You are seeking to represent Boluwaduro/Ifedayo/Ila Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. The question is, with your background and achievements, why the interest in politics?
I have always had interest in politics. That interest started from university. I remember when I was in Ife in1995, I ran for Director of Socials for my Department. I lost but at the end of the day I became a chieftain. Ever since, I have been monitoring in politics in Nigeria and the United States of America; I played a major role in President Barack Obama’s election. I was involved in a lot of community meetings and programmes, creating awareness because the African-Americans did not believe that an African-American like them could become the president. I was involved in trying to galvanise support for Obama, that all they needed to do was to believe. Some whites believed while some of them could not think a black man could become the American president.
Coming back to Nigeria, my heart bleeds for Nigeria and I always tell my colleagues and friends that Nigeria can rise. I believe strongly that Nigeria can rise; the main thing about Nigeria rising is leadership. I can remember a pastor was preaching in church on Sunday and he said many people stigmatise politics as a bad thing. If people make it bad game, then it becomes bad. So, ever since 1999 my eyes have always been on the politics of Nigeria. I was a member of the Obasanjo Leadership Forum back in 1999. That interest had always been there but I didn’t know that opportunity would come.
Why did you choose PDP as the platform to realise your ambition?
That’s a very good question. As at today, my uncle, Prince Gbenga Famodun from Igbajo is the APC chairman in Osun State. I know a very strong bigwig in Ibadan here who is a close friend of the Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola. When he heard of my aspiration, he said he would take me to Aregbesola. But you see, I am a man of my conscience; I will not do something because of the position I am seeking, I will do something because of tomorrow and what I believe in. I don’t believe in APC; it’s a gut feeling and if I don’t feel good in me, I will just be doing something I don’t believe in. I’m 47-years-old, I must do something I like.
If you get the PDP ticket, you will slug it with an APC candidate, what do you think are your chances in a state where APC has the state governor, occupies the senatorial and the House of Representatives seats in your constituency?
I have very good chances. The APC in Osun State at the most is not as strong as it used to be; that’s why there had been defections from APC to other parties. They know that if it is a free and fair election, they are going to lose. I have gone around and talked to people; there is hunger in Osun State, because APC in Osun State has not delivered. The people cannot be cowed, they cannot be fooled anymore. This is one of the reasons I joined politics; to liberate our people from maladministration. What our people want are just minute and simple things and not big things; they are not telling you to give them five million. What they want is infrastructure, light, basic amenities. Let me give you an example, if you are from Osun State right, Ikirun, Iragbiji, Igbajo road, an axis from which we have the state APC chairman; the Chief of Staff for close to eight years, Chief Gboyega Oyetola is Iragbiji and their party is in government, yet they cannot do that road. Why haven’t they done it? It’s not that the whole road is bad, just some patches on Ikirun to Iragbiji. When I first started, I went to the health centre in Igbajo; that place has not been powered by light for a long time. How much would it take them to repair the generator in that place? Just N75,000 only and that is where we have the state APC chairman and other APC chieftains.
Did you just notice that gap or you fixed it?
It’s fixed and it’s going to be fixed more. I’m just trying to tell you little things that can be done by government that can make the people feel your impact.
Usually or in most places the House of Representative seat is often zoned among collaborating local governments, is that not the case in your constituency?
I will say it is and not the case at the same time. My constituency consists of Boluwaduro/Ifedayo/Ila local governments; Ila local government has been occupying the House of Representatives’ seat for 12 years at a stretch. If the local government presents the next representative, it’s going to be 20 years that one local government has produced the representative. Is it that other local governments do not have credible individuals who can occupy the post? They do. What Ila enjoys is their voting power, they have a large voting power. But the seat must be rotated among the three local governments and that is why this is the first time under PDP that Boluwaduro is presenting a consensus candidate, which I’m privileged to be by the grace of God. In the spirit of justice, equity and fair play, there has to be a shift.
In what specific areas do you think the people of your constituency would benefit if you become their representative?
I have gone round Boluwaduro and spoken to elders and youths and there is a wide acceptance. I am consulting across the entire constituency too. But there is this misinterpretation of what a lawmaker can do. As a representative, my job includes one, sponsoring bills that will favour every citizen of Nigeria and not just Boluwaduro/Ila/Ifedayo; two, bringing constituency projects to Osun State and my constituency and distributing them among the three LGs. As a representative, I’m a voice of my people in those three local governments, so whatever comes must be shared equally among those three local governments. I don’t want to say I will build this and that; I’m not going to promise and fail to deliver. But I will definitely give them what they deserve and they will not be short-changed.
and then