Aregbesola has no idea —Wole Oke

Aregbesola has no idea —Wole Oke

Honourable Busayo Oluwole Oke, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State  is a former member, House of Representatives and chairman, House Committee on Defence. In this interview with some journalists, he spoke about his ambition, Osun politics among other issues. Oluwole Ige brings the excerpts...

Having obtained your expression of interest form from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State for N5million, how would you feel if your party decides to impose a candidate as its flag bearer in the governorship election?
Let me assure that the Electoral Act 2010 as amended specifically states how a political party should elect its candidates for elections and that is the Quran and Bible of process of picking a candidate for elections. It must be democratic, free and fair. There is no room for imposition. If there is a consensus among the candidates, so be it. But the party which I belong to, the PDP, does not as a matter of habit, impose candidates. I have contested several elections under this party, including the one into the parliament and there has never been imposition and where there is a consensus, you will find out that it is a true consensus arrangement. Let me also state clearly that the Constitution of the country does not permit independent candidate. A candidate must at all times be sponsored by a political party. A candidate can only contest through a political party and that party is also expected to conduct a credible primary for its aspirants.

How prepared are you for the primary election?
I am fully prepared for the primary election. This is the second time I would be touring all the 30 local governments, including the area councils in Osun State. I am the only candidate that is busy meeting all the delegates and party leadership across the local governments and the area council.

What is your strength in getting the delegates’ votes at the primaries?
By my projections, at least, I am optimistic of getting maximum of 75 per cent of the delegates’ votes and minimum of 60 per cent votes.

How would you accommodate two other aspirants if you eventually emerge as the candidate of the PDP?
The two other aspirants are my elder brothers. Senator Iyiola Omisore is my elder brother, so also is Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi. We are members of the same family in the PDP. I know that within the heart of Senator Omisore, he would like to go back to the Senate and perhaps become the Senate President.

What is your selling point to the expected delegates?
My selling point to them is that they have tried me and I have been tested before. I have been elected into positions and I performed creditably well and it is on record. Let me give you an instance. The joy of any parliamentarian is that during his or her tenure is to sponsor bills and for the bills to see the light of the day. The three of us remaining in this race are former parliamentarians and I challenge them to mention the bills they have been able to sponsor on the floor of the Senate. I sponsored 10 bills and four passed bills received the assent of Mr President to become laws. One of the bills is the Pencom amendment bill which exited the Armed Forces and paramilitary institutions from the Pencom. Another bill that I sponsored which also received the assent of Mr President is State Security Services and NIA pension board. Let anybody tell me any bill or show us any bill they sponsored.

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Another achievement I recorded are the institutions that I facilitated to Osun State when I was in the House. It was during my tenure as chairman, House Committee on Defence that an indigene of Osun became the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Petinrin and he subsequently became the Chief of Defence Staff. He is also from my constituency; we both facilitated the siting of an Air Force Base in Ipetu Ijesa. I also brought Armed Force Games village to Esa Oke, ditto Armed Forces Physical and Health Institute in Ijegun. I was working on Federal College of Education for Ibokun with Professor Ajeyalemi, who was the Personal Assistant to the then Minister for Education. I represented my people successively and I am happy about it and I can tell you that my people were also excited about my sterling performance. This goes further to say that I am fully prepared sufficiently and efficiently to lead Osun and manage its assets and resources. Academically, I am also prepared.

There are fears that Osun State is now neck deep in debt. How do you intend to address this challenge when you become governor?
First of all, I am a financial engineer by training and exposure and a developmental analyst, accountant and tax lawyer. Globally, public finance remains the bedrock of governance. With my pedigree, I would exit Osun out of its heavy debt profile. I know all the window, I have the tools and skills. With the collaboration of the lawmakers that will be working with, Osun will wriggle out of its current debt burden.

Do you have an idea of the total current debt Osun is owing?
I am a realist. I don’t tell lies. Right now, I don’t know the exact figure. I am currently conducting an investigation through the Debt Management Office (DMO)  and I have also written a letter to the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, to demand an account of the state. He is currently the governor and I am one of his citizens, who has the right to ask for the finances of the state and I also expect him to publish the same in the newspapers or pamphlets and circulate among the people to know how much we owe as a state.

Has the governor replied your letter and when did you send the letter to him?
He has not replied the letter. I sent it when the noise and hullabaloo were going about that he had burrowed N670billion. As a financial expert, I think the financial institution would definitely have some basics before granting a loan facility to the government. Until I have documents, facts and data or certified audited account of the state government, detailing income and expenditure from the relevant authorities, including the Federal Ministry of Finance and DMO before I can say the amount the state government is owing.

What some people are saying is that the fact that you are from the same Senatorial District with Aregbesola may work against your interest in this race?
That is in fact the biggest asset that I have, that is coming from the same zone with the incumbent governor. We have six local governments in that zone, with highly sophisticated electorate and large number of votes. If we give Aregbesola the laxity, he would take all the votes in that zone and don’t forget, he has his men in various local governments holding one political office or the other and they would fight to keep their jobs. I can tell you that the if the PDP gives me the ticket, I would dislodge OgbeniRaufAregbesola out of the Government House and Abere through the ballot. I have the wherewithal to take on the governor. Humility is not a crime. That I am humble is not a sign of cowardice. I am prepared to send Aregbesola back to Lagos.

If you are declared winner of the governorship election, would you review some policies and programmes of Aregbesola’s administration?
Yes I will. One of the problems of Aregbesola’s government is policy summersault. I know him too well. He was my senior at The Polytechnic, Ibadan. I know that in those days, he belonged to the socialist movement. He was an activist in the institution. I know his pedigree and background. Honestly speaking he has ideas. One of his major undoings is that he is a starter not a finisher. You will discover that all his policy thrusts have summersaulted. I would review his policies. As a matter of principle, before you can project into the future, you must review the past and the present. I would review his education programme, health, infrastructure provision, tax matters and give it a human face.

It was said that you and Senator Akinlabi stepped down for Senator Omisore so that he can emerge as the candidate of the PDP. Is it true?
I can only speak for myself. After paying a sum of N5million for the intention form, in the last two weeks, I have toured all the nooks and crannies of Osun, canvassing for delegates’ votes. I have not stepped down for anybody, neither did I step down for Senator Omisore. Without sounding immodest, I am the most qualified person for this job. I am adequately prepared mentally, spiritually and physically for the governorship seat.

You are a two-term member of the House of Representatives. Some people believe you should not seek any elective office again?
I did not go into politics in penury. I am a very successful management consultant and strong member of the organised private sector. I have a workforce of over 1,000. I went into politics for service and my constituency invested heavily by giving me their mandate to represent them in the parliament. While in the parliament, the government used the tax payers’ money to train and expose me to the process of governance and lawmaking. In advanced democracies, it is such people you allow to hold public office. It would be of total disservice to the people of Osun, if I should quit politics by now.
My people need me to render quality service to them, Osun people have been disconnected from their resources and I have to bridge the gap. Osun is endowed with resources and human capacity.
But, we have a total dislocation in the art of governance and management of resources. It is like a case of a man standing under an orange trees and does not have access to the orange fruits. I would connect the Osun people back to their resources. On my finger tips, I can tell you the number of small scale industries that can thrive in this state and  job opportunities that can be created for the masses. Osun is endowed with huge natural resources. For instance the huge gold deposit in Ijesaland what have we done to it?