DAYO OGUNGBENRO, a seasoned politician and the Chairman of Oyo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), loyal to Governor Seyi Makinde, speaks candidly with GBENRO ADESINA, on the state of the nation, worsening insecurity, the future of Nigeria’s democracy, and the controversial alliance between Governor Makinde’s political structure and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) ahead of the 2027 elections. In this explosive interview, the political leader also opens up about Tinubu’s administration, Awolowo’s ideology, alleged threats to opposition politics, his near-death accident, and why he believes Nigeria urgently needs a new direction. The Excerpt:
Q: Can you briefly tell us about your background?
A: I am Dayo Ogungbenro. I was born 68 years ago in Otu, the headquarters of Itesiwaju Local Government in Oyo State. I experienced a delay in my primary education. I moved from Baptist Primary School, Otu, to DC Council Primary School, Oyo, before later returning to Otu to complete my primary education. I also had a stint at Catholic Modern School, Iseyin, before proceeding to Baptist High School, Saki, where I graduated in 1977. I later attended Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, for my HSC, after which I gained admission into the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan (UI). I graduated UI in 1984 and returned to the same university for my Master’s Degree in 1987. I hold a BSc, Political Science and an MSc, International Relations and Policy Analysis. I also had a stint in the teaching profession. At one point, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, a former military president in Nigeria, asked those interested in politics to resign from their places of work, and I did. Since then, I have remained in politics. I started from the grassroots. I served as the supervisor for Finance and Economic Planning in the old Iseyin LG during the administration of Kolapo Ishola. After the creation of Itesiwaju LG in 1996, I became the vice chairman and was also made the supervisor for agriculture. After leaving that position, I moved to the state. When the late Adebayo Alao-Akala offered me an appointment as a Special Adviser on Political Matters in his 11-month-old government, I didn’t accept it.
Q: Why?
A: I felt it would attract criticism against me. I didn’t want anything that could tarnish my integrity. I am a die-hard Awoist. The title of my undergraduate project was “Obafemi Awolowo Philosophy and Its Relevance to Nation Building in Nigeria”. I spent considerable time researching Awolowo’s philosophical thoughts. I joined Alliance for Democracy (AD), but when crisis erupted within the party, I left because I didn’t want to offend some elders. I attempted getting a job at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, as a lecturer, it didn’t work and I had to abandon the idea. I continue in politics. After Alao-Akala contested and won his election, he appointed me as the deputy chairman of the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission. The late Baba Adetutu from Ogbomosho was the chairman then. After Alao-Akala’s administration, I became a special Adviser on political matters in the National Assembly, Abuja, to Distinguished Senator Hosea Ayoola Agboola, alias Halleluyah. It was a four-year appointment. After four years, we came home. Our paths crossed again in the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde, who is my leader. After Makinde won the 2019 governorship election, he appointed me Secretary of his swearing-in committee. After the inauguration, I was made SUBEB’s Deputy Chairman. While serving in SUBEB, I was elevated to the position of South-West PDP Acting Chairman. Amb Taofeek Arapaja later succeeded me. Afterward, Governor Makinde offered me the chairmanship of the party on a platter of gold. Unfortunately, a few years later, I was involved in a terrible accident on Thursday, October 19, 2023. I am happy to say that I escaped death by a whisker. God was there for me. I was very close to Ibadan from Otu when the accident happened. People thought I was dead, but to the glory of God, I survived. God truly used Governor Makinde for me during that trying moment. He insisted that I should be taken abroad for treatment. On the day I was to undergo surgery at the University College Hospital (UCH), there was no electricity, and diesel was scarce in the state. Governor Makinde then called Mama Bovas to supply diesel to UCH so the hospital could power the generator and operate the theatre where my surgery would take place. Mama Bovas initially said there was no diesel in town. But the governor insisted that she must do it by all means. She eventually delivered. The orthopedic surgeon insisted that the operation had to be carried out that same day; otherwise, they couldn’t guarantee anything afterward. I’m also indebted to Alhaji Akeem, Personal Assistant to Governor Makinde. He drove to Oyo to get 200 litres of diesel, which he delivered to UCH around 9:30 pm that day. I was wheeled into the theatre at 9:50 pm. Before wheeling me into the theatre, my wife laid her hands on my head and said, “Jesus will go with you.” I tried to mutter “Amen.” After that, everything went blank. I was in surgery for 12 hours. I entered the theatre at 9:50 pm and came out around 10 am the following morning. After the operation, I was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). God, in his miraculous way, spared my life, and I give all glory to him.
