I’m most competent to govern Osun —Ayinde

Taofeek Ayinde, an enginner, is one of the aspirants jostling to govern Osun state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming governorship election. In this interview with BODE ADEWUMI, he speaks on the election, his preparations, among other issues.

The primary of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is fast approaching. So, what do you expect?

What we are expecting is a very fair atmosphere and a level-playing field for all aspirants to make their impact known to the people they wish to govern. We expect that it should be fair for all and that everybody will be given equal opportunity to perform to his optimal level, especially politically. Also, if the party wants to be a little bit fairer, it will look into some criteria as being imposed by natural order in Osun State. That is what people are saying, that the next governor should come from Osun West and possibly from Iwo axis. So, if going by the party leaders’ decision is what everybody has agreed to, it will make the primaries friendlier and more natural for everyone, including the contestants, because the winner takes all. So, it is a collective responsibility of all. If this primary is fair enough, the candidate who seems to be the best will emerge. Hopefully, I think I am fully prepared for the challenge.

An aspirant has said that the most competent should be voted in irrespective of the issue of marginalisation, how would you react if zoning is jettisoned?

Currently in Osun State, saying a person is incompetent is saying all aspirants are incompetent. Everybody is competent. I don’t support the fact that some zones, parties or aspirants are incompetent. The fact that some parties are giving some zones the opportunity to represent them does not mean other zones are being subjected below competency order. We have competent hands in all parts of the state. Competence is not found wanting in all zones of Osun State. There is no part of Osun State where you will not find somebody that is very competent and fully prepared to take the state to greater heights. To have a common sense of belonging, so that everybody will have a fair representation, is the reason for giving opportunities to zones that feel marginalised. It is not that we are sacrificing competence for mediocrity. Who is not competent? Nobody.

Considering the number of aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket, how would you rate your chances?

I rate my chances on the scale of 9 out of 10. This is because I have the required competence and charisma to govern the state. I am a registered engineer, a registered administrator, a professional manager, a leadership mentor, as well as a life coach.

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How will these attributes contribute to your chances of winning the election and what are you bringing on board for the people?

Talking about the programmes and the agenda, I already stated them indirectly. They will all come from the areas I specialise in which have been mentioned earlier. By the time I come out with these programmes and I expose it to the people, they will know that these are programmes that are workable, and are able to solve their basic problems. These are programmes that will ensure the distribution of the wealth of the state. These programmes are fully prepared to convince and move the people forward. Basically, I have four cardinal programmes which encompass all the areas of governance. For instance, I have the engagement programme which will have all adults and youths dutifully engaged and all communities engaged. So, we will come up with programmes that will make sure that everybody is engaged. The form it will take and how it will be practiced will be explained to the people, they will know that it is workable. Then, they will know that the best candidate is me. That is just one; I have four of such which shall be made known to the people.

What do you make of the talk that Senator Bola Tinubu and some other party members are trying to support one particular candidate?

That is a kind of general opinion. What we reckon with in politics is what is spoken out and not mere speculations. Nobody has said that he is supporting a particular candidate. Even with the insinuations, the governor has not mentioned that he is supporting any candidate. The same thing goes for the party chairman and the party leaders; no one has declared that he is supporting anybody. So, it is just rumours and insinuations but, everybody is entitled to his own opinion. At times body language speaks and people tag meanings to it but man proposes, God disposes. So, this may be as result of people studying the body languages of the leaders. However, when it comes to winning elections, this doesn’t matter.

Do you have confidence in the leaders of the party, both at the state and the national level?

I have confidence in them that they have the capacity to choose the right leaders for the state. Another thing is that, they choose whom to support.

Do you have anything to say concerning the state of things in the state, maybe to the delegates?

What I would say is that the leadership of the party should think more of winning elections than just being adamant on choosing a particular candidate. There is a difference between making a choice and winning the election, the choice you have made determines your acceptance. So, it is better the leaders focus on making the good choice. But, on my side, if the party leadership agrees to choose me, I’m very sure that I will deliver the highest possible votes for the party in the coming election. I can assure the party leaders of that.

However, if they choose a person with a bad record, a person that identifies with what the community does not actually like, it may lead to a loss and it may lead to people leaving the party. So, the best is to look well, at the right senatorial district, at the right zone, and at the best possible candidate who has the programmes, visions, missions, qualifications, charisma, skill, and competence; someone who can drive and lead people, someone who can make people to believe in what is happening.