 As political parties in the country begin to strategise ways on how to secure victory during the 2023 general elections, many Nigerians are also looking towards the independent national electoral commission to deliver a free-fair incredible election. Despite the scepticism about the performances of INAG, a high turnout of eligible voters was recorded during the continuous voter registration exercise across the country, which indicates that citizens had shrugged off the past disappointments and are ready for the coming elections. We're joining us to discuss these. Is Dele Allaqe, he is the director of strategic communication for the Tiniwbhu Shatima campaign organization. It's so good to have you join us. Thank you for having me. We obviously know that the APC has its job cut out for 2023 and there are several questions here to be asked, especially for the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, former governor of Lagos State, Bola Amed Tiniwbhu. So I'll start by asking you, can you quickly, because you've worked with him for so many years, you obviously do know the man more than everybody else and there are several questions that people will want to ask. So we'll start by asking. Tell us more about this gentleman because there's so many people who have questions and controversies that surround him, but what would you say about the man Tiniwbhu? What I will say briefly about the man, actually a program of the whole day is not enough to talk about Bola Tiniwbhu, but we can just synthesize and encapsulate the major points. Bola Tiniwbhu is a thinker, is an unparled thinker and is a doer. Now, in the life of Nigeria and I said this at various forum, we've not had or we've not been fortunate to have leadership at the center that has combined the three critical attributes of a progressive leader and that is vision, knowledge and courage. Now, we are having these three attributes combined in Bola Tiniwbhu and there are examples on each of these attributes. There are examples of his vision, there are examples of his knowledge, there are examples of his courage spanning across all the governance of all human endeavour or public administration. Let's give the most eloquent testimony of vision. Look at Equatlantic, Equatlantic city many years ago was just water. Water, the beach was surging and was eroding the entire Amadu Belaway and reducing the value of the properties abotting that road, abotting the beach and threatening the entire Victoria Island and the federal government of that era was only pouring sands, sands filling every year and the raging beach would of course eat up the sands within nine months and Bola Tiniwbhu said no, there must be a permanent solution. They dreamed up the idea of an Atlantic city started with the project in 2001 and successive governance after him of course continued it. And to be, you and I can see what Equatlantic city is. It has attracted the US Embassy. It's building the most, it's like just the embassy in the world in that place. It will be $500 million foreign investment. That's an example of vision. None of his contestants, none of his opponents has that track record. Look at knowledge. When he got into office, the IGR, the eternally generated revenue of Lagos State was $600 million. Some people are contesting it and I count them as ignorant muses. The ignorant. Geniwa Bubamirua is alive. He's the chairman of NDMA. He was the one that Tiniwbhu took over from. They can go and ask him. Geniwa Marwa met the IGR of Lagos State at $300 million. He himself brought in a consultant and grew the revenue to $600 million. It was at $600 million when Marwa exited and Tiniwbhu came in. And he brought in the mechanism, a new mechanism and instituted a mechanism that started the IGR galloping. Made the IGR to start jumping up. And he was plugging loopholes with technology in the payroll system, in administration and plugging leakages. The revenue started jumping up. By the time he was leaving from $600 million, it was making the $7 billion mark. Today it's over $50 billion. The same mechanism that he instituted then has not been changed and it has been going up. And that same mechanism has been copied by several other states and in fact is moving out of Nigeria into some other African countries. That's knowledge. Now take courage. When Lagos was 20 local governments, Lagos has arguably debatedly the largest population in Nigeria. That is incontrovertible. Everybody knows that everybody from everywhere living across West Africa is flocking into Lagos on a daily basis. And Lagos has the tiniest land area in the entire country. Now what that means is obam blight, concentration, a lot of use and crisis in terms of administration, in terms of daily exigences of living. And this all costs money. Now the Laginumbu started and said there must be more local governments to bring government. Where are the people of Lagos state? There were other states that had less population than Lagos but had over 40 local governments. And then he created more local governments. He was not alone there. There were other first states. Nigeria, I think Nigeria, I think Adria, Katsina, I'm sure of this one. About four other states joined him and created. And then that federal government of that era said no, that you couldn't create local governments. And cease and threaten to stop the revenue allocation and go into local governments. Other states, other states reversed. They reversed. They didn't have the courage to go along with it. It was only Bella Tinubu who kept on and fought the case at the Supreme Court. And one, and the Supreme Court said the federal government was unconstitutional for the federal government to stop the allocation to local governments or any tier of government. However, that federal government still insisted and stopped the allocation