What I Have Been Through In Politics

• Hon. LASUN YUSUF, Former Deputy Speaker, House Of Reps.

Hon. Yusuf Sulaimon Lasun popularly called “Home Boy” is a politician of repute. He served as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019 representing Irepodun/Olurunda/Osogbo/Orolu Federal Constituency of Osun State in the House. The highly experienced law maker and grassroots politician in an exclusive interview with City People Deputy Managing Director, FRANCIS OWOJORI; Reporter, JAMIU ABUBAKAR (08085185886) and photojournalist, Femi Adeleke discussed his noble vindication at the election tribunal which got him secured his seat in the House of Representation after 3 and half years of long legal battle, how he rose to become Deputy Speaker in the house. Above all, he raised concerned about the plight of ex-law makers, many of whom have gone extremely broke. He gave reasons for their predicament after leaving office. Meanwhile, he advised present law makers on what they can do in order to stay afloat. Below are excerpts:

Who is Honourable Lasun Yusuf?

I’m an Engineer, a farmer, an entrepreneur, and partly a politician. But not a full-time politician like Nigerians would think. Everybody that participates in Nigerian politics, everybody thinks he’s a politician. But first and foremost, I’m an Engineer, I’m a farmer, and I’m an entrepreneur.

You are an engineer and farmer, at what time did you venture into Politics?

Thank you very much. Very good question. Primarily, my father is a Carpenter. So when we were young, of course, during weekends, we’d go with him to do his carpentry job. So that, I know very, very well.

And two, by the side, there is no Yoruba man during their own generation that was not a farmer. It’s either you are an arable father or cash crop farmer. So the interest in farming started from when I was young. And in fact, I stopped going to farm when I got to 300 level in the university. So I’m accustomed to it. And again, because of the fact that I have, that I know I have capacity to serve. That is what took me to politics. I know I have capacity to serve. I know I can move people from station A to station B to achieve certain results. So what took me to politics is service, which I know is in my blood. And I’ve demonstrated that.

How easy was it for you winning an election in the House of Rep?

Yes, I represented Irepodun, Olorunda, Orolu, Osogbo Federal Constituency, between 2011 and 2019. But I actually contested for that seat 3 times. I also contested in 2007. And in the history of election petitions in Nigeria, my petition was the longest-running election petition in Nigeria. Because starting from 2007, and it ended February 2011; Three and a half years. And that’s why there is no election petition in Nigeria that is decided either for or against that they will not quote Lasun versus Awoyemi. So, that’s my election. Because I actually won the election in 2007. But some people in just a few wards, like three to four wards manipulated the election result. Since that time, I’ve made up my mind that I cannot say for certain, but like almost 80%. If I’m involved in an election in Nigeria, I will never go to court. It doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t make sense.

What is the experience like going through the long petition for over 3 years plus?

It was exactly three years and seven months. Because it went through four courts. The first tribunal, the first appeal. The first appeal ordered for a retrial. So, we came back to tribunal, went to the second appeal. And in fact, at the second appeal, out of the five grants we filed for, we were given, I think, four. And they said because we called INEC officials to come and witness. And since INEC officials said the election was free and fair, that the court was left with no other choice than to agree that the election was actually free and fair. So, it was their words against ours. It was a very harrowing experience. And the reason why I said if I get involved in an election again in Nigeria, I won’t go to court is that people don’t know. They think it’s an easy thing to prove that you win an election at any level, let me tell you what it requires. It requires at least one person in each polling unit that is an accredited official of your party and represented the candidate to go to court to prove. So, if you have, let’s say, 1,000 units, that means you must go to court, with 1,000 witnesses who were duly accredited for that election by INEC and shown correctly that they were representing the candidate. The second one is you must go to court with a certified true copy of the primary result, which is EC 8A, and you also go to court with CTC of the ballot paper of vote cast in that unit. If you refuse to get all these things together and you go to court, you are just wasting your time. It’s tough. It’s far more expensive than the election itself because you have to go to court presenting one witness by polling unit, certified true copy of the primary result certified true copy of ballot papers cast in that unit. So, when people analyse election petition results in Nigeria, I just laugh. Even the senior lawyers, when they analyse, I just laugh because it’s a difficult task.

