Ademola Bankole is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) think-tank in Lagos State and a prince of Apa Kingdom, Badagry. He was a member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), which dominated the South-West at the start of democracy in 1999.  Bankole, who is also the Managing Director/Chief Coordinator, Broadcasting Talents Nigeria, was one of the stakeholders who formed the Action Congress (AC), which later became the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). In this interview with ENIOLA DANIEL, he speaks on his political career, the preparations for the 2027 general election and other national issues.

Tell us about your political journey?
I started my political life at a tender age. While others were in colleges making their marks, I was combining both with elders in politics. Many people call me Gudugudu instead of my name. Gudugudu means a leader by example. 

Do you belong to the Mandate or Justice Forum in Lagos APC?
I don’t belong to any group. I have put so much effort and resources into politics and suffered indignation of severe form. But happily, I’m still interested in ensuring that the common man is served properly. 

Tinubu also faced the same issue in the AD just like the ADC is facing now. What would be your advice for the opposition?
Tinubu in 2003 was faced with the same problem having been the only governor in AD and his party was factionalised. He kept his ambition on hold completely and went on to start the Action Congress and drew other people. This would have been a good recommendation for Peter Obi instead of ganging up. 

Some people say that Nigeria is due for an alternative government; what’s your take?
Sometimes you push and fight to win but you cannot win when you are sentimental. Anyone who wants to be in government must justify his or her position. 
 
Power is not served a la carte. I won’t submit what belongs to me easily. So, whatever you are doing, learn to set up your party properly. If you cannot build a political structure, don’t go near power. 

Is it democratic for parties to nominate candidates through consensus?
You cannot practice consensus if you are not a veritable leader. Every party has its own internal arrangement and no matter what we do, congress is always the recognised way of selection at the state level while convention is required at the national level. There could be horse trading prior to the congress but once it’s taken before congress and approved, that becomes the official decision. 
   
I came to realise that politics is a full time undertaking contrary to the belief that it’s something one should do part-time. It is only those who do not understand the leadership requirement of politics that will come to say it only requires a little bit of time after spending time doing other things. 
  
The truth is, you can’t spend time doing other things and become a neophyte in politics because being a neophyte will destroy other things previously achieved. 

What’s your take on your party’s endorsement of Obafemi Hamzat for Lagos governorship ticket?
I am from Apa Kingdom, Badagry West, a community so rich in history and so embedded in power in Lagos. We have never been anything; but if Hamzat becomes the next governor of Lagos State, he will be the second person after Babatunde Raji-Fashola that claims Apa Kingdom’s origin.
  
Apa Kingdom is the origin of Lagos State; Lagos State is a state that does not discriminate whether a person is a child of a male or a female and it is making Lagos State a winner. Prosperity will not come if we start debating and discriminating. Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, can also contest in Lagos because his mother is from Apa Kingdom.

There is an argument that occupying Alausa is now by coronation and not election. What’s your view on that?
As someone who has played party politics extensively, it is common knowledge that all political parties must go through primary to choose a flag bearer or risk being sanctioned by INEC. Aggrieved persons may also go to court to nullify the person picked.
    
President Tinubu and other leaders declaring their preference for Hamzat is a way of challenging everyone who has a better candidate to come out. So, other groups can come out like during the time of Primrose and Agbalajobi groups. Primrose Group adopted Chief Dapo Sarumi while the Agbalajobi Group came out to endorse Agbalajobi and it was a hard-fought battle.
   
A lot of people do not understand how deeply rooted political matters should be taken. For anyone to emerge as a political leader, he or she must have gravitated towards many aspects of human endeavours. There are leaders who have aspired to be president throughout their life in Nigeria, and there are those who have been given the position easily. The former includes the likes of Atiku Abubakar who became a vice president and has fought to be president and is still fighting.  Muhammadu Buhari’s incursion into politics was a volatile experience; Goodluck Jonathan had a smooth ride to power; Bola Tinubu’s own was a smooth fighting; he fought and conquered several times to get to where he’s going. I cannot say any leader who has gone through a series of political struggles is a loser.

Atiku is a national monument just like Tinubu, Jonathan, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and others. We need to study them.

But who dares speak in the APC after President Tinubu has endorsed Hamzat?
I appreciate the fact that people believe that when Tinubu has said something it’s almost a law; but sometimes, I don’t think Tinubu should be held guilty of anything. We all do it in our houses. When you talk as a father, your wife will support you, and that is enough for the children to go in peace. It is the best way to build society. The fact that the person who has authority has spoken does not bar others from talking. 
  
I believe that Tinubu’s action offers other leaders in the country the opportunity to study how over 20 million people can identify with a decision every time without being asked to do so. That process has been examined and has been seen to save the state the precarious position of having to go into conflict with itself. Other states where things are not done well are left with imbroglio. Lagos State has been devoid of any political problem that has resulted in crisis. So, the leaders deserve kudos.

In a free and fair election, do you think President Bola Tinubu can win re-election?
The 2023 presidential election is the most justified election; Peter Obi won the presidential election in Lagos but the Labour Party could not win a Senate seat and majority of House of Representatives seats went to the APC. 
  
Going by all the indices; the APC has more governors than other parties; so it places at almost winning the election. APC has more House of Representatives members and more members in the Senate. I cannot identify anything that suggests otherwise or Peter Obi defeating Tinubu. Atiku also does not stand a chance. It’s totally impossible for another person than Bola Tinubu to emerge winner of the 2027 presidential election. 

Has president Tinubu done well in terms of security and economy to deserve a second term?
A certain section of the country is under siege. I have come to realise that many things spring up towards the election period. From my own point of view, solution is coming.  Foreign countries are cooperating. I believe the government is doing incredibly in terms of security. We saw an incredible shift in economic development when Tinubu came in. Many people never thought that the student loan would see the light of the day but he made it happen. Multinational companies now see Nigeria as a safe haven. The exchange rate has stabilised almost completely.