…says non-indigenes shouldn’t jostle for management of Lagos govt
A member of the seventh Nationwide Meeting, Hon. Lanre Odubote, represented Epe Federal Constituency within the Home of Representatives. On this interview with OLAOLU OLADIPO, Odubote spoke on various points regarding the state of the nation. Whereas acknowledging that the reforms of the Bola Tinubu led authorities has introduced some hardship on Nigerians, he expressed optimism that the nation can be higher off in the long term. Excerpts:
You’re a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the present regime is sort of two years into its four-year tenure, how would you fee its efficiency thus far in view of the numerous challenges it has been encountering because it got here into workplace?
We have to perceive the idea of democracy which is actually in regards to the welfare and wellbeing of the folks. A variety of choices are presently being taken by this authorities which I admit are having untold hardship on the folks however what I do know is that there can by no means be any type of acquire with out ache. We additionally want to understand the truth that when this authorities got here on board, many Nigerians had been glad that there was a change of baton. It is because the economic system was so unhealthy and was in comatose. The economic system had been unhealthy as a result of we had been subsiding every part however the folks weren’t feeling the profit and influence of such subsidies. Nigeria had been subsiding gas for a number of years however the main beneficiaries of this had been neighbouring international locations. Once more, Nigeria had uncared for agriculture which was the mainstay of its economic system. A number of the money crops that made our nation buoyant in these days such cocoa, cotton and groundnut had been deserted by successive governments since Independence and there may be this over-reliance on oil because the mono-product driving our economic system. Sadly for us as a rustic, costs of oil are decided by the consumers. Nigeria has develop into just about a lease assortment nation, accumulating lease from oil multinationals. We should always have caught to agriculture to create jobs and stimulate the economic system. Our over reliance on oil has disjointed our developmental projections. All these errors are presently being corrected by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who’s replicating the developmental agenda of Lagos State on the centre. Being a person with imaginative and prescient and mission, he knew what he was doing when he stated on the day of his inauguration that the subsidy was gone. It have to be famous nonetheless, that every one different presidential candidates promised to take away subsidies too. Positively, there might be pains however now Nigeria is being revered internationally for this daring motion.
Are you saying that the timing of the transfer was good?
As we converse right this moment, the economic system of the nation is now being placed on correct footing. Have a look at what Governor Bago, who was a colleague of mine, is doing with agriculture in Niger State. Lagos State too shouldn’t be lagging behind as a result of it has additionally constructed a lot infrastructure supporting agriculture and agro-allied actions within the state. You may attest to that with interventions in areas equivalent to rice processing in Imota in addition to fish storage infrastructure in Epe. I can inform you that the reforms of the president at the moment are bringing folks again to the fundamentals. Folks at the moment are areas the place they’ve by no means regarded earlier than which is sweet for our collective wellbeing. So far as I’m involved, there might be some pains that might be inflicted on the folks however the advantages to be derived in the long term would far outweigh the pains.
Your views tally with latest assertions of President Tinubu who said that the advantages of the reforms at the moment are turning into very manifest…
Let me inform you one thing, for the primary time within the final 20 years, we celebrated Christmas with out a queue at filling stations. Persons are shifting round and that exhibits you that certainly the economic system of the nation is shifting and never static as we’re wont to imagine. Go to the markets and see the extent of financial actions there. The IMF has simply rated the nation because the second largest economic system in Africa, after Egypt. That signifies that we’re shifting positively in direction of a great route. One other constructive factor below the Tinubu presidency is the best way safety is step by step returning to the nation. Nigeria is turning into comparatively secure due to the renewed onslaught of the army in opposition to bandits and different prison components. From all I can see, the president has a imaginative and prescient for the nation and he’s taking us someplace good.
You converse glowingly of the federal government, haven’t you observed any space the place you assume they need to step up, by way of enchancment?
The realm the place I believe the federal government ought to work severely on is the way it can alleviate the struggling of the folks brought on by these reforms that are mandatory by the best way. I’m vital areas equivalent to provision of inexpensive housing, efficient transportation most particularly the rail system. When the federal government develops the rail infrastructure quite a lot of heavy responsibility automobiles will not ply our roads. These merchandise will now be transported by way of the railways. Authorities wants to attach all components of the nation by way of the rail community. Clear and inexpensive power is one other vital space of cushioning the results of the reforms. In a few yr’s time, not solely would the costs of gas come down drastically, folks can be glad that the reforms befell.
