Why Politicians Will Fear You If You Don’t Drink, Womanize — Alao-Akala

Former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala has revealed why politicians fear people who neither drink nor womanize.

Alao-Akala, who would be 70 in less than 24 hours, made this known in an interview with Saturday PUNCH.

Asked why he takes social life to extremes and doesn’t look like someone who is made for politics, the Ogbomoso-born explained that he got helped because he socialises.

“I was helped in politics because I socialise a lot. In 2007, I was ‘squeezed’ by Ladoja; I didn’t have money to campaign. It was friends who believed in me that rallied round me. A good politician must have a social life. If you are a politician and you don’t have a social life, forget it.

“In those days, if you didn’t drink and didn’t womanise, people would fear you. How do you mix with people? Anybody that socialises has a very plain heart. He would not have grudges against you. I am a life member of Ikoyi Club, Island Club and Ibadan Polo Club. If I give you one bottle of beer and someone is planning evil against me, you will come and tell me.

“Oh, it has helped me a lot. It helps me to get vital information. When you have such friends, they will come and tell you about people’s plots (against you). If they say that I wear jewellery; I have been doing that since I was young. You cannot grow up in Ghana and not like it. My mother put gold necklace on my neck as a child,” the All Progressives Congress, APC, leader added.