What informed your decision to contest the governorship position of Kogi State?
Kogi State, by all development indices, is in dire straits and needs to be salvaged from the deep. Despite our strategic location and resource distribution, we still cannot take advantage and transform it into value. We have not only gained a notorious reputation within the state but have succeeded in leaving a convincing impression to outsiders about how awkward governance has been made to become. The challenges facing the state require people with extraordinary ideas and the appropriate mix of professionally consistent public and private sector experience to put things in perspective.
As a bridge builder, which is evident in my vocation, I consider myself a link between the establishment and the masses. Kogi has been in the news for most of the negative narratives associated with leadership failure. The primary responsibility of government to its citizens, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, is to guarantee their welfare and security but unfortunately, reverse is the case. I just ended a tour of the 21 local government areas of the state and was moved to tears with tales of able-bodied citizens expressing themselves in a depressed state. Cries of helpless mothers and children yearning for health care, security and other basic necessities of life, over a hundred lecturers sacked in one fell swoop for agitating for their inalienable right and interest, non-payment of salaries stare you in the face. In some local government areas, residents in some wards have abandoned their ancestral homes for fear of being killed due to ethnic conflicts, herdsmen attack and banditry. Despite the abundant human and natural resources spread across the state, its debt profile still galloped steadily between 2014 and 2019 as evidently portrayed by figures from the Debt Management Office.
With dwindling federal allocations over the past five years, this government has received more non-statutory funds by way of bailouts and refunds with nothing to show for it. Despite its fair liquidity, it embarked on a futile screening exercise that proved disastrous after three and half years; yet, the wage bill remained unassailable. Where institutions and systems exist, its capacity to operate has been grossly undermined due to low motivation and a loss of dignity at work. As a consummate project manager, public-private partnership expert and quantity surveyor who has been in the business of producing unique products, managing a portfolio of projects and services with scarce resources for over 20 years, I believe I am in a better position to transform the state towards the path of progress with a bid to ensure self-sufficiency and sustainability. I believe I possess the character and credentials necessary to turn around the fortunes of the state. It will not be an easy task but with the right mix and team, we can and we will make a difference.
What would be your areas of focus if given the mandate to govern the state?
I have carried out a painstaking situation analysis of the state of affairs and have encapsulated issues that will form my policy thrust into four broad areas, namely fundamentals of government; welfare and security of the people; economic development; wealth creation and job creation, as well as revenue development, among others. The policy trust also encompasses fiscal responsibility; accountability and transparency and social Infrastructure, housing and health education inclusive.
With more than 30 aspirants seeking the PDP ticket, do you think you have any chance among them?
I am not perturbed by the number of aspirants seeking to aspire as it shows how determined Kogites are to dislodge and rid themselves of the misfortune that has befallen them. Politics is an interest-driven event and a game of numbers. By this number, Kogites will have enough time to dig deep, weigh their options and build bridges along lines that inspire hope and confidence for a better and greater Kogi. I am confident and inspired by the opportunities available at the moment to contribute my quota and I will not hesitate to explore all options available to me. If we must be fair and just in the negotiations for political power, representation and balancing, then I think our outing is timely and consistent with happenings in the state.
How do you intend to tackle development issues in the state in the face of the challenges around?
Kogi is blessed with abundant natural resources, mineral deposits, water tributaries and vast arable land for agriculture. Despite these God-given endowments, the Federal Government’s exclusive right over these items, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, limits the power of the state in its ability to explore and exploit their full potential. However, we will seek to address the following in this regard: adequate data for these solid minerals will be fully made available by my government. This will convince private individuals and organisations that are interested in investing in the business to do so. There will be adequate technical capital to support and promote investments in this sector; security, both formal and informal; community participation, provision of funds: government at all levels and corporate bodies like banks will be encouraged to provide funds in form of loans for those that are willing to invest in this sector of the economy. There will be construction of good road network, introduction of modern technology. Illegal miners. Activities of illegal miners will be discouraged by my government. Stringent legislations or laws will be promulgated and those found wanting would be prosecuted accordingly. There will be private sector participation, as well as the training and development of skilled and unskilled manpower.
How do you intend to tackle the problem of youth unemployment and restiveness in the state?
The youth unemployment rate peaked at an all-time high of 36-50 per cent in the third quarter of 2018, according to Trading Economics. Just recently, the Federal Government said it was most likely to reach 33.5 per cent by 2020. People who were hitherto gainfully employed have been out of jobs in the last four years. When the PDP government held sway, there was never a time the unemployment rate exceeded a 14 per cent threshold. If this worrisome trend continues without a carefully planned mitigative response mechanism, the welfare, as well as the security of lives and properties of citizens cannot therefore be guaranteed. The last PDP government in Kogi before the incumbent rolled out the Youth Empowerment Programmes, which were largely successful. The YAD4KOGI was a case in point, the Nigerian Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) World Bank-Assisted Project, Korea International Cooperation Agency (Vocational Centre) were and are still there for our teeming youths to benefit from. These laudable programmes have either been abandoned or given less priority, reasons why we have restive youths who now engage in kidnapping, thuggery and other social vices plaguing the state today. A large number of the active labour force, which comprises mainly of the youths in the state civil service, have also been affected by the protracted screening exercise which took a better part this government’s tenure. My government will reinvent the wheel and roll out the youth empowerment programmes that will include skill acquisition, exchange programmes, scholarships with emphasis on vocational skills, small and medium scale businesses, moral and financial support. The major goal of our youth programmes will be hinged on capacity building for sustainability, self-sufficiency and youth participation in governance.
The payment of workers and pensioners has remained a big problem in the state. How would you address it if you become governor?
The issue of salaries and pension backlog has become a recurring decimal in virtually every state of the federation. It has become further exacerbated by poor leadership competence and experience. As of today, Kogi’s debt profile rose from a paltry N10.3 billion in December 2014 to N96.9 billion in December 2018, according to figures being warehoused at the Debt Management Office. So far, lifelines have been given by way of bailout even when windfalls such as the Paris Refund and the Abacha loot, which were never contemplated or anticipated, were returned and shared. By the time a new government comes in, the desire to offset debts, salary and pension backlogs will subject the entire system to undue pressure. But what else can we do? This is our schedule and we must find a remedy to whatever condition we find ourselves. To prevent a further plunge into the deep, as part of our policy thrust, we will ensure strict adherence and compliance to the Fiscal Responsibility Act; boost wealth creation; improve on our internal revenue generating capacity; run an accountable and transparent people-oriented government. That way, it will avail us the opportunity to expand our revenue base by making environmental and business-friendly laws, creating special purpose vehicles that will interface with critical items on the Exclusive List of the Federal Government that has the capacity of turning around the fortunes of our state attracting more investors. The example of such areas are the Inland waterways, mineral deposits, federal roads and assets within the state. A total turnaround of the state’s IGR capacity can conveniently augment the monthly allocations overtime if we consistently and persistently maintain our action plan to tame the salary and pension scourge. This will ultimately enable us to defray any possible outstanding over a reasonable period of time with all other variables remaining constant.
and then