Akinlabi: Enough of Aregbesola’s Nonsense
Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi
Personality Interview
A former minister in the President Goodluck Jonathan administration and governorship hopeful in Osun State, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, speaks with Yinka Kolawole on various issues of interests, particularly the politics of the state. Excerpts:
Senator Omisore is the only aspirant who secretly obtained his nomination form; don't you think such an action could undermine the chances of other candidates?
A former minister in the President Goodluck Jonathan administration and governorship hopeful in Osun State, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, speaks with Yinka Kolawole on various issues of interests, particularly the politics of the state. Excerpts:
Senator Omisore is the only aspirant who secretly obtained his nomination form; don't you think such an action could undermine the chances of other candidates?
Honesty speaking I try as much as possible not to make any comment
about the actions and in-actions of my colleagues in PDP because at the
end of the day, we must work together with whoever emerges as the
candidate of the party. Be it as it may, I know very well that, our
party at state level will leave up to expectation as they have assured
us of level playing ground for all the aspirants. So, I have no cause at
all to doubt what our state party chairman said. I don't think we
should start reading meanings to what manner aspirants obtained
intention forms.
I think what matters most is the transparency of our party leaders. Like our party Chairman said, three aspirants obtained an intention form to contest for the governorship election this year, I think that is what matter most. And so far we have three aspirants that have signified their intention to slog it out at the primaries level. I know that there would be equal opportunities for all the aspirants; I'm sure they will not impose any candidate on Osun people or PDP because our goal is the same.
It is to drive Aregbesola out of government house in 2014. That is our common goal as far as Osun PDP is concerned. And party will do everything possible to make sure that Aregbesola is out of that government house this year.
How qualified are you?
I have said it several times that I believe I'm the most qualified, having served at both highest law making body in the country as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and served at the highest
executive level in this country. Don't forget that I am a member of the national executive council from the inception of Yar'Adua/Jonathan administration. So, to that extent, I think I'm the most qualified of the three aspirants.
I have said it several times that I believe I'm the most qualified, having served at both highest law making body in the country as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and served at the highest
executive level in this country. Don't forget that I am a member of the national executive council from the inception of Yar'Adua/Jonathan administration. So, to that extent, I think I'm the most qualified of the three aspirants.
It is on record that I served as a minister of the federal republic of Nigerian for years, without blemish. It is significant to note that when you are appointed in any capacity, you know you are serving at the pleasure of the person that appointed you and so if you are found wanting for whatever reason, you would not last on the job. This is why I said that I have served without a blemish because I was never found wanting in my job either at official level or personal level.
But some people have tried to misinterpret that. You ask me about my qualification for the job and I'm trying to tell you why I am the most qualified out of the three aspirants. Reasons are because of my level of qualification, and my legislative and executive experiences, which none of my co-aspirants possess.
From the time you obtained the intention form and now, what has changed?
As far as I am concerned, nothing; my campaign is on course because I
believe that at the end of the day and like our party said that we are
going for primaries and I intend to slog it out with the other two
aspirants at the primaries. Am working on our party members to
convince them that I'm the most qualified aspirant, and I should be
the person to be elected at the primary level to confront Aregbesola
in the final gubernatorial election.
believe that at the end of the day and like our party said that we are
going for primaries and I intend to slog it out with the other two
aspirants at the primaries. Am working on our party members to
convince them that I'm the most qualified aspirant, and I should be
the person to be elected at the primary level to confront Aregbesola
in the final gubernatorial election.
What does the resignation of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, portend for your party?
Well, I almost believe that PDP as the biggest party in Africa, and
having ruled this country since inception of democracy in 1999, we
always have an internal mechanism to resolve our differences. And I'm
glad that at the end of the day reason prevailed.
There are some things that we must learn; even the opposition should take a cue from what is happening at PDP national level and know that once you're no longer popular or once you know you are controversial, we should know well to throw in the towel in the largest interest of whichever organization you represent and quit when the ovation is loudest.
I commend our former chairman for taking an honourable way out because at the end of the day his interest cannot supersede the larger interest of the party. I have to commend him; it is a lesson other parties should emulate.
Well, I almost believe that PDP as the biggest party in Africa, and
having ruled this country since inception of democracy in 1999, we
always have an internal mechanism to resolve our differences. And I'm
glad that at the end of the day reason prevailed.
There are some things that we must learn; even the opposition should take a cue from what is happening at PDP national level and know that once you're no longer popular or once you know you are controversial, we should know well to throw in the towel in the largest interest of whichever organization you represent and quit when the ovation is loudest.
I commend our former chairman for taking an honourable way out because at the end of the day his interest cannot supersede the larger interest of the party. I have to commend him; it is a lesson other parties should emulate.
In what sectors do you think the current administration in the state
is not doing well and which you may want to correct if elected governor?
is not doing well and which you may want to correct if elected governor?