Q: What did the accident teach you?
A: It taught me that life is temporary and that one can die anytime. My survival was only possible through God. I was almost written off. The material things we run up and down for are vanity. Since the accident, nothing means as much to me anymore. We must believe in God. We are not getting things right because we fail to acknowledge Him. We must acknowledge God and understand that wherever we find ourselves in life is a matter of grace, and grace comes from God.
Q: Are you still an Awoist, and do you still hold firm to his ideology?
A: I am still an Awoist. I believe in his ideology very much.
Q: How would Awolowo feel today if he were alive?
A: Awolowo will be weeping profusely for Nigeria.
Q: Why?
A: Awolowo was a gift to the nation, and we wasted him. People like Awolowo, Alvan Ikoku, Anthony Enahoro, and others were far better than what we have today. Unfortunately, at independence, we didn’t choose the best leadership. Ghana chose Kwame Nkrumah, Zambia chose Kenneth Kaunda, Tanzania chose Julius Nyerere, and Kenya chose Jomo Kenyatta. What happened to Nigeria? That is the problem we have been grappling with since independence.
Q: Are you saying Amalgamation was a curse?
A: Yes, it is a curse. The Amalgamation of the North and South is indeed a curse and a mistake. Awolowo once said Nigeria is a mere geographical expression, not a nation or a true state, because it doesn’t operate like one. Are we practising federalism the way it ought to be practiced?
Q: Do you align with those who want Nigeria to be divided and each region to go its way?
A: I don’t want to sound like a prophet of doom, but there is a need for Nigeria to return to the conference table and renegotiate the so-called association called Nigeria.
Q: Do you think that should precede the elections?
A: We are not getting it right at all, and we are not likely to get it right anytime soon.
Q: Are you saying there is no hope?
A: Honestly, my brother, there is no hope for Nigeria if we continue like this.
Q: What is the way forward?
A: We have a country of over 200 million people, yet we can’t produce someone capable of leading us, except an “Emilokan” (it’s my turn) president. It should not be a question of “Emilokan”; it should be a question of having the stamina, competence, and what it takes to govern Nigeria.
Q: Does Tinubu have the stamina to rule Nigeria?
A: He doesn’t. With the greatest respect to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, everything about him is shrouded in secrecy. If we were in a proper environment, would someone like him become president of the nation? No. You can’t clearly pin him down to any secondary school or university he claims to have attended. You can’t even definitely trace the town he comes from. I am from Otu. Before we started this programme, I mentioned all the schools I attended. I also mentioned that I abandoned my PhD programme at UI after 11 months and never returned to it. Everything about Tinubu’s identity remains controversial.
Q: What do you think Tinubu’s second term portends for Nigeria? Do you see a better life?
A: It is not very likely.
Q: Will the security improve?
A: It is definitely not very likely.
Q: Will there be a better result for all the reforms he has carried out?
A: It is still not very likely.
Q: Do you have an alternative to Tinubu?
A: We must all think of an alternative to Bola Ahmed Tinubu. That is the beauty of democracy. That is why our constitution allows us to assess our leaders every four years. If they are on the right track, they will be voted back to power; if not, they will be voted out. Our problem is that elections have rarely been allowed to play out the way they ought to, because virtually every general election is allegedly doctored in favour of certain individuals.
Q: You mean Nigerian elections are always rigged?
Yes, that is the language. Our elections are rigged.
Q: Are you not expecting free and fair elections in 2027?
