Oshiomhole: Our Chairman Yilwatda Has Proven Leadership Experience

Adams Oshiomhole was the state’s governor before becoming the senator from Edo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly. He discusses a number of topics in this interview, including the great leadership abilities of Professor Nentawe Yilwatda and his rise to the position of National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Joy Anigogu brings

What are your thoughts on the appointment of Professor Nentawe Yilwatda as the new national chairman of the APC, considering that you were formerly its national chairman?

It seems really thrilling to me. I must first remind you, as a former labor leader, that forced labor is prohibited by Nigerian labor law. My very good friend, a former colleague, a former governor of Kano State, and later the chairman of the APC, was forced to step down for personal reasons. Moreover, a vacuum cannot exist. Additionally, due of the framework of our political system, I make an effort to be considerate of the sentiments of Nigerians and members of our party. It doesn’t matter if the chairman departs in other countries; the deputy chairman steps in. In actuality, that is the ideal form of government. However, since that position is only available in a specific region of the nation, you must make sure that if one chairman departs, the variety of the political leadership is maintained. You try to get someone from that side to take its place. In order to do that, a deputy must go above and above the call of duty when the substantive official is not there. The resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje, a former Kano State governor and chairman, created the vacancy. It was also crucial that the position be filled. If it isn’t filled right away, people would say that Borno State has both the national chairman of the party and the vice president. And it’s turning into a major problem before you know it. Therefore, I believe the party took the initiative to schedule an urgent meeting of the National Executive Council. “Look, we need to fill this position and conduct extensive behind-the-scenes consultation to say, okay, we must see the vacancy, who, where does it come from, and how do we ensure the balance, taking into account all the Nigerian geopolitical sensitivities,” he added. In actuality, however, people campaign before the ballots are cast in the finest of democracies. Among those campaigns are the ones you see on TV and the ones you never see. You viewed the result as a result. That unity, which results from everyone applauding and no one yelling, indicates that a thorough task must be completed. After that, the young man is ready for the position.

Is Yilwatda going to be a lapdog for President Tinubu, as some have indicated, or do you think he has the kind of mettle and backbone to handle the turbulence of Internal APC politics and the larger Nigerian political landscape?

That’s not accurate. I don’t even know if what you said about me was flattering. The point is that, without realizing it, the APC was starting to create the custom that a person must serve as a governor, even if they are not in office, before they can be elected chairman of the party. It so happened that the first founding chairman, who established a very strong foundation in extremely complicated circumstances, such as the fact that Bisi Akande, the former governor of Osun State, was a former governor, and that John Odigie Oyegun was a former governor for only two years when we held the first convention. After Oyegun’s four-year term, I also became a former governor, entered through a convention, and was elected chairman. Afterward, the party was superficial. Following my removal, another chairman was appointed as a caretaker from Yobe State, and even that one was a sitting governor. Following that, Abdullahi, the former governor, was forced to resign once more when President Tinubu took office, and Ganduje succeeded him. Therefore, it was crucial, in my opinion, even for the sake of appearances, to reassure party members that no position is exclusive to past governors. The selection of this individual, in my opinion, has effectively conveyed that point.

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Since you can’t get to know someone until you give them the car key, it’s too soon to tell how laid-back you are. A person’s appearance might be deceiving. I mean, if you look at me, I appear really little. How are you able to use the words you do for me? I can’t harass people. I am quite petite. My experience is distinct. I think the dude is creating his own special experience, though, to get right to the point. First, it is crucial that party members are informed that no position is designated for individuals who have held a certain role in the past. It is critical that each party member believes they have the capacity to serve as the party’s national chairman or general chief executive. In my opinion, there were only two or three weeks between the time the previous chairman resigned voluntarily and the time we had to appoint a new chairman to fill the void. Perhaps a week ago, he would have known that this was a possibility, but I doubt it. Perhaps for the first time, as the party’s top man, the president introduced himself as the national chairman of the party to remind everyone that the party is the one that creates the government. If you watch, I believe this was done on purpose.

He is currently seated next to the nation’s most prominent citizen. That’s a significant elevation, of course. You also need time to get used to that. A few minutes after that, he is requested to give a speech. In contrast to me, he obviously did not prepare for this election, so I had to campaign, convince those who would run against me, and so on. I have therefore, in a way, reconciled myself to the prospect of winning the election. That was absent from him. As if you were contacting me right now, I responded, “I hope it’s just a set-up,” when I noticed two persons present. I have no idea what it is that you want me to argue with these gentlemen. In my opinion, a national is a level-headed individual, as you agree. Additionally, someone with considerable patience is needed for the celebration. People should feel comfortable to speak with him like they would any other party leader, notwithstanding his lack of experience as a governor. It didn’t feel like a governor who was once in charge. It has its own benefits, in my opinion. I believe what I observed was his humility. Not a slack. Keep in mind that he is a professor. Hence, he has not only lectured but also tutored and mentored younger people, and in order to become a professor, he had to earn a PhD. His pedigree is on his side, therefore. He is therefore by no means a new leader. He is a distinguished scholar.