What I’ll do as Osun gov —Omisore

Former Deputy Governor of Osun State and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2014 governorship election, Dr Iyiola Omisore, speaks with OLUWOLE IGE on why he has not given up on ambition to govern the state.

 

WHY have you not given up your governorship ambition?

I have only contested for governorship election in Osun once and that was in August, 2014. Before the last governorship election, I have been prevailed upon by the stakeholders to always step down. Since, I have been in politics I have shown no desperation at all. I willingly and singly contributed more than 60 per cent to the electoral success of the PDP in Osun more than even the candidates in each circumstance, because of my political popularity, control and logistics. Facts are sacred and they are available.

 

Are you not worried that the unending crises in your party may negatively affect its chances during this coming gubernatorial poll?

Every political party is bound to experience crisis because of ambitions and varied interests. I have said it repeatedly that we shall resolve our differences in the PDP soon. We have no fear at all, as this crisis would be over in good time and we would win the forthcoming September, 22, 2018 governorship poll.

 

Is your party planning any alliance with another party or planning go into coalition to win the election?

Coalition is always the conspiracy of other political platforms to take government from the incumbent. So, we shall surely benefit from alliances and coalition under any guise.

Osun State’s next gov should be under 50 and must come from Osun West ―Oyinlola

What do you want to do differently if you emerge as the standard-bearer of the PDP and win the governorship poll?

First of all, I would monitor our votes to disallow rigging, because the 2014 poll was largely rigged as shown by evidence presented at the Election Petition Tribunal where ballot papers of Alimoso in Lagos, Abeokuta in Ogun were found in the ballot papers during the physical counting. Even, ballot boxes of Iwo Local Government were found in Osogbo, Egbedore in Ilesa East were found during the physical counting at the tribunal to the extent that two electoral officers were sanctioned. APC populated the presiding officers with O’YES cadets instead of corps members. There was outright snatching of ballot boxes and so on. We shall be vigilant and expect that peoples’ votes count. Aregbesola hasn’t won election in his life in Osun. His victory in 2010 was as a result of what I will like to describe as Salamigate and you can also check the 2014 Eru Ibo on the Internet how APC and Aregbesola rigged Osun 2014 poll on YouTube.

However, if I become the governor of Osun State, the salary and wages of the workers would be paid promptly and there was a testimony to this when I was the deputy governor. I would treat workers with dignity and respect. I will focus on on building major infrastructure in the state, such as roads. We will carry out the dualisation of Gbongan junction to Kwara boundary, ensure the development of Osun airport, see to the construction of the Ilesa/Ife dams, rehabilitate of Ede headworks, Ejigbo water supply scheme. We will also see to the dualisation of Mayfair Junction to Lagere-Enuwa-Moore-Ilesa bypass and the construction of Gbongan-Oyo boundary. Most of these projects were initiated and facilitated when I was chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation between 2007 and 2011. But all these were discontinued and their prices inflated. We shall give them utmost priority when I become the governor. Education and health shall take their pride of place in my government. I shall stop capital flight of Osun’s money. Osun’s money shall be spent by our people and not Lagosians. Unemployment shall be tackled using my professional and entrepreneurial goodwill to benefit Osun people.