In this interview with ENIOLA AKINKUOTU, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in 2011 Lagos State governorship election, Dr. Ade Dosunmu, speaks on the politics of the state and other issues

In 2011, you ran in the governorship race on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party but lost by a wide margin to Governor Babatunde Fashola of the All Progressives Congress. Presently, the APC controls all elective offices in the state? Now that you are running again, what do you think went wrong?

Between the last election and now, a lot has happened. Don’t forget that the APC had about one million plus votes just like the PDP had during the presidential election and that number is less than 30 per cent of the total number of registered voters in Lagos. So, it cannot be said to be the true reflection of the wishes of the people. Again, that time, we had an incumbent who was enjoying a lot of popularity and typical of any human being, they will tell you better the devil you know than the angel you don’t. So, that must be one of the reasons why the elections turned out that way and they also had a structure in place but that is not the issue. In Ekiti State they had all the members of the House of Representatives and Senate but Governor Kayode Fayemi still lost the election. What matters in a contest like this is the perception the people have. Once the people are ready for change, nobody can stop it and that is what we are witnessing in Lagos today. Just go out and do an opinion poll and you will observe a lot of disenchantment all over the place about the policies of the government; talk about students, civil servants, health workers, transport operators, ‘okada’ riders and all other segments. Even business communities are groaning over high tax regime and all these are what I believe can present itself as a major challenge to the APC because the people have seen that it is time to try something else and they are ready for that.

Again if you look at 2011, that was my first election ever and my result was over 300,000 votes which was what some people had in some other states and they are governors today. The same goes for Oyo and Edo states. Even the last election in Anambra, the governor, Willie Obiano, got only 180,000 votes. Although we can say the outcome of an election is subject to the number of registered voters but that means that, at least, over 300,000 believed in my candidacy despite the fact that it was my first showing. There are some people whose first showing was not up to 100,000. So, if my first showing was 300,000 when Lagosians were seeing me for the first time, know that my second showing will be far better.

Were you aware of the deal between the Presidency and the APC government in which it was agreed that the APC would support Jonathan while Jonathan would leave Lagos for the APC? This has been confirmed by former Minister of Works, Adeseye Ogunlewe.

I read it in Ogunlewe’s newspaper interview and in former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s open letter. Well, I don’t know but despite the supposed deal, I still had over 300,000 votes but we are believing that this time around, such won’t happen if it happened in 2011, more especially when our people have decided to take their destinies in their hands and we are the ones that know where the shoe pinches. No one outside Lagos can tell us this is the way when we are the ones here.

But do you think the PDP will be accepted in Lagos given the fact that it has never ruled the state before?

One of the issues in Lagos is the fact that contrary to general feelings and perception of our party by members of the public, I want to tell you that the Lagos PDP you used to know is different from the one of today. We are more united, focused and more determined and, as a party, we are also operating on the basis of teamwork. Lagosians have seen that and that has been demonstrated. If you cast your mind to the last local government elections we made an impact but unfortunately, you know what happened in most of the places. Even places where election had been announced by Returning Officers, the powers that be in the APC refused to allow our party to take its mandate. As a peace-loving party, we did not want to cause crisis or make the state ungovernable so, we used the constitutional means, the tribunals, set up by the APC government but at the end of the day, you see how the case went despite an overwhelming evidence and that shows a level of political intolerance because to a large extent, we were all living witnesses to the fact that the PDP had conceded defeats in states that we even control but lost. We have 57 councils in Lagos, if the PDP wins six and you refuse to give it that shows the level of political intolerance on their part.

The PDP both at the national and state has shown a high level of responsibility. We have conceded defeat and congratulated them. Even when INEC declared Fashola as winner, I congratulated him and our President has always been doing that even when they defeated our party, he would be the first to come out and say congratulations. So, why can’t they imbibe this same spirit of sportsmanship? So, these are some of the things Nigerians have been seeing and making their own deductions that the PDP seems to be more responsive and people-friendly and probably that is the reason why you are seeing a sudden change about the perception of PDP, particularly in Lagos. Everyday people are joining us in preparation for change because there is no imposition in the PDP

You spoke on influx and no possibility of imposition. However, there is a rumour that the Presidency is supporting Jimi Agbaje. Doesn’t this affect your chances?

