Prince Samuel Adegboyga Oyebola ‘Ologijo’ is a former leader in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before decamping to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and also a former House of Representatives aspirant of PDP.
Prince Oyebola is a financial expert attended the Greenwich University, London (UK) B.A (Hon) Politics 2008 – 2010 and London Metropolitan University 2000 – 2002 (Master of Arts-International Finance) among other educational institutions.
He is a professional member of the Association of International Accountants (AIA) (UK) 2005 and Fellow o0f the Society of International Accounting Technicians (UK) 2010, Associate: Institute of Financial Accountants (UK) 2010.
As a professional and a businessman, Prince Oyebola is a Principal Partner, S.A.O International Finance/Political Consultancy Services (UK) since 2013 and Chief Executive Officer, VOE Projects Nigeria Limited, Petroleum Product Marketing, Property Development, Importer & Exporter, Investment/Financial Consultancy, International Company Representative.
The London trained financial expert and political scientist is currently a leader in the APC, especially in Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) where he has been making impacts.
In this interview with Kunle Adelabu, the Publisher/Reporter –in – Chief, THE IMPACT newspaper bore his mind on his membership of APC so far, state of PDP, role of opposition party, performance of Sanwo – Olu’s administration and drafting of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu into the 2023 Presidential election. Excerpts:
THE IMPACT: You have been in APC for some years now, how would you describe the journey so far with the party?
Prince Ologijo: We decamped from the PDP into the APC in November 2017, that is about five years now. I came into the party with Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro and since we came in, I believe that our impact has been felt by the party. Take for instance, during the last general elections campaign, we have the opportunity of having our principal, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, incharge of the mobilization for the Presidential campaign and l was fortunate as well to be incharge of the Lagos East Senatorial District, especially in Ikorodu Division. We handled everything concerning transportation and mobilization of our people to Teslim Balogun Stadium and it was a very successful task. Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) actually commended us for that. The mobilization committee, under Sen. Obanikoro, throughout the state was well organized. Even members of the party commended us. Each of the LGAs has buses and we provided logistics as well.
Apart from that, I have been involved in so many party activities. Since I came into the party, I have been convincing our members in the PDP to join us in the progressives’ party because what they have been saying is that I should first join APC and after that I should share my experience with them for them to make their own decision. I invited all of them after seeing that this is truly a progressive party and they have joined en mass and they are all happy.
I have also been trying to mobilise people to register with our party during the ongoing registration process and made provision for photographers in all the wards to take the passport photographs for those that wanted to register but do not have passport photographs. I mobilised residents through a special committee that I formed to go to every nook and cranny of our wards and mobilise people for the registration.
At the leadership level, I have also been trying my best to make my impacts known and make the party work progressively.
THE IMPACT: Since your defection to the APC with others, there have been many others that have followed suit and right now, PDP seems to be empty, what do you think about this?
Prince Ologijo: Well, I am not surprised. The first thing that we have to realize is that when I was in the PDP, I anchored the Ikorodu Division of the party. I mean that I was the leader incharge of the division. I handled everything solely, both financially and otherwise. I can say anywhere boldly that I personally financed the party without getting anything from anybody. I left the party because there was no progress like what we have in APC where things are working and there are lots of developments. Before joining the party, I did serious political analysis because l am also a political analyst and I have a degree in politics and and as such, l should be able to know my left from the right in politics. If I can put a percentage on what is remaining after we left PDP, there are about 20%. When those remaining there saw the way I have been operating and the cooperation that I have been receiving from the party because I am a member of the Ikorodu West apex leaders, they were the ones that approached me that they are ready to join the APC and I told them that the door is open. I did the ground work and mobilized for their arrival and even the whole Ijaws in Ikorodu West LCDA and other tribes are so happy to join me in the APC. Since then, we have been working together for the progress of the party. So, I am not surprised that nothing is left in the PDP. You can see that the Publicity Secretary of the party, Femi Adinlewa who is the only remaining voice in PDP, has recently departed the party to join us in the APC.
THE IMPACT: Yes, talking about the former PDP Publicity Secretary, Femi Adinlewa who recently defected to APC, he that his former party is half dead in his first interview with us after defection. What is your take on this?
Prince Ologijo: I stand to be corrected and I want them to mention what is left in the party. As I told you, I was leading the party when I was with them and I want them to tell me who is left with them in the party. Maybe I can be convinced. You can see glaringly that there is nothing left in the PDP when people decamped from the PDP before Adinlewa. Before he decamped, Adinlewa was more or less a leader in the PDP. Tell me who has been supporting Adinlewa since he has been speaking against APC? Do you even know their Chairman? Do they even have excos? I remember during the last Senatorial bye – election, they all ran to me to say that it is time for them to come into the APC. There is nothing to write about in the party again. It was the last Senatorial bye – election that broke the Camel's back. Their expectations from their candidate were not met and we were campaigning vigorously for Sen. Abiru. It is not a mistake to say that there is no PDP, yet, as a politician, you cannot say from the other side that the party does no longer exist, but how relevant is it?
