In this interview with ADELEKE ADESANYA, the African Democratic Congress governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Chief Gboyega Isiaka, said there wouldn’t be a respite for the All Progressives Congress and its anointed candidate in the coming governorship election in 2019. He added that the party should expect history to repeat itself in the election as it did in 2011. He also spoke on other issues bordering Ogun State.
There is no doubt that all eyes are on Ogun ADC to shock the ruling party, APC. What are the party’s plans like to secure victory in 2019 ?
We are fully prepared, we have been on this for sometimes now, and we have learnt from experience. Concerning the party, the party is in a very good shape. Moreover, another fact that I believe is to our advantage is the fact that our opponents are having different internal challenges which emanated from their intending primaries, and we hope to benefit from that. In addition, we are not losing any sleep over our plans to ensure that we come out victorious in Ogun State. It is time the Ogun indigenes are delivered from slavery and we are ready to ensure all efforts are put together to deliver them.
Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has already anointed his candidate for APC and people believe he is the man to beat in the contest. Do you feel challenged about this?
I have talked about this severally that I am not moved a bit with that. Let me tell you, when the present governor, Ibikunle Amosun, also won in 2011, he faced a candidate that was backed by the then governor and the then ruling party which was also ruling at the federal level. So, this time, I believe that history will still repeat itself. But the bottom line is that the Ogun State electorate are very knowledgeable and I know that the people know who they want to vote for. So, we are not moved by anyone being backed by the ruling party in Ogun State or Abuja.
I can claim that over and above anybody that wants to contest in Ogun State in 2019, there is none that is as close to the people of the state as I am
There are various allegations against the INEC on some of the elections conducted recently and this has questioned the integrity of the Commission. Do you have faith in INEC ahead of 2019 in Ogun State?
I am aware that the People’s Democratic Party’s governors usually pass a vote of no confidence on INEC, and for me, I saw that in a good direction. I want to believe that INEC needs to do a lot more to give people confidence in all that they do. I also want to share the view that INEC is not doing well enough in terms of giving people confidence particularly to parties that are operating from outside. I think they need to do a lot more to ensure that Nigerians believe in them. For instance, what happened in Ekiti State governorship election was nothing to write home about. INEC didn’t portray its integrity at all. If you consider lots that were said about the election and others things that surrounded the activity, you will agree with me that the Commission has a lot to do to win the confidence of Nigerians ahead of the coming general elections in 2019.
What are your personal plans for Ogun State indigenes ahead of the coming governorship election in the state?
I think the bottom line is that we want to give hope to the people. We have a seven-point agenda that we want to run to make this state a better place for all. It starts from human capital development which is at the top of it, developing our father’s town with Lagos is one of it and generally enhancing the orientation we want to give to the people and others. So it’s a long one and I think the bottom line is that we want to serve the people, we want women and the people to be at the centre of all that we do. Those are the way I could summarise it for you now, my plans in detail will be rolled out soon to all.
People are sceptical of your dream as your area in the state, Ogun West, is yet to produce the state governor since its creation. What is your reaction to this?
For me, the fact that I am from Ogun West is an added advantage that is worth talking about. In a state of 43 years, a particular section of the state has not had the opportunity to govern the state. Is that not a good advantage? When you look at it critically, you will realize that it even gives me a better chance and I am ready to leverage on this. And that doesn’t mean that my government will favour a section when I win the election. I want to run a better Ogun State and take the state to a greater height from the West to the Central and to the East. I have what it takes to take the state to a greater level and also to spread development and good governance and make life abundant for the people of the state.
But in the past, your bulk of votes were won from Ogun East division which is also laying claim to the governorship position in 2019, having supported Yewa for two elections. How do you intend to cope with this?
Ogun Central had Senator Ibikunle Amosun as a governor running for a second term. Egba people did not want another son to lose a second term and so they voted for Amosun. That factor will not be there in 2019. The Egba people will vote for someone other than their son. Don’t forget the fact in this same country, in Anambra State, somebody won in all the local governments and also in Ekiti State. We should not continue to think that Ogun State people will always vote on primordial sentiments. They will look at the quality of candidates and their closeness to them. I can claim that over and above anybody that wants to contest in Ogun State in 2019, there is none that is as close to the people of the state as I am.
The outgoing APC administration in Ogun State had spent two terms in office with people asking various questions on the governor’s performance. In your own view, how will you access Governor Amosun’s two terms in office?
There are other sectors of the economy that require resources but which are being deprived, education is a case in point. In the last WAEC result, Ogun State was in number 19. Here is a state of firsts since the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The health sector is even worse and then rural and community roads. Though he might believe he has tried his best, the fact is that he ran a government that only concentrated on a minor while leaving other important parts of the economy in
jeopardy.
Every state government has all the resources required to solve the problems of its people. I understand there could be challenges but that should not be celebrated by any governor.
The electorate are disillusioned with the style of governance adopted by the ruling party in the state and are determined to seek alternative platform.
What do you think are the missing gaps in Amosun’s government?
Government is continuous and all inherited projects should be completed otherwise, anyone that failed to do that will end up wasting the resources of the state spent on such a project by his predecessor. No matter what it takes, a proactive government must be able to turn liabilities in the state into an asset. That is why I have promised the people of this state that I will restore the dignity of Ogun State residents through solution-driven, socio-economic interventions, inculcation of clear values and understanding of fundamental rights which are well articulated in the party manifesto.
