Comrade Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, a political activist, is a former Lagos State Chairman of the African Action Congress (AAC) and also the party’s former governorship aspirant in Ondo State. Ajayi, a one-time chieftain of the National Conscience Party (NCP), in this interview with EJIKEME OMENAZU, speaks on some crucial national issues. Excerpt:
How do you see President Bola Tinubu’s recent Tribunal victory over Abubakar Atiku and Peter Obi?
I am really not amazed about the judgment in favour of Tinubu. The Judiciary is long gone. Anyone who wants real change cannot depend on the judiciary.
Do you suspect any foul play among the different stakeholders as regards the Tribunal ruling on the presidential election?
The whole electoral jostling is a foul play! The stakeholders are all members of the ruling class ruining the politics and economy of the country. So, it is an intra-class fight. Whether it is Atiku or Obi, they are all the same with Tinubu. They are all fighting to be in charge of the greed and power that continues to make Naija (Nigeria) a horrible place.
Would you say that the Supreme Court may come up with a different ruling bearing in mind the long presentations by the Tribunal Judges?
I do not see the same. I believe the Supreme Court will even be more political than the Tribunal!
Would you say the ruling APC government under President Tinubu has made a significant positive impact among Nigerians in its first 100 days in office?
On May 29, the Tinubu regime started out as anti-people. And till now, it’s getting worse and worse. You can see the level with which people are committing suicide that this government is so negative against Nigerians. Dollar is now over N1000, while energy products are at an all-time high. There has been nothing positive about the Tinubu’s regime thus far!
How do you see the few outings of Tinubu on international fora? Would you say they are really arousing investors’ interests in Nigeria?
It’s funny when people who are supposed to be creating investments and industries are busy running to those who have done the same to come helping them. It’s so embarrassing!
Who are these investors? Are they not humans? Didn’t Nigeria have several industries and investments before this neo-liberal rabble rousing?! The term Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is such a fraudulent invective. Since our fake economists have been branding the same, there has not been any single sector that has attracted the so-called FDI. Why? The concept is a ruse! What they are simply saying is that the country should never produce but sell off its natural resources to foreign companies. So, Tinubu’s International Outings are jamborees to continue the Imperialist plundering of Nigeria’s assets.
Could you take a critical look at the federal cabinet? Do you see them as round pegs in round holes?
No minister can go out of the prism of the goals of the regime. So, there is no issue of ‘round pegs in round holes!’ This regime is grossly anti-people. So, it’s ministers will follow suit. You can see the Minister of Women Affairs supporting the randy Dean of Law in the University of Calabar, Prof Ndifon who a lot of students accused of sexual harassment. You can see Umahi and the workers at loggerheads in the Ministry of Works. Most of those Tinubu appointed have corruption cases hanging on their necks. Some of them were notorious Abacha money spinners. Nothing good really can come out of these sets of greedy merchants!
Would you say that President Tinubu has so far followed his promise of running a Government of National Unity?
I don’t believe so. Unity is not about uniting supporters from different parties. It’s about genuinely providing for people’s needs and politically restructuring away from the status quo. You cannot have Nnamdi Kanu in prison and you talk of Government of National Unity. They have also started attacks on Shiites, like the Buhari government. There cannot be unity when people are deeply in poverty and there is now more I employments!
Going by feelers from Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa, could you predict the outcome of the off season governorship elections that will be held in these three states in November?
I can only predict that the highest rigger will be declared. And just as INEC has said, there will be so much violence. Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa people should be bracing up for another tenure of roguery as there has really been no alternatives thus far.
Would you say that the Labour Movement as represented by the NLC and TUC are representing Nigerians well under the Tinubu administration far?
Well, I can say that both unions are still on course. Though workers are more expectant from them, it’s really not easy to face such a viciously ruthless government. This is why the battles from the souls of the transport unions become very sacrosanct. If Tinubu successfully installs his thugs into the leadership of both unions nationally, it will be easier to break strikes. While NLC now has a quite vibrant leadership, TUC’s seems to be foot dragging. But happily, veterans have united both unions, and this is why the October 3 strike will be more successful. I only want to advise workers generally to start pushing their unions. And Revolutionaries in the civil society should start independent mobilisations. We must build beyond the NLC and TUC. This is the only way to make both unions more vibrant and radical than before.
After over 100 days in office so far, do you think President Tinubu has the political will to turn the nation around going by his Renew Hope mantra and his pronouncements at inauguration?
He and his cronies have not turned Lagos around since 1999. That is about 24 years. How would they have the political will to turn Nigeria around? Let us get it clear. Tinubu will only favour his pockets, greed and the oppressors more.
How do you see the unemployment situation and how it could be curbed?
I addressed workers at the Ministry of Labour ecently and I was very clear about the fact that Nigerians need re-industrialisation. We need to get the government fully back to doing business. We must not mind all the lies of Dangote and Otedola, all they want is more trillions into their personal pockets. How can Nigeria be topping the charts of countries with unemployment at 33.3%? Which kind of wickedness is that? How can we have 133 million poor out of 200 million? We need to do away with SAP and other policies of neoliberalism!
How is your party, the African Action Party (AAC) since after the 2023 electoral loss? What is the party’s plans for the future?
The African Action Congress (AAC) is not amazed at the results of the 2023 general elections. We understand all the waves and illusions. We understand that the whole process is not credible. We understand that the masses are yet to come to terms with the actual causes of our problems. So, we keep mobilising and organising. We are happy that people are already regretting not voting for our Presidential candidate, Comrade Omoyele Sowore and the other AAC candidates. But, we are sure that our ideas are now the standards. Look at subsidy removal: Obi, Atiku, Kwankwanso, and Tinubu said they would remove the same. Their supporters were yelling and happy. But, these supporters were all novices as to what the removal of subsidies would do. But the AAC was correct to stand against the subsidy removal ab initio. So, the whole Nigerians are now regretting not voting Sowore the activist. All the politicians they voted for are all anti-people!
