Tunde Sanni
27 August 2008
interview
Former chairman of Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Action Congress (AC) gubernatorial candidate in the April14, 2007 general elections in the state, Alhaji Taoheed Adedoja, has kept mum since the last poll and this has continued to confound his followers.
In this interview with Tunde Sanni in Ibadan, the AC candidate speaks on Oyo politics his plan for the future, the late Adedibu factor in the state politics and the probe of his tenure at SUBEB.
Silence on events in Oyo State Before the April 14, 2007 election, I was billed to win the election as the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate. But something went wrong along the line. The normal thing anybody would do at that time would be to go to the tribunal, but I decided not to go; I decided to take my case to God. It is not because I don't believe in the tribunal or the judicial system, but because I believe more in the judgment of God than in the judgment of man. At the end of the day, since the time various governorship candidates went to the tribunal last year and until the time the tribunals will end their sittings and pronounce judgment, less than 10 percent of the cases will be seen to be fair by Nigerians. If that is the case, why should I bother myself, rather than taking the case to God who is the final judge? I strongly believe that at the time I will assume the leadership of Oyo State, I will be at peace with myself and the people of the state will be at peace with themselves.
The political calculation in Oyo State after the demise of Chief Lamidi Adedibu
I was out of the country when Baba Adedibu died. May his soul rest in peace. I want you to understand that my relationship with Baba Adedibu dated back to almost 20 years ago. You will also recall that in 1998, I was the candidate of Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) with Baba Adedibu as the leader of the party. Also, in 2002, I was in the same political party up to 2006. I want to say that up till that time, Baba Adedibu really wanted me to be governor of the state, but he took other actions contrary to that, and before he died, he apologised for what he said was a mistake. But I just believe that the time was not right. I also believe that it's only God that put people in positions and for that, I did not quarrel with him before he died. As a Muslim, I had no animosity with him before he died and I accepted the apology.
How did Adedibu apologise
He did it publicly at Adamasingba stadium during one event and I was there as the chairman of the occasion, while he was father of the day. He said 'we made a mistake by not picking Professor Adedoja as the governor of the state. He said he was sure that Adedoja would forgive them for that mistake."
Position on government's recurring probe of SUBEB under his administration
My involvement in the purchase of text books by the Oyo State government did not go beyond my statutory responsibility as chairman of SUBEB at that time, that is, to ensure that the content of the books to be purchased by the government conform with the UBE curriculum for primary schools. Secondly, as chairman of SUBEB, any approval limit by me was only N1 million. Anything above that goes to the executive council and so; it was the decision of the executive council and not that of the chairman of the board. For their understanding, Oyo State SUBEB has two tiers of programme implementation.
There cannot be a change in attitude, style and belief; therefore, I believe strongly in divine intervention. There are three major ways that changes can be made in the political ongoings in Nigeria, one is political scheming. Second is the legal means and that is why people are going to the tribunal to seek redress. By the way my Oyo State also has representatives of the Governor's office, besides the chairman; those of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Local Government, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Conference of Primary School Headteachers, Ministry of Finance, Conference of Principals. At anytime any purchase would be made it was in the spirit of due process. Anything about the board, as far as federal government fund is concerned, all these are members that take decision and any decision, even implementation programmes above N100, 000 has to go through the board, not even the chairman can approve it.
When it comes to state intervention fund directly, like the case of the textbooks; it was entirely outside the powers of the board; it was the decision of the state government. Our other responsibility is to ensure that due process is followed when the government is doing that. And this was done as far as the purchase of the textbooks was concerned.
But it is beyond the board, anytime government wants to buy out customised books as the case was in the purchase of textbooks for primary schools; this means when there would be pictures of the governor on the books. It is then beyond academic textbooks, but academic textbooks. That also means a political endorsement of that governor whose photograph appears on the textbooks by the publishers who are reknown. It is an endorsement of the governor for election. So, if the government is paying for that publication because of the political implementation of that extra publicity to have textbooks distributed to about one million primary school children because these textbooks will get to their parents and because the governor wants to catch votes from the electorate through the children and their parents, they are paying extra funds for the customised textbooks.
In addition, they are asking these publishers to pay extra taxes as legal fees, customisation, insurance, special delivery, advertisement of the government and its educational programmes through textbooks and they pay for all. It is beyond the purview of the board. What we are after is the content of the textbooks.
