Party men came from all the wards in Akinyele. Banners were placed in strategic places. People wanted to see his face. He was ushered into the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, APC, by women and youth, cladded in red fez cap, singing and dancing. It took the anchorman many minutes before he could stop them.
Ace broadcaster and motivational speaker, Joshua Kolade Olagunju, yesterday signified his intention to represent Akinyele constituency 1 seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly.
Olagunju, who represented the constituency between 2011 and 2015, told a gathering which had his immediate successor, Joshua Oyebamiji, who is now the senatorial chairman in Oyo central; Hammed Adigun, a former colleague from Akinyele 2; former chairman Mukaila Abiola Ambali and more than 10 other aspirants were in attendance.
Opening the floor for other aspirants, Olagunju, who is also an education consultant and anchor of the popular Eyan bi Tiwa, explained that he was contesting to come reenact the good things he did between 2011 and 2015.
“I am happy to be in your midst today. I am a known person to you and many of you would recall the good things I did when I represented you. This time around, like I did when I first represented you, I will not be far from you. The masses will also benefit immensely from my experience and action plan.
“I am not one to tell you that I did well when served you but the encomia I received months after leaving office bear witnesses to my performance.
“The records are there. In terms of sponsorship of bills and moving of motions as well as contribution to debates on the floor of the house, I performed. I also did not fail to empower our people, especially the youth and women.
”Yes, people would say I am comfortable and so on. But someone like can’t stay in comfort zone and pretend as if all is well. No. Who knows tomorrow. We have to be there; to set the pace for development, to sponsor bills and move motion of high importance. Our youth don’t have jobs. There is insecurity in the land. We have to assist government in coming up with workable solutions. I am not coming out to enrich person. But if we want a better society, all of us must participate in politics to give direction.
“So, our people should be rest assured that I am the best to represent them and bring the needed result. I have been tested and people are here to testify. The years I have spent outside office have afforded me opportunity of knowing what our people need most and I will start reeling them out when we get to campaign stage.”
Olagunju also spoke about the crisis in the APC. “It is normal for a big party to have crisis like this and immediately we get to primaries stages, everybody will stop all the media and war. We will reconcile ourselves and go on to win the 2023 election. Our people are waiting for APC administration,” he said.
