INTERVIEW: Tinubu Must Secure His Legacy—Ex-Lagos LP Chair Salako

Olukayode Salako is the former chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State. Despite playing a key role in the party’s success during the 2023 general elections in Lagos, he resigned after being accused of being a mole for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu.

Salako was the LP’s candidate for the Federal House of Representatives election in Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 1 in 2023 but lost to Bashiru Dawodu of the APC.

A seasoned politician, Salako is also the founder of the Passion Alliance Forum (PANFO), a political movement. In this exclusive interview with THE WHISTLER, he discusses the challenges he faced, the LP’s performance in Lagos, his views on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, and Tinubu’s economic policies. Now back in the APC, he shares his political ambitions and plans for the 2027 elections.

You Played A Key Role In The Labour Party’s Successes During The 2023 General Elections In Lagos State. However, You Later Resigned After Being Labelled An “APC/Tinubu Mole.” How Did This Accusation Impact Your Mental And Emotional Well-Being?

I played the role I played because I was the state chairman and leader of the party at the time, and I left when some prominent members of the OBIDIENT movement/Labour Party said I couldn’t be trusted as the man in charge of the running of the affairs of the party and the Peter Obi presidential election project at the time. And so, I had to leave.

I handed over to another person, a woman, honourably and went to concentrate on my House of Representatives election project in my constituency, an election which I won, but the mandate I lost.

I was accused of being a Tinubu/APC mole and I left their party for them.

The Labour Party Won The Presidential Election In Lagos State But Lost The Governorship Race. In Your View, What Were The Key Factors Behind This Outcome?

The Labour Party won the presidential election in the state because all the party’s operational structures and organs were involved in the operations of the election.

But, in the case of the governorship election, many actors in the state were not involved. They pulled out because Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who was the candidate of the party, asked them to. He said he had his own people he wanted to use for the operations of his election. He was in charge of his own election by himself and he failed.

How Would You Assess Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Administration So Far?

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has done well so far. He hasn’t done badly, especially in the areas of infrastructure, environment, health, education, security and socio-economic programs.

His government is one of the best in the area of strategic, iconic and monumental project implementation.

Nigerians Are Facing Severe Economic Challenges Following The Removal Of Fuel Subsidies And The Floating Of The Naira Under President Bola Tinubu’s Administration. How Would You Evaluate His Leadership And Economic Policies?

My response to that is that President Bola Tinubu believes he is doing it right for Nigeria. That is his avowed belief. He believes that what Nigeria needs at this moment is all he has been doing to reposition Nigeria.

Yes! There is hardship in town right now, but the president believes that all will be well with the country before not too long.

However, I want to say that Nigeria has been very good to President Bola Tinubu. He has achieved everything humanly possible that anybody can achieve in Nigeria. He is one of the most favoured Nigerians that has ever lived; for that reason, what I believe he should be working for right now is the legacy of his name.

The type of name he wants to leave behind as President of Nigeria is what I believe should continue to be of paramount importance to him right now as the sitting president of the country. I know the president knows what I mean by that.

I am no longer on the side of Peter Obi. I have gone back to my party, which is the All Progressives Congress, which I have been with since 2014. The party was founded in Nigeria.

When you are in a party and there is no trust in that place, then there is no reason to continue to operate in that place. I have left the Labour Party. APC is where I am now. I am a chieftain of the party, and I am going to be working for the next presidential campaign of my party.

What Are Your Political Aspirations Moving Forward? Do You Plan To Run For The Federal House Of Representatives Again In 2027? If So, Under Which Party?

To run for an election is not always the problem, but to get the ticket to contest. If it is possible for me to get the ticket again on the platform of the party, where I am, why not? I am still interested in contesting.

To be a notable lawmaker has been my agelong political ambition. That is one of the reasons I am in politics. I will be happy to see myself as one of the members of the parliament in Nigeria soon.

INTERVIEW: Tinubu Must Secure His Legacy—Ex-Lagos LP Chair Salako is first published on The Whistler Newspaper