INTERVIEW: Why I withdrew my lawsuit against APC- Former Lagos lawmaker

Hon. Dipo Olorunrinu is a former lawmaker who represented Amuwo-Odofin constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly between 2015 and 2019. In the last local government elections in 2021, Olorunrinu was initially declared winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government before being substituted with the incumbent Council Chairman, an act that made him to approach the court to reclaim his mandate. In this interview with OKUNADE ADEKUNLE, Olorunrinu bears his mind on why he withdrew the court case against the APC and other stakeholders, youths involvement in 2023 general elections, the decision of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) on the re-election of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other germane issues.

What is the latest on your lawsuit against APC regarding the alleged stolen mandate?

Frankly speaking, there have been a lot of issues on that, but you can not lack issues in a progressive party like ours. I was not at loggerhead with the party, it is just that there have been some misunderstandings with some people, but two wrongs cannot make a right. However, we have to look at the interest of the party and the people. I have an understanding of what they want, don’t forget that I was born here (Amuwo-Odofin) and I grew up here (Amuwo-Odofin), so, I know what the people want.

I have always tried to help despite the little resources that I have and I have ensured that the people access what they need from the government. Since they have much interest in me, I have to allow things go in a good direction than allowing people with personal interest take advantage of the good ambience that we need in the next electioneering. I know how the system works and I know that they are very happy with that.

I am a person of peace and love and I am a progressive person. I felt it was high time for me to stop and forge ahead and see how we can ensure local democracy. You cannot benefit if you are in the opposition, I had been there and I know what I had to go through despite the fact that I was applauded. I ensured that we adjusted so that we could do what we need to do to ensure success for the party at the coming 2023 polls.

So, what you did was to protect the interest of the party?

Yes, like I said, I have interest in politics as a young man. I got into politics at a young age and I understand what it means to be a politician. I had been in the opposition and I know what it means to survive through that. I know what it means to survive in a government. I need the party so that we can achieve the best in 2023 general elections.

But why did you now withdraw the lawsuit you instituted against the APC for substituting your name with Mr Valentine Buraimoh in the May 2021 local government primaries?

Of course, everybody knows what happened, I didn’t need to tell them, the newspaper reported it. I am a politician and the party is supreme, I didn’t just go to court, the people wanted me in court and like I said, two wrongs cannot make a right. We are moving close to electioneering period and we need all hands on deck. I am not under any pressure, we were in court for about a year, but we were not under any pressure to withdraw the case. I believe that there is life after party politics.

The local government had been tense, people are angry and they wanted the case to be judged in my favour, but we can always take another route. The party wanted the incumbent to continue and I had to withdraw the matter from the court. I didn’t take the decision on my own, I spoke to some party leaders, I spoke to the leaders of the estates, some of whom have also become members of the party. They are all automatic APC members now. I do a lot of community politics, but God crowns any position. There are things I believe should be strictly adhered to, every form of peace is needed in the local government now. We need more successes. I wish the incumbent chairman every form of success, I will give him my experience. I just believe I could do better than him, but I can always share my experience with him.

Few days ago, the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) passed vote of confidence in Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and approved his re-election. What is your take?

I must congratulate our Governor. Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has done excellently well and he should be allowed to consolidate on what he has done. The nod is fine, and people would always want a second term, he has to finish the projects he started. I want to applaud the GAC for doing that, and this throws a positive light to the masses that the party is fair after all.

As a grassroots mobiliser and experienced politician who have done a lot for his people despite being denied the council chairmanship position, would you contest in 2023?

This is APC, a progressive party and in our constitution, we believe in consensus, direct and indirect primaries. I pray that I am being favoured, it is one thing to have an ambition and it is another thing for God to crown it. I would keep my head up, I am in the party, but the party is supreme. I have served the party and ensured that we registered a lot of people into the party and I pray that I am favoured, when the time comes.

Nigerians have heavily crticised the APC led federal government for not meeting up with expectations. Do you think the challenges facing this country can be solved by this government?

On the challenges facing this country, you cannot rule out issues in a progressive party and in the country. These were problems that were inherited by our government. Everything is a process and human beings are insatiabe. The process is ongoing, change is a constant thing, it’s a process.

Youth participation in party politics has becoming a major topic in the Nigerian electoral experience, what is your advice to the youths as 2023 general election is around the corner?

Youths are the leaders of tomorrow, I joined politics as a young man and I see a lot of youths getting involved in politics. You cannot keep complaining, join a progressive party and join a ruling party so as to separate the boys from the men.

Come into the ruling party and slug it out. I remember, when I met our National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he said, “why are you fighting from outside, come inside and fight” and I held on to that, which is what I am doing now. You cannot be saying on the social media that the parties are bad or the leaders are bad, powers are not served a la carte. Don’t be a complainant, come into the ruling party and participate in politics.