May I ask, sir, what happened between you and Ogbeni Raufu Aregbesola ? Why did you part ways and was that why you lost the election?

Yes, sir. I didn’t actually part ways with Aregbesola. It was a political misunderstanding that degenerated to our differences. Political misunderstanding. I wanted to be Speaker. Aregbesola supported me initially. Please, I don’t want to be misquoted. He supported me initially.

But that support did not last for more than 2 weeks. When he now claimed to me that he has gotten instruction from Lagos, and you know what instruction is all about. And I said, ah, governor, I know you very well. You are my senior brother and my friend. I don’t know anybody from Lagos. That was how we parted ways.

Was that why you lost the election?

I didn’t lose that election. I was fighting for speakership and I eventually became the Deputy Speaker. But the consequences of that parting ways with Aregbesola led to my losing the primary election of APC in 2018.

In 2018, I went for the governor’s primaries. They said I came second.

But I knew that that election result was written. And that was why it was difficult for Governor Oyetola to have won that election in 2018 freely. You know, they had to declare it inconclusive. And it was after inconclusive that he now won with 482 or 483 votes. I supported because at that point I was still a member of APC. I’m in PDP now.

What is your next move in politics?

My next move is to sit down and support the man that is governing Osun State because he’s my personal friend. We have a family relationship between the Adelekes and my family, that is the Yusuf family. My father is still alive. All of them are like children to my father, including the elder Adeleke that passed away. So we have very close relationship. I want him to succeed. I want him to do well. He’s my personal friend. Although I contested against him when I ran on Labour Party ticket. But since he has won, I’m supporting him. I’m currently in PDP. But when the time comes for the second term and we start, I won’t have many alternatives to support him.

When you were there as the Deputy Speaker, can you point out a few things that you have done to your constituents?

Between being an ordinary floor member and a Deputy Speaker, I rebuilt 17 schools in 4 local governments. In the history of Nigeria, I still remain the only elected member of the national assembly who gave out tractors to farmers in the state. Ask the Osun State Farmers’ Association. They will tell you, I gave them tractors, farm implements; all these empowerments tools, I did a lot. But I don’t count that one, because Nigerians don’t make use of them.

Your rise to prominence in the House of Reps was phenomenon, what do you think worked for you?

It’s a very tricky question, but I will answer honestly. First and foremost, with all modesty, I know I’m gifted. That’s number one. Number two, I started reading for pleasure at the age of 15. And if you want to navigate this life, you have to read widely. And in fact, as an engineering student in the university, people could not place me because one, I would buy at least one newspaper, I would buy one magazine, which is local, and I would buy one foreign magazine. And I will be mentioning it to you. Between 1985, when Newswatch started to the time Newswatch closed down, I never missed a single copy of Newswatch. And since 1979, when I was in Form 5, I started reading Reader’s Digest, Newsweek, Time Magazine, till I was 30. And I read a lot of books. So, outside the fact that God endowed me with gifts, I read a lot when I was young. And so, when I became the deputy speaker of the House of Representative, I was so underrated that until I started presiding, people thought I would not be able to do the job. But today, that was a very, very positive turning point in my life. And that’s why today, I’m sorry, I don’t want to be arrogant, but I don’t think there’s any known Nigerian journalist who would see me and would not want to interview me. So, the deputy speakership brought out all those things in me, the gift, the preparation I’ve made for myself over time, and I’m enjoying it. And thirdly, I act. I don’t just talk. I act.

When I have opportunity, I know what to do with my opportunity for people to see the beauty of my gift. And so, even if I’m going to ask for political position in future, by the grace of God, it’s not going to be difficult. But now, I’m sitting and watching.