15th October, 2012
Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 20 October polls in Ondo State, Dr. Olusola Oke, in this interview with FOLA ADEMOSU says his being in the race is a rescue mission on behalf of the people of the state
At what point did you envision, if at all, that the people of Ondo State would need your services as their governor?
I have offered my service in diverse capacities, including serving as Ondo State’s representative on the governing board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, National Political Reform Conference, Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, OSOPADEC, Ondo State Board of Internal Revenue and various committees on issues affecting the oil producing states. Until few months ago, I was the national Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party. I have always appreciated the need to serve the people of Ondo State. Recently, I toured the entire state and what I saw was alarming: I discovered that poverty was boldly written on the faces of the people, broken promises from the government, decaying infrastructure and a comatose health sector. I also found out that the state is heavily indebted now than when the PDP government of Olusegun Agagu was there. Agagu left a cash credit balance of N38 billion and some other assets when he exited the government. Today, the state’s economy has nosedived considerably despite the huge allocations that have accrued to the present government from the Federation Account. Apart from the money Agagu left behind and other assets which could be converted to money, the government has received over N407bn since 30 April 2009 coupled with an increasing Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, but yet has a debt profile of N50bn. There are no major projects to justify the huge resources the government has expended so far; no industry was established and all the projects Agagu embarked on had been abandoned by this government, including the Olokola Free Trade Zone, which was meant to open up the state to developments and reconfigure its economy. The Sunshine FC and other state-sponsored teams still go to Ijebu-Ode to play because we lack a functional stadium facility. Other projects abandoned by this government include the Owena Multi-purpose dam, which had been completed and slated for commissioning by the Agagu administration in 2009; Idanre tourist centres and Omotosho Industrial Park. I have gone round the local governments and did not see any newly constructed major road. Though I have always wanted to serve my people, it became compelling after that tour to rescue them from this administration.
Despite the grotesque picture you just painted, did you at any time offer advice to the present government on how to move the state forward or help in attracting development from the centre where you served?
As a leader of the party at the centre, I have always offered public opinion on good governance to all governments, including Ondo State. I have repeatedly interacted with members of the present government since I discovered the decadence in the governance of my state. It became compelling for me when I realised that the government had no development blueprint and vision on how to move the state forward. Sadly, rather than change its ways, it has become incurably unrepentant and incorrigible in driving the state on the same path that brought us to where we are.
Many of the industries that used to be the pride of the state have become comatose; what are your plans to industralise the state?
We would establish Agro-Allied industries, which would boost productivity in agriculture. The agro-allied industries would provide alternative market for the produce, generate employment and ultimately lead to industrial revolution and food sufficiency. We will look at the comparative advantages of each of the three senatorial districts in agricultural production. We will assist the farmers to get modern equipment and distribute seedlings to them, as it was done during the Agagu era. I was told that Agagu distributed about three million seedlings to the farmers. We look forward to a time Ondo State would account for at least 40 per cent of produce consumption in Nigeria. We would create modern storage facility to eliminate waste and prevent production from overshooting local consumption ratio, which naturally would lead to glut and crash in the prices of the produce. We will also open up our coastal resources by establishing a deep-sea port that will make maximum use of the Olokola FTZ and eventually open the state up for international trade.
People believe that all politicians speak a common language of deceit. Why should they believe you and what makes you a better candidate than Governor Mimiko?
The difference is that I am a product of transformation agenda. I am in the race to rescue Ondo State. The present government is directionless and has exhibited its ineptitude in moving the people out of poverty and providing good governance. I have been part of the several reforms to drive the state forward and I have served in various capacities, where I displayed love for the people and concern for their wellbeing. I have a mastery of the problems facing our people and what is needed to change their situations. I am different because I have a vision, mission and a roadmap for the development of the state, unlike the current clueless and copycat governor. He duplicates whatever he sees in other places in Ondo State without minding what actually the needs of the people are. What is the need for fountains on our roads, when the people lack drinkable water? We must use a bottom-top approach by prioritising the people’s immediate needs.
-Published in TheNEWS magazine.