A: All the indications on the ground do not suggest that there will be free and fair elections. At one time, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was at the helm of Affairs when Bola Tinubu and the late former President Muhammadu Buhari formed the APC. Jonathan allowed democracy to thrive. He conceded defeat before the final votes were counted because he knew he had lost the election. If Jonathan didn’t act that way, would Buhari have become a civilian president? Would Tinubu have had the opportunity to succeed Buhari? Look at the way Tinubu is muzzling the opposition now. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society. There is no way a one-party state can thrive. As things stand, Tinubu is making every effort to impose a one-party state on the country. Perhaps Tinubu wants to be like Paul Biya of Cameroon or Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.
Q: As an opposition party at the federal level, what should be the role of the opposition in this situation? Are you carrying out the role of the opposition the way it ought to be done?
A: A: If you go by the proponents of opposition theory, opposition is necessary in any democratic setting to keep the government in power in check and put it on its toes. When you criticize the government, you should also offer an alternative solution. It was only during the first Republic that we truly enjoyed the benefits of the robust opposition provided by Obafemi Awolowo. Whenever Awolowo opposed the federal government’s policy, he always presented a logical alternative. Rather than allowing such a healthy democratic culture to thrive, the opposition is now being muzzled. At the time Tinubu became president, opposition political parties controlled more than 14 states; only two governors remain prominent in the opposition – Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed.
Q: The two are now being questioned, especially with Makinde’s alignment with the APM – one leg in the PDP, and another in APM?
A: Tinubu has made it difficult for the PDP to thrive, and we still have to cater for our people politically. The aim appears to be to weaken every opposition party. We’re left with no option but to seek an alternative platform for our members to contest the 2027 elections.
Q: Are you saying Makinde and his followers will contest under APM?
A: Makinde, my leader and the PDP in the South West, will contest under APM.
Q: And you are still in PDP?
A: Already, there is a marriage between the two parties.
Q: Is that constitutional?
A: What is not constitutional about that?
Q: Does the PDP constitution permit that?
A: Yes, it does. We have moved our people to the APM, and they are already card-carrying members of the party. After the 2027 elections, we will know where we stand and where the government stands. It is an open secret that Tinubu used Nyesom Wike to divide the PDP. With the Supreme Court judgment, whether it is Wike’s group, Seyi Makinde’s group, or Bukola Saraki’s group, any faction that goes into the 2027 election under the current situation may end up being declared invalid. Even if such candidates win, the courts could remove them afterward. That is why we decided to adopt another platform so our people would not suffer politically. After the election, the struggle will continue.
Q: While some of you will contest under APM. The likes of Taofeek Arapaja obtained forms under the PDP. What is the current state of PDP in Oyo State?
A: Do you remember I am the chairman of PDP in this state?
Q: Yes, Professor Abdulraham Akinoso claims to be the PDP Chairman in the state?
A: That is right, but you know what happened. I am still the bona fide PDP chairman with over 4000 delegates. Can you call the kangaroo congress that Hazeem Gbolarunmi did at Liberty Stadium, with less than 100 people in attendance, a congress? We all know what is happening. As for Arapaja, he is on his own for picking that form because he was aware that Seyi Makinde leads us, and he has led us to APM. Whatever Arapaja is today, God used Makinde for him just as God used Makinde for me. Those who are not for us are against us.
Q: Nobody would have thought that Arapaja and Makinde would fall apart?
A: That is politics for you. Arapaja is on his own now.
Q: So, your members are contesting under APM?
A: Yes. I have distributed the APM forms to them. We have an alliance with APM. The chairman of APM has distributed forms to our members.
Q: And you are still in PDP?
A: I am still in PDP
Q: Seyi Makinde has declared for president under the PDP/APM alliance. There are reports that Makinde may concede his presidential ambition to Goodluck Jonathan. How true is that?
A: That is speculative journalism. Makinde has never publicly said anything of that nature to anyone. As far as I know, Makinde is still interested in contesting the presidency and remains in the race.
