‎Dr Victor Alewo Adoji is a onetime governorship candidate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019, and also a former Kogi East Senatorial District candidate on the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2023. In this interview with our Kogi State correspondent, OLU SAMUEL, he spoke on his passive observance of the ongoing political situation in Kogi State, the political manipulation in the country, the cost of the election intent and application forms, and other issues. Excerpts…

‎You have been an active participant in the Kogi State politics since 2019, and you have also signified your interest to give it another shot, but the recent developments across party spectrum give much room for concern. Do you still want to give it a trial?

‎You are correct, I signified interest earlier, but in the third quarter of last year, I had a near-death incident which culminated in a neurosurgery, and thereafter, a recalibration and reconsideration of my initial resolve. Albeit, I have recuperated considerably, with an all-clear by my college of doctors, I was unwilling to advance the course seeing that I may not be able to operate at 100 per cent regardless that we are in a clime were officials are ostensibly appreciated and occasionally celebrated even when they  perform below par. The prevailing and ensuing events in today’s political landscape validates the providential aspect of all that have happened, if you may.

‎With or without politics, I can feed myself. I have the means to stand on my own. My participation in the last two dispensations were based on my desire to liberate my people. However, principal actors in the current dispensation have muzzled up the political space so much so that I refused to be part of it. For now, I will stand aloof and watch until the situation improves to the level that I can participate.

‎Don’t you think your followers will be disappointed if you refuse to heed their call for you not to throw in the towel at this time?

‎We work as a team of equals. Unbeknown to many, I am in large part a carrier and a courier of our collective messaging and resolution. By implication, whatever I do or say is a representative of our resolve and decisions. Yes, some would be disappointed, like Joseph was on his journey (as a slave) to Egypt with the Medianites. But you know how the story ended. Even more, there’s this African proverb that says, “The wind does not break a tree that bends”.

‎How wide have you consulted before arriving at the decision?

‎Against the backdrop that, if you ask the grass, the zebra is the monster and the lion is the protector, we consulted far and wide enough. Don’t forget, as I said earlier, I’m a subject of the decision that was reached by the people, family, associates, and friends that are critical to me, and who had all the information to reach such a decision.

‎Are you afraid of the popularity of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), since your party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition parties seem to be in disarray?

‎I left the PDP a little above a year ago. As for the APC, while praying the party is not sidestepped by the Dunning-Kruger bias, I hope it is able to manage its phenomenal political capital.

‎How soon will you reconsider your position, so that you can continue to contribute towards the emancipation of your people from the shackles of underdevelopment?

‎I have not, and shall never abdicate serving my people whichever way I can. That will not stop. Especially the most important aspect of engendering in them the cognate and soft skills required to survive in today’s disruptive ecosystems. After all, accordingly to Jon Gordons, “true leaders don’t lead to gain power. They lead to empower and give power away.”

‎Alhaji Muritala Ajaka has gone back to the APC, and has even been screened to contest Kogi East senatorial seat on the platform of APC, what’s your take on this?

‎I wish him and all others that are contesting well. I should pray that it is a contest indeed.

‎Your critics have argued that you should have joined another political party other than the PDP to realise your ambition. Why don’t you give it a trial rather than your ‘sidon look’ attitude to the current realities?

‎My earlier narratives explain the facts of the matter. Added to that, there are myriad dynamics and nuances in today’s political contests I would rather not mention at this moment. All I will say is that we did not lose the 2023 senatorial contest. Those who are truthful and unbiased know all that happened.

‎In general terms, how will you rate the current administrations of Governor Ahmed Ododo in Kogi State, and by extension, President Bola Tinubu?

‎’General terms’ is not a metric or a rubric, and as such, I’m unable to measure on that basis. I say this because to me, knowledge is a burden, and I must be circumspect in applying it without adequate knowledge.

‎Do you mean you are not well informed enough to be able to measure the performances of both Governor Ododo and that of the President, or you just don’t want to comment on their performances?

‎(First and) foremost, it is impossible to quote an opinion that hasn’t been offered. Secondly, it’s convenient for me to accept that I am not informed enough. In addition, I’m not able to assume based on the plethora of Potemkin Village narratives I see all over. In the end, leaders and leadership must reckon that the tree gave life to the axe and must pay  the price ultimately.

‎The National Assembly has vested the power to decide whether to adopt consensus or open primary to choose the next crop of contestants. What is your take on this vis-a-vis the political atmosphere due to mass disqualification and protests by players?

‎Consensus or open primary mode, if the process is true, fair and credible, the outcome will be accepted by aspirants. The snag I see there is the prohibitive cost of the election intent and application forms. Therein lies the fillip for the desperation you see everywhere. You won’t go home with your tail in-between your legs, after investing N20 million to get a form. The inadvertent monetisation of the process must stop, if our democracy must grow unscathed.

‎You have been in politics for about a decade since leaving your plump banking job. Has politics been fair?

‎I am not inclined to allow temporary setbacks to create permanent pictures on my mind and in my heart, because it is premature to conclude on the destination when I’m still journeying. Even more, genuine leaders do not delight only in preferred outcomes, but ride the storms with an open mind that recognises process, cooperate with resilience, and embrace the uncertainty, while leveraging associational fortitude to navigate unavoidable chaos, and find peace in both the journey, and eventually, the destination.