Chief Olu Falae 

By James Sowole

The All Peoples Party and Alliance for Democracy presidential candidate in the 1999 election, Chief Olu Falae, at the weekend stressed the need to institutionalise fund raising for political activities in the country to ensure that money bags do not hijack politics.

Falae spoke in Akure, the state capital at a fundraising dinner organised for the second term bid of the Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

Falae, whose 74th birthday fell on the day, said he was the first to organise fundraising in the 1999 election where over N400 million was realised, saying that the cost of running for election in this country is enormous that those who believe in a particular candidate must assist in fund raising.

He said he agreed to be the chairman of the event because of his belief in the candidature of Mimiko, not the institution of fundraising. 

The former presidential candidate said President Barrack Obama would not have become the president of the United States of America if not for the fund that was raised for his campaign and other activities.

According to Falae, if those who believed in a good candidate but who do not have much money refused to contribute to the financial needs of such candidate, the moneybags would take over politics and that portends danger for the nation and the people.

He said Mimiko had done a lot since he became the governor of the state three and half years ago.

He called on everybody to respond positively to moves to enable him continue the good job.

Falae assured the people that the incumbent governor would not make their contribution to be in vain because he would do more good things for the state in terms of developmental projects.

Though, millions of naira was expected to have been realised, but it was not disclosed as various donors put their contributions in sealed envelopes without disclosing the amount.