”. Whatever it is, our antecedents should be well taken note of…. I know that at every electioneering period, people will always come with aspirations to take one position or the other but the pedigree of progressives is to reckon with those that have been making sacrifices for the party, in the past, and give them proper considerations to represent the party.

What are your pieces of advice for APC leadership in Oyo-State?

Thank you very much. To me, success of the party should be germane and paramount to everybody. We really need to assure the party faithful, and to reaffirm their trust, so, every will be happy to work for the victory of the party and feel convinced that they will not labour in vain. Party members are demoralized and they’re feeling insecure. The party leadership needs to sort out the matters of trust issue and genuinely reconcile the aggrieved members.

I want to once again, appeal, to our people, generally, to passionately work for the victory of the party. Meanwhile, the candidates should also know that it’s not the matters of winners take all. So, they should carry all everybody, along, now and later.

What can you say about the administration of President Muhammad Buhari?

Honestly, today, people might have reservations but Yoruba adage says,”Tita Riro La Nkola”. Indeed, President Buhari’s administration has really done well by bringing things back to track. I believe that at the end of the day, when we start seeing the positive results, people will be very happy. President Buhari has put us on the true path of victory.

For examples, look at the area of infrastructures, PMB has greatly done well in that areas and likewise, in other sectors. So, with that, the incoming administration will have a good pedestal to ride upon. At the end of the tunnel, light will definitely shine. By His Grace, Nigeria will overcome her travails.

What can you say about the present administration in Oyo-State?

The past administration of late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, tremendously, built on peace and security. Things have really degenerated to pre-Ajimobi era in Oyo-State. Violence here and there. There are rising crime waves and insecurity also looms large. Indeed, things are falling back.

Government must be responsible and responsive. People must be protected and they must be free to walk safely, within the state.

The past administration did so well on security of life and properties, and also, many legacy projects were commissioned.

Clearly, this present administration has failed the good people of Oyo-State. They can no longer wait to experience the progressive government, come 2023.

You’re a committed APC Chieftain and notable philanthropist, now that your party has refused to give you the senatorial ticket, will you still continue supporting your party, and also, will you continue your philanthropic activities?

Bygone is bygone. I’m fully in support of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next Nigerian helmsman, Sen. Teslim Folarin as the next governor of Oyo-State and I’m also supporting all our party’s candidates at all strata.

Secondly, there’s this saying,”Enikeni Ti lwo Nipa Lati Se Iranlowo Fun Ohun Nan Nin Eninkeji Re Tooju Reee”. On this premise, I remain a man of the people and I will always do my best to support others.  That’s what God wants and we must always obey His commands.

What can you say about presidential ambition of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu?

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the most serious, the most qualified and the most competent candidate. His track records are already speaking for him. He’s the only one that has capacity to perform, and that’s why no one has ever been able to attack his capacity.

Your messages for Nigerians, Good people of Oyo-State and APC faithful?

Firstly, I appreciate people’s love for me and I appreciate their supports. Even, those that I don’t know directly. Thank you all. With or without position, I remain a man of the people. I appreciate everyone, and to all my supporters, don’t let’s feel disappointed. Let’s join hands to work for the victory of our party. Better days are ahead.

And to the good people of Oyo-State, in general, I know that your yearning is for the return of progressive government. Please, continue supporting us. We will not disappoint you.

Our nation, Nigeria, will overcome her challenges…..I strongly believe in Nigeria. Let’s all join hands to make it a more great country and a better place to live. Let’s all believe in Nigerian project. Better days are ahead. With Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we will soon see the Nigeria of our dream. God bless us all. God bless Nigeria. Thank you.