One thing I know very clearly is that there is nothing like imposition in the PDP. Anybody is welcome in our party. We will receive the news of his defection with joy. Even today, if the Governor of Lagos decides to join the PDP, we will jubilate and say, yes, come in. In politics, the school of thought I belong to is the ‘more the merrier.’ Joining a political party is one thing, ambition is another thing; you must first join and then belong, contribute to the development and building of the platform that you want to use. If you come and you want to contest, you are free as long as you meet the requirement of the constitution. So, we have no problem with anybody coming in.

Oba Rilwan Akiolu has endorsed an APC aspirant, Akinwunmi Akinbode. Isn’t this going to affect you or whoever the PDP presents considering that politicians and governments need the cooperation of traditional rulers?

The Oba of Lagos is a father of all and as somebody, who also comes from that lineage, I believe that to a large extent, he was expressing his personal opinion, not the opinion of the people of Lagos. And he has a right to do so. I feel he was talking for the APC not the PDP. Maybe tomorrow, if the PDP also picks its candidate, he will come out and say, yes, before the candidate of the PDP came up, I anointed Ambode but now that PDP has its candidate, I am also supporting him. So, let us leave everything open, it’s the people of Lagos that will decide, not the Oba.

As a Ph.D. holder in Public Administration, how do you see the current administration in Lagos?

When I see things happening at the level of political authority, I get worried because a lot of people don’t have the orientation for the office they are holding. Some look at things from the point of view of a businessman and certain things in government should be looked at from the point of view of the government and that is why democracy is defined as government of the people, by the people and for the people. Why is it not government of the elite or government of the few? So, my driving point is that I intend to run a government that will focus on the people. I believe in policies, not politics because if you get policies right, you will run a government that will have an impact on the people and to a large extent I believe whatever government we run will address the basic reasons we have government: public education, public health, infrastructure, welfare and security.

We pay tax because we are empowering the government to be able to provide those basic responsibilities that are entrusted to it. Nobody is asking government to put food on his table but government should be able to build public schools and infrastructure, roads; it should be able to provide public health, that is why we have general hospitals, then welfare and security.

Government should provide good social housing scheme. It has been done before. Alhaji Lateef Jakande did it, he built over 14,000 flats within four years and he did not tell them to go and bring something. He sold each flat for N6, 000 and each beneficiary was paying N1, 500. That is social housing scheme. Government has no business in any other kind of housing apart from social housing. Today they build one house there for N40m. You don’t need to build a house for somebody who has N40m; he can go and build his house. Government housing should be for those who cannot ordinarily afford it. The Lagos State Development Property Corporation is still a corporation and a corporation is not supposed to make profit by definition. LSDPC which Jakande used to deliver N6,000 flat each is the same that is building N52m per flat today.

What of the many infrastructural developments of this present government?

See a situation where we have three tollgates in one local government. That is not good governance and I don’t know how anybody can justify that. There is one linking Ikoyi to Lekki, two along the Lekki-Epe Expressway. It will cost about N25, 000 every month to each motorist in Lagos. Government should be mindful of these things. We have the resources, we just need proper planning. Why do we need to go into 30 years concession agreement with a company? Was the bidding for the contract even transparent? The 48-kilometre Lekki-Epe road cost N50bn, over N1bn per kilometre and they are still going to collect tolls for over 30 years; that is bondage. So, many of these policies need to be reversed.

You mentioned policy reversal of the government. Will it include turning the transformed Oshodi back to what it was and allowing okada riders to return to the highway?

During his first term, Fashola did some things to endear himself to the people. We will change some of the bad policies and retain the good ones. The Oshodi thing is an excellent one.

[b]On the issue of okada riders, it is not in Lagos alone that they were restricted. In Akwa Ibom, about three years ago, they were banned but what aggravated that of Lagos was the manner in which the government went about it. In Akwa Ibom, the governor told me when I visited the place that after banning okada, he told them to bring their bikes in exchange for N50,000 each.[/b]They came and personally submitted their bikes. Don’t forget that some of these okada riders took loans to procure these bikes. Some of them have made some payments while for some it’s the N50,000 they will use to start another business while those owing will offset their loans with it. It was done in Kano but over there, the governor bought a lot of tricycles and introduced a policy. In Lagos, they were seizing it and crushing it. We are all living witnesses. A man who bought a bike on loan that has it crushed is left with two pains. The pain of repaying the loan and what he will eat. That is where I disagree with that policy.


http://www.punchng.com/politics/pdp-govtll-reverse-fasholas-policies-says-dosunmu/

This land is for my son Mufu.

NO Family member or stranger must trespass on this plot.

