Why I want to govern Osun State – Wole Oke

Why I want to govern Osun State – Wole Oke

Hon Wole Oke is one of the leading governorship aspirants of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Osun State for this year’s August 9, governorship election. The two- term member of the House of Representatives spoke with journalists on his aspiration and chances of picking his party’s ticket.

Having obtained your expression of interest form from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State for N5million, how do you ensure that there is no rigging or imposition of a candidate.

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 the Bible process of picking a candidate for elections. It must be democratic, free and fair. There is no room for imposition. If there is agreed consensus among the candidates, so be it. But the party which I belong to, the PDP does not 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 consensus, you will find out that it is a true consensus arrangement. Let me also state clearly that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not permit independent candidates. 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 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 30 local governments and the area councils.

What is your strength  in getting the delegates’ votes at the primary?

By my projections, at least, I am optimistic of getting maximum of 75% of the delegates’ votes and minimum of 60% votes.

How would you accommodate two other gubernatorial aspirants if you eventually emerge as the  candidate of the PDP at the end of the primary ?

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 becomes the Senate President.

What are your selling points to the delegates?

My selling points to the delegate are 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  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 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 4 of it received the assent of Mr President to become laws. One of the bills is Pencom amendment bill which exited the armed forces and para-military institutions from the Pencom.

Another bill that I sponsored which also received the assent of Mr President is State Security Services and NIA Pensions Board. Let anybody tell me any bill or show us any bill they sponsored. Another achievement I recorded are the institutions that I facilitated to Osun State when I was in the House of Reps. It was during my tenure as chairman House Committee on Defence that an indigene of Osun State 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 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 PA to the then Minister for Education.

I represented my people successfully 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 State and manage their assets and resources. Academically, I am also prepared.

If you eventually emerge as the candidate  of the PDP, there are fears that Osun State is neck deep in heavy debt incurred by the present administration. How do you intend to address this challenge when you become the 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 her heavy debt profile. I know all the window, I have the tools and skills. With the collaboration of the lawmakers that I would be working with, Osun will wriggle out of its current debt burden.

Do you have an idea of the total debt Osun is owing?

I am a realist. I don’t tell lies. Right now, I don’t know the exact figure of debt Osun State is owing. I am currently conducting an investigation through the Debt Management Office (DMO)  and I have also written a letter to the state governor 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 are owing 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 the letter last week when the noise and hullabaloo were going about that he has borrowed N670billion. As a financial expert, I think the financial institution would definitely have some basics before granting 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  I can’t say the amount the state government is owing.

What some people are saying is that coming 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 Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola 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 of the 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 and 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 rumoured recently that you and Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi stepped down for Senator Iyiola Omisore . Is it true ?

Well, 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 State, 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.