Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State is marking his third year in office, what can you say about his administration?
Governor Ayodele Fayose has done well for the people of Ekiti State. He has developed the state in all facets; he has done that as evidenced in the educational sector and in terms of developmental projects. He has performed really well in the space of three years. As a matter of fact, he is the architect of modern Ekiti State.
For instance, the first flyover in Ekiti is under construction, despite the economic situation or the economic quagmire in the country right now, coupled with the dwindling price of oil at the global market and dwindling allocation to states by the Federal Government.
It’s obvious that Ekiti, with the least when it comes to allocation of funds to states in the country, still embarks on gigantic developmental projects like the flyover. I can boldly say that Governor Ayodele Fayose is an enigma, a ravel that is very difficult to unravel. Nobody dare ask where he’s getting this kind of huge money that he is using for projects like the flyover, the gigantic Oja Oba Market at Ado, the road between Ikere and Ado which is well dualised with floodlights all over the place. A lot of projects are being carried out all over the state; the list of his achievements are unlimited.
I give kudos to him, and if there is continuity and I want to believe there will be because Ekiti people are ready to support him because we have done well and he has given us a very good, erudite, intelligent individual in person of Professor Kolapo Olushola. The people are ready to vote in Kolapo en-masse so that the good work can continue. Governor Fayose has really done well for the people of Ekiti State.
Some of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members are not happy that the governor picked his deputy as his successor. What’s your take on this?
Those who are not happy are his enemies; they are the enemies of progress. Will Fayose pick his enemy as his successor? Can you pick your enemy as your successor? A lot of things must be considered before picking who will be succeeding him and I think he has done that and he has picked his deputy and not his enemy but a friend. So, if anybody is not happy with what the governor has done then such persons are enemies of progress and PDP. The governor said he has put it into prayers and God cannot lie.
Besides, there is lot of factors that brought in Professor Kolapo; he is very loyal and a man of integrity. So anybody will want such person to succeed him. It is just one position and it is just only one person you can pick for it. For instance, a woman will always have a lot of people wooing her, but will eventually have to marry one out of the many suitors, putting all factors and variables into consideration.
Despite the fact that PDP had zoned the presidency to the North, Governor Fayose still choose to contest. What is you perception on this?
I am not an apostle of zoning, has it ever worked in Nigeria. Has there been any time in Nigeria that the presidency had been zoned to a geo-political zone that others don’t contest? It has always been like that. When the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua was contesting then, many people from the South also contested. Rochas Okorocha contested, and others. It is the people that should determine who they want. You cannot, because of zoning, side-track someone that is very good, who can even take the country to the next level. But because of zoning you want to side-track such person, it is uncalled for.
Besides, since our party said it zoned the presidency to the North, has anyone come out from the North to signify his interest? According to what Governor Fayose said, do we need to wait till one week to the election before someone comes out to contest? Somebody must come out; the nation is too big to start waiting for someone or beg someone from his farm to come and contest. To me, let them come out, let them zone or put their heads together and face Fayose. If they defeat him, good and if he defeats them, that is fine.
We all want the best for the nation and I know Governor Ayodele Fayose loves the country. He is competent; he is a man of the people and the voice of the masses. He has the interest of people at heart and he wants to replicate that which he has done in Ekiti to other Nigerians. He wants to do that same magic in Nigeria. So, no one can say he shouldn’t contest. I am sure the masses like him and they love him. That is my take.
The APC-led government at the centre recently claimed we have exited recession. Do you believe Nigeria has exited recession?
No I don’t believe; we all know that it is a fallacy. The life of the average Nigerian has not changed; we continue to experience high prices of goods and services every day; daily, people are going to bed without food. 60 per cent of Nigerians cannot afford three square meal. Prices of goods and services are out of the reach of the masses.
What are the indices to say we are out of recession? The poor are getting poorer and if the people cannot afford three square meals, then we are still in full recession. The exchange rate is still above N360 per dollar and Nigeria is an import based economy; we imported basically everything we consume in Nigeria. The decline of Naira is still ongoing. We cannot say we are out of recession as workers’ salaries are stagnant and workers are poorer. If you are earning N20, 000 two and half years ago, it is like N2, 000 now because the purchasing power has drastically reduced.
Why are the recovered billions of money by looters not being used to solve these current problems in the country? Of what benefits are those money recovered to the common man, when the people are not feeling that the loots have been recovered? Why can’t they use the recovered loot to subsidise essential commodities or invest it to develop our decaying infrastructure?
The recovered money should be used to subsidise essential commodities to bring the prices of items, like rice, milk, sugar and other food items, down. The masses don’t ask for much from the government if they can send their children to school and pay their school fees. The Nigerian economy is so harsh on the masses. The pump price of petroleum is so high and the exchange rate is still high. How can they tell me we are out of recession when the life of the average man on the street has not changed?
How do you think PDP will perform in the 2019 elections?
PDP is coming out strongly and, hopefully, we are going to take the government from APC. They have failed the nation; they have not delivered on their campaign promises to the people; they have not performed.
What are the projects you have been able to deliver to your constituency?
I have facilitated a lot of projects all over my constituency; I built schools, boreholes, solar energy and I even went as far as rehabilitation of roads and other developmental projects, aside of bettering the lives of the people through my constituent projects and other empowerment programmes. The space will not be enough if I have to reel them all, but I believe the people will be in a better position to judge me.
What is your political aspiration come next year?
Only God knows tomorrow, only God knows the future. I am a politician, I will always aspire.
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