Buhari needs time to succeed – Ogunsanya

Former Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Princess Adenrele Ogunsanya, in this interview with Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo, speaks on the last general elections and her expectations

How would you assess the performance of the APC-led federal government so far?

I think it a bit early to start judging President Muhammadu Buhari. A month plus is too short to assess him, but I also believe the President must hit the ground running because he has the experience even though the scenario he finds himself now is quite different. But I am very optimistic that he would do well; we just have to give him time to straighten things up, ditto Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. If you have not been in government, it’s easy to criticise and say many things. Nigerians must realise that it’s not easy running a government; however, I don’t have any doubt that both of them will do well.

Having being a part of former Governor Babatunde Fashola’s government during his first term in office, what are some of the things you think the present government should build on?

I’m sure the former governor left handover notes, which the incumbent will definitely find very useful to work and build on. Again, the incumbent governor was part of the former government before he left, so he is well informed about how government works. Though everybody has his own method of operating, but government still runs the same way. I am not in any doubt that Governor Ambode will follow up on projects that are on ground and add his own to it.

If you want to be specific on some of the things that need urgent attention in the state, what would that be?

If am not too selfish, the Lagos East Senatorial District, which I come from, needs urgent attention, even though every other part of the state is also in need of government intervention in certain areas. Of course, ex-Governor Fashola did well during his tenure. The Ikorodu division is becoming very large and there is a lot that needs to be done in terms of infrastructure. The past government reconstructed the road leading to Ikorodu from Mile 12, but it is important to build on that. All the environs in Ikorodu need better infrastructure because of the large influx of people to make the place their home.

Many people are of the opinion that the former governor set a very huge standard that would be difficult for subsequent governors to beat. What is your take on that?

There is no doubt that the former governor set good standards; even if we don’t acknowledge it, the rest of the country does. But as I said earlier, Ambode is a very good, intelligent young man who will definitely live up to and even surpass our expectations.

Now that the elections are over, the APC has been enmeshed in crisis over the sharing of positions in the National Assembly and those jostling for other oppositions. Don’t you think this scheming is capable of destabilising the party?

People will definitely lobby for positions because this is politics. It’s so painful seeing many people that contributed little or nothing to the success of the party now claiming wolf where there is none. But the leaders know the contribution of everybody. For some of us, it’s all about fighting for my people so that many of our young ones will not be jettisoned in the scheme of things, because the truth is they fought hard for the party. There are many young and qualified members who have remained faithful, who had stepped down for their colleagues in the past, even those who have PhD, professionals who have contributed significantly to the development of Ikorodu; these are the people we want the party to consider first.

You are a former Secretary to the Lagos State Government; if you are called upon to take up any position either in the state or national level, will you consider it?

I will, but sincerely my first concern is to see some of these our young, qualified members fixed up. I am saying this with all sense of responsibility; I’m not one of those who would wait until some members will say it to your presence that all the elders should go and die for them to take up their positions. We must encourage our young members and let them get benefits of their hard work. That is what I’m particular about.

Do you agree to the belief in certain quarters that the personality of President Buhari is bringing forth positive things in some sectors even with no cabinet in place?

That is the truth, because his body language tells you that he does not want corrupt individuals in his government and if you know that, you must sit up. Though it will take time to fight corruption and get good result, but he has started on a very good note.

What is your take on the propriety or otherwise of the removal of oil subsidy?

Though I am not an expert in that sector, what I think we need to do is to explain very well to our people on what it entails, the benefits of removing the subsidy and the adverse effect, because a lot of people do not understand what this is all about. I believe if people are well informed, we will get good results. Everywhere in the world, people make sacrifices for their country to get better.