Osun decides: Omisore is the candidate to beat on September 22 —Akeju, SDP spokesman

  Comrade Taiwo Akeju, a member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), and one of the activists ‘captured as prisoners of war’ and arraigned over the June 12 struggle during military era, is the spokesman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Osun State. He speaks on the chance of the party in the next month’s governorship election in the state. KUNLE ODEREMI brings some excerpts:

A lot of people are already saying the dynamics that characterised the 2014 governorship elections may not play out in the September 22 polls, given the fallout of party primaries, calibre of candidates, coupled with the strength of at least four of the main parties fielding candidates? What are the fears of SDP in the envisaged keen contest?    

I think it a good thing that we are having such a keen contest. It shows the determination of the citizens to ensure a paradigm shift from what some have described as the dire strait the state found itself in the last few years. Yes, the dynamics have changed; but the bottomline is that only the best candidate can redeem or rescue the state. And I am proud and convinced that Senator Iyiola Omisore, the standard-bearer of my party; SDP is the most competent, qualified, experienced and prepared for the herculean task ahead as governor. So, his emergence as the candidate of the SDP is the best thing to have happened to my party and indeed the state as a whole. He is an asset given his wealth of experience, which cuts across a broad spectrum of human endeavours, especially administration, policy formulation and implementation. He parades intimidating credentials and record of diligent service, philanthropy and sincere leadership. Most people do not know that even before he became the deputy governor of the state, he had consistently touched lives positively through empowerment programmes. He was in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for two terms, where he became Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, a status that is equivalent to the position of a Senior Minister of Finance. So, whatever genuine and progressive factor anyone could have in mind that will determine the direction of the coming election, our candidate is the most favoured.

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Osun, no doubt, has its own peculiarities. So, what difference can your candidate make, if elected governor, as governance ought to be about due process and service and not personal aggrandisement?

Our candidate is a self-made man; his mission is to further promote and protect the interest of the people. His wealth of experience will assist in translating the immense human and natural endowments of the state into concrete economic growth and general development. He will make a lot of difference and that is why I said he is the best material for the job and task of rescuing the state so that Osun can rediscover itself and the self-esteem of our people restored. There is no ward in the state that our candidate is not familiar with throughout the length and breadth of the state. He is conversant with the people at the grassroots and appreciates the problems and challenges confronting each local government areas. It will amaze you that he can clinically X-ray the peculiar challenges of each of them in a split second during interaction. He is constantly on the same page with most of the leaders in the communities, just as he been touching lives positively in different ways without necessarily orchestrating such gestures in the media.

As the deputy governor, he and Chief Bisi Akande performed very well and to admiration of the people. A lot of people still regard that period as the golden era in public administration in the state. While in the Senate, he facilitated a lot projects to the state, including the dualised road from Osun to Kwara State and ensured federal presence in the state. He empowered a lot of people, especially the youth through empowerment projects, community project, and assistance to artisans, traders, students and the elderly and the underprivileged in the society. He runs a scholarship scheme for indigent students.

Are you sure you are not exaggerating his affinity with the critical mass in the state, especially in the last few years that he has not been in the corridors of power, where politically exposed officials had access to the privileges of office to turn things around?

Not at all. I am insisting that there is no part of the state he is not conversant with their peculiarities, challenges and aspirations of the people. Just mention the name of any leader in any part of the state today, Omisore will tell you the extent of his rapport with the individual. He will tell you offhand issues that concern every community, the elite and other stakeholders in the state. He is ever prepared. He would have been governor in 2003, but some personalities prevailed on him to step down for former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola. The agreement was that he would work for Oyinlola, whereas Omisore has a blueprint about what Osun should be, how to get there and what is required to get there. That road map is still with him, particularly on how to drive and buoy the revenue base of the state; develop the agricultural sector into a money spinner, while also guaranteeing food security and galvanishing the population for industrial revolution. You cannot fault his master-plan on the way forward for the state: the blueprint covers such critical areas like unemployment, security, healthcare, education and other critical sectors. . Today, workers in Osun are happy and excited that he has emerged as a candidate and that he remains the one to beat.