I don't see any sector where he has excelled really; I can't see any
sector. I have always given series of examples; let us look at it. In
term of road, tell me how he has excelled? He has projects that he
cannot complete within the next two or three years in the road sector.
Also, he has not excelled in the education sector; even he has messed
it up. Take for instance the issue of school uniform where he said that all students should put on the same uniform. I don't know where that is done in Nigeria. Or is it through the education re-classification schools that you want to say he has excelled? Can Osun be different from other states of the Federation? Osun cannot be different from other states. Or is it through mega nonsense that is called mega schools that you want to say he has excelled? How many of that mega schools has he built? Do we really need that in Osun state?
sector. I have always given series of examples; let us look at it. In
term of road, tell me how he has excelled? He has projects that he
cannot complete within the next two or three years in the road sector.
Also, he has not excelled in the education sector; even he has messed
it up. Take for instance the issue of school uniform where he said that all students should put on the same uniform. I don't know where that is done in Nigeria. Or is it through the education re-classification schools that you want to say he has excelled? Can Osun be different from other states of the Federation? Osun cannot be different from other states. Or is it through mega nonsense that is called mega schools that you want to say he has excelled? How many of that mega schools has he built? Do we really need that in Osun state?
More so, the school feeding programme. Oyinlola actually started it, go and find out. But is it the area of Opon-Imo something that he has listed as his achievement for past three years. Go and find out how many of that Opon-Imo he has distributed to our students up till date? Is that an achievement? Is it in the health sector you want to say he has achieved? I cannot see any sector he has excelled except his achievements on the pages of newspapers.
As governor, would you have discontinued most of the projects the administration is doing?
Let me say this that so many unpopular programmes of Aregbesola will be
re-visited by our administration. We are going to re-visit many of his
programme policy by the grace of God, if the good people of Osun state
vote me in as their governor this year. We are going to re-visit so many
of his unpopular programmes. Let me give one example. The issue of
religion has never be a problem in the state before, but as at the time
Aregbesola came in, all these crises started. We have seen riot in Osun
state as far as the issue of religion is concerned.
For the first time we have seen students protesting heavily around the
state. I can assure you that we are going to re-visit his programmes,
after thorough consultations with all stakeholders in the state. We are not going to govern as if we are in military era. Our administration is going to be truly civilian. Like I always say, I'm from Osun, schooled in Osun, and now I live here. What am saying in essence is that I am familiar with the needs of our people here in Osun and we shall do extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders before we introduce any new policy.
For the first time we have seen students protesting heavily around the
state. I can assure you that we are going to re-visit his programmes,
after thorough consultations with all stakeholders in the state. We are not going to govern as if we are in military era. Our administration is going to be truly civilian. Like I always say, I'm from Osun, schooled in Osun, and now I live here. What am saying in essence is that I am familiar with the needs of our people here in Osun and we shall do extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders before we introduce any new policy.
Let me go back to the issue of education, the merger of school. Can you tell me that Aregbesola actually consulted stakeholders? I have seen some teachers complaining that the policy was imposed on them, complaining that Aregbsola did not consult anybody before he took the step. Let me give you another example. When Aregbesola came in for the first two years, we were battling with the issue of Osun state or state of Osun. How has that affected or improved the life of the people in the state? So, all these unpopular policies will be re-visited.
Would you like to shed more light on how you intend to rule the state, especially in the areas of infrastructure development?
My major focus in my first year is going to be education or what I
will call human capital development, infrastructure development and employment generation. The first priority is human capital development. Before you can have a sustainable employment generation and infrastructural development, people must be well educated. Education is number one. When you've solved the employment problem of a state I think 70 per cent of the problem of that state is solved because if a graduate is employed it is going to have multiplier effect on not only their immediate family but extended family.
That is our system in Nigeria and that is why I'm going to focus on education development and scheme acquisition. I have done it at the federal level by establishing national youth development centres in all geo-political zones of this country because I believe in how to teach people to earn a living. So I will address that in my first year by establishing the Osun State Youth Development Centres in the three senatorial districts. I am talking of world class youth development
centre where we are going to develop skills, entrepreneurs and agriculture will be a cornerstone of that. That is what I want to do in Osun state to enhance economy development.
will call human capital development, infrastructure development and employment generation. The first priority is human capital development. Before you can have a sustainable employment generation and infrastructural development, people must be well educated. Education is number one. When you've solved the employment problem of a state I think 70 per cent of the problem of that state is solved because if a graduate is employed it is going to have multiplier effect on not only their immediate family but extended family.
That is our system in Nigeria and that is why I'm going to focus on education development and scheme acquisition. I have done it at the federal level by establishing national youth development centres in all geo-political zones of this country because I believe in how to teach people to earn a living. So I will address that in my first year by establishing the Osun State Youth Development Centres in the three senatorial districts. I am talking of world class youth development
centre where we are going to develop skills, entrepreneurs and agriculture will be a cornerstone of that. That is what I want to do in Osun state to enhance economy development.
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