In essence, would it not be right to say that you simply imagine what the president stated that issues are getting higher regardless of the starvation and frustration within the land?
I guarantee you, will probably be nicely with us all on this nation, because the authorities is heading in direction of the route of constructing issues higher, undoubtedly, every part will normalise within the nation. Ultimately, I imagine that every one Nigerians could have entry to good life and so far as I’m involved that’s the route that the federal government is shifting in direction of.
There have been two off season governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states the place your social gathering gained; many opposition lawmakers and key personalities at the moment are defecting to the APC, don’t you assume the nation may be shifting in direction of a one-party state?
Sincerely, for any progress or growth to happen in any society or setting, there have to be unity of objective on the a part of the folks making up such society.
Don’t you assume that might result in a one-party state setting?
(Cuts in) You see, that is even good for a heterogeneous society like Nigeria. In a various society like ours, you will need to have a robust pulling mechanism that brings everybody collectively for purposeful growth.
So, you don’t see something unsuitable with the seemingly emergence of a one-party rule within the nation?
I can’t even see any political social gathering on the horizon that may problem the APC in 2027. Have you ever seen anybody?
However there are stories that some politicians are planning a mega social gathering to dislodge the APC…
(Cuts in) Who’re they? Let me know them in order that I could make particular feedback on their actions?
Stories say politicians from the North who should not pleased with the scenario within the nation are the mastermind…
Who’re these politicians within the North? The educated, the Almajiri within the North at the moment are turning into enlightened and may’t be led by the nostril anymore. If the president can go all the best way to create a ministry for livestock growth for the folks within the North, which is the normal supply of livelihood of the folks of the area, has the president not demonstrated sufficient sincerity to the folks of the realm? The president has even gone additional to make sure that he brings the Almajiri again to the social system, that too is an illustration of fine religion.
And also you imagine these are sufficient the reason why the folks of the North gained’t hearken to their leaders?
Who’re the folks that you simply assume they may hearken to? I’ve so many buddies within the North and I do know what they inform me about this authorities. A lot of them who’ve been criticising this authorities have begun to have a rethink. So, I don’t see any severe opposition to the APC in 2027.
Let’s come again to Lagos State which is the financial hub of the nation; your ruling tendency has been answerable for the state for over twenty years and half, don’t you assume that there’s the necessity for a change by way of one other social gathering ruling the state?
I’m a democrat and I’ve no drawback with a change of guards in any respect if they will correctly organise themselves to take over however in honest phrases, do you see any political social gathering so higher organised than the APC in Lagos State? One factor folks don’t actually contemplate is the truth that quite a lot of issues have been achieved because the time we took over in 1999. It might curiosity you to know that Lagos stays one of the vital peaceable states within the nation. It is because it’s the just one that has continued to accommodate various cultures and religions of all Nigerians.
From the best way you’ve spoken, you sound so assured that no social gathering can defeat the APC in Lagos?
Sure!
However your social gathering misplaced the presidential election to the Labour Party in 2023…
We all know why that occurred. It was a spin over of the unresolved problem of #ENDSARS protest. We noticed how many individuals organised themselves in varied spiritual centres. I’m speaking about youths who had been aggrieved by what occurred throughout that protest. Lots of the organisers left their states to gather voter playing cards in Lagos State with a view to taking up the state. We noticed the migration of those components into Lagos over the last election however ultimately, we confirmed them that we had been the bulk. What I do know is that such a factor can not occur once more.
What lesson has your social gathering learnt to stop the reccurrence of what occurred the opposite time?
Those who did what they did are our buddies. They’re our folks and we’re making efforts to deliver all people collectively. We lived collectively. Grew up collectively and we all know ourselves. What we’re working in direction of in Lagos APC now’s to make sure inclusiveness of all shades of opinions within the working of the state. There isn’t a doubt that non-indigenes have the best to contest for any place within the state however they need to additionally realise that we’re the bulk and indigenes of Lagos who’ve nowhere else to go. They’re welcome to affix us however to not jostle the management of our land with us.
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