If government wants to advertise itself and it pays for it...
You all have to understand that by any government regulation in this country, you cannot purchase school textbooks in the market. Those publishers will take you to court, because those textbooks can be pirated and once you have pirated textbooks purchased by the government, I tell you, you cannot have textbook in any school in this federation. So, reknown publishers like Macmillian, Evans, University Press, Heineman and so on. Even the federal government can't do it.
Textbooks for primary school is an academic matter that has to do with a lot of legalities. The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is sold for N150 published by the Ministry of Information. I tell you that in the market, it is sold for N25. If you are purchasing the constitution, you cannot go to the market; you will be in trouble. You must purchase from the Ministry of Information because that is the rightful place. I have never been asked any question either by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences (ICPC) or anybody for that matter except during Rashidi Ladoja administration because they want to use the issue of the textbook as a tool for blackmail, victimization, political persecution, witchhunting and political victimisation; to stop me from election by all means. That is the new phenomenon in Nigeria's political arrangement in the last two years.
Unfortunately, in my own case, the law courts absolved me of all the lies and machinations to get me out of the 2007 race. I am sure the ruling of the courts were published in major newspapers. I advised, as far as this issue is concerned, textbooks in schools should continue to have a complete demarcation from publicity. I tell you photographs of governors on textbooks and other publications in schools was to us as a political tool and that was why it generated the kind of controversy it did. I stand tall anywhere to say Oyo State SUBEB under my chairmanship was rated one of the best on programme implementation, accountability, following of due process and transparency by the federalgovernment even up till today. And people have now realized that the issue was political. Even the person that was the architect of that victimisation., blackmail, witchhunting and political, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has been forgiven. I am forging ahead.
Reaction to the pre-election position of Ibadan Elders Forum
You know that any society that does not have elders would go down. In Yoruba societies, when the chips are down, it is the elders that you meet to solve the problems. The case of Ibadan Elders Forum, as far as the 2007 governorship election in Oyo State is concerned; had misinformation which generated the problem. As for me, the members of the forum are our fathers and uncles and I hold them in high esteem. I am sure that they will continue to play that major role of elders in the affairs of Ibadan. That means all of us children of Ibadan should see them as the last resort in times of trouble. In that case, they will now continue to be non-partisan.
Whether the creation of Ibadan state is realistic
The committee of creation of Ibadan State has been the existence for almost five years now under the chairmanship of Chief Bayo Oyero. It was set up by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII). Statistics are there to support that the creation of Ibadan State is not only desirable, but also long overdue. We are not being sentimental about it; talk about population, viability and towns and villages constituting Ibadan, the replicas of which have had states created in the old regions of Kaduna and Enugu, it is only Ibadan that is left behind. However, I know that this time around, all hand will be on deck to ensure the creation of Ibadan state. I know it is a constitutional matter; notable Ibadan sons and daughters are working towards it. The committee has reached out to me.
Preparations of the AC for 2011
In the first place, I want you to know that we will remain in politics because visionary people have not been turning into it. Oyo State has continued to be in political bondage. We want to be part of the process to remove the state from that bondage; that is why we remain in politics till today. I am 57; I became a professor 13 years ago, at the age of 42 years. So, if you ask me what I am doing today, I don't have any political office. But as a professional in education, I continue to do my job. Talking about 2011, anybody or politician, especially outside government, that is now preparing for 2011 must be examined by a psychiatrist, because he must be out of his senses. I am after '2008 and today' and I leave '2009 and tomorrow; not even 2011, to God for now, if you have the power of government, money and evil and darkness, you can start preparation for 2011 now. I rest my tomorrow on God.
I continue to do good to my people, irrespective of political party affiliation, because that is what God has sent me to do. My ascension into any office tomorrow lies with God. In civilised societies, people prepare for elections 10, eight and four years ahead, but in Nigeria, results of elections are written 48 hours to the so-called elections and later announced. So, what preparation can you then make? If you have a magic gaze and can see the results well ahead, then, you can prepare for the results announcement. What I am saying in effect is that I leave everything to God to decide my tomorrow. If I were an American or a Briton, I could prepare for an election ahead, but in Nigeria, you cannot guarantee unless you have those three powers I mentioned. I don't have any of them, but rely only on God. It is not above preparing for an election in the future, but seeking the face of God for Nigeria.
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