2019: I’m sufficiently prepared to govern Oyo —Kola Balogun, APC gov aspirant

Dr Kola Balogun, a former Commissioner for Commerce and Industries in Oyo State, is a governorship aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC). He speaks with MOSES ALAO on his plans for the state and the divisions in the state chapter of APC ahead of the party congresses scheduled to begin on Saturday. Excerpts:

HAVING served as commissioner in Oyo State and a Director-General of a governorship candidate’s campaign team, you would not be deemed to be a new-comer in the politics of the state. But with words in the streets that you are seeking to be governor, people may ask; what is the motivation for that?

The motivation has to do with my belief that governance, at any level, from that of a councilor to that of the president, is a call to service. And I think unless one has and believes in absolute commitment to serve, one ordinarily should not venture or make an attempt to govern a state or any other segment. For me, I believe that I can make some contributions to the economic and social development of this state. I believe that I am intellectually prepared, I am psychologically prepared and physically fit to contest for the governorship of Oyo State and by the grace of God to win and govern Oyo State.

You talked about being prepared intellectually, psychologically and physically, but everyone knows governing a state is more than just these. Do you really have the necessary blueprint to transform the state?

I have already put together a seven-point agenda by which and when by the grace of God, I get the APC nomination to contest as its governorship candidate and win the general election, we will transform the state. I am sufficiently prepared to seek the ticket of the APC and to use that ticket, with the support of all the party leaders and members, to win the election and keep Oyo State in the progressives’ fold. This is because, right now, I feel strongly that the progressive agenda is the antidote for the ills of this country.

I believe that education ought to be the priority of any state government, especially coming from South-West Nigeria. For me, education is the foundation of human existence. I know that Chief Obafemi Awolowo did a lot for us in the South-West; this is why we are ahead of other zones when it comes to education and development. Therefore, my priority will be to place higher premium on education, starting from primary education, especially from primary one to three, because that is the foundation.

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I believe that a responsible and responsive government must also place a high premium on health care delivery system, which is also a very important area. All stakeholders in the health sector, I believe, must come together. It is my belief that health care delivery at the primary level ought to be affordable and free, because the people at the grassroots are the most vulnerable. It is my conviction that secondary health care system should be heavily subsidised and made affordable and accessible. It is my conviction that tertiary health care system should be made functioning, affordable and accessible to our people.

In the area of agriculture, I am convinced that we can leverage on the agricultural potential of Oyo State. The state is a potentially great agricultural state, so we can use that potential to create wealth, generate employment for our teeming youths, reduce poverty and by extension to reduce crime rates. It is also my belief that we have to invest in infrastructure such that our state will physically functional, socially pleasant and environmentally delectable. I remember that in those days, we used to have what we called Public Works Department. Now, it is time to begin to ensure that there are no potholes on roads, in our streets that will last for 24 hours.

But we should also worry about power infrastructure; potable water for our people. I remember when I was the Commissioner for Commerce in this state; I was the chairman of the Independent Power Project Committee in the state, so I am aware that Oyo State could generate its own electricity supply. Right now, our energy requirement per day is about 350 megawatts but what we get from the national grid is about 200 megawatts. So we can relate with the power producers in the private sector; we are already doing that. Again, I am happy to let you that the incumbent government is also doing that. I recall that meetings with some private sector players in the power industry were held recently where an MoU was signed to generate 1,000 megawatts of electricity for the state.

Let me also tell you this, I have a plan to grow the economy of the state by ensuring that the inland port in Erunmu, Ibadan, becomes a reality in the state. It was one of the projects I was passionate about when I was commissioner. Again, I am glad to note that the incumbent governor is also working on it. If you have a dry port, it is like having your own sea. That is the only dry port that is supposed to serve the entire South-West and beyond.

In 2015, you were the Director-General of former Adebayo Alao-Akala’s campaign and today, you are both in the APC. But with words out there that he will contest the 2019 governorship election, which you are also contesting. What is happening?

I will like to confirm to you that I am contesting and my Oga, Chief Alao-Akala is aware. I have told him and he wished me well. However, I am not aware that he is contesting, because he has not told me that he is contesting. So, what you are saying is still within the realm of speculations. But even if he is contesting, what is the beef? If he is contesting and his son is contesting and I am contesting and my son also decides to contest for the same position, everybody’s right is protected by the constitution of Nigeria.