Banire’s Bombshell: “I Have left APC. I have Ceased To Keep Bad Company”

By Gideon Njoku

Here is the news, as relayed by Muiz Banire, SAN, in an interview with Sunday Punch.

*APC may not survive President Muhammadu Buhari.

*His relationship with the APC National Leader, no thanks to political scavengers is facing challenges, and it has been challenging to gain each other’s confidence.

*He has quit from the APC and, so, ceased keeping bad company.

*His removal as AMCON Chairman was illegal.

*It is irresponsible for the Lagos House of Assembly to spend the sum of N2.4 billion on cars.

*Says he stopped handling Election cases because of the ungodly things done there. “I don’t want to be contaminated in that regard.”

He warned Ambode, but he did not listen.

You would recall that Banire, was a two-time Commissioner under the Lagos state administrations of Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola. Later, he became the Legal Adviser to the APC, which foundation member he is.

When things could no longer hold together at the Lagos APC, he was in the opposite side with Tinubu. Speculations were rife that it was the reason why he was removed as the Party’s legal adviser.

But, President Muhammadu Buhari compensated him by appointing him the Chairman of AMCOM, a plum job by any stretch of imagination.

A couple of months ago, however, Banire was unceremoniously removed from AMCON.

Sad, over it?

No, says Banire, revealing that it came at a time he was already tired of the job, as the pressure on him to bend the rules, even from his colleagues in the Bar, was getting at him.

The senior lawyer also reveals for the first time, that to avoid bad company, he has quit the APC.

Banire: “More than a year ago, I think I have ceased to keep what I call bad company. As far as I’m concerned, I have left the Party officially, because I am a man given to the rule of law. Once I don’t see rule of law exist anywhere, I quickly take my leave because I won’t wait till the house collapses on my head. I am not one of the scavengers in the political arena.”

Comparing the leadership styles of APC Chairman – Bisi Akande, Odigie-Oyegun, and Adams Oshiomhole, he described the tenures of Akande and Oyegun as glorious. Both listened, he submitted. Oshiomhole, he said, is the opposite, and hardly listens.

Looking at the APC, Banire said he had doubts about the survival of the Party after Buhari. “There is no unity. There is no United front. The foundation is shaky.”

Banire, even though he said he does not take interest in the happenings at the Lagos House of Assembly, which currently is undergoing a crisis, dismissed,  as irresponsible, the idea of splashing the sum of N2.4billion on cars.

Asked to comment on the fate of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Banire seems to have no sympathy for him.”He refused to consult. He isolated himself. If you want to do iconic project, go and look for external funding for that. The funds you have are not enough for basic things. I advised him. At the end of the day, I became vindicated. I warned him.” Ambode was denied a second tenure as Governor of Lagos state by the APC.

He did not also spare the judiciary. Asked if there are cases he refuses to do, he quipped: I decline cases a lot. I find some immoral, and against my principles and conscience.”

Election cases?

Banire: ” I have not, (of recent) because that field is becoming so much contaminated for me. As much as possible, I have refrained, because some of the things I see there are ungodly, and you don’t want to be seen or counted along in that regard.”