Any Moderator who seizes this plot go hear from Amadioha.








Apc, Pdp, Apga, Lp, Icpc, Efcc, Npa, Mtn, Phcn, Glo, Nnpc and everything in Nigeria are one and the same.

Until politicians and public office holders start swearing with Ogun, Amadioha and others, Corruption will never end in this Jungle called Nigeria.

Imagine Faahola unbanning Okada and reversing LASU's fees. Who do these people think they are receiving. All for 2015.

I believe this man is going to be our next governor. He understand the plague of the people well unlike APC elitist government.

acidtalk: This land is for my son Mufu.
NO Family member or stranger must trespass on this plot.
Any Moderator who seizes this plot go hear from Amadioha.
Apc, Pdp, Apga, Lp, Icpc, Efcc, Npa, Mtn, Phcn, Glo, Nnpc and everything in Nigeria are one and the same.
Until politicians and public office holders start swearing with Ogun, Amadioha and others, Corruption will never end in this Jungle called Nigeria.
Imagine Faahola unbanning Okada and reversing LASU's fees. Who do these people think they are deceiving. All for 2015.

That is Tinubu ran government for you. I really want PDP to uproot this APC thieves.

We should vote for individuals with pedigrees not some appointed man from Ikoyi.

aljharem: I believe this man is going to be our next governor. He understand the plague of the people well unlike APC elitist government.

hahahaha dude Ambode is the next governor! Well PDP should prove their mettle at the polls!!!
Ðosunmi is in the wrong party. A Gentleman and intellectual like him should hav no bu§iness with PDP. PDP converts gentlemen to thugs...see Omisore as case study

barcanista: hahahaha dude Ambode is the next governor! Well PDP should prove their mettle at the polls!!!
Ðosunmi is in the wrong party. A Gentleman and intellectual like him should hav no bu§iness with PDP. PDP converts gentlemen to thugs...see Omisore as case study

LOL Ambode ko, Ambourdillon ni. The same way Apc turn Aregbesola into a rascal or even Ikuforiji.

Dosunmi is a grass root intellectual. I am not voting for Party again but individuals.

aljharem:

LOL Ambode ko, Ambourdillon ni. The same way Apc turn Aregbesola into a rascal or even Ikuforiji.

Dosunmi is a grass root intellectual. I am not voting for Party again but individuals.

in terms of antecedents, you can't compare Dosunmu to Ambode!!! Ambode floors him...abi you want argue am? Dosunmu won't even manage a LG effectively as long as Olabode George remains his godfather

Yeah, and replace them with their retrogresive policy of free for all looting as is the norm currently in Abuja and other PDP states!!

I bet Lagosians are too sophisticated to allow such!

barcanista: in terms of antecedents, you can't compare Dosunmu to Ambode!!! Ambode floors him...abi you want argue am? Dosunmu won't even manage a LG effectively as long as Olabode George remains his godfather

LOL funny enough, Ambode is not close to Dosunmu interms of pedigree. I think you should go read more about both parties

Bode George is not his godfather and you know it. PDP is not ran like APC where a thief will appoint and control the man on the sit.

Example even GEJ has embarrassed OBJ. You know these facts.

Dosunmu has handled even larger portfolio than Ambode could ever dream of.

omenka: Yeah, and replace them with their retrogresive policy of free for all looting as is the norm currently in Abuja and other PDP states!!

I bet Lagosians are too sophisticated to allow such!

@ Bolded sophisticated ?What do you understand by the word sophistication ?

In a sophisticated environment (politically speaking) democracy is involved not a man in his bedroom in Ikoyi hand picking

In a sophisticated environment, people are analysed and judge based on their manifesto and pedigree not by ethnicity or legalised form a corruption called JAGABAN.

Please tell me what is sophisticated about Lagos because I am a true Lagos indigene.

By sophisticated APC won't present murderers like Omisore for governor post.

They won't present a thug with no professional track record like obanikoro to be governor

They won't present a disgraced policeman who was held for selling guns to criminals like Alao-akala for governor.

They won't present a man being investigated by efcc for corruption like Fayose for governorship

PDP especially in the southwest is the worst thing ever and should be avoided by all who mean well for their upcoming generation

aljharem: I believe this man is going to be our next governor. He understand the plague of the people well unlike APC elitist government.

