Akinjide Kazeem Akinola, a retired army captain and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said that he is into philanthropy to address the challenges of his people and not solely because of politics.
The former house of representatives’ candidate in Egbeda/Ona-Ara made this known shortly after handing over a motorized borehole he built to Anuoluwapo community of Ona-Ara local government.
Speaking to OYOINSIGHT.COM, Akinola said that “My decision to go ahead with the construction was not dependent on winning the elections or the outcomes of the elections but dependent solely on the fact that I saw a need to address the multifaceted challenges faced by my community such as inadequate infrastructure.
“Every project I have constructed and will continue to construct is driven by my personal passion, compassion and motivation towards developing my community and enhancing the life of its citizens.
Constructing this infrastructure is a personal project of mine which i consider personally fulfilling.”
He said he is not extending philanthropic gesture because he wants to contest election in 2027. “A lot of individuals contest elections for several reasons. While some are driven by altruistic reasons, for me it is a matter of personal conviction and civic duty. I perceive it to be a means for participating in Nigeria’s democratic process and an opportunity to contribute to the functioning of democracy.
“The need to develop my constituents and ensure effective representation is not based on political factors but on personal and ideological factors.”
Saying that he would try as much as possible to reach many people and communities, Akinjide said that “every community has its unique sets of priorities and needs and as a philanthropists, it is my responsibility to understand these local priorities to ensure that it aligns with my own efforts.
“Therefore, I will urge that the expectations of other communities take into consideration my philanthropic priorities and the capacity I have to give. I believe that a channel which fosters open communication, collaborations and mutual understanding will greatly help in managing the expectations of the communities.”
Asked why he left Accord for the APC, he said that “I have always been a member of APC although I contested on the platform of the Accord Party during the 2023 general elections. This decision was based on personal, strategic and situational factors arising from ideological differences and disagreements that occurred within the APC during the party primaries. Due to these disagreements, my constituents actively voiced their desires to have me contest on a different party platform (Accord). Not withstanding, the personal relationships and political networks I have built and sustained while in APC especially at the National level informed my decision to return to the APC. Currently, I am an active Member of the APC.”
