MP AA Adeogun Submits Letter For Guber Race, Pledges Focus On Welfare, Economy

Prince Albert Abiodun Adeogun, a member of Federal House of Representatives in the National Assembly representing Ife Federal  constituency and a Master Degree Holder from the University of Ibadan is also a legal practitioner of over three decades.The retired  Customs Area Controller  recently submitted his letter of intention to  contest the gubernatorial race in Osun State come September this year. Shortly after making his intention known to the State Executive led by Chief  Soji Adagunodo in the event witnessed by some party chieftains like Prince Diran  Odeyemi, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Abiola Morakinyo, a former Commissioner in Osun State , Professor Oluyemisi Akinyemiju and other PDP big wigs and supporters from local government councils, Adeogun fielded questions from Our Correspondent .Olu Babalola .

Excerpts:

Congratulations on your decision to contest for the highest position in the state. Are you aware that there are still some hurdles to be crossed, Precisely and most importantly, the party primaries,?

Thank you very much. I am fully and well aware. God being with us, we will triumph.

Equally is the fact that there are many aspirants from your great party?

Yes definitely. The more we are,the merrier.That is the beauty of democracy .And that is why our party will conduct the shadow election to pick the best and the most suitable candidate out of the many  aspirants.

Without being pessimistic, assuming you did not emerge as the candidate , would you defect to another party?

I am very hopeful that I will emerge the winner. That is borne out of my faith in God. You know what faith means in the scripture,? .All my political antecedents  are being hinged on faith in God. We have no other power. And God has a purpose for us. He, God has never for once disappointed us. Let us keep our hope alive. We listen and follow his leading.

Supposing It is otherwise, perhaps due to some extraneous influences or manipulations?

The leadership of our party under Engineer Adagunodo  is a credible one and we have been assured  of a very transparent primary election They are men of integrity. But let me stress that no election should be a do or dice affair. Should an unexpected happen, I will not be involved in any post election conflict. Also I will not instigate anybody to do such as our party once experienced in Ondo state and which was our albatross.Such is an anti party activity.

It was alleged that the present administration in the state has not lived to the expectations of the people of the state. What is going to be done to ameliorate the plight of your people there.  Many of the workers are crying that the touted change mantra is a mirage in the state because their hope for better change was shattered. What do you have to better their frustrated existence?

What you identified as allegations against Aregbes government are not. They are practical realities. If I come on board as the state Governor, my first priotities are workers welfare including  masses welfare and the economy of the state.It is an aberration to see some senior workers receiving half salaries and those receiving full being denied payment as at when due.This is callous and inhuman. It would sound incredible that commissioners are being owed salaries. That is not good enough. These lapses would be addressed and lives made better for the people.

The defence put up by the  APC government was that the revenue  from the Federation account was low and that was responsible for the low fund for state Governments.What is your take on that?

That is deceitful. It is not a tenable excuse. You don’t have to rely only on money from the Federation account alone. You are to generate fund internally. If we come on board, we are going to embark on internal revenue generation. This would complement whatever is given from the centre. We would set up tink tank on this. Even the bail out funds to state government from PMB administration was alleged to have been diverted consequent upon which the workers are suffering. That is inhuman. We are not going to allow that.

If I come on board as the state Governor, my first priotities are workers welfare including masses welfare and the economy of the state.It is an aberration to see some senior workers receiving half salaries and those receiving full being denied payment as at when due.This is callous and inhuman.It would sound incredible that commissioners are being owed salaries. That is not good enough. These lapses would be addressed and lives made better for the people.

Remember APC  is in power at both States and federal, wouldn’t the party use its incumbency power over the oppositions?

It won’t work. Buhari their leader, has failed woefully. He failed to deliver in all his electoral promises. See his record card in security , economy and education. Statesmen like Chief Olusegun Obasaanjo, General T.Y.Danjuma General Yakubu Gowon as well as Clergymen from the two major religions have adjudged his government a failure. This is particularly in security which APC used to wrest power. Almost on daily basis the Boko Haram are striking in the North Also his kinsmen, the Fulani herders are killing innocent people in Taraba, Benue, Zamfara and  many others. The Fulani are apparently plotting to recolonise some states. The President was seemingly looking elsewhere as if nothing is happening until more leaders cried out. Is that government? Who would vote again for a government that cannot guarantee their safety,? His government is clueless. It has no  positive direction. Look at the economy. Their propaganda is that things are now okay. Deceit here and there with the President denigrating our youths as lazy. It is an insult on their psyche. The youths would tell him that they are no fools. They have reminded him how his son who is part of them nearly wasted his life on a motor bike and how Nigeria money was used to save his life.

Let us come back to Osun where some people are making case for rotation of power. Former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola wants Osun West to produce Governor. What is your reaction to this?

Oyinlola is not in our party. He is in APC. We in PDP will determine our candidate through primaries and whoever emerged through our shadow election would surely defeat APC. But in all honesty, if people are going by rotation, Osun East should have been the zone to produce the next governor.The zone has for long been marginalized.