Chief Ebenezer Babatope, a former Minister of Transport and member, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in this interview, speaks on the agitations for restructuring, inscuroty crisis in the nation, outcome of Edo governorship election and other issues. TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI brings the excerpts:

The presidency in a veiled reference to renewed agitations for restructuring of Nigeria has said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration would not be intimidated into making any hasty decision over the matter, claiming that the country’s enemies were actively sponsoring discord in the polity. What is your take on that?

I heard the statement from Pastor Adeboye on restructuring and I also heard the statement from Garba Shehu speaking for President Buhari. I want to advise the President, not on party partisanship, he is in APC and I’m in PDP but on the basis that I want him to succeed. He is of my generation and he is only one month and two days older than myself. I want him to know that the only way we can save this country and live together for years is to restructure. There is nothing big in restructuring the country because it is a federation. By restructuring, we are talking about reaffirming the federal nature of our country’s existence. Nobody in his right sense will say that Nigeria should break up

So, you think restructuring is the only way out?

I am for restructuring. Simply put, restructuring is redefinition, reaffirment of the federal nature of our country’s existence. We run a federalism in this country for goodness sake and we should reaffirm it, redefine it, to ensure it takes precedence over every other matter. When we are restructuring, we are aiming at justice. That will give confidence to people that they are in a country where their rights are being respected and where they are given all the opportunities to ensure that we run a proper federalism. Those who are calling for restructuring, they know what they are talking about. Restructuring, pure and simple is the redefinition of the federal nature of our country’s existence. We affirm our federation, we affirm our federalism and we ensure that we put power in the hands of those who really want to make something out of it. It is not debatable. It will solve all our problems.

Some have said President Buhari will not restructure the country because the North is averse to the idea. Do you share that view?

I don’t know about that. I heard the statement of Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, who is a right hand man of Mallam Aminu Kano. He is a very influential voice in the North but I won’t judge what he says. I think the North has nothing to fear about restructuring. Like I said earlier, restructuring is simply reaffirming the federal nature of our co-existence. That is what restructuring is all about. When we do that, we will put Nigeria on a wider map of political, social and economic existence. I want President Buhari to think about this. If he succeeds in doing that, then he would have succeeded in writing his name in gold. The president should caution his men and not allow them to issue inciting statements that can set ablaze the country.

Former governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose recently said Chief Olabode George was responsible for the failure of the PDP to win elections in Lagos. What is your response to that ?

I heard him and I’m so sorry about what Ayo Fayose, a young boy who still has many years in front of him was saying, attacking Bode George, who is a national figure we can count on in this country today. Bode George has been my friend for a very long time and I don’t think he deserves an insult from Fayose. He once said he doesn’t want to see any of us who is above 70 years old in the PDP; forgetting that he will soon clock 70 and those coming behind him will say the same to him. That is life for you. Whether Fayose likes it or not, he is going to pass through our age. If he is not careful, he will be laying a curse upon himself by utter disrespect and disregard for elders.

Insecurity has become a major source of worry for many Nigerians especially with the festering Boko Haram insurgency, what is the way out?

I don’t think the challenge is insurmountable. The insurgents can be crushed using the right approach, and strategies, and this is what the federal government should have done. What I even expect President Muhammadu Buhari to have done is to seek the counsel of elders, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders across the country to proffer solution to the insecurity challenge. No one single individual has monopoly of knowledge, and seeking counsel or advice of others is not admission of failure. What Nigerians want is peace. Nigerians are worried about the continued bloodletting. Nigerians are not happy about the lives being lost almost on daily basis. We can’t continue like this or pretend that all is well.

What do you think can be done to address this?

