EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: ‘MY APPROACH TO GOVERNANCE WILL BE PEOPLE-CENTRIC IF ELECTED”— ENGR AWOYEYE ABIOLA SPEAKS TO HERALDERSTIMES
POLITICS…
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: ‘MY APPROACH TO GOVERNANCE WILL BE PEOPLE-CENTRIC IF ELECTED”— ENGR AWOYEYE ABIOLA SPEAKS TO HERALDERSTIMES
Again, on our monthly bulletin tagged: “AN ENCOUNTER” it is an online publication anchored by the HERALDERSTIMES editorial board.
SUNDAY HERALDERSTIMES in its exclusive interview with Engr ABIOLA AWOYEYE, gathered that he hails from ile-ife, an ancient city where we have learnt from history as the cradle of the Yoruba’s. Engr Awoyeye is an alumni of the Great Citadel of learning, Obafemi Awolowo university in Ile-ife where he bagged a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Electronic. He proceeded further to the renowned Technological University in Dublin, where he also bagged a Masters Degree of Engineering in Sustainable Energy Systems. He’s a certified Engineer, and a member, Nigeria society of Engineers.
Having ventured into politics, Engr Awoyeye contested in the primary election of his party, the People’s Democratic party, where he emerged as the candidate of his party in the forthcoming States House of Assembly election for ife central local government, under the platform of the people’s Democratic party.
He speaks with Oluwasegun Samuel Falade, Editor of HERALDERSTIMES via a live broadcast on this channel tagged “AN ENCOUNTER”
Read Excerpt:
HERALDERSTIMES: Some quarters have it that your entry into politics seems to have rekindled the spirit of Youths such that there is a change of orientation towards politics. Have you noticed that? Do you think the youths are truly prepared to mount the rostrum for leadership?
ENGR AWOYEYE: Yes, I have. And I am happy, I’m able to show fellow young and energetic youths in the present spectrum of our polity— that the political space is not just a retirement home for the old and aged as it has been made to seem in our part of the world today. May I let you know for the purpose of this discussion; I’m an avid advocate of ‘practice what you preach.’ So, it’s a step in the right direction clinching my party’s ticket to become the flag-bearer in the forthcoming state House of Assembly Elections. I believe one hundred percent that our youths are well equipped to take on leadership roles at different levels in the political strata, and also excel if given a chance. Permit me to reiterate that if my people found me worthy of their votes, and if elected as their representative on the floor of Osun State House of Assembly, I hope to further drive home this point with my contributions on issues of governance in my constituency and the society at large. Take a look at the crop of leaders that fought for our independence and piloted the affairs of the country in the first republic, their age bracket and their contributions to national growth, some of which we still enjoy till date. It’s not enough being touted as the leaders of tomorrow, when we can’t contribute our quota now.
HERALDERSTIMES: Having being in the political space for a while now, have you been enjoying the atmosphere, and has or have there been any challenge(s)? If any, how then do you plan to surmount it?
ENGR AWOYEYE: Politics has been quite enjoyable for me, because I’m passionate about the processes and the people involved in it. Being a politician at the grassroots has taught me that politics is truly local and that is where some of the challenges stem from. Most of our people in the grassroots have the wrong orientations about political processes and how they should run which is why we need to re-orientate them so they can demand better governance from government at every level. I believe that with better political education, we’ll see great improvement in the mindset of our people towards politics and governance.
HERALDERSTIMES: Your Party, the People’s Democratic Party has just won the gubernatorial election in Osun State. Now what can you say those factors are that culminated in the victory of your party in the just concluded gubernatorial election, and of course, which your party might leverage on in future elections?
ENGR AWOYEYE: I believe it and would say the people of Osun spoke through their ballot by electing the distinguished Sen. Nurudeen Ademola Jackson Adeleke as the Governor Elect of our dear State. I think the major reason we won is the people of Osun wanted the PDP and our candidate. We won the last time but our mandate was stolen. By winning again, it goes to show that the people of the State are solidly behind Sen. Ademola Adeleke. In him, I believe the party fielded our most popular candidate that is, one widely accepted across the State and even beyond and that resulted in election victory for us. This is something I hope the party can continue.
HERALDERSTIMES: I have stumbled on some of your graphical display making the rounds on the Internet, for which you proposed to change the narrative of governance if elected into office. Is there any veracity to these reports?
ENGR AWOYEYE: Yes, you might have noticed some graphical displays being put out on social media platforms by my media team, one of which talks about governance. I have closely monitored the political space in Nigeria and the standard of governance at the grassroots is nothing to write home about even though the grassroots are the most involved with the political processes that produce *any government, be it at the federal, state or local level. Therefore, I have taken it upon myself to sensitize the people about our intentions to run a people-centered government, if elected.
