Prince Gboyega Famodun is every inch a prince going by the aura of royalty all over him. Prince Famodun grew up in the palace where he was privileged to learn the rudiments of royalty, business and politics under the tutelage of his late father, the Owa of Igbajo, who combined all three functions during his reign. Famodun, today, also brilliantly combines these responsibilities, succeeding in business and rising to stardom in politics as the current chairman of the All Progressive Congress in Osun. In this exclusive interview with Osun Newsroom, Prince Famodun, gave his informed perspective about the present political developments in Osun vis-a-vis the administration of Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, the recently held party primary leading to the emergence of Oyetola as governorship candidate, the party structure in the state and of course the forthcoming July 16 guber election. He also discussed strategic moves being planned by the governor and the party structure to bring some aggrieved party members into the fold. Excerpts:
Osun Newsroom:
What made you go into politics inspite of your blue-blooded background?
Famodun:
I started very early in life. All that you see me doing today in and outside the political arena started a long time ago. My father, the late Owa of Igbajo land, Oba Isaac Adelani Famodun, apart from being a king whose reign witnessed so many unprecedented developments in my town, was also a shrewd businessman of local, national and international pedigree. He combined his business acumen with being an outstanding politician. He was Chief Whip of the Western House of Chiefs. As a young prince, being very close to him and following him to different places gave me the needed opportunities to learn some critical values. He gave me all the encouragements that a child could look for in his father, especially in business and politics.
Osun Newsroom:
So, before your rise to the position of State chairman, what other positions have you held in politics before reaching the pinnacle as far as Osun APC is concerned?
Famodun:
The positions I have held are many but briefly and succinctly, I started as an Assistant Senatorial Secretary in the old Oyo state, when Ogbomoso was part and parcel of Osun Senatorial district. In fact, the positions are countless.
Osun Newsroom:
Between politics and business, which would you describe as the most rewarding?
Famodun;
Well, that’s difficult to say because I was in both and still in both. Until my late father answered the call of his creator in 1988, he groomed me thoroughly in both business and politics. At a point in time, one of the options open to me was either to go into business or active politics by contesting elections. Eventually, I settled for politics but while still carrying on with my businesses on the side. However, as you can see, I am now more into politics. By way of recall, one of my political mentors, then, was the late Prince Hameed Kusamotu. He was to contest as Chairman of Boripe local government and I was to be the vice chairman. But all of a sudden, from nowhere, certain political intrigues cropped up that led to the Prince Kusamotu not contesting for that position. He, however, gave a condition that if not him, the next person that should be given that chairmanship slot to contest was me. Eventually I did in 1990 but it was politically tough beyond description. However, victory came my way. That again signalled the beginning of my political career.
Osun Newsroom:
You were one of the political figures close to former Governor Aregbesola, what actually went wrong between the two of you ?
Famodun:
My experience in politics, like I earlier told you, dates back to several years. At the risk of exaggeration, very few people can match my experience in Osun politics.
In fact, comparing me with Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the politics of Osun is a misnomer. I was and am still deeply into it before he came from Lagos state. We made everything available for him. We gave him all the necessary political landing space which eventually made him, through providence, the governor of Osun state for eight years. I am an Osun politician to the core and before anybody can upstage me in the politics of the state, such a person must think twice.
Osun Newsroom:
And then the emergence of the dissenting group within the party known as TOP…
Famodun:
TOP? Like I do tell people, it is just a matter of political exaggeration to say that members of TOP could be a clog in the wheel of progress of Osun APC in the coming July 16 governorship election. Much as we still count them as part and parcel of the state APC, it will amount to exaggerating their relevance to say that they are constituting a clog or will constitute a clog in the wheel of our victory at the coming guber election. It is only us (the politicians) that can tell you that TOP is being overrated beyond their political capabilities. Let me take you back to the recently conducted gubernatorial primary in our party; the wide margin we garnered at the end of it all portrayed them as very insignificant, thereby showing the true reflection of what they are. You assess the strength or weakness of a given political party against another political party and not a pressure group within a given political party. They (TOP) had 14% of the entire votes while the incumbent governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, had 86% . Where then lies the basis for comparison or saying that they will constitute a threat to the success of the party? Like I predicted before the party primaries which had been widely acknowledged as open, free, fair and transparent by the National Working Committee of our party, the activities of TOP will fade away and that exactly is what has happened. When last did you hear them after the gubernatorial primaries? The only job left for them is to massage the ego of their paymaster.
Osun Newsroom:
By implication, what happens to the window of reconciliation?
Famodun:
Nobody, in the first instance, expelled or suspended them from the party.They left voluntarily without any clear-cut reason. Look, we have also tolerated them to a reasonable limit in spite of their many unguarded statements and actions. We have been very sympathetic. Aregbesola was the former leader of the party in the state as a former sitting governor. We now have another leader of the party in the incumbent governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola. Unless the former governor is now telling us that he is still the leader of the party in the state; it is never done anywhere in politics especially in the progressive party .
Osun Newsroom:
One of the reasons adduced was that the list he (Mr Rauf Aregbesola) sent to the party for his nominees for different political positions was not honoured.
Famodun:
It is not true. Ogbeni Aregbesola did not send any list that was jettisoned by anybody. On a serious note, I am of the belief that as a former governor of the state, there must be a synergy between him and his successor but Aregbesola didn’t create room for this.
Osun Newsroom:
Traditional rulers too at a stage waded in to reconcile the situation?
Famodun:
We commended and still commend the efforts of our traditional rulers in this matter. But in politics, when there’s crisis, politicians will just be scratching the surface rather than addressing the fundamentals of the crisis. If they had succeeded in getting the two of them seated, perhaps for the first time, the causes, which I call the fundamentals, could have been laid bare.
Osun Newsroom:
But sir, in your own thinking and calculations, what are these fundamentals that are yet to be made open?
Famodun:
(Smiles). I don’t know.
I am, however, of the opinion that the basis for the reconciliation must be thorough and sincere. As I speak with you, there are a lot of cases in law courts filed by TOP members, especially the results of the recently held congresses. The party primaries that produced Oyetola as candidate for the July 16 governorship election is being challenged. There are two to three other suits too filed by the same TOP under the guise of being filed by pseudo petitioners. It is only a teenager in politics that will not be able to know that it is the members of TOP that are sponsoring the suits by so-called pseudo petitioners, to challenge APC and Mr Governor in the law courts. Is there then a basis for reconciliation in this?
Osun Newsroom:
How do you bring an end to this crisis then?
Famodun:
Look, there’s no crisis as far as I am concerned. It is politics, and as politicians, we know ourselves in this game. Politics, occasionally is all about crisis and we shall soon settle it.
Osun Newsroom:
Very soon?
Famodun:
Well, very very soon. Election is just few months away from now. But again, for the basis of reconciliation, TOP members should as a matter of necessity withdraw the cases filed in law courts. This is one of the basis for reconciliation. Governor Oyetola, being who he is at all time, is open to reconciliation but unfortunately, reverse is the case on the part of TOP members.
Osun Newsroom:
How prepared is your party, the APC, in the forthcoming July 16 governorship election in Osun state?
Famodun:
We are looking forward to having a good outing by God’s grace. What for now gives the party an elated mood is the wide acceptability of the governor by the party and the entire people of the state. For instance, he had 86% of the votes cast during the recently held party primaries across the state. This is unprecedented. It means the party wants him. The people of the state also want him. All we need to do is consolidate on these and maximize them to a logical and happy conclusion in the coming election. We are favourably planted in the hearts of the people of our dear state and we shall continue to live up to their expectations.
