Zoning is in the heart of the Ondo state electorate – Pastor Omotehinse, Ilaje PDP Chairman.
-Steve Ovirih.
Pastor Gabriel Oladipupo Omotehinse was our guest on thepolity online TV talkshow, “the polity roundtable.” In this interview, the Chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo south senatorial district said until committed Christians take over the reign of leadership , the country might not reach its supernatural potential. He also bared his mind , among other issues, on the brand of opposition PDP is in the present dispensation.
Excerpts:
The Polity.net: How will you assess PDP since it has returned to the opposition in Nigeria?
Pastor Omotehinse: Well, to God be the glory. I will want to say People’s Democratic party (PDP) is a party which foundation is well laid and if the structure is alright, not erected on quick sand, the building can never be shaken. Of course, the situation of things might be pushing the party here and there, yet the party is well rooted and has a solid foundation.
Thepolity.net : Will you say your party has faired well as an opposition party? Has your party given the polity a creditable opposition so far?
Pastor Omotehinse: No doubt! PDP has done well as an opposition party in Nigeria. See let me tell you, a good opposition is not an opposition that wants the ruling party to crumble and fail, noo! Far from it. Because if the ruling party crumbles, it is the polity, the nation state that crumbles. We don’t run our own opposition combatively, we don’t make loud noise with petty criticism. We offer constructive criticism where and when it is needed. Go and find out in Britain and America, the opposition party doesn’t indulge in mere rabble rousing noise making, they gently nudge the conscience of the ruling party to rule right and govern in fairness; that has been our template since we have returned to the opposition in Nigeria. We are not in the opposition so as to oppose every step of government; we don’t intend to create problem, rather we seek to jointly get solutions to the myriad of problems facing the nation. Our opposition is the type that will look into government policy critically , examine its pros and cons and offer opinion from the perspective of how it can benefit the greater majority of our people.
Thepolity.net : Now, let’s zero in on Ondo state PDP; is the party in order in Ondo state? There have been pockets of self adoption and endorsement here and there. Will your party’s numerous candidates support a concensus candidate agenda?
Pastor Omotehinse: Thank you Steve. I want to say without being equivocal that PDP in Ondo state is very much in order. Regardless of the diversion here and there, we are very much in order. We know how to control ourselves ; we know how to relate and call everyone to order . We don’t take anything to the extreme. For now, everybody is indulging in the adoption/ endorsement spree , but as long as it doesn’t come from the national body, which responsibility it is to conduct a primary from where a candidate emerges, whatever is going on now is not binding on anyone. Yes, there is adoption here and there but such gesture is mere attempt to play politics , which is expected at this time in the polity. When the appropriate body conducts a free and fair primary, I am quite sure that the outcome will be a welcome development to the rank and file of the party in Ondo state. However, if it’s not fairly conducted, I don’t know what may happen because anyone who feels cheated may respond in a way that could affect the goodwill of the party, that nothwithstanding , we know how to effect order in our party. PDP , unlike other partes, is always one big and cohesive family.
Thepolity.net : So , the self adoption /endorsements by your party’s candidates is more or less a PR stunt?
Pastor Omotehinse : That is exactly what it is. To us stakeholders, we have been extremely very careful not to be drawn into any candidate adoption skit or game plan because as father to the candidates , we are carefully playing the father role so that one candidate doesn’t feel uncomfortable that ahead of the PDP primaries, we have already taken side with one of the candidates. As the local government party chairman in Ilaje, that is my noble stand.
Thepolity.net: What’s your take on zoning as the Ondo Guber poll approaches? Do you think zoning is the ace up the party’s sleeve that could help resolve the candidature challenge?
Pastor Omotehinse : You have asked an interesting question. You see, zoning is one topic that Ondo state Politicians like to shy away from and no matter how much they shy away from the issue, zoning is in the heart of the Ondo state electorate. If you look at the state from 1999 till date, even right from the era of Baba Ajasin, what had worked for Ondo state is the zoning formula. Governorship candidacy always move clockwise from the North to the central and to the south in that flexible, not rigid order. The other time an incumbent wanted to impose a central’ candidate on the electorate , the process failed as the electorate went ahead to vote a Northern district candidate , who became the state Governor. So, if you look at the unwritten formula of electing governors in Ondo state, it’s the turn of the South for the top job . When a party refuses to take this all important zoning signal seriously, the party that is smart enough to heed the call always wins the election.
[5/22, 4:39 PM] Steve Ovi: Thepolity.net :What’s the level of preparedness of Ilaje Local Government for the Ondo Guber poll?
Pastor Omotehinse : Wow! That’s a nice one. You see, ever since I have become the Chairman of PDP in Ilaje Local Government Area, my dream has always been to become the father of a Governor. The opportunity was lost in 2016 when a candidate from the central was imposed on us and because of that imposition , the ticket could not fly, wasting the party’s precious opportunity to clinch the victory in that poll . This time round, Ilaje is ready to present a candidate that will have a statewide appeal and will win the guber poll fair and square. It’s interesting to note that Ilaje LG has the highest number of candidates gunning for the party’s ticket in the forthcoming primary; the zone that has the highest number of candidates always wins the party’s tickets . The structure of the PDP in Ilaje LGA is rock solid and the leadership of the party in Ilaje plays patriarchal role to all the candidates without supporting any particular candidate as that will be against the ideal of equity and fairness. Our party is on ground across Ilaje communities and we hold meeting regularly; the level of our preparedness for the Governorship election is quite commendable.
Thepolity.net : You are a Pastor, a steadfast church leader and a PDP stakeholder; how do you cope in the midst of all these? Do Christianity and politics mix?
Pastor Omotehinse : Thank you very much. As a matter of fact, the nation will not reach her supernatural potential until committed Christians assume the rein of leadership. The G.O of my church, Winners Chapel, Pastor Oyedepo, relying on divine leading, charged christians to go into politics to strive and take charge of political leadership of this country so as to give example of how virtuous and righteous leadership exalts a nation. Yes, I am a Christian, a born again Christian , who is frank , outright and I am I am into politics. I am not a politician who sides with wrong because of stomach. I am not a “stomach infrastructure politician!” I am a career school administrator who retired meritoriously after a 35 year stint of unblemished record in public service. So, I never went into politics as a major career. Before I became a born again Christian, I was a moralist, a very strong one for that matter; so I had learnt how to be frank and call a spade by its name long time ago. As far as I am concerned, I don’t know how to queue behind injustice. I play politics with clear conscience, so it doesn’t affect my Christian life in anyway. If we all allege that politics is a dirty game and we leave it in the hands of “dirty gamers” we will all end up dirty in the polity. So christians who are successful in their chosen career, who have a firm resolve not to be sullied by lucre that can affect their relationship with Almighty God are encouraged to come out and contribute to nation building. We owe this generation good leadership by all means.
Thepolity.net : Thank you very much for being our guest on the programme “the polity roundtable.”
Pastor Omoehinse : It’s my pleasure to come round Steve. I appreciate the invite. Good job.
