‘Akeredolu has no reason not to perform’

•Ologun

Dele Ologun is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC)in Ondo State. He spoke with DAMISI OJO on last year’s governorship election, the expectations of youths about the in coming Akeredolu administration and other issues. 

 

What does the victory of Rotimi Akeredolu portends for Ondo State?

My view is that whatever God decides in a man’s life,it will come to pass,no matter the obstacles and hindrances against it.God had destined Akeredolu’s victory. Every other issues were mere challenges to catapult him to his present destination . God gave him a well-deserved victory, after the poor outing of 2012 governorship poll when he came a distant third on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN).A lot of waters passed under the bridge, but today,the dream had come to fruition as he will be sworn in as the sixth executive governor on February 24. we are celebrating him and as well celebrating all that worked for him. The dogged man has fought for what he believed in and he has won and to God be the glory.

What is your perception of political godfatherism in Nigeria?

Well, the governor-elect has redefined it. What I think Akeredolu is saying in essence is that you should believe in yourself. Believe in who you are and stand firm. Believe in your God, believe in your capacity and capability and with God on your side, everything is going to work.One needs to first of all believe in himself or herself . That is what we can learn from Akeredolu’s victory, which has become a common phenomenon.

How would the new administration cope with backlog of salaries of civil servants, the pensioners, contractor fees, and uncompleted projects in this period of recession?

Definitely, that is another challenge. But, when you have a capable man at the helms of affairs, you are more relieved. It is going to be a very great task, but Akeredolu will bring back the state on the right track. Ondo State people will need to be patient with him. It is not going to happen overnight, but I can assure you that he will transform the state. I believe in him. he has done it before as the President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), as former Attorney-General of Ondo State. He has the capacity and the capability. Although, we shouldn’t expect miracle overnight, there will be challenges. Like you rightly observed, there is recession in the country and the most important thing is how to come out of it and having a man who is ready to work, he is very prudent and intelligent. I can assure you that the sun will shine again.

How best do you think the youth can be developed and be involved in developmental processes and in the running of the affairs of the state?

Youths need to be empowered. I will go back to what I said earlier. the youth needs to believe in themselves. The youths are not only leaders of tomorrow as often said, but they are the leaders of today and tomorrow. For them to function well, they must be empowered today, be given the opportunity to utilise their potentials. The present time is ours to take. And I will advise the youths to braze up for the challenges ahead and be prepared to take the bull by the horn. The Ondo State youths are not touts. Many  are where they are today because they were not given a better direction. But, once the youths are empowered, they will deploy their potentials to turn situations around for good. All they need to do now is to stand and ask for their rights. And fortunately, the man taking over the affairs of the state now knows what they deserve. He will give the youths the enabling environment to function well.

In what ways can the youths be empowered?

Empowerments are in various forms. It can come in form of providing the right tools for the craft men, make available power-electricity – and all sorts of that. Getting them gainfully employed, bursary and scholarship to the students in tertiary institutions. And most importantly, what each community needs differs from others. This should be looked into and provided for. I want to also inform you that myself and some other partners have developed a blueprint on how best the youths in Ondo state can be empowered and I intend to submit the document to the governor-eect soonest.

What do you think people should expect in the first 100 days in office?

People should expect accountability, prudency and transparency. When you have a governor that is accountable to you, who cherishes integrity and transparency, then, all is well because he is going to lay a foundation and leave behind a legacy that any incoming administration would find difficult to beat. He is a man that will first of all let us know what is on ground, where we are going and how to get there and, of course, he has a road map. In fact, I will tell you, he is going to rewind Ondo State back to eight years, where Agagu left it. And gradually, great things will begin to unfold.

What advice will you give to the governor-elect on how to set up his cabinet?

Akeredolu I know is a very cerebral man, brilliant and knowledgeable, a man with mission and focus. With all these endowment, he will pick the best out of the best. He had overtime displayed it and he knows what to do. Like I said earlier that he has road maps and he knows that, he needs capable and qualified hands to work with him. His ultimate goal is to transform the state and you must also remember that he is a man of integrity who would not want his reputation destroyed. And for him to achieve that he knows he must work with great minds, people that are competent, capable and shares his dreams for  Ondo State. I am not in the position to advise him on that. But, all I can say is that Ondo State is in save hands with Akeredolu. God will give him the wisdom to choose rightly.

Recently, you decided to give back to the society by giving out scholarship,  JAMB forms and others. What informed this philanthropic gesture?

Dele Ologun Foundation has been in existence for years. we are not just starting this. In the past years, lots have been done even in Lagos State. with this one, my local government benefitted. The simple truth is that one needs to give back to his or her community, to give back to humanity. And while you are doing that, you are helping yourself. If you develop people, the people will in return reciprocate by developing others and that is how you make the world a better place to live. Other projects are in the pipeline such as artisans empowerment, that is, giving out tools and equipment to some of the artisans like barbers, tailors, bricklayers e.t.c to start businesses; aged empowerment, that is, giving some stipends to the widows and widowers in the local government and later, we extend to the central senatorial district of Ondo state and lots more.

What advice will you give to the youths?

They should believe in themselves, to be hard working, focused and believe in tomorrow. I keep saying that one should believe in himself because that is the foundation of success. Anyone who doesn’t first believe in himself is dead already. When you believe in yourself, you will wake up in the morning and confess positively to yourself that you will make it and once you believe you are going to make it and you pursue it with all zeal, you can be rest assured that you will make it in life.