PDP is not a one-man party —Ex-minister

In an interview in Lagos, a former Minister of Youth Development, Senator Olasukanmi Akinlabi, speaks about his aspiration to govern Osun State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party among other issues. 

Having served as senator and minister of youth development, why are you now in the race for governorship?

I am in the race because of the problems, because of the issues, because of the challenges that our people in Osun State are facing since the emergence of Governor Aregbesola after his judicial victory.

Have you taken into consideration a possible rancorous which could follow your party primaries?

I am telling you that the PDP remains a family. We disagree and agree. Even before the emergence of Olagunsoye Oyinlola, I want to tell you that 23 aspirants came out that they wanted to fly the flag of the party in that election against Bisi Akande at the time. When the candidate emerged, everybody rallied round him. And this time, we are only four and I believe that the way PDP does its things, once a candidate emerges, I don’t have any doubt that all the other aspirants will definitely support him – in line with our tradition in the party.

The PDP is not a one-man party. You know our party is the largest party not only in Nigeria but in Africa. We do our things democratically.

What role did godfathers’ play? Who is your godfather?

I don’t have a godfather, I only have role models. Every PDP leader is my godfather and I look forward to them, I respect them, I learn from them, I tap from their fountain of wisdom. So every PDP leader is my godfather. When President Yar’Adua was there, you all know that he dissolved his cabinet when he reappointed 20 of 42, I was reappointed and sent back to the Federal Ministry of Youth Development. I was the only minister that spent four years in the ministry throughout the tenure of both administrations. That tells you that I don’t have a godfather.

What about what some call the Oyinlola factor? You will agree that leaders do play a role.

You see, Oyinlola is one of the leaders of the PDP in Osun State. His factor is going to be like the factor of any other leader in the PDP like Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun; Chief Ebenezer Babatope; Dr. Olu Alabi; Chief Olayinwola Ogunrinade. They will sit down together and what they have always been saying is that the people’s wish must prevail. I have absolute confidence in the leaders of our party in Osun State and nationally that they will allow the best candidate to emerge to face the incumbent governor.

By 2014 when the governorship poll will take place in Osun State, other political office-holders such as members of the House of Assembly, local government chairmen and councillors will still be in office. Don’t you see this as a challenge?

I have already told you that the election is going to be decided by the people of Osun State. If they are satisfied with Aregbesola’s performance in office, definitely they will vote for him, but if they are not satisfied with his performance in office and they don’t want their trauma to continue, I am sure he is going to be voted out. So, the election is not going to be decided based on propaganda.  I am sure the election will be free and fair and the people’s votes will count.

The major thrust of our programme will be education and employment. We have to make our youths, especially the unemployed productive.

Fortunately, we have National Youth Development Centre located in the state. We are going to make sure that the youths genuinely learn skills, vocational and entrepreneurship education so that they will not only be useful to themselves, they will be useful also to the community.

Which area of Osun do you come from?

Osun West-Senatorial District.

Has the zone ever produced the governor?

My passion generally is how can we drive out poverty, how can we wipe out hunger, how can we wipe out unemployment from Osun State. That is what I am bringing into government but be that as it may; let me come back to some calculations. Prince Olagunsoye, Oyinlola is from Osun Central Senatorial District, the same senatorial district that Chief Bisi Akande came from. The two of them combined have governed Osun State for 12 years. The incumbent, Rauf Aregbesola, is from Osun East Senatorial District. What my people are saying is that it is now the turn of Osun West Senatorial District to be given the chance to rule. By accident of history, I happen to come from Osun West Senatorial District. Adeleke also came from Osun West Senatorial District but he only governed for 22 months if that is what you want to say. Let’s do the calculations. Adeleke has done it for 22 months Rauf Aregbersola would have done it for 48 months, so it is the turn of Osun West Senatorial District.

Wole Oke says he is the best candidate. Omisore says he controls the party structure. What do you have to defeat an incumbent in 2014?

Let me tell you that I am confident of victory. I will never be associated with any violence, I will never associate myself with malpractices because I have a name to protect and that is why I have said look, if you look at the pedigree of all of us that are vying on the platform of the PDP, if you put us on a scale after I have enumerated my pedigree to you, I will win fairly. I am very happy that President Goodluck Jonathan is doing a lot to stamp out violence in our electoral system. That is why I am sure that I am going to emerge because, if you look at somebody who has the means, I am talking of the intellectual ability, I am talking of somebody who has the ideas. After I served as a minister, for four years, I have record and I believe I want to deploy that intellectual ability in the service of our people in Osun State.