Ajimobi’s giant strides need to continue —Oyo guber aspirant

Mr Kola Asatola has worked for major oil companies in the United States, rising to the position of finance manager. He is one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants for the position of Oyo State governor in 2019. In an interview by TUNDE BUSARI, he bares his mind on Oyo State politics.

As a US-based financial consultant, how much of Oyo State politics do you know to be interested in governorship seat?

I am not from the USA. I am from Ibadan, the state capital. I only travelled to the US to advance my academic career and to get exposed professionally in finance. It may interest you to note that I returned to Nigeria within 12 months after I had settled in the US. I came back to establish my farming business, which is still in operation till date. My motive was to give back to the people, in terms of creation of employment opportunities for my people back home. And I am pleased to say, with every sense of modesty, that I was able to achieve just that objective after five years in the US. What I am saying is that as an employer of labour here, I am always in Ibadan.

What do you understand about Oyo State politics?

My understanding and my issues of my politics dated back in school. I schooled in the Northern part of the country as a students’ unionist and president of Yoruba Indigenes in the North.  During the students struggle, there was a coalition that was formed called Students Anti-military Campaign Organisation (SACO), that was the period of former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida.

Do you think you have such resources to contest? 

What kind of resources are you talking about? What aspect of resources are you talking about? Do you mean human resources or financial resources? Let me assume that I understand you. Let me, therefore, tell you that I am not a billionaire, but I am very okay, in terms of taking care of my family. I have a lot of concern for the masses because they form the majority of every society, Nigeria inclusive. It is not going to be finance that will make anybody the governor of any state in Nigeria. This is the kind of orientation anybody should have now.  Money must not be the centre of our politics. We should be thinking of what we should give back to the people. We should be thinking of managing well the resources of the state for the benefits of the people. And the people, on the other side, should not be conscious of money, either before, elections or during and even after. Elections should no longer be for the highest bidders.

What really is your relationship with the grass roots? 

As I have said earlier, I am an employer of labour. I know and work with the people. I started creating jobs during my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) days. I am part of the masses. I know what it takes to be an ordinary man.  Though I was born into royal family, I was not born with a golden spoon. My entry into politics is my long passion. Alleviating condition of the downtrodden masses has always been my passion. And I thank God for how far I have gone in contributing my little quota been beyond Oyo State. I can tell you that I am very close to my people, and this is verifiable. I know where shoe pinches them. I pay salary every month. I know what people are looking for. I go to market myself and relate with market women and men.

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Why don’t you start contest from the House of Representatives? 

If I decide to go for the House of Representatives or something lower than governorship, that means a failure. That also means I don’t really know my mission in politics. My target office is where I am convinced I have the capacity and competence to add value to my state.  Since 2011, I have formulated ideas and policies to the state, even outside Oyo State for growth and development, even for local government. At a stage, I then asked myself ‘why can›t I do it myself?’  That was what actually motivated me. As a Nigerian, I successfully and efficiently did a consulting job in the US. Why should I do something lower for my people? Why should I shortchange them when I know I have abilities, materials and experiences.

Your party is passing through hard time with defections and threat of further decimating it before 2019. What is you take on this?

Let me make it clear here. In Oyo State, we have only one APC. What is happening will rather strengthen us than weaken us. We have to respect the provision of democracy which allows freedom of choice and by extension freedom of movement. So, what has happened is not new. But as I just said, the APC is a party to beat because it is made up of tested people who are genuine lovers of the progress of Nigeria. Party politics is about conflicts and conflicts resolutions. So, when an issue comes up, running away is not the solution. But as our leadership has said the party won’t be affected as being feared even outside the party.

What are the policies the incumbent has put in place, which you think should have been done better?

Any reasonable person in Oyo State should be looking for continuity, if one wants to be objective, in terms of growth and development. We can see a lot of developments we need continue. The approach the present government led by Governor Abiola Ajimobi has towards infrastructure and logistics needs to continue. For every development, the first thing one has to look at is the logistics. One can’t get it right if the logistics is not good. That is one of the greatest achievements of the present administration. Security is unparalleled, compared to what we had back in 2011. These are parts of the things we want to continue. We are not changing anything.

We want the eight years of beautiful administration to continue. My greatest dream is that Oyo State should be economically independent. The development the present administration is witnessing must continue.

What is your relationship with Governor Ajimobi?  

Governor Ajimobi is the number one citizen of the state.  I would say he is the father to everyone, not just only me. Of course, I have a very close relationship with him just like any other person. I am not different. There is nothing special about my relationship with the governor.  He is aware of my intention.