Is ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi plotting to enter statehouse without the aide of his NASA co-principals? Mudavadi who has hence announced his 2022 presidential bid has taken a swipe at ODM leader Raila Odinga and his Wiper counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka, saying he is not interested in taking up a state job because he does not want to be gagged.
The ANC leader was speaking during a televised interview dubbed The side Bar on NTV on Tuesday night.
He said he is serious about taking up the position of opposition leader.
“I don’t want to be gagged. I want to take up my responsibility and speak on the country’s issues. Where the government has done well, I will applaud it, where it is sleeping I will point it out,” he said.
“We are the government in waiting and we must play our role effectively in checking the current government, and that is the job I am doing.”
Does this mean that Mudavadi is sure of entering statehouse in the next electioneering period?
Raila was appointed as a special envoy for the AU in October in what was seen as the fruits of the March 9 Handshake. Not to be left behind, Kalonzo requested President Uhuru Kenyatta to make him his ‘errand boy’ in November. Shortly after, he landed a job as the head of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission on peace in South Sudan.
Mudavadi said he has not taken up the role of opposition leader to fill Raila’s shoes because they have different styles and approaches to politics.
“I have always supported Raila with a lot of zeal and we are still great friends. But we have different styles and approaches,” he said.
The ANC leader said it was important the attitude about opposition leaders in the country changes, adding that their work is not to destroy property, but rather keep the government in check.
“Unemployment is running high, people are under pressure, cost of living is very high, businesses are struggling. This tells you people are struggling. This is not the right time to tell people that they should destroy property or start picketing,” he said.
The ANC boss said he does not want an appointment, but said he does not begrudge Raila or Kalonzo for taking up the state jobs.
“There is no offer that has come to me, but I have stated before that I don’t believe that I deserve to be in the government. We were competing against the Jubilee government, and once you take up an offer, you are in it (Jubilee government),” he said.
Mudavadi said he does not support ‘a winner takes it all’ situation, but rather wants an inclusive government because of the diversity of the country.
He also said NASA is not dead. He, however, admitted that it is facing challenges, but do you think NASA is still alive?