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| Senator Babafemi Ojudu, SA to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Affairs and Ekiti 2018 Gubernatorial Aspirant |
Tunji David an
economist and political activist is the Founder of the Ojudu Mass Movement (OMM),
a Youth Pressure group canvassing for the Gubernatorial participation of the
Senior Special Assistant to President
Muhammadu Buhari on Political Affairs, Senator
Babafemi Ojudu to contest and rule Ekiti State in 2018. Ojudu, a veteran journalist and one of
Nigeria’s leading anti-dictatorship journalist of the 80s and 90s was the one
who beat incumbent Ekiti State Governor, Ayo
Fayose in year 2011 to clinch the Ekiti Central Senatorial zone seat which
took him to the National Assembly—Abuja. He is one of the leading candidates
being touted for the gubernatorial election in Ekiti State next year and OMM
believes he is the best man for the job. In this exclusive online interview
with your Africa’s Number 1 Celebrity Encounter blog, Asabeafrika, Tunji David highlighted
some of the qualities Senator Babafemi
Ojudu is bringing to leadership in Ekiti state and why he remains the best
man for the job. The Youth leader regretted that Ekiti state under the regime
of Mr. Ayodele Fayose has
retrogressed in terms of perception and development, almost falling into a Banana
Republic. Enjoy the excerpts.
economist and political activist is the Founder of the Ojudu Mass Movement (OMM),
a Youth Pressure group canvassing for the Gubernatorial participation of the
Senior Special Assistant to President
Muhammadu Buhari on Political Affairs, Senator
Babafemi Ojudu to contest and rule Ekiti State in 2018. Ojudu, a veteran journalist and one of
Nigeria’s leading anti-dictatorship journalist of the 80s and 90s was the one
who beat incumbent Ekiti State Governor, Ayo
Fayose in year 2011 to clinch the Ekiti Central Senatorial zone seat which
took him to the National Assembly—Abuja. He is one of the leading candidates
being touted for the gubernatorial election in Ekiti State next year and OMM
believes he is the best man for the job. In this exclusive online interview
with your Africa’s Number 1 Celebrity Encounter blog, Asabeafrika, Tunji David highlighted
some of the qualities Senator Babafemi
Ojudu is bringing to leadership in Ekiti state and why he remains the best
man for the job. The Youth leader regretted that Ekiti state under the regime
of Mr. Ayodele Fayose has
retrogressed in terms of perception and development, almost falling into a Banana
Republic. Enjoy the excerpts.
Who is Mr. Tunji David? Can you share your
brief with us?
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| Mr. Olatunji David, Founder, Ojudu Mass Movement |
Just like you rightly
mentioned, I am Olatunji David, an
Economist, a business man, a farmer, a father and husband who is conscious
about good governance and development both mentally and physically.
mentioned, I am Olatunji David, an
Economist, a business man, a farmer, a father and husband who is conscious
about good governance and development both mentally and physically.
Why
did you start this movement and at what point did you decide to establish
the Ojudu Mass Movement?
did you start this movement and at what point did you decide to establish
the Ojudu Mass Movement?
In answering your
question, I will refer you to Proverbs 29
vs. 2,which states that ʺwhen the
righteous are in authority the people rejoiceʺ and you know the vice-versa.
It is a known fact of what Ekiti state
has become today in the hands of the present government. This movement is borne
out of passion for my state and my passion cannot be divorced from the person
who can take us out of this precarious situation in the person of Senator
BabafemiOjudu
question, I will refer you to Proverbs 29
vs. 2,which states that ʺwhen the
righteous are in authority the people rejoiceʺ and you know the vice-versa.
It is a known fact of what Ekiti state
has become today in the hands of the present government. This movement is borne
out of passion for my state and my passion cannot be divorced from the person
who can take us out of this precarious situation in the person of Senator
BabafemiOjudu
Is you
organization a pressure group or an interventionist movement?
organization a pressure group or an interventionist movement?