throughout the tenure until Bella Tinubu left. That was about three years or something like that. Okay. Now, yeah, today, today, most states are creating more local governments and calling it LCD, local government development area, which was also a creation of Bella Tinubu that is courage. I could go on and on. Well, because we don't have time and you said that it would take us all day. You don't have to like Bella Tinubu's face, but there are certain things that facts are incontrovertible. If you know the truth, facts are sacred. Okay. Still talking about controversies here. There are a lot of people who have different perceptions about the man, but let's talk about his education. We know that you're here to, of course, clear the air about a lot of things. So help us clear the air about his education. What school did he go to? What secondary school did he attend? I mean, like I said at the beginning, you know the man. That is quite the material. Now, let me tell you why. But it's important to Nigerians to know the man who wants to lead them, who wants their boss. You have to listen to my response and I'll tell you why. Okay. The constitution spreads out the requirements, the educational requirement for qualification into various offices, either into local government, goblership, presidency, whatever. It is there stated. And once the presidency was a qualification, I mean requirement, it is you have to have education up to school cert level. Up to. It did not even say you should pass it. It says up to school certificate level. Okay. Now, this man has a university degree which is incontrovertible. It has been verified from Chicago State University. Now, before then, he was at Richard Daley College. It is a community college. It is pre-university now. Those who have read abroad know what this is about. Now, in terms of the elementary or high school or whatever, it depends on your background. If you were looking that you had a background, a privileged background for parents who were here, who could send you to all of those schools, you were looking. If you were the type that was indigent that you had to put yourself up from the bookstrap, then you did what you called home studies. Go and ask the elders what they know what is called home studies. You study at home, you work, you study at home, at home, and you then take exams. That's what this guy did, studied at home, profiled abroad, and got into Richard Daley College. So you're saying that the former governor of Lagos State was homeschooled? Because first, during an interview, you said that people didn't go to school at the time. So does this mean that he did not go to school when he sat at home and wrote an examination? Was he homeschooled? No, I don't think that people didn't go to school. He said there was an option. If you could not attend the former school, the former forwards of the school, you had the option of reading at home and passing exams. In fact, beyond that, there were also what you called correspondences schools at that time, which was pre-university, pre-Lukwribu, attend those evening classes and take your exams and pass your exams. There were various options at that time. It's unlike now that you had schools in every corner or that you had more people able to afford the school fees. If you were not able to afford this, this man should be giving credit for bringing himself up from the loneliest of levels and attending this height. That's why I said it is heavy. Those who had all the privileges cannot attain half of the achievements of this. So they had to resort to all sorts of extraneous issues that really don't make the mark. The homes does not make the monk. It is the substance that comes out of you. How has this man been able to really make all these achievements? Where we have people who had all the privileges from elementary school to high school to university and all of that and who couldn't make the mark who could not at least themselves creditable when it comes to academics, intellectualism and all of that. So this man should be giving credit rather than piloting him out of any out of extreme jealousy let them compete with them. Still talking about controversies and questions that need to be answered because I do not know if the people who he is seeking their votes fall in the category of people who are jealous because do you not think that Nigerians deserve to know certain information about the man who wants to lead them? But I go to my question. They deserve to know what the people who are adumbrating and propagating these negatives are those who are jealous of him who could not make his own attainment. So even if this is the truth why can't the truth just be said to Nigerians and let's move on with it but let's talk about his help. Isn't that what we have said? Yes. And we have said this let me tell you another thing. This is not the first time we are making this rule but you see when you are consumed with envy and hatred you refuse to assimilate the truth. It is that your fixation, your obsession that is in your focus and that's what's happening to this. That's why they keep repeating and repeating and repeating the same thing. Not because they don't know or they've never heard. They know. Ms Alaké, let's talk about his health. Do you think also that Nigerians deserve to know the status of Asiwadriw Pohla met Tinibu's health? Of course. There have been many videos, many concerns rather about how he's faring and if he's fit for office. And this is not the first time Nigerians are asking the question. The same was asked when President Bahari was running for this office. So can we know what his health status is? Very, very sound. The Nigerians have a good reason to ask for anybody's health. Anybody that aspires to rule over them, it is their constitutional right to know the state of health of