Can you let us in a bit about your
background before you came into politics?
Ans: I’m a civil engineer by
training and that is an area where I have developed competency over the years since
I left the university in the UK. My engineering background has prepared me
substantially for a life in politics because there are quite a number of
similarities in the principles of civil engineering and political engineering,
which is where I am today.
What are the most compelling reasons that informed your decision to
contest for elective office?
Ans: The most compelling reason
that has driven me into politics is Service. Today, I am like our forefathers
who went abroad to school and came back to our fatherland with an insatiable
desire to turn their fatherland into an Eldorado through service. Today, in
Nigeria and especially my Senatorial District, there is deficit of service.
Ogun East is bigger in geographical size and richer in natural resources than
some States in Nigeria, yet it is one of the most backward in terms of
development. Even if we cannot become a State now because of the constitutional
provisions attached to State creation in our beloved nation, are we unable to galvanize
the natural resources we are endowed with? Are we also unable to mobilize
national resources to which we are entitled, to turn the district around? Can
anyone point to any meaningful constituency project in Ogun East Senatorial
District that has been attracted from the Federal Government of Nigeria in
recent times? Yet, our people pay taxes, they are industrious and we have
forest reserves that are exploited on a daily basis so much so that our forest
reserve is now seriously threatened.
Why the Senate specifically?
Q3: Thank you for this
question. I am a man of the people. The Senate is the place to be. Democracy is
about the people. I love it when people engage at the intellectual level. I
love it when we have to consult with our people to know what they want and we go
to the floor of parliament to argue our position and convince others on the
need to see things from our perspective. A Leader does not only take his people
to where they want to go, you lead them to where they ought to be. That is the
engine room of democratic governance – the parliament is the place to be. I
have heard people describe it as the old people’s home. I beg to disagree with
respect. Parliament also provides a wider circumference of operation. If there
is one thing we need as a people in this country today, it is the ability to
know ourselves and understand ourselves. When I get to the Upper Legislative
Chamber in 2023 by the Grace of God and the power of the good and progressive
people of Ogun East Senatorial District, I will have the opportunity to synergize
with other great Nigerians from other parts of Nigeria. This type of synergy is
the type you get in international relations – the synergy of mutual benefit for
all the state actors. In the last four decades, i have watched with keen
interest, robust Parliamentary debate in the UK with the interest of the
citizenry being the focal point. The Upper Legislative Chamber is certainly the
place to be, my brother.
Many will insist that democratic governance has underperformed
generally since 1999... why do you think this is so?
Ans: Again, I want to disagree
with profound respect to those who put forward that view. In the 1st
instance, I need to see their data for comparison. Part of the challenge that
is fueling that conversation is beer parlour gossips and conversation that is
lacking in empiricism. Let the critics provide their data and let us run the
numbers scientifically and see where the scale tilts. Are we talking about
military system of government that is 100% dictatorial, a take it or leave it
situation? Are we also in romance with monarchy, anarchy or fascism? I align
here with the late sage – Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was one of my political mentors,
who said “that of all systems of
government man has developed, the most reasonable and viable amongst them is
democracy, the shortcomings notwithstanding”. Coming back to your question in
terms of underperformance of democracy. Again, you want to find out what the
people expect in democracy which has not been provided. I recognize the fact
that we have some challenges but let me tell you this, the western democracies
that we are using as a basis for comparison today fought bitter destructive
wars to get to where they are. Read the history of Europe, America, Japan etc
and you will see the number of wars they fought before they got to their
current location in life. What we are going through are all pangs of nation building.
It is an inevitable stage in nation building. The need to lessen the burden of
nation building is what has driven persons like me into politics so that with
our experience, education and exposure, we can reduce the down time in our
march towards an egalitarian society.
As an insider now and based on experience...why is Nigeria unable to
fulfill the vast potential for which she is widely acknowledged?
Q5: 1st is to adopt
my answer to the last question as part of the answer to this question. The 2nd
point to be made in response to the question is that society has become very
large and we have not exploited other natural resources, which has pleased God,
to endow us with. Instead, we have concentrated all our attention on just one,
which is crude oil or the black gold as some people describe it. Unfortunately,
because of error of judgment and associated issues, we have not taken full
advantage of this black gold, it has now become for us what scholars have
described as the resource curse. It is also important to mention here that we
have also allowed too much of divisive mundane issues to come to the fore, much
more than the things that unite us. But as I said, all these are indicative of
our growth and development as a people and as a nation. With a little bit of
perseverance and cross-border synergy, all these things will become part of our
history and those alive then to tell the story will wonder how we were able to
exist as a people with all the challenges that came our way. Post internet and
GSM children are still wondering how we were able to cope without those
facilities. I am still wondering myself.
