Encomium
No doubt, Nigeria is a country blessed with highly outstanding citizens who have excelled in their various professions and are, today, doing the nation proud in various sectors of the nation’s economy. Some of these distinguished individuals are today reckoned with as good ambassadors of Nigeria, worthy of celebrating and emulating by the younger generation.
They are upwardly mobile leaders of thought with integrity, admirable professionalism and patriotism, having used their robust wealth of experience to evolve strategies that have indelible mark through exceptional leadership, stewardship and forthrightness.
One of these rare breed is the gentleman and humility personified, Josiah Abiola, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), in Lagos state and an unyielding 2015 House of Representatives aspirant for the Ifako/Ijaiye Federal Constituency of Lagos State. In this revealing interview with the journalist-cum-politician, WEWE, as he’s fondly called by professional colleagues and political associates alike, he opened up on various topical issues, chief of which are the fast-approaching 2015 elections, the Boko Haram insurgency, among others. He also spoke on his political ambition.
Why are you in politics?
I am in politics to promote the interest of the masses. I want equal distribution of wealth for the haves and have-nots. I want a situation where the less-privileged will be taken care of.
Can you hazard your political beliefs and philosophy?
I am a profound and unrepentant student of the Awoist philosophy of welfarism. I also believe in social justice as a politician with absolute respect for the rule of law.
What do you think is the way out of the Boko Haram insurgency?
As it stands, a state of emergency has been declared in the affected area, but we are still having sporadic attacks on a spontaneous basis, which clearly shows that the state of emergency option is probably not the way out. I think we should encourage dialogue; these people are no longer masquerades. Government should try to know the people behind them and call them over for dialogue. The fact that bombings continue ceaselessly is a clear indication that the state of emergency is not working.
How viable and formidable is the APC as to dislodge the PDP in 2015?
The party, APC is waxing stronger every day. What happened in Osun state recently is part of the new re-awakening of the electorate. PDP governors are coming into APC, and very credible people are joining the APC daily. At the grassroots, there are reports that PDP members are trooping to the APC daily. APC is strategically out to dislodge the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) come 2015, and you can quote me on this.
Nigerians are fed up with the poor performance of the PDP-led Federal Government. They have failed in various areas, including power supply and generation, education, road construction, health, youth empowerment, employment, security amongst other. I would advice the good people of Nigeria to keep faith with APC, as the party is out to work in the interest of Nigerians.
Who are your mentors in politics?
I look forward to people like late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, then my indefatigable leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Asiwaju, is a quintessential visionary, a leader of men, shrewd politician and astute professional administrator with checks and balances in place to checkmate excesses of party men.
He is a dogged fighter; it is on record that perhaps after Awolowo and Abiola, no other individual has invested in the Yoruba cause than the Jagaban Borgu. Asiwaju is a charitable, kind, compassionate and understanding man; that is why he keeps receiving accolades from everywhere.
There are few people we can say God is certainly taking somewhere in the affairs of this great country, Nigeria, one of such is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I doff my hat for him.
You are a journalist; in what way has journalism helped you venture into politics?
Apart from being a political editor for years, I have been in the political terrain since 1999. When this current democracy started, as well as being in the formidable press crew of my able leader, Governor Emeritus, Bola Tinubu for almost a decade. I cut my political teeth from Tinubu. I was once an image maker for Chief Bisi Akande, the immediate past interim national chairman of APC and former Osun State governor.
I was the Deputy Director, Media and Publicity under the group called Independent Campaign Group (ICG) in 2007, on the road to Gov. Fashola’s first term in office and I am still relevant in the industry and by extension my political aspiration.
Investigations have revealed that the people of Ifako Ijaiye are clamouring for you to represent them in the House of Representatives, come 2015, but as a journalist, how deep is your pocket to fund the massive electioneering campaign?
In the current Nigerian politics, people vote for credible personalities, who can represent them well. Of course, one would spend money, but once you have the people’s support, they will always support you materially and give you their votes when it comes to the party primaries and the general elections. The issue of money is secondary.
We learnt that your constituency want you to represent them come 2015, but the incumbent House of Representatives member, Hon. Ogunnusi has vowed to get the second term ticket as long as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is alive, what’s your response to this?
I also heard it from some political pundits in my area; but from all what I heard from our National leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there will be primaries, which I believe will take place. And I am also working towards it. Whatever the incumbent member is saying does not even move me.
The incumbent, apart from being an elderly man, has money to throw around and some politicians can sell their birth right because of what they will eat now?
I believe this is a free world, anybody can say what he or she likes, the incumbent is an elderly man as you said he’s more or else a father to me by his age, I believe he is supposed to vie for the senate or be compensated with a ministerial appointment.
Though he has been telling those who care to listen that come 2015, he’s going to be crowned as an Otunba in Ijebu-Ode; if not he’s ready to spend N500 million to vie for the senate in Ogun state, if he’s given the assurance. That in itself speaks volumes about the calibre of politicians we have and this is not personal.
Why do you think the people want you as their candidate in 2015?
I live in and out in Ifako-Ijaiye and I am not new there; I know the terrain. I am a grassroots politician, vibrant and ready to deliver. Our people are not happy with the present representation at the House of Representatives because they are not getting the much needed dividends of democracy like other federal constituencies in the state. People see me as an alternative choice, that is why I succumbed to the pressure to run in 2015.
Let’s talk about your legislative agenda?
For me, the attraction to public office is the desire to deploy governance into serving the utmost good of the vast majority of the citizenry. This means a sacred social contract to which genuine political leaders must subscribe in democratic governance. As a prospective member of the House of Representatives, the people will be at the centre of policies and actions to be implemented.
I will be devoted to creating vital links across social and political divides. As a member of the House of Representatives, I will embark on a periodical programme, ward roundtable talk that will draw participation from representatives of the community, opinion leaders, traditional institutions, religious groups, youths, the physically challenged, professionals, students and non-state actors in each of the wards in Ifako-Ijaiye federal constituency.
The purpose of the ward roundtable is to conduct critical assessments in each of the wards that make up the constituency, wide mapping problems, issues and demands that require the attention of government.
What is your final word to the electorate?
They should try and open their eyes to know the true and credible candidate, separate the wheat from the chaff and vote for the right candidate with genuine intention, which is what I am by providence. Victory is certain at the end of the day.
– TADE ASIFAT