HERALDERSTIMES: Perhaps for some circumstances therefrom either now or in future, can these said narratives be changed?
ENGR AWOYEYE: Yes, I believe we can change them as the only constant thing in life is change. My team and I have highlighted some areas where we think we can make improvements. Let me assure our teeming supporter’s out there as soon as campaign begins, I shall reel out my blueprint as to how our plans to change the narrative will have a direct impact on the lives of good people of Ile-Ife.
HERALDERSTIMES: Some quarters also have it that if you eventually emerge victorious that you won’t consider the plight of the masses but some political God Fathers. Do you have anything to say as regards this public perception about you?
ENGR AWOYEYE: I totally disagree!. Permit me to correct what might seem to be the perception in some quarters. I’m a politician, and I have come to realize that no one plays politics in isolation. To me, God Fatherism is just a mere wordcraft often deployed in the political arena to dignify politically experienced and eminent personalities. I’m a certified engineer, You should expect me to have mentors and superiors in my profession. I think you can get the import of my explanation. That’s why I said it’s just a mere wordcraft. Let me say this, one indelible aspect of Nigeria politics is that politicians lean on the shoulders of politically experienced, influential and financially loaded people to ride to power. That’s just a digression though. Experience is important here! Those already there can help you very much in this regard. Another thing is being loyal to the party. For you to achieve your aim, loyalty to the party that deemed it fit to bring you in is important because when there is rancour and acrimony, the platform may not be there for you to actualize your goals. And these goals are giving the people dividend of democracy. So being loyal to the party does the job better. And again, just like in many spheres of life, you work together to achieve an aim which of course is making people-centred policies. So I would work with the party so that our house will be in order and ensure what the people want is done.
Yes, If anything, my government would be for the masses as I have always pointed out with every chance I get to gain access to the people. I can categorically say that I don’t have any political godfather, that I must obey every of his last wish and I don’t intend to acquire one in the future. In fact, I am of the opinion that ‘godfatherism’ is one of the problems hindering us from achieving what I call true governance and it must be discouraged in its entirety. But that does not translate to not listening to my party and gaining ideas and insight from those already there. Cooperation and understanding win the game. Those that have worked hard to keep the party must be commended.
HERALDERSTIMES: Would you afford to let the cat out of the bag on your blueprints— that is, as to how you intend to bring about these changes in what has seemed to be a medieval yet unproductive approach common to governance in the polity?
ENGR AWOYEYE: You can’t do the same thing over again and expect a different result. The main problem we have is most of the government policies and interventions are not people-centred and in some cases their solutions are archaic and medieval and this coupled with poor implementation. To solve this problem, my team and I have been working round the clock on new and modern ideas especially in the key areas of education, health, security, infrastructural and human-capacity development that put the people first and as well develop them. Yes, they help us to maximize our people’s potentials. Some of these ideas we can put into bills to be considered and debated on the floor of the House if elected. With this approach, I believe we will start to notice the change we all clamor for.
HERALDERSTIMES: Having made some statistical analysis of the last gubernatorial election in your local government, pundits have it that same thing eventually might occur, that is, a recurrence of voting pattern. Aren’t you as a candidate perturbed, especially now that the general election is fast approaching?
ENGR AWOYEYE: Surely, as a candidate, I am concerned with the results from my local government in the just concluded gubernatorial election where we polled 13,532 as against the 17,880 polled by the APC. This shows that there’s still a lot of work to be done. However, we also have to note that the results are a big improvement compared to the 3,200 we polled in the previous gubernatorial election. We are not resting as a party and I can assure you work is ongoing to overturn these results for the better to ensure we deliver Ife Central for all PDP candidates in the forthcoming general elections.
HERALDERSTIMES: Voter Apathy is still a challenge; and now that you are particularly cognisant of the poor turn out of voters in the last gubernatorial election in Osun State, what’s your advice to people out there who still believe their votes don’t count?
ENGR AWOYEYE: The election process is more transparent now especially with the introduction of the BVAS machine by INEC and the new electoral law so the notion that our votes don’t count is a wrong one. Even though we’re not there yet, we’re not far behind. My advice, especially to the youths and to everyone is to participate diligently in the electioneering process and perform their civic responsibility come election day. We have to put our country on the right track so we can all enjoy the dividends of democracy that comes with it, and of course, electing the right people into office is top of the list of things to do to achieve that aim. Thank you!
HERALDERSTIMES: THANKS FOR HAVING YOU ON BOARD, HONOURABLE.
ENGR AWOYEYE: YOU ARE WELCOME!
