Odunayo Akinrinsola, a businessman from Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The 42-year-old politician spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU and ENITAN SERIKI on his ambition, the proposed shadow poll and preparations for the governorship election.
What is the assurance that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the governorship election in Ondo State?
I would have said that the power of incumbency would have a multiplier effect on the state, if Mimiko’s PDP government had met the needs of the people. But when you talk of a state that is lacking in everything and the multiplier effect of incumbency is minus 100. In fact, for our state, I would say incumbency has a negative multiplier effect for the PDP. What we are experiencing in Ondo State is nothing to write home about, the standard of living of the people has dropped drastically, there is no security, there are no infrastructures and nothing is working. I don’t see the power of the incumbent coming into play because the electorates would be the ones to decide that and our people are not fools. They can see that nothing is working and they are seriously yearning for change, and change they will get come November, 2016 in Ondo State just like we are witnessing in Nigeria now with the APC government at the centre and have been experiencing in all the APC controlled states.
Ondo State people are clamouring for a change. Change in the educational, agricultural, infrastructural and Industrial sectors of our state. And that the APC will provide for our people this year, when we take over government from the PDP through the power of the people not the fake power of the PDP. The wind of change is blowing and Ondo is the next stop.
Can you tell us what your experience has been since you have been consulting with your people and the party leaders?
I have a conviction, having gone far and wide, consulting with the leadership, followership and major stakeholders in our party, state and community about our intension, mission and vision for our state, from the feedback and reception we have received thus far, I am fully persuaded our ambition is line with the clamour of our people and the yearnings of our state. The feedback is encouraging.
The take away from our consultation thus far are; (1) Public administration and governance requires a different approach; (2) the need to bring in business principles and values into public administration, aptly described as Corporate governance and (3) that business administration expertise and experience is a sine qua for state’s administration in the face of dwindling fortunes and decline in Federal allocation.
These take away I believe, are my added advantage over other candidate. Managing government business is different from managing private business. In a private business, there is no allocation from anywhere, you have to source for fund, and work to pay staff salaries and get business going. You have to continuously innovate, and strategise to stay afloat and remain in business.
Managing government business is different because you have regular federal allocation , no matter how meagre. So, having been able to manage my business well, it would be an added advantage for me to manage the business of the state in a way that it would be beneficial to the state and our people.
Let us look at the defection of some PDP members to the APC in Ondo State, how do you see this development?
It is an indication of the popularity and acceptability of our party ,APC in Ondo State. Our people are seeing in the Light, and are moving away from the darkness associated with PDP’s reckless and insensitive governance in Ondo State, and coming to the light, progress and CHANGE associated with our great party APC. They are all welcome and hopefully, they will contribute to the growth and success of our Party and state. And as long as they don’t have any skeleton in their bag they have nothing to fear.
You recently met with the former Interim Chairman of the APC Chief Bisi Akande. What was the reception like?
The reception was wonderful, Chief Bisi Akande is an elder statesman, father and consummate administrator .Baba Akande is a man of immense political stature in Nigeria. His contribution and sacrifice for the development and growth of APC as a party is indelible. You know he was the chairman of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and pioneer National Chairman of APC. He said that there would be no imposition and favouritism of candidates in the party and that a level playing ground, which gives every candidate the opportunity and platform to canvass for votes ,share their ideology and test their popularity in the quest for the party’s ticket, which I will clinch by the Special Grace of God. He made it clear that there is nothing like imposition or favouritism.
At the last count, 18 gladiators are jostling for the APC ticket. What is the assurance that the delegates would vote for you at the primaries?
What characterised Ondo State politics in the past was moneybag syndrome pauperised democracy .But now our people have realised that they need to examine the candidates that would deliver. So, we have been embarking on wide consultation and high level visitations and meetings with all stakeholders across various sector and strata of our state. We consulted within and outside our state.
We have articulated our plans, mission and vision for the state. We have received feedback from far and beyond, and have analysed setbacks we have encountered in the course of our quest. I can assure you, we are on the right track, we are making progress and headway and with the support of our people and their prayers, slowly but surely we will win the race. Victory is ours
As a successful enterprenuer, my hope and strength is in God,I trust in God, believe in my ability and capacity, and rely on peoples’ support and with all of these in place, we will not only succeed at the primaries, we will succeed at the general polls. We will surely succeed. I am not intimidated by sheer number of the aspirants, the more the merrier and the better for our party. As a progressive party, our party does not hinder any one from expressing their interest and aspiration.
Although, we have 18 gladiators for one seat, I believe I would emerge as the candidate of the APC at the primaries eventually. I am the youngest aspirant for the governorship race for Ondo State under the APC, and If you look at David in the Bible, he was the youngest child in the house of Jesse, and nobody reckoned with him, but he became the king, the same applies to Odunayo Akinrinsola. I strongly believe I would emerge the winner at the primaries.
Are you saying that you would emerge as the APC candidate as a technocrat?
Yes, by the grace of God . I am a politician and a technocrat, I have been in politics since the days of SDP, UNCP, AD, AC, ACN and now APC, I have always been with the progressives. I was passive in terms of seeking elective post until now, but I have been actively involved at the grassroots’ level contributing my quota . I am in-between being a politician and a technocrat. However, if you look at it, His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola governed Lagos State, for Eight years, and now Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is administering Lagos State.
If you look at their antecedents, you would see that they are not politicians to the core. If you look at the legacy and blueprints of Fashola’s administration in Lagos State, they are still there and the state is seen as the economic hub of Nigeria. Don’t forget that being a technocrat is a plus for me because I know people that can make things work in the state, people of like minds that can rub minds together and bring about the needed change in our state, through the creation of enabling environment for the socio-economic transformation of Ondo State. We will explore all mineral resources in Ondo state apart from oil, thereby diversification of the economy have bitumen, rubber and a multi-national company is tapping into it. So, being a technocrat is an added advantage for me.
What is your view on power shift?
On sectional interests, politically, the state is divided into three senatorial districts; people of the South, North and Central are agitating for power. Don’t forget the fact that the party does not believe in zoning. It is not in our agenda, we only want a credible candidate. Now, every district has the right to agitate and everyone has the opportunity to aspire but what matters most to the party now is to present a well acceptable, marketable and credible candidate that can stand out and win the state for us in the general election. What is paramount is the party, the party supersedes any agitation. And I am sure the process will be democratic, transparent and open with level playing ground for all spirants. Once this is in place every aspirants will be satisfied with whatever outcome of the primaries.
