2015: Our plans for Lagos – UPP state chairman

By Jacob Ajom
Dr Femi Ferguson, legal practitioner and Lagos State Chairman of the
newly registered United Progressive Party (UPP), in this interview,
speaks on the philosophy of the new political party and what makes it
different from the rest. Excerpts:
Your party has been saying that UPP is a party for the voiceless, for
non-indigenes. How true is this?
Let me correct one impression. The people who are regarded as
non-indigenes. My leader, Prince Olusoa is from Ikorodu, because every
Ikorodu man here is regarded as an Ijebu man. But he cannot compare
himself with me who was raised up in the palace of Oba Oyekan. How can
youcall me a non-indigene because my father is from the east?
So we are trying to abrogate that and make it possible for all
Lagosians; whether you were born in Lagos you will be free to contest
and win elections in Lagos. Bill Clinton ended his tenure as President
of the United States of America, went to New York bought a house
there. He had never lived there before and his wife, Hilary contested
and won election as a Senator. That is what we want to see happen in
Nigeria, and Lagos in particular.
Ferguson
I want to see someone like Babatunde Raji; Fashola who has done so
well for Lagos go to Enugu at the end of his tenure, buy a house there
and contest election there as a senator and represent Enugu. That is
what we mean by non-indigenes having a say.
You speak so strongly, do you have themachinery to capture Lagos?
I am surprised you are saying this. The machinery is already on the
ground. I mean we have people like Prince Olusola and other men of
structure. These are men you call up anytime andthey are there for you
and they move along with their structure. In politics, there are some
people the press have made into paper tigers. Ask them to bring 100
people and they can't bring even twenty.
I want to believe UPP is an offshoot of APGA. How do you intend to
guide against events that led to the disintegration of APGA?
There is a Nigerian adage that says, when an old woman falls down
twice, you are bound to count the contents ofher basket. And the Holy
Bible says affliction does not run a second time, so our great party
will not suffer that. APGA is a party that was formed in a hurry in
2002 and entered into electionin 2003. And before you knew it they
recorded a certain degree of success. recorded victory that had to go
through a court of law.
They had no time to put the party together. But UPP was well planned,
well articulated and well structured. So that is exactly what
happened. We have not yet covered all the local governments because we
are taking our time, planning and putting the relevant structures in
place. We are taking our time and by the Grace of God, we will not
suffer what we suffered in APGA. I was in APGA. I was in APGA from the
beginning till I left.
So, what is UPP promising the people?
UPP is promising the people what has never been experienced in the
Nigerian political space before. We are promising them prosperity, we
are promising them peace, we are promising them tranquility and
harmony, quality life and purpose; a new direction. UPP will bring
peace. It will serve like something coming from the outer world but it
is true.