I’m the most qualified to be Ekiti gov —Arise

Senator Ayo Arise, who represented Ekiti North in the Senate between 2007 and 2011, is a household name in Ekiti politics. He is currently gunning for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the Ekiti governorship election in July. In this interview with newsmen, he recounted his recent ordeal in kidnappers’ den and what he thinks of the coming governorship contest in the state. SAM NWAOKO brings excerpts:

FOLLOWING your recent experience at the hands of kidnappers, you embarked on a thanksgiving that’s seen to be elaborate. What informed this at this time?

Some people were kidnapped and they never came back alive. In more recent times, even after my experience, somebody was kidnapped on the 31st of December, and after ransom was paid twice, one by his wife and the other by the state government, N25million each, the guy was still killed. So, it’s worth it to thank God, not because of the money, but because it is the grace of God that endured in our lives. For me, I have no other thing to do than to continue to give gratitude to God for keeping me alive.

What was the experience like…? For how long were you held?

I was there from Sunday, December 3 till Friday, December 8. It was six days in all and I can assure you that it’s not an experience that you would want to have. There’s nothing more frightening for you to know that you don’t even know what would happen to you the next minute. There were so many variables; those bringing the money could have been apprehended by the police. They could have been shot; they could have been taken for armed robbers or they could even have been arrested and taken to the police station and there would have been no money. So, where would I have started from again? So I have every reason to glorify God’s name.

As a former member of the National Assembly, what do you think the country and the government can do to stop the spate of kidnappings of prominent Nigerians?

This group of people that kidnapped me, I even advised them. I said having taken this much money, why don’t you take part of it and go and start a life and stop hurting people? But they said it’s their bosses in Abuja that are taking the money and that they only get something small. So, I have doubt in my mind that even if jobs are provided for those ones, would that be as lucrative as kidnapping one person or two people and collecting N20million? That’s the fear. It’s like they have tasted blood and have become very dangerous. The Federal Government will continue to intensify efforts towards securing lives and property. Even the idea of having state police has become a must now because the Federal Government cannot cover this country. It is just not possible.

You have decided to join the governorship race in Ekiti State. How far so far?

I think all things being equal, in terms of experience, in terms of pedigree and in terms of my ability to have votes from both ends, both from PDP and the APC, I think I’m the most qualified.

Your friend, Chief Segun Oni is also running for the state governorship. Would you consider stepping down for him, so he can secure enough delegate votes?

Well, my stepping down from the primaries does not guarantee him any vote. It only guarantees him my own vote. This is because I don’t have the control of the people who are going to vote in the primaries. If I decide that I’m stepping down, I can only guarantee him my own vote. I’ve discussed this with him. We have discussed it.

As a matter of fact, we ran together to be governors in 2006, in the primaries. He has been governor once, Fayemi has been governor, so it’s my turn. As much as Segun (Oni) is my friend, I am his friend as well.

What about your other friend, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, who is believed to be aggrieved in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would you advise him to join you in the All Progressives Congress (APC)?

I’m not in a position to advise Adeyeye on what he should do. He’s running and he is a member of the PDP. So, I don’t see why I have to ask him to come to APC. That would have to be his decision. I don’t know what he wants to do. However, the primaries are still ahead, we don’t know what will happen in the primaries. Until after the primaries in PDP, then we will begin to court those who are our friends there to come.

Considering the dynamics, do you consider yourself as favoured to be the governor?

I believe the APC wants to win this election. And I believe that they know who can win it for them.

But zoning does not favour you…?

There’s no zoning in Ekiti. Every election, every zone had participated. We have never zoned anything in this state. And we are a very homogenous state. We speak the same dialect, we speak the same language. We are different from other states of the federation where you have people who don’t understand themselves. In Ondo State for example, you have the Ikales, you have the Akokos, you have the Owos, you have Ondo, you have Akure people. They all speak different languages. So, it will become necessary to satisfy those ethnic nationalities within the state for them to have a sense of belonging. But here in Ekiti, we are only looking for the best material, and I think that is the concern of our party.

How would you rate the over three years of Governor Ayodele Fayose? Would you say he has delivered leadership to the people of Ekiti State?

Leadership for us is in terms of the representation of the image of Ekiti people. He has not done a very good job. But in terms of satisfying his constituency, the people following him, I have not seen many of them relenting. So, it is our responsibility to make sure that we present a more credible, a better experienced person who can say I will do better than these people; and the people would trust him. So, for me, every governor comes, they do their bit and they go. Fayose has come, he has done his bit and he is leaving. So, any way you look at it, it is the judgement of Ekiti people. But for me, I will provide better leadership and I know the people of Ekiti will vote for me.

How was the ransom raised?

The people of this town and my friends raised the ransom. I paid N20million. In fact, between Oye and Ilupeju, they raised N4million within 24 hours of the incident. I was overwhelmed. This gesture touched me to the marrow and I will forever be grateful to all of them. That is why I want to become the governor so that I will be able to touch the lives of my people; the people would enjoy good governance. They will know that a new sheriff is in town. The elderly, the youth, everybody will feel it and it will be a new song for Ekiti people. Their prayers were key; money is different but prayers were important. I told you of the man who paid N25million twice and they still killed him. His corpse has just been released this past January. So, I’m grateful because prayer worked, money worked and God took control of everything. And whatever I did to deserve this much love from my people, I will continue to do it.