Hon. Salihi Dauda Ajana is the Oyo North Senatorial District youth leader of the All Progressives Congress. In this interview with JEREMIAH OKE, he bares his mind on the re-election bid of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
Do you think Governor Abiola Ajimobi has done enough to remain in power beyond 2015?
He has done more than enough to deserve a second time. Apart from Ibadan, Oyo and Ibarapa, where various developmental projects have been completed while some are still on-going, my zone, that is Oyo North, has benefited from this administration more than his predecessors. The dualisation projects in Ogbomoso and Iseyin are there for people to see. It has never happened in the history of this state. The satelite campus of The Polytechnic, Ibadan in Saki has been upgraded to a full-fledged polytechnic. It now gives us a sense of belonging as it has been re-named Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki. We now have a satelite campus of the Oyo State School of Nursing, Eleiyele, Ibadan at Kisi area of Irepo Local Government. After the era of the late Lam-Adesina, the eight-years before Governor Ajimobi became governor was disastrous for us in Oyo North and other parts of Oyo State.
What the PDP’s eight-year rule in Oyo State gave us in Oyo North was violence, making our zone to be battle-field. Apart from the deputy governor and the ALGON chairman, who are from this senatorial district, I make bold to say that we have up to seven commissioners in this administration. Added to this are several political appointees like Special Advisers, Senior Special Advisers, Special Assistants, and chairmen of boards and parastatals. When the PDP was in power, most of those who were appointed into political offices were unknown; those who couldn’t connect their people. Governor Ajimobi, on the other hand, has given us people who are closer to the grassroots; people who know our problems.
Currently, the governor has started another dualisation in Saki, which runs from the Polytechnic Road and terminates at Ibaruba. The dualisation of Igboho-Igbope/Kisi Road will start any moment from now as the contract has been given due attention. The two previous administration cannot boast of anything as their achievement in Oyo North, especially in Oke-Ogun where I come from.
For four years, nomalcy has returned to our senatorial district. And that is why the youths in this senatorial district will not hesitate to support the re-election of Governor Ajimobi.
Despite all you’ve listed as the achievements of Governor Ajimobi in your senatorial district and Oyo State in general, some people are still saying that he has not done anything. How do you react to this?
It’s a pure lie. Nothing but propaganda from mischievous people; people who are jittery about the achievements of this administration ,which have culminated into his acceptance and endorsements by those who matter in the scheme of things in Oyo State. And, if you check the quarters where these lies are coming, you will notice that they are politicians of yesterday’s stocks; those who should cover their faces in shame for misgovernance while they held sway. They are useless politically and morally.
As a youth leader, do you think the governor has done enough in the area of youth empowerment?
You need not ask me about this. In the history of this state, he is the first to appoint the highest number of youth as aides. Contrary to the lie that former Governor Rashidi Ladoja employed the highest number of workers, I’ve found out that 90 per cent of those employed were teachers while other sectors were neglected. The employment done by this administration cuts across all ministries and professions and, for your information, it is the highest in the history of this state. Added to this is the employment of 20, 000 people into the Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State (YES-O). I always laugh when some people say they are being paid a meagre N10, 000. Have they bothered to multiply that amount with the number of those employed. Roughly, that gives N20m monthly. If the previous administration has done something similiar, this administration would have raised the bar and crimes would have reduced in our State before Governor Ajimobi came on board.
If it were to be in the PDP, where I was before 2010, cutlasses and other dangerous objects would have been distributed as party primaries and general elections are fast approaching. It is the opposite in the APC.
There are crises amongAPC members in some local governments. Don’t you think it may serve as a setback for the party?
Well, there is no party that is free from crisis. But, it must be properly managed. And I must tell you, the APC is stronger and united than before. We cannot avoid crisis in such a big party like ours. The crisis in the opposition is more than what they can resolve in the next six months.
When I met the governor few days ago, I assured him of my colleagues’ support for his re-election and he has promised to empower us with mobility; to equip us for the election.
As next year’s elections draw near, what do you forsee?
To be candid, President Goodluck Jonathan should start preparing his handover note. He is not coming back because people are fed up more than before. Even his people are biting their fingers. And, if you were at the Liberation Stadium, Port-Harcourt, venue of the Rivers APC rally, you will see that the yearning for change is daily receiving boosts, even from the President’s backyard. We cannot afford to vote him again.