Why is he not active on the political circuit?

raumdeuter: By sophisticated APC won't present murderers like Omisore for governor post.
They won't present a thug with no professional track record like obanikoro to be governor
They won't present a disgraced policeman who was held for selling guns to criminals like Alao-akala for governor.
They won't present a man being investigated by efcc for corruption like Fayose for governorship
PDP especially in the southwest is the worst thing ever and should be avoided by all who mean well for their upcoming generation

As I said earlier, I vote for individuals not party. APC vote for parties. Moreover how does the above relate to him ?

aljharem:

LOL Ambode ko, Ambourdillon ni. The same way Apc turn Aregbesola into a rascal or even Ikuforiji.

Dosunmi is a grass root intellectual. I am not voting for Party again but individuals.

dossman2015....

atlwireles:

Why is he not active on the political circuit?

He is not a politician but an intellectual that just want to serve his birth place.

He is no slave to Bode George neither is he slave to OBJ. He is his own person and that is what we need.

Enough of all this politics of godfatherism

lekkie073: dossman2015....

Gba be !!!

It is Dosman o !

aljharem:

As I said earlier, I vote for individuals not party. APC vote for parties. Moreover how does the above relate to him ?

A criminal would be comfortable in the gathering of thieves. We have seen all governorship aspirants the PDP presented in the southwest and it shows one thing, there is no single responsible person in their midst

aljharem:

LOL funny enough, Ambode is not close to Dosunmu interms of pedigree. I think you should go read more about both parties

Bode George is not his godfather and you know it. PDP is not ran like APC where a thief will appoint and control the man on the sit.

Example even GEJ has embarrassed OBJ. You know these facts.

Dosunmu has handled even larger portfolio than Ambode could ever dream of.

you don't know what you are saying. Saying Bode George is not his godfather shows that yu have little knowledge of Lagos Politics bro. Like I said in my first post, we are waiting for them @ the polls!!!!

Lets just hope Tinubu does not kill this one as well

why is it that all PDP candidates are far from the palace of knowledge.....who is Dosunmu? is henot the same dude that can't marshall a solid point during the last debate just like his predecessor Musiliu Obanikoro the tongue-tied one in 2007? i laugh in Linlin Agohunle dialect

The fact is PDP doesn't have men who are sound upstairs in Lagos infact all over South West

Most of them having been pulverised to saw-dust by the SAN with a Sound mind think with Fashola's pending exit they can join the fray and win the election just like that......Jokers!

Dreamer@Dosumumu! Go to Abia State and rescue them there.

aljharem: Lets just hope Tinubu does not kill this one as well

aljharem:

@ Bolded sophisticated ?What do you understand by the word sophistication ?

In a sophisticated environment (politically speaking) democracy is involved not a man in his bedroom in Ikoyi hand picking

In a sophisticated environment, people are analysed and judge based on their manifesto and pedigree not by ethnicity or legalised form a corruption called JAGABAN.

Please tell me what is sophisticated about Lagos because I am a true Lagos indigene.

The Lagosians I know are sophisticated enough not to allow the people of the Coven any foothold in the state. The understand that such a mindless expedition would result in the erosion of every little gains the state has made in the last 15yrs under the leadership of the opposition, and send it plunging into the abyss of misgovernance and corruption!!

barcanista: you don't know what you are saying. Saying Bode George is not his godfather shows that yu have little knowledge of Lagos Politics bro. Like I said in my first post, we are waiting for them @ the polls!!!!

Dude let me explain to you because I think you are confusing things up and it is clear you are not sure what you are talking about.

PDP godfathers in the SW are divided into 4

1. OBJ group

2. Bode George group

3. Ogunlewe group

and 4. Buruji Kasamu group

Now in Lagos, we only recognised 2 which are Bode and Ogunlewe

Those 2 are pushing for Jimi and Dosman is on his own on this one.


Do you understand better now ?

aljharem:

He is not a politician but an intellectual that just want to serve his birth place.

He is no slave to Bode George neither is he slave to OBJ. He is his own person and that is what we need.

Enough of all this politics of godfatherism

Agreed, but he needs to mix it up with party members to win the primary. The PDP primary is going to be hotly contested this year.

My people die for lack of knowledge, You see a clean man with good pedigree and yet you reject him for whoever Jagaban chooses ?

Very funny and interesting

soroptimist: why is it that all PDP candidates are far from the palace of knowledge.....who is Dosunmu? is henot the same dude that can't marshall a solid point during the last debate just like his predecessor Musiliu Obanikoro the tongue-tied one in 2007? i laugh in Linlin Agohunle dialect

The fact is PDP doesn't have men who are sound upstairs in Lagos infact all over South West

Most of them having been pulverised to saw-dust by the SAN with a Sound mind think with Fashola's pending exit they can join the fray and win the election just like that......Jokers!