that person. So I'm not judging anybody for asking for state of health. What we are saying is that, hey, this man is heavier than even his most ardent critics and I'll tell you why and how. If you do, I always tell people, please do a critical analysis, especially in media folks. I'm a media person myself and trained to vote. And during that time, you are trained to critically analyse not to accept insinuations, rumos in Nwendo's hookline and sinker and begin to propagate it. Now, as you are doing before the primaries, tell me which of the aspirants that traverse the length and breadth of Nigeria conversing for votes, telegates, a every and all through the period they were saying he was me, he couldn't move and he was moving all over the country. He was travelling, he knew younger elements, he didn't have the same stamina. And tell me, even after the primaries, when he became the candidate, tell me another person that has been moving around consulting with all categories of people, interest groups, voters and all that. And apart from all of these, these are things open to the public. Let me now tell you what's not open to the public which some of us are privileged to have known for decades within. If you work with a shiw adju, that's when you will know the man's style of working in early sleeps. And please, go and do a content analysis on a random subject of all the people that are at that close proximity to him that have been working with him. Ask them. You either go grey or go bald or have bags under your eyes or develop wrinkles because of the greyly nature of his working style in early sleeps. He's always pouring out groups, meetings, developing ideas, thinking, looking at issues from all angles so he rarely sleeps. Now if he's an unhealthy person, he cannot keep up that schedule of work for the last 30 years that have been at the same thing tomorrow. Now, let me now come to the issue of going to hospital for treatment or whatever. Who is including you? Who is very young now? Don't you have headaches, occasional health issues that you have to call your doctor and all of that as a human being? Everybody goes through that and that is not a big deal. That is nothing. And let me tell you, God forbid, don't young people fall down and pass, tell them people fall down and pass, needy late people fall down and pass, only God has the power of life and death. Let's move on. One final question about the man and then we'll go into the politics of the the politics of the APC. Let's talk about the fact that many people would refer to Bola Meir Tinibu as a godfather of sorts and responsible for some of those who the guys who have taken his successors the likes of Fashallah and all the other governors that have come after him. If this is true, if this is true, why does it seem like the campaign of BAT, of course, is trying to disassociate itself from the APC's achievements or some of the the worst things that's happened in this country being that he was the man who canvassed for votes for President Bahari. Is it true that your company is trying to separate us? Are you asking a double-barreled questions? Yes, I'm asking a two-pronged question. Yes. We call it double-barreled in the newsroom. Now, let me take you the first one about being a godfather. I've been asked this on channels of one other station and I've given you the same response. There is nothing intrinsically, inherently innately wrong with godfatherism in politics. Because it happens all over the world somebody must develop somebody. In fact, it is a landmark of good leadership to be able to mentor others and develop other leaders. It is only a bad leader a myopic leader a parochial leader whose horizon is narrow that cannot develop other leaders. So, those who are describing negative connotation to the idea of godfatherism in politics regarding a strategy a myopic parochial, incompetent and inefficient to develop other leaders. As he has done and that's why the envy comes. And I gave examples of our revered sage or sages Aulao. He was a godfather. Why? Because he developed other leaders. So many governors he sired political leaders like the General Condé Agashim and Abangio and Ambrosa Lee the late Nadia Zikwil was a godfather he sired other political leaders the late Amadu Bello was a godfather because he gave back politically to other leaders. So, why should those things be different? Why should a negative connotation be ascribed to it? Because he developed other leaders. He should be giving a calling so but then people are asking but people are asking why does it seem that your campaign is trying to disassociate itself from some of the failures of the APC led administration? It is not even true it is very untrue. I know that Kayamo that you mentioned there are several times he's been on different fora and questions have been thrown to him because he is an integral part of this government he is an executive officer of the government so he is assumed to have deeper inner knowledge of the workings of this government in terms of his achievements and he has been reeling out some of his achievements and it is not true that the campaign is distancing himself no, it is not possible because it is still the same party is the same platform what I think it was former governor Shea Molle at one of the interviews I said that you cannot hold Ashiywajju Tinumbu directly responsible for some of the challenges confronting this administration. Why? Because yes Tinumbu advocated for this government to come into office but he has not for one day been an executive member of the government so are you telling me that all the PC members are supposed to know exactly what goes on in the executive council of the government? No! So you cannot hold them responsible whereas let us even come to brass that this government, yes it has challenges in