By Oladele Ogunsola, Ibadan
Ahead of 2019 general elections, a call has gone to the electorate to engage in background check of all aspiring politicians seeking for elective positions to know their resume, antecedents and pedigree in order to put worthy people in positions towards bringing positive change to the country.
This call was made in Ibadan by an aspiring Federal lawmaker, Abayomi Fagbenro while fielding questions from journalists on his 2019 aspiration to represent Ibadan Northwest/Ibadan Southwest Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja on the platform of Young Democratic Party (YDP).
The aspiring lawmaker, who insisted that Nigeria would not be fixed by parties but by the people maintained that the time had come for the country to change strategy in order to produce different results from what the country currently experiences which was why the call for thorough background check on who to push forward as leaders in 2019 becomes imperative.
Fagbenro, who frowned at the role of money in Nigerian politics stated that the high demand for money, either by the electorate or the political parties from people aspiring for elective positions would not allow for people with genuine interest to come out, saying, “we can’t attract people to do the job because of our demand for money that they can’t afford.
“The same strategy will not produce different result from what we are presently having. If we are desirous of positive change, there’s need to de-emphasize money in our politics. How many people can afford as much as N45m presidential nomination form for instance or how possible is it for a youth that is just coming up to raise N22m as governorship nomination form”, he queried?
He expressed conviction that given a conducive environment, the country has capable youths that can turn things around, asking that they should be given chance while the older people should stay back and offer them advice.
Fagbenro, however, stressed that the electorate must be united in putting money to shame come next year when the elections would be held.
“Let’s put money to shame this time around. Nigerians did it in 2015 and we all saw the result. We can do it again to effect the positive change we crave for”, he added.
The aspiring lawmaker asked those that had not been comfortable with his coming out to contest to mind their business;”because, I’m resolute and convinced about what I’m set out to do. I’m an
Apata/Odo–Ona boy and nobody can shut me down. The problem with them
is that they lack concept of life and fail to realize that everything starts and ends with God.
is that they lack concept of life and fail to realize that everything starts and ends with God.
“I repeat, nobody can intimidate or cow me into submission, I’m aware
that the opposition doesn’t want to hear my name, I don’t bother and I
know that what I’m doing now is dangerous, I don’t have their kind of
money, resources, among others, but, that’s a non- issue to me.
that the opposition doesn’t want to hear my name, I don’t bother and I
know that what I’m doing now is dangerous, I don’t have their kind of
money, resources, among others, but, that’s a non- issue to me.
“They now write threat letters, yet, people are tired of status quo, they want positive change, which I’m ready to bring. One day, I will be the governor of this state. I want to build a name for myself. I understand the concept of service, it is a way of life. Service is God’s commandment. I’m a son of the soil, I will do the needful, run and win the election by the grace of God”, he added.
On the choice of the relatively new party, the American trained Naval personnel and Information Technology expert said, “I chose this party for some reasons, including non-existence of godfather, but, instead, our party has God, the godfather of godfathers, the party’s ideology is same with mine and the concern for women and youth”.
The founder of ‘Hope also need help’, a Non-Governmental Organization
(NGO) disclosed that he had reached out to the less privileged and the vulnerable ones in the society through provision of humanitarian services for them, noting however that if given the opportunity to represent the people of his Constituency, he would ensure legislation that would alter a lot of what presently goes on in the country.
(NGO) disclosed that he had reached out to the less privileged and the vulnerable ones in the society through provision of humanitarian services for them, noting however that if given the opportunity to represent the people of his Constituency, he would ensure legislation that would alter a lot of what presently goes on in the country.
According to him, “my fight is not here, but in Abuja to change and
transform Nigeria alongside others of like minds. We need to some
fundamental questions, why is it impossible for government to give
people water again as it was in the past? Do we know the ecological
implications of boreholes that now become the past time of our
lawmakers?
transform Nigeria alongside others of like minds. We need to some
fundamental questions, why is it impossible for government to give
people water again as it was in the past? Do we know the ecological
implications of boreholes that now become the past time of our
lawmakers?
“The problem with us is that we don’t check the pros and cons of
whatever we do. Like the issue of boreholes for instance, it has grave
implications and when they begin to manifest, we won’t expect them. We
can’t just continue like this, there must be a change, a positive one
for that matter and that’s what I stand for and what I will go to
Abuja to canvass”, Fagbenro stated.
whatever we do. Like the issue of boreholes for instance, it has grave
implications and when they begin to manifest, we won’t expect them. We
can’t just continue like this, there must be a change, a positive one
for that matter and that’s what I stand for and what I will go to
Abuja to canvass”, Fagbenro stated.
