BBC interview: Aisha Buhari spoke our minds – APC boss

The South west caucus of the All Progressives Congress, APC will resist attempt by any group or individual to rubbish or threaten the interests of the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, says the Chairman of the party in Lagos State, Henry Ajomale.
Giving the warning during an interview with SATURDAY SUN, Ajomale vowed that any attempt to take on Tinubu will not only backfire but have far reaching consequences for APC. He also spoke on other national issues including the alleged rift between Tinubu and Afenifere leaders, Aisha Buhari’s interview with the BBC, as well as Tinubu’s relationship with Governor Ayo Fayose and Senator Buruji Kasumu. He spoke with TUNDE THOMAS.

What is your reaction to recent unfolding developments within your party, APC, especially relating to attempt being made to rubbish Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Southwest interests?
You can’t have the type of amalgamation that brought APC together as a party without expecting such developments. APC is a combination of about 4 or 5 political parties and everybody or each of the parties has its own uniqueness.
Therefore, before we get to understand one another may take time. But as far as we are concerned in the Southwest, the worst thing anybody can do is to attempt to rubbish Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We will never allow that in the Southwest, and the national level, we will resist attempt by any individual to rubbish Tinubu. We will not accept it. Never. Tinubu has done a lot for this country. Without Tinubu, APC won’t be in government today. He spent his time, energy and resources to get APC into office. How can anybody attempt to rubbish such a man. It is only evil men that will contemplate such.

Some people believe President Muhammadu Buhari should have tried to shield Tinubu or his interests from being threatened in APC, considering what Tinubu has done for the party and the President himself, what do you make out of that?
What I know is that the president may not know some of these things happening within the party. But I believe Buhari will not look the other way if anybody tries to rubbish Asiwaju Tinubu. I believe that sooner or later these evil people will be exposed. Those people who want to cause division and confusion within APC will be exposed. They are there within the fold but their days are numbered. They will soon come to judgment.
But my advice is that President Buhari should take the advice given to him by his wife in the BBC interview recently serious. He should reflect on it rather than being angry or otherwise.
If the First Lady has not seen anything she would not have talked. She is not a baby. Mrs Aisha Buhari is a highly intelligent woman and well read. She knew what she was saying, the president should not treat the issues raised by the woman with levity.
The woman lives with the president inside Aso Rock, if she didn’t see anything, she wouldn’t have talked, the only quarrel the president can say he has is the channel through which the woman expressed her mind. But she raised important issues that the president should not ignore. I expect the president to take the advice of his wife in good faith. If I were Buhari, I won’t dismiss Aisha’s observations with a wave of the hand. She was obviously not saying nonsense. God used Aisha Buhari to expose evils in APC.

On the issue of alignment and realignment going on in the Southwest in the wake of developments in APC and even PDP …
(Cuts in) … There is always alignment and realignment in politics. It is normal. It is part of politics.

Can you then say APC is ready to work with a die-hard critic of the party and Tinubu’s foes like Governor Ayodele Fayose, and Senator Buruji Kashamu?
In politics, there is no permanent friend but permanent interests. We will work with Fayose and Kasamu, but it will however depend on the circumstances. Old enemies may become friends today or tomorrow.
You don’t say no in politics. If Fayose and Kasamu’s intentions are good, we will work with them. Even Obanikoro, he is welcome back into the fold of APC if he wants to come back. The constitution guarantees freedom of association. Obanikoro was with us before. He was my colleague in the cabinet of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. If he wants to return to the fold, we will welcome him.