Q: What challenges is PDP facing in Oyo State, and do you think the party will retain power beyond 2027?
A: As things stand today, Seyi Makinde has already secured about 60 percent support for my party ahead of the 2027 elections. The APC governed Oyo State for eight years, and by next May, the PDP would also have governed the state for eight years. If we compare the records and achievements of both parties during their respective administration in Oyo State, the people know who performed better. By the special grace of God, we are going to retain the Agodi Government House. Beyond 2027, there will be no vacancy in the Agodi Government House. That is why we say Omituntun 1.0, Omituntun 2.0, and now we are moving toward Omituntun 3.0.
Q: Bimbo Adekanmbi represents Omituntun 3.0. Many People are questioning how fair your party was in giving the governorship ticket to someone who recently joined the party, despite the presence of many qualified members who have remained faithful, loyal, and committed over the years?
A: Do you remember that fairness is subjective? What is fair to you may not be fair to me. To us, giving Adekanmbi the governorship ticket was fair. Governor Makinde and the party leadership were fair to everyone involved. There was an engagement before the choice was made, and very few chief executives in this state will go to such lengths. They will just pick and bankroll all of you on the line. We have seven zones in Oyo State. The governor selected three aspirants from each zone for an all-night engagement. I was present at the meeting. People openly expressed their opinions and sentiments. I personally stated that, if it were left to me, I would prefer Oke-Ogun, my zone, to produce the next governor. But for now, that is not possible. People also raised issues relating to religion and zoning, among others. As far as I know, and going by the theory of succession, leaders are usually concerned about who succeeds them because they want continuity and someone who will preserve their legacies. The governor was very open throughout the process. Makinde has performed very well, and many people believe his successor must sustain that standard. In the end, we decided to set aside sentiments about religion and zoning. The meeting called by Makinde was a hallmark of leadership. At the conclusion of the engagement, we all agreed that since he had allowed everyone to be heard, we should also honour his decision
Q: If rotational presidency is accepted at the federal level, why can’t the same principle be replicated at the state level?
A: It is possible, but it is not something a single party can achieve on its own. All stakeholders must agree to such an arrangement. I had a young man from Oke-Ogun who participated in the process, and I would have loved to see him become governor. But deciding who becomes what in politics goes beyond what many people see. In politics, sometimes, two plus two does not equal four. That is why politics is very complicated. There was a time, around 2019, when six of us engaged Governor Makinde on the issue of when Oke-Ogun would produce a governor. He sympathised with us and explained that, except for a broad consensus among political leaders that the governorship should rotate out of Ibadan to other zones, it would not be easy for Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa, Ogbomosho, and Oyo to produce a governor. He noted that it was providential that the governorship shifted to Ogbomosho between 2026 and 2011, when Alao-Akala became governor of the state. According to him, political leaders across the state must first agree that power should rotate among all the zones before political parties can begin to field candidates from those areas.
Q: Senator Abiola Ajimobi once said that no one should be a politician at the point of death. In other words, politicians can’t make heaven. Do you agree with that assertion?
A: It depends on one’s perspective on politics. Politics is not supposed to be as dirty as it is currently being played. That is why we need educated people in politics. If you leave politics to the fools, you are going to be ruled by the fools. We have competent people who are ready to practice politics the right way, but extraneous factors make us settle for individuals we know may not deliver. It is high time that the highly educated people and technocrats become involved in politics.
Q: How can we solve the insecurity problem in Nigeria?
