Mr. Demola Olarewaju, is the Special Assistant on Digital Media Strategy to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview with Newswatchplus’ Yusuf Mohammed, the successful public relations strategist discusses his loyalty to the PDP and the chances of Atiku in this weekend’s election.
Newswatchplus: In 2015, many members of the PDP defected to the APC, especially after Goodluck Jonathan lost the presidential election. Why did you stick with the party through thick and thin? What is it about the PDP?
Olarewaju: The PDP for me is a party that embraces all Nigerians irrespective of ethnicity. Growing up, I was raised to see the Igbos and the Hausas or Fulanis around our family as equals also and when I chose to join politics, no other party fulfilled that criteria for me. AD/AC/ACN was a sectional party for the Yorubas, APP/ANPP/CPC was also a sectional party for the North. PDP was the only party where ethnic equality and inclusive governance was the ideology and so it was a natural choice for me.
Nothing since then has changed. ACN merged with ANPP and CPC to create APC which then became a Yoruba and North alliance. PDP is the only party where every Nigerian is a Nigerian and no Nigerian is considered more or less Nigerian than any other Nigerian.
Newswatchplus: Why should Nigerians vote for Atiku Abubakar? What makes him different?
Olarewaju: Atiku Abubakar is the most experienced candidate in this race. All the others have subnational experience while Atiku has transnational experience.
All the other major candidates have also at one time or the other, supported Atiku Abubakar to be President – one of them even ran to be his VP while another one begged but was rejected.
Thirdly, Atiku is the only candidate consistent in his triune ideology – Devolution of Powers to the federating units, Private Sector Partnership or Participation and Government’s Role as a Strong Regulator to make private investors deliver qualitative services to the people.
So, Atiku is different from the others in that he is heads and shoulders above them in the qualification for President.
Newswatchplus: Some of your party members are of the view that voting for Peter Obi in this election will be akin to voting for Bola Ahmed Tinubu: what do you think?
Olarewaju: I think in an indirect way, it is.
Peter Obi is a good man in his own right and if he had scaled nationally by now, a political dilemma might be understandable but the truth is that as of today so close to the election, Mr. Peter Obi has no pathway to victory. And I say that with every sense of respect and responsibility to him and his followers.
If they insist on proving a point with a vote for him, it might just help Tinubu more but we believe that the politics of the situation is understood by the majority of voters and on Saturday, everyone will cast their vote for PDP and help us remove the APC from power.
Newswatchplus: Are you confident about your principal winning this weekend?
Olarewaju: I am. The most credibly organised and numerically expansive polls conducted has shown clearly that Atiku Abubakar will defeat his opponents and emerge winner on Saturday by the grace of God.
Newswatchplus: What would be your message to Nigerians irrespective of the outcome of this election?
Olarewaju: When Atiku Abubakar wins, I would like every Nigerian to understand that his administration will involve every ethnicity and that the outcome of the election is not a rejection of any ethnicity or religion but the due reward of a man who has always stood up to support Nigeria, even in the face of strong opposition by his own ethnicity.
Atiku will do well for all Nigerians, regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender or language.