Talking of 2011 debate Dosunmu was laughable. Even the NCP Candidate floored him. In 2007 Koro of PDP was comedic. The "Newbie" called SAN BRF floored him like a piece of trash. But I respect Jimi Agbaje...he was apt and sound . You remember this BRF 2007 slogan?"The best man 4 the job"

atlwireles:

Agreed, but he needs to mix it up with party members to win the primary. The PDP primary is going to be hotly contested this year.

I really hope he wins it. If he does not, I will decamp to APC straight because we dont want politics of godfatherism

aljharem:

Bode George is not his godfather and you know it.


Dosunmu has handled even larger portfolio than Ambode could ever dream of.

Liar! Thief Bode George was the one that touted Dosunmu who is a dull and dour person who can't even inspire my last born who is 5

We all saw the way he was destroyed intellectually and in every sphere of policy articulation by Fashola in 2011.......infact it was an unforgivebale sin that after Koro bravado and thug-induced campaign of 2007,PDP went low to pick an Ade Dosunmu who is not sound at all.......liars will say he is a gentleman as if we dont know the definition of gentility with GEJ which equals to dourness and lack of drive and vibe

Also,you felt you could hoodwink those on NL by saying Dosunmu has handled larger portfolio than Ambode could dream of........i dare you to name such portfolio bar the DG of NPA he was compensated with as a PDP member compared to an Accountantant-General that Ambode was who administered a financial portfolio of Lagos State which is in Trillions for several years

We are waiting ooooo......

soroptimist:
Liar! Thief Bode George was the one that touted Dosunmu who is a dull and dour person who can't even inspire my last born who is 5
We all saw the way he was destroyed intellectually and in every sphere of policy articulation by Fashola in 2011.......infact it was an unforgivebale sin that after Koro bravado and thug-induced campaign of 2007,PDP went low to pick an Ade Dosunmu who is not sound at all.......liars will say he is a gentleman as if we dont know the definition of gentility with GEJ which equals to dourness and lack of drive and vibe
Also,you felt you could hoodwink those on NL by saying Dosunmu has handled larger portfolio than Ambode could dream of........i dare you to name such portfolio bar the DG of NPA he was compensated with as a PDP member compared to an Accountantant-General that Ambode was who administered a financial portfolio of Lagos State which is in Trillions for several years
We are waiting ooooo......

Usual APC rant.

Did Ambode get there by credit ? Or was it not Tinubu that appointed him.

I don't think you people know how lagos is being run or maybe you are paid by Tinubu so you can't really talk.

I can't blame you though

aljharem:

Dude let me explain to you because I think you are confusing things up and it is clear you are not sure what you are talking about.

PDP godfathers in the SW are divided into 4

1. OBJ group

2. Bode George group

3. Ogunlewe group

and 4. Buruji Kasamu group

Now in Lagos, we only recognised 2 which are Bode and Ogunlewe

Those 2 are pushing for Jimi and Dosman is on his own on this one.


Do you understand better now ?

dude you don't av a clue. Let me school you... In Lagos we have the Bode George group, Koro Group and Seye Ogunlewe group.
The bode George group is the Most Influential. It was the Group that backed Funso Williams in 2003 and was pushing for him in 2007 b4 his murder. The group also pushed for Hilda Williams in 2007(she won the primaries) b4 Anenih decided Koro in 2007. The Group also brought in Ade Dosunmu in 2011 and still backing him in 2015. In 2007, the group nominated Segun Aganga as Minister(Trade and Investment)

The Koro group is second most influential. The Group is pushing for Koro.

We have the Ogunlewe group, the group is Pro-APC. Ogunlewe brother was Tinubu's Head of Service.

The Presidency is the one pushing for Agbaje. These 3 Groups DO NOT agree. As at today the George group controls the state machinery(since 1999).

Obj have no say in Lagos PDP.

I've schooled yu...thank me later

aljharem:

Usual APC rant.

Did Ambode get their by credit ? Or was it not Tinubu that appointed him.

I don't think you people know how lagos is being run or maybe you are paid by Tinubu so you can't really talk.

I can't blame you though

dude, you are embarrassing yourself. If we go further you will be floored to d muds!!!