THE IMPACT: But do you think that lack of virile opposition is good for democracy?
Prince Ologijo: Well, as a trained political scientist and practicing politician, it is good and not on the other side. The reason why it is good is that where there are two formidable parties, for instance APC and PDP, and the former dethrone the latter and they are performing; loved by the people and meeting constituents’ expectations, I don’t think that they will be voted out. Any party that is in the opposition must have something to convince people and let them know why you are the alternative to what they have. If the opposition, in this case the PDP, are always fighting and not organized, how do you expect people to trust them? Even Bode George (PDP leader) finds it difficult to hold meetings. Nobody is going to his house because they prefer to go to Governor Makinde in Oyo State and Gov. Wike in River State to get instructions, yet the man is shouting in Lagos that Asiwaju Tinubu is nothing. A man that cannot win his polling booth is shouting and bragging that Asiwaju is nothing. People are tired. If you are in opposition, you must have your own manifestoes to defeat the government and I have never seen them (PDP) doing anything in that regard while APC is doing great at the national and state levels. What alternative is the PDP offering before saying that APC is not performing? If APC is doing a road, what better option is the PDP offering like instead of doing the road this way, for instance that they should take the road from Apapa to Oshodi to Ikorodu but they are not doing that except to just sit there to criticize. If you are not formidable as an opposition, you cannot move forward. People must see you advising and offering alternatives to what Sanwo – Olu is doing in Lagos State, but how many times have you seen them on Television offering credible alternatives which are the function of an opposition party? During the #EndSARS protest, they all came out trying to destroy all Sanwo – Olu and APC have achieved, not knowing that they are destroying themselves. To be an opposition, you must provide a credible alternative and practical programs but they have nothing to write home about. I don’t think that they are ready for that.
THE IMPACT: How will you describe the ongoing APC revalidation/registration exercise? Do you think it is necessary?
Prince Ologijo: To me, as a political scientist who has a good grasp of political happenings, what our party is doing is preparing towards the coming council elections this year and the general elections in 2023. Are we saying that the party cannot strategise to know its strengths and weaknesses? I think that is what the party is doing. To me personally, that is what the party is preparing for. Say for instance, if Nigerians are 200million in population and APC is able to register about 100million members of the party, the party can go home and relax and find means of satisfying and convincing the 100million to stay with the party while they work on more voters. I think it is a strategic move and I don’t know why people are jittery about the exercise. Yes, there are many members of the APC before now. I particularly registered when we came in. It is possible that I might have cancelled my membership of the party same with others but there is need to ascertain how many people that are still members of the party and those who have moved to another party or no longer in politics, it is only through revalidation that they can know the state of the party in the past and presently and get actual figure of the party’s membership . It is a very good move to know the strength of our party.
THE IMPACT: How will you rate the performance of Gov. Sanwo – Olu since inception, particularly the impact of his government in Ikorodu?
Prince Ologijo: From my own political observation and analyses, Gov. Sanwo – Olu is a listening governor. If you have been watching him very well, whenever you tell him something, he takes action. That is what is called governance. I have never seen him waiting unnecessarily when his attention is called to something. Look at the #EndSARS protest and how he quickly responded. Also, look at our roads like the reconstruction of the BRT and many others. To me, I think that he’s doing wonderfully well. In Ikorodu, look at what he’s doing at Sekumade (Ebute), Agric – Isawo road, Itamgaga – Ijede road and others. To me, I will say that Sanwo – Olu is working.
THE IMPACT: Sir, what is your view about the Presidential Campaign by the people calling on Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to contest in 2023?
Prince Ologijo: It will be difficult to assess Tinubu if I had not met him one – on – one and chatted with him. I have also seen him talking and addressing people and I can tell that he’s a born – leader; a born – politician and someone with a good heart. There are some people condemning him, but he has been performing beyond expectations and made so many people. He doesn’t discriminate and these are enough for me to support him. He has never discriminated against Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo. I think that Asiwaju has everything that it will take to be a President. Asiwaju is a lecturer, trainer and political guru that has trained so many people that are today in top positions like the best minister in Nigeria today, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, who is his product, so also the second in Command in Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osibajo, House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and countless numbers of State Governors. I have been to his place, both at Bourdillon and in Abuja, they are like schools. People need to meet with him or have the opportunity to sit down with him for some hours to witness the inflow of intellectuals coming in and out of his house. These are things that I have noticed about him. His qualities are the things that I love. He has been able to give Lagos State credible people as governors. It was first Fashola, followed by Ambode and now, Sanwo – Olu. These are thorough professionals. What will it take him as someone that has been doing this for so many years to lead the country? I can tell you that he has Nigeria on his palm; he knows the nooks and crannies in the polity and well aware of our challenges. He knows what to do and should be given a chance. With due respect, everybody knows his role in the emergence of our President and I don’t even think that APC can defeat PDP if not because of Asiwaju. I know what I am talking about. This man worked very hard touring all the states of the federation visiting people that are up to the task. He should be allowed to lead Nigeria and take us to the Promised Land.
