A former president of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Wale Ajani, has said he is seeking to represent the people of Oyo central senatorial district in order to put smiles on the faces of the poor.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, who spoke during a media parley with journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, explained that he is the first for the job because he has the experience and knows what the people want.
According to the University of Lagos, UNILAG, trained civil engineer, “Our people need empowerment and not like these ones our people give out. They need real empowerment. The ones they are being given aren’t ones that can take anybody out of poverty. I know what poverty means because I saw poverty in it real colour. I grew with my parents in a room.
“I have a lot of programmes for the people. We will group them. We won’t be elitist but there is going to be serious enlightenment. Our people need to be taught the effect of not be swayed by immediate gains. I have seen people who were empowered with freezers, hairdryers, motorcycles etc. They ended up selling them. Some have converted their freezers to cabinet where they keep their pot of soup. First, we need to know what people want and how to tackle it headlong.
“I may be young in age but I have the experience. Apart from being a job creator, my friends are already in the senate and through daily interactions with them, I know what goes on. You need a vocal person in the national assembly. You need someone to articulate your needs, someone who can lobby. Beyond party affiliation, you need to belong to the right caucus. That is the way to go.”
Narrating how he found himself in politics, the Ona-Ara born politician, explained that “I met former governor Rashidi Ladoja during the last national conference. It happened that the chairman— late Justice Legbo Kutigi was not going to call some of us that he didn’t know. I had to protest and after that, Baba Ladoja called and asked where I am from. He was surprised and happy to know I am from Oyo State. He said I must come home to join politics. And that was the beginning.
“He was then in Accord. He asked me to come contest the assembly seat. I was not interested. I still stayed with him. We later found ourselves in the African Democratic Congress, ADC. I wanted to represent Egbeda/Ona Ara but there was an incumbent. I was offered the assembly ticket. I got the assembly seat then because I was advised against rejecting it again. The election went as it was ordained and now I am in PDP.”
Ajani, who is also close to Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, said that he belongs to no faction in the state chapter of the PDP, explaining that “I believe in the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde. There is nothing Governor Makinde is doing that other governors aren’t doing. He is just trying to take charge. I submit to the leadership of Governor Makinde. I am not aggrieved because I am not a political contractor. I spent money and everything during the last election and I wasn’t given anything. I am not angry at all.”
Asked about Makinde’s performance, he said “What has come to Oyo in the last three years? What infrastructure has he put in place? He has done road and light up. He is paying salary. For me, I will say he has done well but he can do better.”
He also said that the does not have a preferred candidate as far as Oyo central is concerned. “I understand the governor’s countenance. I won’t be contesting if the governor has pitched his tent. All of us are his persons,” he said.
