Though the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,
is yet to lift the ban on electioneering campaigns in Ondo State, some
aspirants are getting set to occupy the
Alagbaka
Government House in
2016. Dr. Segun Abraham is a governorship aspirant seeking to fly the flag of
the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State. In this interview, Dr
Abraham spoke on his ambition, the challenges facing the party and preparations
for the 2016 governorship elections in the state.
What are the challenges facing the Ondo APC, ahead of next year’s
governorship election?
Like any institution, there are challenges. The challenge is
to ensure that all the interest groups unite to avoid division. This is common
to all political parties. In any institution or organisation, there are diverse
interests. They need to be protected. We are now solving the problem, using the
experience of the last election to resolve it and we are making progress.
There is the feeling that the activities of APC aspirants in
Ondo State are also polarising the party. What is your reaction?
The opposite is the answer. The more you have the aspirants,
the more activities you have in the party. It becomes more exciting. More
people are involved. A lot of people are coming out with different ideas,
vision and programmes. On the economic aspect of it, there will be boom in the
economy of the state. Printers will be busy. People will be more engaged in
political activities.
It increases the awareness of the people politically. There
are some of these aspirants who just want to be known. They are not spending
money. They may be using it to negotiate for other positions. These are nice
political activities. We also had rumours that some of them may be moles for
other political parties. The party exco is aware of these activities in the
party and they are very experienced. Since they
know the intention of some of the candidates, it is easy to
know those candidates that are serious, competent and fit to be the governor of
the state. They know the candidates that are qualified to contest and the
governor will emerge from among them.
Is it not confounding to you that some of these aspirants
are building personal structures, instead of building the party?
Well, what you refer to as personal structures are groups,
which must be integrated into the party. All over the world, there are interest
groups that must be formed. The only thing is that the leadership of the groups
must subject the interest of the groups to the interest of the party and that
is in conformity with the principles of democracy.
The lesson we have learned is that we must not sacrifice the
interest of the society or the party at the altar of the group. At our level,
we build the party politically, socially, psychologically and financially, in
all ramifications.
That is why our group is called the Unity Forum. It is the only group in the state that is
reaching out the other groups so that we can have a united front to drive away
the PDP government from the state. The leader of the Unity Group is the only
person that has n grouse against any other group, but I have been organising
other groups for unity. This can be described as the bride without spot as
quoted by the holy book. None of the groups have anything against our groups.
Therefore, they all find it easy to work with us. That is why the Unity Forum
is growing fast and rapidly.
First and foremost, we will work hard to restore our lost
virtue and value. We will develop technological and managerial capability in
order to harness our various resources, with little dependence on foreigners.
We will develop organic food that is now the new paradigm shift in economic
returns, apart from IT, so that Ondo State can become the hub for organic food
globally. We will avail them of various opportunities offered by our
international connections, from African Pacific Funding and Management and
other multi-lateral institutions. Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment
will be established, with offices in Europe, America and Asia. This will
increase our international profile, export drive and employment generation. We
should be able to generate about 500,000 employment through this drive.
We will set up Government Demand Industry (GDI). Through
this, a lot of industries will be set up to complement the major industry that
will support the government policies and programmes.
For example, if we are rehabilitating schools, industries
will be set up to provide roofing sheets and other education infrastructure. We
are going to set up People Demand Industry (PDI). Right now, 80 percent of what
our people need are brought in from outside.
We will set up small scale industries along under PPP. We
will provide part of funding, training and good and services depot that will
supply the populace at a very reduce rate so that they can have economic value
on their income. We will integrate our secondary schools with international
schools through the World wide libraries.
What is your position on the agitation for power shift by
the people of Akure and Akoko?
The agitations are legitimate. Our party will promote
equity, fairness and justice.
What is the assurance that you will beat other aspirants
during the primary?
My good work will speak for me. With God’s support and my
work speaking for me and the people that God will use, my victory at the
primary is assured.
What gives the APC the boldness that it can sack the PDP
from Ondo State?
The PDP is dead in Ondo State. It only needs to be buried.
The PDP is in comatose. People are leaving the PDP for the APC. The former
deputy governor is now in the APC. Commissioners, special advisers, former governorship
aspirants are defecting. What remains is the carcass. People are leaving the
PDP in droves.
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