Why I’m the best for Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal costituency in 2019 — Oyetunde Adedokun

Oyetunde Adedokun, speaks with DAPO FALADE, on why he wants to represent Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in 2019 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 

What informed your decision to join the political fray to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives in 2019?

It is the same thing that brought me into politics in 2015 which is about serving my people; it is not only serving, but also about improving their lives. It is the same principle that people like Chief ObafemiAwolowo had about the welfare of my people. I have actually been in active politics since 2011 but after my party, Accord, lost the election in 2015, I sat back to reflect on why we lost; because we actually worked hard and we thought we are going to win. So, I decided that, if truly I am into politics because of the people, I have to stand for an elective post because I believe that my people are not getting anything from the person currently representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

 

If it is all about serving the people, must it be by occupying an elective public office?

You don’t have to hold an elective post to serve the people if you are sincere with yourself. But you can only make things better by holding an elective position. Unfortunately, they have monetised everything in this part of the world. But for me, an elective position is all about making laws that will benefit your people. You might be richer than the Dangotes and Bill Gates of this world, if you don’t have that power to make laws, to build structures; it is not going to be effective.

 

We have people who initially may have genuine intentions, but it becomes a different ball game entirely when they get there, probably due to the entrenched system. So how do you think you will be able to perform effectively as a federal lawmaker?

That is why it is always good that whenever we want to vote, we must look at the antecedents of the candidates; we must look at their backgrounds. So, basically we need the people to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and vote for people who have genuine interests in the affairs of the country. When you have people who have genuine interests in the National Assembly, of course, it is going to be easier for you to lobby your colleagues to pass bills because it is not about personal aggrandisement anymore; it is going to be about a group of people who are actually there in the interest of Nigerians.

 

You tried your hand on this same post in 2015 and lost out in the party primary. What really happened then?

At that time, I looked at all the political parties and I said to myself, ‘being a welfarist who cares about people, the best party for me to achieve my ambition as at that time was Accord’. Senator Rashidi Ladoja was known and is still known with his welfarist policies when he was the governor. I got the assurance of the party leaders to the effect that there was going to be a primary to elect the flag-bearer and I said that was what we were all asking for. I therefore took my time to campaign and I did a lot of empowerment programmes. But unfortunately, after paying non-refundable N1 million for the Indication of Interest form and while we were waiting for the primary, around October 27, 2014, we had some new members who came from the PDP, after the deadline for the obtaining and submission of the form had actually closed on October 26, 2014. Among them was my egbon, Gbenga Adewusi (Arole) who was from the same ward with me.

A couple of weeks later, the leadership of the party, in their own wisdom, thought it was going to settle for affirmation rather than the primary; they called it indirect primary. So, they decided to give the ticket to Arole. As a human being, I felt so bad, having worked for the party for about five years. I was angry, but the leaders of the party spoke with me and gave me their reasons for doing that. About 10 of us showed indication to contest at that time, about eight left the party. I think I am the only one remaining who gave his heart and soul to the party till now. I even contributed to the campaign of Arole.

 

Do you still see yourself clinching the ticket now that your party, though still under the leadership of Senator Ladoja, has fused into PDP?

I have absolutely no doubt that if we have a free and fair primaries, I will get the ticket. I am still saying it and is on record that Ibadan North-East/South-East, no one gave more to the party (Accord) than myself. After we lost the election, we were looking for a discreet place where the legal team could stay to function and lodge our appeal against the election. I also volunteered and gave them my hotel for free, despite the fact that they gave my ticket to someone else.