“My brother Fashola has tried”: Obanikoro assesses Fashola and talks about the Jimi Agbaje factor

by Segun Odeleye

The minister of state for defense, Musiliu Obanikoro, granted an interview with Seye Olumide of The Guardian in which he spoke on a wide range of issues from his job as minister to why the missing school girls have still not been released. Of course he also spoke about politics.

Two responses in particular got our attention. The first was his assessment of Lagos governor, Babatunde Fashola. Obanikoro was asked to assess the governor and what his performance portends for the future of Lagos. Surprisingly, the minister did not rush to condemn.

He said, “My brother Fashola has tried. I commend him for his efforts and commitment to Lagos State. But there is still a lot of work to be done in a post-Fashola Lagos. Whoever becomes the next Governor of Lagos will have a lot in his hands trying to create a more inclusive and people-centered Lagos where development is felt across board whether you are rich or poor.”

Another interesting response from the junior defense minister was his take on the rumoured invitation of Jimi Agbaje to the PDP by some PDP chieftains in Lagos in order to checkmate his (Obanikoro’s) influence in case he decides to run for governor. Obanikoro said he did not feel threatened. His response also gave signs that he had intentions to run for governor himself.

He said: “Threatened? Not at all! There cannot be two Musiliu Obanikoros anywhere in the world. So I find the issue of checkmating Obanikoro’s influence in Lagos PDP with a Jimi Agbaje very funny. Only God confers power and influence on men. What belongs to a man belongs to him. And don’t forget PDP is a very democratic party and it is the only party that every Nigerian can comfortably call their own. It is not a one-man contraption like you find elsewhere around here. Recently at the mega rally in Osogbo, you should have heard the President when he declared that the PDP does not impose candidates on any of its constituencies. That is the spirit that drives our party. If I decide to run for Governor of Lagos in the PDP and Jimi also decides to run, just like other aspirants in the party, we will test our popularity at the primaries. That is what democracy is all about. My brother Jimi is a fine gentleman. I am happy he has now found the light. He is welcome to our party and I wish him well.”