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| Mr. Olatunji David at an Exco meeting of his organization in Ekiti State |
We are both a pressure
and interventionist group. Ojudu Mass Movement (OMM) is a world movement
of Ekiti people to support the emergence and candidature of Senator
Babafemi Ojudu for the 2018 Ekiti Governorship election. As at today Senator
BabafemiOjudu is most qualified to occupy the seat at Oke-Ayoba in Ado-Ekiti. He is a man of integrity, a true son of Ekiti land, a progressive to the core,
an Awoist, a man of great ideology, a
man who has the interest and well-being of his people at heart, a mobilizer, a
strategist, an experienced private and public servant and an astute politician.
This is a man who has sacrificed a lot for the interest of his people and
Nigeria as a citizen. He is the fear factor in Ekiti state politics. OMM
is predominantly a youth movement which is mobilizing youths of Ekiti, home and abroad on the importance
of making sure Babafemi Ojudu is adopted or emerges as the most needed person
to bring the state out of the present dilemma it has found itself. This movement is spearheaded by me; and a host
of young progressive minds like Engineer
Femi Johnson Agbeyo, Olawale
Omotoyinbo to mention a few of other young Ekiti thinkers who are doing
great things within and outside Nigeria.
and interventionist group. Ojudu Mass Movement (OMM) is a world movement
of Ekiti people to support the emergence and candidature of Senator
Babafemi Ojudu for the 2018 Ekiti Governorship election. As at today Senator
BabafemiOjudu is most qualified to occupy the seat at Oke-Ayoba in Ado-Ekiti. He is a man of integrity, a true son of Ekiti land, a progressive to the core,
an Awoist, a man of great ideology, a
man who has the interest and well-being of his people at heart, a mobilizer, a
strategist, an experienced private and public servant and an astute politician.
This is a man who has sacrificed a lot for the interest of his people and
Nigeria as a citizen. He is the fear factor in Ekiti state politics. OMM
is predominantly a youth movement which is mobilizing youths of Ekiti, home and abroad on the importance
of making sure Babafemi Ojudu is adopted or emerges as the most needed person
to bring the state out of the present dilemma it has found itself. This movement is spearheaded by me; and a host
of young progressive minds like Engineer
Femi Johnson Agbeyo, Olawale
Omotoyinbo to mention a few of other young Ekiti thinkers who are doing
great things within and outside Nigeria.
A lot
of people see Mr. Ojudu from the point of view of a conservative, though,
rational journalist who strayed into politics. Do you think he is more than
that?
of people see Mr. Ojudu from the point of view of a conservative, though,
rational journalist who strayed into politics. Do you think he is more than
that?
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| The Hope of Ekiti People, Senator Babafemi Ojudu |
I would rather call him
a strategist and not a conservative. On whether he strayed into politics? No!
He was one of those who fought for the return of democracy in Nigeria with respected people like Barrister
Femi Falana (SAN). He was arrested, tortured and incacerated for his belief
in returning power to a democratically elected President even after Chief (MKO)
Abiola (Winner of June 12, 1993
election) was eliminated. Senator Ojudu as a political
activist, journalist and administrator is the man who has the right
prescription and dose to be administered to Ekiti
state in the situation it has found itself today. As the present special
adviser to the president (President Muhammadu Buhari) on political matters, his
experience and connections cut across party lines. He is a bridge builder, he
may not be the kind of man that shares money indiscriminately but he will teach
you how to fish. I would rather be taught how to fish so I can make more and
also teach other people, than queue on the streets of Ekiti and be handed crumbs like its done in the state today. He is a man that I am privileged to have been
with and I know what he is capable of doing. Senator Ojudu will never promise you what he won’t do, even his
enemies can attest to this.
a strategist and not a conservative. On whether he strayed into politics? No!
