Politics
[INTERVIEW] We Need To Retire Old Politicians In 2023 Elections- Olagunju, LP Senatorial Candidate For Kwara South
Honourable Abidoye Olagunju, the 2023 Kwara South Senatorial Candidate under Labour Party shares his life, political journey, aspirations and view with Biztellers in this exclusive interview.
Introduce Yourself, Sir
I am Honourable Abidoye Olagunju, the 2023 Kwara South Senatorial Candidate under Labour Party.
I hail from Igosun in Oyun Local Government Area where I attended primary school. I went to Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo in the same local government area before I proceeded to Tunland College, Benin-City. I subsequently went to the University of Ilorin where I had a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.
I served as Whip at 200L, Clerk at 300 level and Senate President at 400 level.
I also have my Masters in Public Administration.
What Led You Into Politics?
Actually, I was born into politics. My father, Retired Chief Major Afolabi Olagunju from Igosun is a politician, and I studied politics in school, hence I felt the need to practicalise what I learned. I believe with my person and my knowledge we will deliver our people from the present bad government that we have in Kwara State and in Nigeria as a whole.
Why Labour Party?
I joined Labour Party few years back. In 2019, I contested as Kwara South Senatorial District Candidate under the party and in 2022 again I won the ticket to contest under the party.
You can find Labour Party all over the world; in the UK, US, Brazil and all other because it is an international party. It is a defined party and not a quark party.
Our major objective is that we believe in equity and we believe everybody must have a life.
We have been given the mandate to contest the Senatorial district to save our people from the present menace and I believe, with the support of the masses come February 2023, I will emerge as the elected senator for Kwara South by the grace of God.
What Is Your View Peter Obi’s Presidency?
My view about the presidency of Peter Obi is of the fact that people actually want to change the change, and if we are changing the change we believe a new set of politicians should come into power especially the South-Eastern part of the country should also rule Nigeria because you know we’ve been playing a partial politics all these while.
Now we felt the need for Igbo to come and rule Nigeria because Obi is a vibrant candidate and as the only young and highly intelligent candidate. We have seen what he did in Anambra during his tenure as a governor he will certainly deliver Nigeria from this present situation we find ourselves.
We want to industrialize the country again. We want a country where everybody will have what to do and where everybody will be earning a living. We want a country where we won’t be running helter-skelter again.
We pray and we hope and we plead with our people to please support the candidacy of Peter Obi and of every other candidate of Labour Party. By the grace of God, we won’t let you down.
What Should Your People Look Up To, If You Get Elected?
If I am elected as the senator of Kwara South District, my first bill would be on unemployment. I want what is practiced in the USA and UK be reciprocated here (Nigeria).
I want to sponsor a bill that will make provision for our unemployed youths that they will be paid stipend at the end of the month.
I will also raise another one for the senior citizens, that they will be paid at the end of every month, too and by so doing I know comfort will come to stay in our country. I believe when you know that something is constantly coming at the end of the month, it would be a succour to oneself. Crimes would drastically reduce. One will be able to eat, pay rents, buy clothes and other life amenities.
We will also work on the security. I am a member of Nigeria Vigilante Group, Local Hunters Association as well as adopted member of the OPC and these three groups are security networks that we can refer to as the community police. We will create a synergy among the three security networks to provide adequate security for our people within the Kwara South in order to curb menaces, kidnappings, stealing, robberies and other related crimes in our senatorial district.
We also want to work on our health facility. we want to make sure that we have hospitals in every ward within the Kwara South. We want to work on our road networks. We want to open up the villages so that the people living in rural areas will have access to our towns. They would be able to bring farm produce and buyers can go into villages to access whatever farm produce they want to buy.
We will harp community development projects. I understand that what works in Community A may not work in Community B, hence we will be asking people what they want us to do for them.
Furthermore, we will empower our farmers by giving them money to boost their farming activities. There will be availability of tractors, farm equipment and every other things will be available. By so doing, we know our economy will improve in Kwara State.
We will also work ‘ready-made market’ for our farmers: we’ll have standard market for whatever produced in Kwara South.
How Do You Feel About Other Contestants, Especially In The APC and PDP?
Actually, I am not bothered with the other contestants from the APC and PDP because I have had the opportunity to meet them in some public gatherings in Kwara state and I have told them that the first objective we youth have is to retire them from active politics, because all these our grandfathers that are contesting with the youths is unacceptable by us. We will use our votes to unseat and retire all old politicians because most of them are corrupt. We want a new system of government. We want to bring new blood into politics. The present government in Kwara south is a failure and I know our people are ready to vote him out. The PDP counterpart is not acceptable by the people, too.
I know by the grace of God that Labour Party is the party of the day and we are going to form synergy with all other third parties so that we will work together and win the coming election for Labour Party.
I believe that our youths, civil servants are ready to work with Labour Party. I know by the grace of God, victory will be ours come 2023.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has announced its decision to back Northern candidates in the 2027 general elections, citing the urgent need to address the worsening socio-economic and security challenges facing the region.
In a communique issued after its National Executive Council meeting in Kaduna on Wednesday, the forum expressed deep concern over the economic state of Northern Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, attributing the region’s struggles to flawed governance and poor policy decisions.
