Politics

There’s Hope Elections Will Be Peaceful In Kogi, Says Olafemi

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Staff Admin

By Ralph Omololu Agbana

Folorunsho Olafemi, son of former Kogi State Assembly Speaker and acting Governor, Chief Clarence Olafemi is the flag bearer of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yagba Federal Constituency. The expert in ICT and cyber security spoke to RALPH OMOLOLU AGBANA on chances of APC in the February 25 federal elections, where he is up against the incumbent Rep, Leke Abejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

You have lived in Nigeria, and now work abroad. With your work experience in the United Kingdom, what is the difference you think you can bring to legislative business if elected?
Entrepreneurship and free market dynamics are the soul of the western economies not welfare, which unfortunately many of our predecessors in the House of Representatives engaged as a crux. Free market principles have unleashed a meteoric rise in standards of living around the world over the past two hundred years. Yet the “market” does not operate independently of the actors that comprise it. Rather, it responds—through the price system—to the actions of individuals, firms, and governments. The market functions best when virtuous individuals can freely compete and cooperate, abiding by the rule of law. Here is where the ‘legislative business’ comes in; I will ensure that I push for bills that will drive entrepreneurship and free market principles and make it a core in our nation.

As far as Yagba is concerned, our breakthrough can never be a one-man show but a well-coordinated synergy across multiple lines. I will rally the support of our brightest stars across all professional segments to ensure we partner together for the development of entrepreneurship as the core of our change in Yagba; I hope to bring a collective leadership realm.

You are faced with the task of unseating the incumbent member, Hon Leke Abejide of the ADC, who is seeking a second term. Rating his performance in this current term, what are your chances against him? 
I do not know what you mean by performance anyway. But I come from the background that believes a man is ultimately judged by the number of his words that he keeps. I am not someone that dwells on the assassination of character of my brothers (rivals as you may seem to want to call them). Since you are keen to hammer on experience in the West; in the West, people resign from office for saying they would use nose mask but were seen not doing so. So, someone that promised the entire communities in Yagba land and failed to keep those promises without remorse has not performed.

Against the odds, you pulled a surprise victory at the keenly contested APC primary in May 2022. What is the level of unity in the party after the primary? Can you count on the support of your co-contestants? 
Again, I seize this opportunity in celebrating all the capable and worthy aspirants who contested alongside. The maturity on display after the keen and healthy contest is second to none. This will be proven to you after the election. We are in a party that believes in internal democracy and accepts the outcomes. Our leader, Governor Yahaya Bello has done wonderfully well in coaching and grooming his team, the APC and we are solid together.

Your election comes up same time as the Senatorial and Presidential elections. Do you see this as an advantage for you? 
Definitely yes. From our presidential candidate the Jagaban himself to our Senator in waiting by God’s grace (Hon. Steve Sunday Karimi), we are on course en route a clean sweep at the polls. The enigmatic aura of these our great leaders will rub off on me as it is usually said that we see farther by standing on the shoulders of those that have gone ahead of us. It is not a new phenomenon my brother.

Kogi West is predominantly a PDP stronghold from inception in 1999. Likewise, Yagba Constituency has never elected an APC rep. How do you rate the chances of the APC changing the voting pattern now?
Do not forget that the Distinguished Senator, Smart Adeyemi took over from another APC mandate that was held by Dino Melaye who decamped from APC to PDP. That means for eight years what you called a stronghold has been demolished.

Also remember that when it comes to Yagba Federal Constituency, in 2011, Hon. Sunday Karimi (who contested on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria) defeated the PDP and was in the House of Representatives for eight years, not on the strength of PDP but the unique dynamism of Yagba people; we are unique and independent minded! Also, the incumbent Rep Member is not PDP. So, in my own cocoon, where is the stronghold referenced?

President Muhammadu Buhari has repeatedly warned against violence and thuggery during the elections. Do you have confidence in the President matching word with action? 
Yes, I have total confidence in our President to match his words with action. If you look at the party’s presidential primary and how he stood his ground that there must be a level playing ground for all and the currency change and the way he stood his ground you should understand that he can truly stand on his words.

Do you think the latest reforms introduced by INEC including the BVAS and electronic transmission of results will improve on Nigeria’s electoral system? 
We must keep ‘hope alive’ that things will work out well. If you look at Anambra and Osun elections you should understand my faith in INEC. Both states were won by opposition parties and there was vote of confidence on INEC. Even though those elections were isolated cases compared to the Presidential and National Assembly elections, which will be on a national scale, there is a ray of hope that it will go well.

In which other areas do you think our electoral system needs improvement? 
The Electoral Act 2022 is a laudable effort to keep the Nigerian electoral process up to standard with that of other democratic countries all over the world, more so as the country approaches the 2023 general elections. It is only hoped that the provisions of this Act are judiciously implemented to enable Nigerians enjoy the exercise of their political franchise before and after the 2023 general elections. There can’t be an end to strengthening the capacity of all actors in the electoral process and making them independent…but in succinct response, I believe that we need more tweaks in the areas of Revision of Definition of Over-voting, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Power of Review and Technological Changes in the electoral process.

As a youth, how do you think the unemployed population of Nigerian youths can be gainfully engaged and discouraged from engaging criminal activities?
The first way is to create gainful platforms that can get them engaged in productive activities. If you look at the way youths are engrossed in internet fraud, for instance, it shows they have the I.T knack. We must disarm them from the fraudulent aspects and stimulate them towards the positive ones and these are numerous. Look at agriculture, which most youths hate because it has still been done here the tedious ways and the gain most times not commensurate. We can change the narratives on a very massive scale with sincerity and a lot of them will begin to flourish on our land. Look at Sports too and entertainment.

The list is a long one and with sincerity of purpose we are poised to do the needful.

Source: The Guardian

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