He was one of those who fought for the return of democracy in Nigeria with respected people like Barrister
Femi Falana (SAN). He was arrested, tortured and incacerated for his belief
in returning power to a democratically elected President even after Chief (MKO)
Abiola (Winner of June 12, 1993
election) was eliminated. Senator Ojudu as a political
activist, journalist and administrator is the man who has the right
prescription and dose to be administered to Ekiti
state in the situation it has found itself today. As the present special
adviser to the president (President Muhammadu Buhari) on political matters, his
experience and connections cut across party lines. He is a bridge builder, he
may not be the kind of man that shares money indiscriminately but he will teach
you how to fish. I would rather be taught how to fish so I can make more and
also teach other people, than queue on the streets of Ekiti and be handed crumbs like its done in the state today. He is a man that I am privileged to have been
with and I know what he is capable of doing. Senator Ojudu will never promise you what he won’t do, even his
enemies can attest to this.
Do
you think Mr. Ojudu has a bright chance to become the Governor of Ekiti State in 2018 with the presence of other heavy
weights like ex-Governor Segun Oni and Mr. Kayode Fayemi who is trying to make
a come back according to grapevine sources?
you think Mr. Ojudu has a bright chance to become the Governor of Ekiti State in 2018 with the presence of other heavy
weights like ex-Governor Segun Oni and Mr. Kayode Fayemi who is trying to make
a come back according to grapevine sources?
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| Senator Babafemi Ojudu: Best Man for the Job, Ekiti 2018 |
Asking this question is
like asking a student whose school fees has been paid and has written exams and
passed and another student who paid his school fees and failed and you are now
asking the student who passed “Are you sure you will be promoted to the next class?”. Senator Babafemi Ojudu has paid his
dues both in Ekiti state and Nigerian
politics. Mind you, he is the only man who has defeated the present governor of
Ekiti state in an elective position. Engineer
Segun Oni is a wonderful man and Dr. Fayemi have both shown to the Ekiti people what they can offer and you
know you don’t have a second chance to make a first impression. Ekiti needs radical and quick changes
and the injection of new ideas to its present economic downturn, high level of
poverty, and dehumanizing way of living they’ve been subjected to. That is what
Senator
Babafemi Ojudu represents.
like asking a student whose school fees has been paid and has written exams and
passed and another student who paid his school fees and failed and you are now
asking the student who passed “Are you sure you will be promoted to the next class?”. Senator Babafemi Ojudu has paid his
dues both in Ekiti state and Nigerian
politics. Mind you, he is the only man who has defeated the present governor of
Ekiti state in an elective position. Engineer
Segun Oni is a wonderful man and Dr. Fayemi have both shown to the Ekiti people what they can offer and you
know you don’t have a second chance to make a first impression. Ekiti needs radical and quick changes
and the injection of new ideas to its present economic downturn, high level of
poverty, and dehumanizing way of living they’ve been subjected to. That is what
Senator
Babafemi Ojudu represents.
What
are the leadership benefits your candidate is bringing to Ekiti as Governor of
the state in 2018?
are the leadership benefits your candidate is bringing to Ekiti as Governor of
the state in 2018?
These
qualities are what I have mentioned earlier. His leadership qualities cannot be
overemphasized. He is not a man who practices politics of bitterness.
qualities are what I have mentioned earlier. His leadership qualities cannot be
overemphasized. He is not a man who practices politics of bitterness.
He is a man whose focal
point is to make Ekiti state return
to its glory of people who respect elders, people who have dignity of labour, a
people who are not beggars. You know Ekiti state is agrarian in nature, with Ojudu
in authority, Ekiti state can be
self-sufficient in yam, rice, and corn produce and even feed the whole of South-West
within the next 4 to 5 years. This is where we are taking Ekiti State to with an excellent mind like Ojudu
point is to make Ekiti state return
to its glory of people who respect elders, people who have dignity of labour, a
people who are not beggars. You know Ekiti state is agrarian in nature, with Ojudu
in authority, Ekiti state can be
self-sufficient in yam, rice, and corn produce and even feed the whole of South-West
within the next 4 to 5 years. This is where we are taking Ekiti State to with an excellent mind like Ojudu
With
the present political situation in Ekiti State, do you think the state needs
deliverance?
the present political situation in Ekiti State, do you think the state needs
deliverance?