the area of security the economy and all that particularly the security there are challenges nobody can run away from that it is the same question however what we are saying is that even if your son if you are president today and you had to hand over to your son your son will still have certain things maybe his style of administration his approach to issues will be quite different from yours that does not mean that your son is no longer your son So let me ask a quick question before I go into the party policy because we are almost out of time so you are saying to Nigerians who are watching now that the Bohari administration has done really great and that your candidate if he were to be president will continue on those gains if there be any this is what you are saying to Nigerians They are against, let us be factual and objective I am sorry Mr Alakai, I just want to yes or no answer I am so sorry The government has done fairly more than infrastructure development only infrastructure development and that is all that Nigeria needs right now have you ever seen any government and that is all that we need right now as we will be devled by insecurity on one hand as the economy is facing a downturn as our monies are being stolen and corruption is rife this is what we need to be building on infrastructure at this time really why do you think there is corruption why do you think so unfortunately there is so much abysmal ignorance out there about the dynamics of administration about the dynamics of public's when you want to tackle corruption tackle economy security and all of that there are mechanisms to put in place some of this mechanism don't even dominate even within the lifespan of that current administration it could be the next administration because government is a continuum and some of these things have gestational periods so that I say that the government has done fairly okay in infrastructure does not invalidate its area of challenges no, do not put words into my mouth or misconstru what I am saying or misinterpret it to the unworthy public no, I am not saying that it does not have challenges I am saying that it has recorded remarkable success in the area of infrastructure infrastructure that does not invalidate the challenges not at all I am saying that the coming to new book government is going to take all of those challenges confront them because of its track record we cannot give Nigeria now at this stage to people who have no track record of performance who will come and experiment that is disastrous Mr Lachey, before we wrap up I want to go to something a statement that was made here in Lagos by your candidates running mate during the NBA conference he did talk about the fact that he would be in charge of security he talked about that and that your candidate would be in charge of the economy and this also one way or the other didn't rub off well on Nigerians especially when the president is the commander of the AMFOS and security should be his number one role why do you think that Shatima made that statement himself is a human being and where every human being including yourself and myself is subject to flips what Shatima wanted to tell you was that the commander in chief could or may ascribe that portfolio to him constitutionally the president gives assignment to the vice president the vice president is assigned apart from being chairman of the economy council and such other constitutionally stipulated rules so that is not such a big deal to now begin to adumbrate all over the place and making it part of the male yield it is it the commander in chief remains the commander in chief because when somebody from outside the cycle the loop of government will be in charge of security if it is full decides so the the box tops of the table of the president finally I want to ask you this question if I don't ask you this question finally what do you think about the pita b phenomenon I've heard people who support your candidate say he doesn't have a structure etc but do you think that the pita b phenomenon and of course the wind or the wave that comes with it is something for your party to worry about no, pita b is the fluke is the fluke and I'm saying that with all sense of responsibility apart from not having structure or anything when Nigerians closely scrutinise everybody's antecedents and records of performance you will see that pita b will be repaid into its significance he wrote anambra for eight years tinwbw lwydflagos for eight years put their achievements on the table on the vision in knowledge and in courage put everything on it you will see that pita b will be repaid into its significance because it is pandering to the winds of the largely ignorant section of the populace one, two the anti-tinwmbu haters three the section of the youth that really don't have a sense of history that did not know when pita b was in office or when tinwmbu was in office and did not know about their records to do a comparative analysis these are the issues and this all as we go along into FISU we have seen such before in the past and then we've now come to the gritty of the dynamics of electioneering and pattern of voting across the nation go and study it you will see that he does not all the views and cry on social media social media doesn't win elections because that's not where you vote you vote in the polling booth the majority of people who vote are not on FISU we have to go Mr Alaké we have to go unfortunately we don't have time anymore but I want to thank you Dele Alaké is the director of strategic communications for the Tinwmbu Shatima campaign organization it's a pleasure having you on the program tonight thank you for having me great and that's it on plus politics tonight I'll be back tomorrow as we continue to talk for development I am Mary Annacol and have a good evening