A: Let me share an experience with you. There was a young man called Durobogun. One day, while he was on his farm, some Fulani herders approached him asking for water. He told them that the little water he had wouldn’t be enough for him, his wife, and his two children. He then directed them to a nearby stream where they could fetch water. That became his offence, and He was cut down. Our people became enraged and retaliated. The authorities then arrested some of our people, including traditional rulers. I went to Iyaganku to seek their release. I had to involve His Excellency, the late Alao-Akaka, who sent his Special Adviser on security to accompany me to the station. They were eventually released around 10:30 pm. I took them to Ojoo, where I bought bread, “akara,” and Coke for them. My driver later took them back to Otu. However, the following weekend, police rearrested them. Over the course of that matter, I travelled to Abuja 13 times. It took us almost a year to conclude the case. When I got to the Louis Edet House in Abuja, I met a Kogi-born Assistant Commissioner of Police, who privately told me he understood my plight. He said, “You’re fighting for your people, but these people are more than you.” He advised me as to what to do. In the end, we were compelled to apologise to the Fulani group and pay compensation. What the Fulani people are doing today did not start recently; it has been happening for a long time. What is the primary responsibility of any responsible government? What is Tinubu doing about it? Don’t you know that the frequent attacks in Kwara State have forced nearly 20 villages to become deserted, including the village of the sitting deputy governor?
Q: What can our governors in the South West do to address insecurity? Governor Makinde recently said that he was ready to listen to the terrorists. Does that mean he is willing to pay ransom?
A: That is not the Seyi Makinde I know. Matters relating to security are not usually discussed openly in public. It is sad to know that Fulani people are terrorising the South West.
Q: How do you assess Tinubu’s government?
A: Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu is our leader. He is a Yoruba man. He has been a former NADECO fighter. My humble submission is that Tinubu is a bundle of total disappointment. One would have thought he would have done otherwise. Governance is not about gangsterism. He gives sweet words without actions. Look at what is happening in the Plateau area. Peasant farmers are being slaughtered virtually every week. Northerners have sentenced themselves to banditry. Now, the terrorists and the bandits are in the South West. We are not safe again. The country is sliding. This is not politics. The country is sliding. Tinubu has failed us.
Q: What is your assessment of Governor Seyi Makinde?
A: Seyi Makinde is a God-given and a messiah to Oyo State and Nigeria. At one point, the late Adebayo Alao-Akal criticised him, asking how it could be his turn because he had not held a political office at the time. I was privileged to be with both Seyi Makinde and Alao-Akala on one occasion, when Alao-Akala almost retracted that statement, describing it as mere political rhetoric. Makinde has changed the narrative of governance. His performance has become a benchmark by which governance can now be measured. Today, opposition parties are afraid of Makinde. People everywhere are clamouring for him. This is a state where workers were once owed salaries. Upon assuming office, Makinde promised to pay salaries promptly, and he has consistently done so over the past seven years. Some people say salary payment is not an achievement, but I disagree. Paying salaries regularly is a major achievement. Injecting more than N12 billion into the state economy every 30 days is evidence that the state economy is active and progressing. That is why artisans, market women, and pensioners continue to support Makinde. They want someone with similar qualities to succeed him. Apart from Awolowo, which governor has surpassed Makinde in terms of infrastructural development? APC members know they are in trouble in Oyo State. At this critical moment, I appeal to the people of Oyo State to come out and vote for the candidate of their choice in the forthcoming election. With that, we are confident of returning to the Agodi Government House.
Q: If you were to become the Governor of Oyo State or the President of Nigeria, what would you change?
A: If I were the governor of Oyo State, I would use the achievement of Makinde as a benchmark for moving the state forward. Makinde’s administration has established important legacies, and I would continue along that path. If I were president of Nigeria, I would ensure that Nigerians believe in the Nigerian project. The Nigerian project should come first. Unfortunately, nobody seems committed to it anymore. Instead of focusing on nation-building, we are consumed by issues of ethnicity and religion. In my view, religion and ethnicity should not determine political choices. Competence should be the major consideration in leadership selection. If an objective assessment were conducted in Nigeria, Makinde would rank among the top three best-performing governors.
Q: What is your message to the people of Oyo State and Nigeria?
A: My message is simple. In the last seven years, Governor Makinde has been honest with the people of Oyo State. May I inform the people of Oyo State that Makinde has moved his political structure to APM. I urge them to align with him and vote for continuity in 2027. We assure the people that our governorship candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi, will govern in the same progressive manner as Seyi Makinde.
