Jamiu Akande Omoniyi, a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA), is aspiring to represent Yewa North/Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency, Ogun State, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with Femi Ogbonnikan, the Jagunmolu of Ijoga-Orile, in Yewa North Local Government Area, bares his mind on his political aspirations, in 2019
Why are you in interested in politics?Â
Without sounding immodest, and by the special grace of Almighty Allah, I am doing very well in my chosen career. To me, politics isn’t dirty as often referred to by people. An American Political Scientist, Harold Lasswell defines Politics as “who gets what, when and how.†Should there be a problem if we respect democratic norms and play politics without bitterness? Politics isn’t dirty, but it is the operators that have made it to look dirty. The reason people identified with us is simply to make a difference. In our aspiration, we are already showing the difference with robust consultations and mobilisation. So, I am poised to make a difference in representation. I can tell you emphatically that people have seen our new approach and they are happy to see us engaging effectively in our local politics, otherwise known as grassroot politics.
Where did you draw the inspiration to contest?
When I look around, I see a lot of things left undone. Our educational facilities are dilapidated, our roads are impassable, and our hospitals are not up to a dispensary of those days; not to compare them with those of developed countries. So, many things are wrong. The poverty level is increasing by the day and so on and so forth. These aren’t new to all of us and we complain of these anomalies on a daily basis. For how long shall we continue to lament? I want to say that I am inspired by the strong desire to right the wrongs, and ensure that we give our people the best representation. They must get dividends of democracy through active participation, facilitation of developmental projects and effective feedback. We have demonstrated our core potentials and abilities through the operation of our non-governmental organisation, the Fausat Asakun Memorial (FAM) Foundation. Just recently, Ogun State Ambassadorial Awards (UK) recognised our giant strides in all areas of human development and philanthropic gestures, with an Excellence Award as an Outstanding NGO. However, we are poised to do more to serve humanity.
Why is your preference for the Yewa North/Imeko-Afon federal constituency, and not the local government chairmanship seat?
Yewa North-Imeko/Afon is our Federal Constituency, and thank God you didn’t say that only Yewa North deserves a better representation. You will recall that the constituency was formerly one local government. Imeko/Afon local was carved out of the old Egbado North Local Government. It is good, it had been separated but it is bad to leave the representation in the hands of those that do not fit into it. If I run for the Chairmanship seat, I may only be able to run for the present Yewa North local government. But what then becomes of our people in the other local government? They are yearning for better representation too. Generally speaking, our people deserve more than what they have gotten now at all levels. My aspiration is to reposition the Federal Constituency as a whole, and as one of the legal gateways to Nigeria’s economy, by taking advantage of our proximity with the Republic of Benin.
Seeking elective office in Nigeria is very expensive. Are you prepared?
We know we have God and the people. That’s our strength and we are very proud of it.
What are your selling points?
We know, we represent a fresh breath in the political landscape of Yewa North-Imeko/Afon Federal Constituency on one hand and Ogun State in general. We have been going about our consultations peacefully, and in a very unique way. We have presented ourselves to the people; we have let them seen the difference in our selling point in comparison with other aspirants across the divide.
Have you got the blessing of the elders and leaders of your party in federal constituency?Â
We are aware that we can’t do it all alone. We need the blessings and endorsement of the elders and leaders and the good people of the Federal Constituency. We are not relenting. Our elders, traditional leaders, political and community leaders are responding positively. They won’t regret their support for us, Insha Allah!