There is danger ahead if we continue this way. If this insurgency lingers, and the killings of innocent Nigerians continue unabated, Nigeria may suffer implosion, and this is why Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief, and his service chiefs should tackle this insurgency with the urgency it deserves. It is unfortunate that many innocent Nigerians are being killed. Insecurity has become a big threat to the nation’s democracy. It has become a ticking time bomb, which can explode anytime. This is why I like the new security outfit in the South-West, Operation Amotekun. Such outfit should be replicated in other geo-political zones across the country to complement the work of Police, and other security agencies. We don’t pray to have another Somalia on our hands in Nigeria but if the present ugly trend continues, another Somalia may be looming in Nigeria but we pray that such will never happen.

The Edo election has come and gone. What do you think are some of the lessons that Nigerians can take away from the outcome?

I am glad my party, PDP and our candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki won convincingly. I heard (Asiwaju Bola ) Tinubu when he did the broadcast but I know that nobody will listen to him. When the crisis started, I said APC is involving itself in a gamble because Obaseki is a very popular young man who is solid on ground. I know his family very well when I was the Director of Organisation of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). From day one, I knew Oshiomhole was just wasting his time because he took on the wrong man to fight and he was badly trounced. He is currently in a mess politically but he can get himself out of it looking back at where he made mistakes and make amends. He should mind his utterances. When he came to Osun to campaign, he said I lost my polling booth in my area; I was just laughing because I know he will make mistakes. Politics is not something you sit down and try to conjure. By now, he himself must have found out what politics is all about. I believe that because he lost to Obaseki doesn’t mean his influence has gone down in Edo but if he is not careful, he may get himself destroyed in the process. I won’t make mockery of Oshiomhole but all I know is that relevance in politics depends on what you do at a particular time.

https://www.independent.ng/fayose-heaping-curses-on-his-head-by-insulting-elders-babatope/

This man always look drunk. Is it just me or has sb else noticed?

Love and other drugs

Hnnm

I no understand this fight between Fayose and Makinde and other PDP chieftains in Southwest o!

Seems Fayose wanted to be the leader and fulcrum of PDP in the Southwest but he's not getting which is causing all this friction.

But he should join the line and me the party work together in Southwest na. This is not a time to have divisions in SW PDP.

What is so special about elders , the 2 year old child of today would turn to an elder tomorrow , it's not as if they fell from the sky or came to the world like that .....
For all emphasis we place on age we are the most disrespectful continent in the world , all our respect to me is pure hypocrisy , a 72 year old , who is close to his grave was called an old man , and it became an insult !!
Everyone deserves respect old and young , I do not care about fayose or bode but any old man who behaves anyhow , should be addressed anyhow , enough of this hypocrisy !!

Afenifere miscreant Elders, how market?

Fayose displaying the Yoruba in him

What sort of elders do we have these days??


That's how Obasanjo claimed to be an elder and supported the lifeless one and now, he's been kicked aside from government.....



When elders refused to respect themselves,,they can't command respect for themselves by any means....



Some aged men claiming to be elders don't have anything to offer.....


Some men sharing this country to themselves are elders and they've been killing the future of this country and I doubt if they deserve any respect from the youths....

Agreed

yanabasee:
What sort of elders do we have these days??


That's how Obasanjo claimed to be an elder and supported the lifeless one and now, he's been kicked aside from government.....



When elders refused to respect themselves,,they can't command respect for themselves by any means....



Some aged men claiming to be elders don't have anything to offer.....


Some men sharing this country to themselves are elders and they've been killing the future of this country and I doubt if they deserve any respect from the youths....

Pot calling kettle black

Fayose is becoming to SW PDP what OMISORE was to OSUN PDP.

Omisore now in APC

PyramidsWhisper:
Fayose is becoming to SW PDP what OMISORE was to OSUN PDP.

Why do they always use this pointing picture for Chief Babatope self?

He always look angry in para mode anytime I see that picture.

All of you leaders in the West whether APC or PDP should just come together to form a common front for 2023 and stop all this name calling.

politicians are known to insult anyone who comes their way old or young. fayose is an actor politician

Asgard13:
Fayose displaying the Yoruba in him

sense is far from you for mentioning Yoruba in your comments.

But seriously some elders does not deserve to be called elders