Do you think Nigeria needs constitutional reforms to address the
issues surrounding resource control, restructuring of the federation, local
governments etc?
Ans 5b). I have heard
that debate about Constitutional Amendment so many times and I align my humble
self with the proposition that the Constitution requires amendment for the
simple reason that as society grows, the regulatory instruments must also grow
along with it, otherwise, there will be a distortion that can slow down our
societal development. Take for instance the quest for State Police and Local Government
autonomy. I think we have reached a stage in our nation where this amendment
has to be done. Kudos to the brains behind Amotekun in Western Nigeria today.
They may not be as sophisticated as we want that outfit to be but that
notwithstanding, we have used one stone to kill two birds. One, we have
increased the awareness on security. 2ndly, we have found for some persons a
little source of income that can keep body and soul together. As my Ijebu
brethren will say – were were witititi san ju witiwiti wape (meaning little by
little is better than rushing and crashing). In the course of serving as the
Special Assistant to the Hon. Minister of State for Education on Projects, I
have come to see that Nigeria is truly large and as such we need to drop some
powers so that the people can use it to their own benefit. Do you know how long
it will take you to travel from Abuja to Kontagora or from Abuja to Ijebu or
from Abuja to Calabar even if you are doing it by air or speed rail? We
certainly need to deepen that conversation but it must be in an atmosphere
devoid of witch-hunting. There is beauty in our size. it is intimidating, it is
of immense advantage in terms of commercial value. Nigeria is the investor’s
destination at any time of the day. But we need to get some things right and
our laws remain one of those things we must deal with decisively for the
investment space to be opened.
Looking at legislative performance...what areas can you say are
lacking? Has the NASS being able to act as an effective check to the seemingly
overarching powers of the executive? Some have said that the legislature is a
mere rubber stamp...what are your candid views on this.
Ans 6: Now
this is a cocktail of questions. I will attempt to respond to all of them
briefly. On the issue of legislative performance, I think we must salute the
legislative arm of government for providing the necessary support that other
arms of government require for their optimal performance. One trap that we fall
into easily is that the legislative arm of government is only effective when it
is travelling on the opposite direction with other arms of government. This is
not only erroneous; it is also fallacious. Take the issue of ministerial
appointments for instance, but for the legislature, do you know the kind of
characters that may have been brought into administration to run the government
of the state or the federal? Arising from this position, the issue of rubber stamp
is therefore a label that I consider to be unfair for the legislature. Take the
Buhari administration for instance, even when the leadership of the lower and
upper Legislative arm of government are from the ruling party at the Executive
level, there are instances where the legislative arm of government has rejected
some propositions from the Executive arm of government. A case in point is the
nomination of Onochie as INEC commissioner. The legislature rejected the
nomination for the number of times the Executive proposed the name.
On a personal level, what do you think makes you highly qualified to
run for Senate?
Ans7: There
are several factors that make me highly qualified to run for this position. The
1st that I have been constitutionally empowered to do so. 2ndly, I
am not just a Nigerian, I am also proudly and happily of Ijebu stock.
Furthermore, I have had years of service both locally and internationally. If I
can excel in service in foreign land, then the least I can do is to replicate
that good service that I delivered in foreign land in my own. What is more. I
am better exposed and experienced more than before. The errors I made at the
start of my public/working career can never be made again.
If or when elected, what would be your priorities? What sort of bills will you be introducing?
Ans 8: Let me
set the record straight, I’m on a divine mandate to bring succor to the people
of Ogun East, I have also paid my dues and I’m well loved by my people,
therefore, there is no issue of if elected! It is when. Now to your question, there
are quite a number of issues we need to deal with and some of them will include
but not limited to what I will personally want to see done through legislative
interventions. Some of my personal views are currently revolving around such
things like Education Reform, Sanctions for any State refusing Local Government
Autonomy, Compulsory Provision of basic amenities (portable water, electricity,
healthcare, social housing et al), State Police, Restructuring of NYSC,
Decentralization of Federal Powers, removal of the dichotomy between State and
Federal roads – all roads are on State lands…. I can go on
Looking at your constituency Ogun East...what are the key issues
here? What sort of programmes will you sponsor to deliver the so called
Democracy dividends?
Ans 9: The 1st
thing that I will pursue vigorously is how to liberate my people from the
strangulating shackles of economic and mental poverty. These two issues make
other things thrive. Poverty of the pocket and the mind drive crime and several
other anti-development issues in the society. Through a series of programs, I
will pursue this project vigorously. In concert with the Federal / State
governments and Private investors, I will light up Ogun East within 4years. I
already have my blueprints. There MUST not be any child (5-17yr old) roaming
the streets of Ogun East or at home during school time. Teachers’ welfare is
also part of my priority – every TRCN registered teacher in Ogun East will be
proud to be in the profession within my first 2years of being elected. Human
Capital Development is the fulcrum of development. It is therefore imperative
that a lot of premium would be placed on capacity building.
