Some people would refer to you as a greenhorn in politics. Are you?
I am not; I have been in politics since the beginning of this democratic dispensation, since 1998. And my entry into politics was dramatic but I will say divine. It was in the course of an activity in the church in Kaduna, because I used to live in Kaduna. My pastor wrote a book and he wanted a book review at the launch and the name of Chief Bola Ige just came to my mind. But because nobody knew how to get a hold of him, they told me to go ahead to get him. That was how I got a hold of Chief Bola Ige. He didn’t eventually come to review the book even though he accepted. At the time of the launching of the book, he was in detention as a prisoner of war by the then military administrator of Oyo State. But from there we formed a very strong relationship. I became conscripted into politics by him. He invited me to come to serve and join Chief Bisi Akande and the others in building the then newly formed Alliance for Democracy. I was appointed commissioner by Chief Akande in 1999. I managed two key ministries at different times. I was first at Works and Transport then Water Resources and Rural Development and since that time, I have been actively involved in politics at the grassroots.
Why do you think APC should continue in Osun State? As one of the gubernatorial aspirants, what do you have for the people of the state?
I believe government is a continuum. The major problem we have been having in politics is when a new government comes, he disregards the policies and programmes of the out-gone government whereas, there are certain things that are good and should be continued, there are other things that could be reviewed and there are new things to be introduced. For example, in Osun State, I believe that governor Rauf Aregbesola has done really well in the development of physical infrastructure. He has also taken bold steps in empowering the people; however, a lot still needs to be done in that area.
For example, the state government has a pact alone, with the Bank of Industry to empower people to industrialise. But I will introduce a new policy. I call it the Ivorian Model. It was actually introduced by the French in Ivory Coast. What they do differently is that they don’t just give people loan, and ask them to produce, but there is constant monitoring and those who excel are further encouraged. I have discovered quite sadly that a lot of politicians will take loans, especially ones given by the government, as their own share of the national cake thereby, blocking the chances of others to enjoy such facilities. The resource available to the government is limited and so it is not something they can continue to take from without refunding the earlier given facilities. It is a revolving thing and concrete steps will be taken to ensure that it is actually revolving and provisional advancement will be provided for the participants of the scheme. I intend having a bureau of empowerment and job creation which would be minded by core professionals who are experienced in business development and who can assist such businesses. Perhaps it may interest you to know that Osun State is largely endowed with mineral resources that are largely untouched.
I conducted a recent study and I discovered that we import a lot of granite tiles from Europe. I ended up finding out that those tiles are from engineered rocks and not natural rocks. The state government will partner private entrepreneurs.
With the present federal allocation and the internally generated revenue of Osun State, how do you think all the projects can be financed?
You will see that all the programmes I have highlighted so far are income generating projects. We cannot rely on the revenue of the state pact alone, even though it is not spent on any other thing. It was estimated that a sum of $1.5 billion was needed to mine gold successfully in 2000 because the quality of gold we have here is the same as the one in South Africa. We will partner development institutions, both home and abroad. They are income generating ventures that will finance themselves and still bring returns for the state.
Should you not win the primary, would you consider another new party?
Since the beginning of this democratic dispensation and my involvement in partisan politics, I have always been a disciple Awo’s crew of politics and that is why I have moved from Alliance for Democracy to Action Congress of Nigeria and now APC. When we lost out in 2003, the government of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola targeted some of us who were seen as very close to Chief Bisi Akande. I remain in the progressives’ camp till today.
During the national congress of APC in Abuja, some states disagreed openly. What can you say about APC in Osun State, is there any rancour?
There can be family disagreements; it is when it becomes intractable that you call it rancour. Even in the nuclear family, there can be disagreements. It is the resolution machinery that should be sharpened so that nobody feels cheated. The congress to select our aspirants should be coming up in July. The gubernatorial election itself is coming up on September 22 and the swearing in of the governor is on November 27 by the grace of God. I am sure that whatever disagreements may ensue, the leadership of the party is up to the task in solving them.
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