Until yesterday, Olorunpoto Rahaman Cephas was president of the Oyo Global Forum, a group of professionals from Oyo town championing development. In this interview with OYOINSIGHT.COM’s Sikiru Akinola, he revealed why he resigned and plan to contest the 2023 election.
You just resigned your chairmanship of OGF? Why didn’t you wait till December when your tenure expires?
There is time and season for everything under the heaven. My think-tank and I are convinced that this is the right time to serve Oyo town and the general public on a different platform. This is the time to drive the inclusion of more patriotic young minds in politics and governance, we can not afford to wait longer than now.
After OGF, what next?
I’ve only resigned as the Chairman of OGF, I’m still a member of the forum and I hope to stay on as an active member, making contributions towards making our community a better place to live in. My personal interest for now is to engage more constituents and provide strong support to a tested system that has shown what leadership should be like.
Have you joined a political party? Which party? Any ambition in the 2023 election?
I am yet to join a political party but my team and I are considering our options but we have been a leader that we have absolute trust in.
Aren’t you considering the ruling PDP?
We’re yet to make an announcement on the party to join but we are clear about our resolve not face where the vast majority of our people are against. We know the side that’s been accepted and the side that is rejected when people compare performances. We just want to contribute to what is being done right and is being accepted by the people. The announcement will happen in due course. But clearly we are staying with the side that has shown people leadership and delivered services excellently across sectors.
Why do you want to represent the people of Oyo East/West state constituency and not House of Representatives?
My idea is to start small and grow big. My focus for now is to make more impacts at the grassroots level, offering quality representation to the people and advocating for the completion of some unfinished projects that have potentials to influence economic activities in Oyo positively.
What should the people expect from you if you get the party’s ticket and eventually win the election?
I’m a strong advocate of developmental politics. Our people should expect lots of strategic collaborations and engagements, fearless and dynamic representation and lots of empathy.
Insecurity and gangsterism is reigning supreme in Oyo town. How do you think it can be eradicated?
Insecurity and gangsterism were our biggest concerns between 2009 and 2020. The Oyo Global Forum did a lot to tackle the issues. Governor Seyi Makinde made our work easy, he introduced and empowered Amotekun Corps to deliver, that is part of the reasons I’ll support Gov. Seyi Makinde for second term. Whenever I remember the terrible history we had as a community, I say thank God for the God Sent Man, Governor Seyi Makinde.