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The ACF criticized the Federal Government’s economic policies, describing them as detrimental to the livelihoods of Northern citizens.
According to the communique, signed by the forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the policies have compounded the already dire economic conditions in the region.
The statement reads, “Arewa people remain at a great disadvantage, being already worse off economically compared to other parts of Nigeria. While economic reforms are indeed desirable, they should not impoverish the same people they are meant to serve. Policies must have a human face.”
The forum noted that the North faces chronic food insecurity, limited educational and vocational opportunities for youth, and a heavy reliance on small-scale economic activities.
“Livelihoods are currently dependent on micro activities. The region faces acute and chronic food insecurity; its youths lack education and skills training. Daunting as these may be, they can be reversed. The time to think big is now,” the communique emphasized.
The ACF also addressed the pervasive insecurity in the North, warning that the situation has begun to erode public confidence in the government.
“Security is an irreducible minimum of human existence. In this regard, insecurity in its various manifestations remains the most worrisome challenge of Arewa people, that has even started to corrosively undermine the authority of government,” the forum stated.
It condemned the government’s response to the crisis, arguing that the Federal Government has failed to meet its primary duty of safeguarding lives and property.
“That those whose responsibility it is to provide security will be saying they are doing their best is unacceptable,” the communique said. “The minimum duty of government is to safeguard life and property, and doing anything less is a failure.”
The ACF faulted what it described as the “flawed leadership selection process” under the Tinubu administration, claiming it has elevated individuals without the requisite competence or experience to key positions.
It urged the Federal Government to “review, reassess, reevaluate, and re-order the direction of its economic policies with a view to giving it the needed human face.”
Looking ahead to the next general elections, the ACF pledged its support for Northern politicians who demonstrate a clear commitment to addressing the region’s challenges and fostering national development.
“Notwithstanding the parlous state of Arewa’s glaring economic conditions, the policies of the current Federal Government have continued to make matters much worse,” the communique stated.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has urged Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to prioritize completing ongoing projects and avoid leaving any abandoned during his second term in office.
Ganduje made the call on Wednesday at the APC’s national secretariat in Abuja after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented Certificates of Return to Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Adelami Olaide.
Governor Aiyedatiwa’s re-election was marked by a sweeping victory in all 18 local government areas of the state during last Saturday’s governorship election.
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Ganduje praised the outcome, describing it as a testament to the people’s confidence in the APC-led administration.
“I am happy about the landslide result. The election is not the effort of the elite and middle class alone; it is also through the effort of the grassroots,” Ganduje said. “Out of 203 wards, APC won 202, losing only one ward. This is a victory embraced by all.”
Ganduje highlighted the importance of continuity and urged the governor to leverage his experience from the previous administration led by the late Rotimi Akeredolu.
“As a deputy, you knew how projects were started by your late governor. You were part of it, also as a governor for 10 months, and now as a re-elected governor. For the next four years, you will continue,” he said.
“You know the terrains, geography, and physical landscape of all 18 local government areas. Use these insights to carve out projects that will improve the lives of the Ondo people.”
Meanwhile, Ondo APC Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, commended Ganduje’s leadership and strategic direction, which he credited for the party’s success in the election.
He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support for Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy, despite internal opposition from some party stakeholders.
“We have finally killed PDP in Ondo,” Adetimehin declared. “Most of the leaders of that party have defected to the APC. With the landslide victory in this election, it is clear to the whole world that there is no PDP in Ondo.”
He further described Ganduje as a mentor whose leadership had been instrumental in uniting the party and ensuring victory at the polls.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who succeeded Akeredolu and completed his tenure before securing re-election, has pledged to focus on delivering on his mandate and completing critical projects in his second term.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally issued certificates of return to Ondo State Governor-elect Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, following their victory in Saturday’s governorship election.
The presentation ceremony took place on Wednesday at INEC headquarters in Abuja, where the commission’s National Commissioner for Ondo State, Kunle Ajayi, handed over the certificates.
Biztellers reports that Aiyedatiwa, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and incumbent governor, emerged victorious in the election, securing 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 117,845 votes.
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The results were announced in Akure on Sunday by the Returning Officer, Professor Olayemi Akinyemi, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja.
Election observers described the polls as peaceful and credible, commending INEC for improved logistical arrangements.
The event was attended by top APC officials, including the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, and other party members.
Ganduje hailed the outcome as a triumph for democracy in Nigeria.
“Since 1999, we have been enjoying democracy, and we always fine-tune it to ensure it is fair, free, and decent, so that it is the vote of the people that counts,” Ganduje said.
PDP Rejects Results
Despite widespread praise for the conduct of the election, the PDP has rejected the outcome, describing it as fraudulent. Its candidate, Ajayi, vowed to challenge the results in court.
Aiyedatiwa Pledges Better Leadership
Speaking after receiving his certificate of return, Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude to the people of Ondo State for renewing his mandate.
“The mandate you have just renewed via your huge votes across 18 LGAs where we won convincingly has placed a burden on me to serve you better than I did before now,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa initially assumed office in December 2023 following the death of his predecessor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
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