Please take
note of my promises and confront me with them as at when due.
There's been a lot of controversy about constituency projects...main
argument is that legislators have no business awarding contracts and that a lot
of money is stolen...what will be your justification for the continuation of
this regime?
Ans: 10:
There is nothing wrong with the concept of constituency project. The project
earmarked for a constituency is intended for the development of that constituency.
Democracy is about who gets what, where and when. Constituency project is also
supposed to help speed up the pace of development. What we therefore need to
look at is how to make people become more accountable for whatever they have
done in contrast with what the law states.
Looking at elections proper, what ways do you think Nigerians can have free, fair and credible elections?
Ans 11: Free
and fair election is a product of strengthened institutions. And democratic
institutions include a free and responsible media, unfettered judiciary, an
electoral umpire that is independent, a vibrant and effective communication
architecture, etc. Once all democratic institutions are strengthened, elections
will be free and fair. I must however say that we have improved in the area of
electoral management. You don’t want to know what happened in the NPN/UPN days when
ballot boxes where openly snatched. There has been immense improvement in our
electoral management systems. I trust that in the years ahead, more improvement
will be forced on us by our realities.
I must mention the role of money. While
acknowledging that campaigns are expensive, vote buying is a problem... stomach
infrastructure as it is called...why is this a major strategy for winning by
the political class? Is it a function of poverty or ignorance among the
electorate?
Ans 12: In
response to one of the questions you raised, I clearly stated that two major
issues that I will pursue with unrestrained vigour are economic and mental
poverty. Those two factors fuel money politics in our country. When a man has
not eaten, his thinking is skewed, it becomes so warped that he or she is
unable to have a clear-cut thinking. Until you cure him of that hunger, nothing
else is meaningful to him.
There's a lot of anxiety in the build up to 2023 as usual, how do we
douse tension especially within party ranks as people jostle for positions?
Ans 13:
Tension is an inbuilt feature in any form of contestation. As the day of the
political contest draw near, gladiators and spectators become apprehensive and
worried about their position not because of anything other than the fact that
in any competition, humans get worried. Even on the day of marriage, the man
and the woman are apprehensive – will she come or she has changed her mind? The
woman too will be asking herself silently whether she has taken the right
decision and whether the man will not change his mind over night and put her in
a state of shame. In the case of Nigeria, our tension is further accentuated by
the fact that we run an expensive electioneering campaign. Democracy all over
the world – whether in the US, Great Britain, Germany, Russia, etc is not
cheap. Therefore, when the reality of losing so much money as a result of the
loss of the election hit you, there is bound to be tension. But we can douse
this from different perspectives. 1st is that our language of
campaign must be devoid of belligerence. We must also find a very creative and
innovative way of cutting down the cost of electioneering campaigns. It is also
very important for us to look at the process of how party flagbearers emerge.
The idea of direct primaries looks like a strategy that will help remold some
of these tendencies.
Do you support direct primaries?
Ans 14: It
has its own benefits that we can examine again and again. Allowing party
flagbearers to emerge through direct primaries underscore the concept of power
belongs to the people. I think it is an idea that has some utility embedded in
it.
INEC has introduced lots of reforms to the voters registration and polling procedures...relying more on technology...do you see this as sustainable given that lots of voters are not tech savvy or even literate?
Ans 15: I have
no issue whatsoever with the enovations that INEC has introduced into our
electoral system. They are welcome developments. I fully endorse them. It is
also important to state the need for INEC to continue to research into ways and
means of further improving on the current height the body has attained. Give a
few years more, some negative things commonly associated with election and the
entire electoral process will be impossible in this country. So, we must give
credit to INEC for their efforts to give us an electoral process that is error
free, an electoral system that is so sound and reliable that contestants will
find it unnecessary to approach the judiciary for any form of adjudication
because the process will not only be transparent, the outcome will simply be
acceptable by all and sundry.
What sort of legacies would you want to leave behind as a politician
given that a lot of Nigerian politicians are forgotten as soon as they leave
office?
Ans 16: I want to do those things that will last from one generation to the other. In the next 50years, Chief Obafemi Awolowo will still be remembered in this country because of the positive ways he affected the life of his generation and future generations. The legacy I want to leave is the legacy of selfless service like that of the likes of Aminu Kano who was an apostle of talakawa politics, the politics and service that take people out of the dark ally of mental and economic poverty.
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