A former deputy governor of Ogun State, Mr. Adegbenga Kaka, has condemned the rallies being held by the self-styled organisation, Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, across the geo-political zones of the country and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to step in.
He made this call at his Ijebu Igbo residence during an interview with our correspondent.
Kaka, who is now a Senator representing Ogun-East in the upper chamber of the National Assembly said TAN was using the rallies to drum support for the President Goodluck Jonathan, with 2015 in view.
He said, “It is unfortunate such a thing is happening. When we talk of free and fair election, we expect that justice should prevail, where no party takes undue advantage of the system to take off before the whistle is blown.”
Kaka, who noted that the actors behind the body were merely taking advantage of the power of incumbency at the federal level, added that since other presidential candidates in other parties had not started to campaign, no one should disobey the rule made by INEC.
He said, “As far as I know, INEC has yet to give any go ahead for campaigns to begin. But TAN is doing is flouting the rules. INEC should look into the rule and stop this group.”
Talking about the chances of the All Progressives Congress in the presidential election in 2015, Kaka explained that if the party could get its acts right, it could spring a surprise by ensuring fairness in the selection process.
He said, “If the APC can get their acts together and the selection process is near-faultless, they stand a great chance of taking the centre, in view of the clamour for change pervading the length and breadth of the country.”
Kaka, who supported the creation of more states, punctured the arguments of those opposed to it, stressing that the efficient and meaningful deployment of the resources by those in charge in the states, would make a difference.
He said, “The fact that corruption is making the system not to work should not prevent bringing governance closer to the grass roots. The management of available resources will vary from one community to the other.
“So the focus should be the people. And the fact that some people cannot manage their resources, should not deny those who can do better. So I support creation of more states.”
