EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: “WHY I WILL SUPPORT HON. ABIOLA MAKINDE’S RE-ELECTION”— DR MICHAEL AKINTOMIDE (AJILO) SPEAKS TO HERALDERSTIMES
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: “WHY I WILL SUPPORT HON. ABIOLA MAKINDE’S RE-ELECTION”— DR MICHAEL AKINTOMIDE (AJILO) SPEAKS TO HERALDERSTIMES.
Dr MICHAEL AKINTOMIDE (AJILO) is a Nigerian Medical Doctor based in United States of America; a nationalist and the founder of MICHEAL OLAMIDOTUN AKINTOMIDE FOUNDATION. He hails from Ondo City of the Sunshine State. Here he talks to Oluwasegun Samuel Falade, Editor of HeraldersTimes via a Zoom conversation about his home state and how good governance must be the primary goal of elected office holders.
Read the excerpt….
*HERALDERSTIMES:* SIR, IN RECENT TIMES WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT YOUR PHILANTHROPIC GESTURES TO BOTH YOUNG AND OLD IN YOUR HOME-TOWN. WE WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU CHOOSE TO EMBARK ON SUCH A CHARITABLE COURSE.
*DR AKINTOMIDE:* “ENIKENI TI IWO BA NIPA LATI SE IRANLOWO FUN, OUN NAA NI ENIKEJI RE, TOJU RE”… This is a common Yoruba saying from my most revered role model and benefactor, HIGH CHIEF (SIR) OLABANJI AKINGBULE. Let me tell you, we live in a very peculiar time and society where a lot of people strive to make ends meet, even as simple as putting food on the table. Although my own understanding of wealth might differ from the contemporary meaning, the measure of one’s wealth should translate to or be in direct proportion to the number of lives one has impacted positively. May I use this medium to plead to people with the same or more capacity to join hands with me to see what we can do to reduce the burden on the less-privileged in our society. The collective efforts will go a long way in helping our people out of poverty. Health, Empowerment and Education are my primary areas of concentration — As you are aware, Health is Wealth, and an idle hand and mind is devil’s workshop. And most importantly, education is the key. It is light.
Thank you!
*HERALDERSTIMES:* AS A PROPONENT OF GOOD GOVERNANCE, HOW WOULD YOU MEASURE/RATE THE GOV. AKEREDOLU’S LED APC ADMINISTRATION IN THE SUNSHINE STATE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR THEREABOUTS?
*DR AKINTOMIDE:* Contrary to unpopular opinion, Governor Akeredolu in all fairness is trying his best in office. However, the good people of Ondo state expect more from him in this second tenure, for a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and astute technocrat who has recorded successes in the private sector and was driven by the love of his people in Ondo to venture into the politics of the state, more is expected from him. Having said that, People must also understand the peculiar challenges of governors nowadays. We can not over-emphazise the impact of national and global economic challenges and the socio-political insecurity bedeviling the country currently. Wholistically, all these have contributed to poor performance of many states, Ondo state inclusive just like in many countries around the globe.
*HERALDERSTIMES:* BARELY COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO YOUR PICTURE WITH THE NIGERIAN SENATE CHIEF WHIP AND THE HONOURABLE REPRESENTING ONDO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY WAS NOT ONLY SPOTTED IN THE CYBERSPACE BUT ALSO GENERATED POLITICAL SPECULATION CUM MEDIA FRENZY. CAN YOU PLEASE TELL US IN DETAIL WHAT YOUR DISCUSSIONS WERE PREMISED ON?
*DR AKINTOMIDE:* Speculations. Really! Hmmm, let me tell you, people that are close to me know too well that SENATOR DR ORJI UZOR KALU and I are very close. He is a father figure to me, and the most detribalized Nigerian that I know. HON. ABIOLA MAKINDE is my leader and our relationship as well is deep. Coincidentally, both men were in the United States for their recess and vacation. This created an avenue for me to spend quality time with both leaders. We deliberated on both national and international issues that are germane.
*HERALDERSTIMES:* HAVING NARRATED THE RELATIONSHIP AND THE POLITICAL SYNERGY BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE HONOURABLE REPRESENTING ONDO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY AT THE GREEN CHAMBER, WHAT’S YOUR ASSESSMENT OF HIS REPRESENTATIVE FUNCTION AS PER THE MOUTHPIECE OF YOUR PEOPLE IN THE GREEN CHAMBER?
*DR AKINTOMIDE:* Look, I’m the custodian of my conscience, it behooves on me to say in clear terms that HON. ABIOLA MAKINDE has performed outstandingly well. It is beyond reasonable doubt. Many of you reporters know this. This is obvious to the blind and audible to the deaf. He has restored hope to his constituents and raised hope by many bars. He is active on the Floor of the House and has sponsored quite a number of bills that have brought development to Ondo kingdom. If you have followed the House sitting too well, you would have known he has some bills in the pipeline which have scaled through the lower Chamber, and are ascending to the Red chamber and will definitely be passed very soon. Ondo people are lucky to have him this time.
*HERALDERSTIMES:* EMERGING REPORTS HAVE IT THAT YOU ARE DRUMMING UP SUPPORTS FOR HON. ABIOLA MAKINDE’S RE-ELECTION. COULD YOU TELL US THE VERACITY THEREIN?
*DR AKINTOMIDE:* That is a capital YES, people that are close to me know I am progressive minded and I put people first in all I do. I love my people in Ondo and I want the best for them because that is what they deserve. HON. ABIOLA MAKINDE has been tested and trusted in so many ways. His Good Turn Deserves Another.
*HERALDERSTIMES:* HAVING ALLUDED TO YOUR DRUMMING UP SUPPORTS FOR HIM, SOME POLITICAL WATCHERS ARE OF THE VIEW YOU ARE BEING PATERNALISTIC OVER YOUR SUPPORT FOR HON. ABIOLA MAKINDE’S RE-ELECTION BID. HOW TRUE IS THIS?
*DR AKINTOMIDE:* I can not but smile. People have different opinions on issues like this and people most often are entitled to their opinion. The overwhelming support HON. ABIOLA MAKINDE is getting from my camp and that of the good people of Ondo today is a testament that he scores very high mark on the score card.
*HERALDERSTIMES:* I READ IN AN ONLINE PUBLICATION WHERE YOU SAID YOU HAVE ENDORSED THE RE-ELECTION OF HON. ABIOLA MAKINDE; SIR, WILL YOU HELP US TO SHED MORE LIGHT ON THAT?
*DR AKINTOMIDE:* I mentioned this earlier. A Good Turn Deserves Another. Only the best is good for us in Ondo kingdom and state at large. He is the best man for the job this time. In this vein, my endorsement of HON. ABIOLA MAKINDE candidature is an expression of my Love for the good people of Ondo.
*HERALDERSTIMES:* ON A FINAL NOTE, SIR, WHAT WILL BE YOUR ADVICE TO YOUR FELLOW EKINMOGUN’S IN PARTICULAR, AND NIGERIAN ELECTORATES IN GENERAL AHEAD OF 2023?
*DR AKINTOMIDE:* 2023 election is unique in the sense that it will determine the future of Nigeria. The country is currently labile. We need a unifier, a president like a father that listens to Nigerians from every creed and ethnic group. Someone with sound socio-political acumen and will to drive the country forward and save Nigeria from the menace of insecurity and economic quagmire. I would like to admonish my fellow citizens that come 2023, we should not vote based on the words of mouth but on integrity of a candidate, their political antecedents and achievements so far.
HERALDERSTIMES: Thank you for your time Sir.
DR AKINTOMIDE: YOU ARE WELCOME