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| Ayo Fayose, outgoing Governor of Ekiti State….Fed his people on the street with Yam, Rice, Cake and more…. |
The state does not only
need deliverance, the state needs rescue and restoration. Honestly Ekiti state has taken the back seat in
people oriented development projects in the past 3 years. I am an Ekiti man and I know what my people are
saying. Salaries are not being paid for months and a governor is building a
bridge that leads to nowhere. What economic benefit is a bridge that costs
billions of naira to the people of Ekiti
state when the people are hungry, parents can’t pay school fees and so on….?
It is pathetic my brother. Our future and that of our children is being
mortgaged. There must be salvation.
need deliverance, the state needs rescue and restoration. Honestly Ekiti state has taken the back seat in
people oriented development projects in the past 3 years. I am an Ekiti man and I know what my people are
saying. Salaries are not being paid for months and a governor is building a
bridge that leads to nowhere. What economic benefit is a bridge that costs
billions of naira to the people of Ekiti
state when the people are hungry, parents can’t pay school fees and so on….?
It is pathetic my brother. Our future and that of our children is being
mortgaged. There must be salvation.
Ekiti
will appear to have become a state that has suddenly digressed from her
knowledge seeking posture to a food (stomach infrastructure) seeking conclave;
how is your candidate going to convince electorate to change their view and
search for the big picture (Infrastructural & moral development)
will appear to have become a state that has suddenly digressed from her
knowledge seeking posture to a food (stomach infrastructure) seeking conclave;
how is your candidate going to convince electorate to change their view and
search for the big picture (Infrastructural & moral development)
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| Olatunji David….’Our ambition is to give Ekiti a New Re-Birth’ |
You know this man has
been a journalist and you know journalists feel the pulse of the people, they
are always on the street. Senator (Babafemi) Ojudu does not only feel
the pulse, he is ready to administer the necessary medication. People talk about the grass root, the fact
that someone eats ponmo on the street
of Ado-Ekiti or buys amala and ewedu at Iya Oyo does not
make you closer to the grass root. Do you know how many times Senator
Ojudu has eaten on the streets? The fact that he doesn’t post it on
social media doesn’t make him less important to the people. It is so
unfortunate that the psyche of our people is being played on. You cannot give
out what you don’t have. Senator Ojudu is a man of high moral
value. A state governor is not elected to criticize, he is elected to govern.
Mind me, criticism is not bad, in fact I recommend criticism, but it must be
done constructively. Criticism is not abusing elders and calling them names,
wishing them dead.
been a journalist and you know journalists feel the pulse of the people, they
are always on the street. Senator (Babafemi) Ojudu does not only feel
the pulse, he is ready to administer the necessary medication. People talk about the grass root, the fact
that someone eats ponmo on the street
of Ado-Ekiti or buys amala and ewedu at Iya Oyo does not
make you closer to the grass root. Do you know how many times Senator
Ojudu has eaten on the streets? The fact that he doesn’t post it on
social media doesn’t make him less important to the people. It is so
unfortunate that the psyche of our people is being played on. You cannot give
out what you don’t have. Senator Ojudu is a man of high moral
value. A state governor is not elected to criticize, he is elected to govern.
Mind me, criticism is not bad, in fact I recommend criticism, but it must be
done constructively. Criticism is not abusing elders and calling them names,
wishing them dead.
What
are your campaign strategy to disseminate genuine information to an electorate
which seems to be carried away with the stomach infrastructure orientation of
the present governor of the state who normally shares foods and materials to
them in public glare and before cameras?
are your campaign strategy to disseminate genuine information to an electorate
which seems to be carried away with the stomach infrastructure orientation of
the present governor of the state who normally shares foods and materials to
them in public glare and before cameras?
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| Senator Babafemi Ojudu: Adored at home & Abroad by his People |
As I said earlier, this
is the pathetic situation Ekiti state has found itself. I said it from the
beginning that Ekiti state was making
a big mistake, here we are today, all suffering for it. Please mention one
factory that was setup in the last 2 years that employs up to 50 people. And
government officials would rather prefer to line-up people who are old enough
to be their father and mother and be feeding them with peanuts and asking men
to pose with a sachet of rice, tuber of yam, pieces of cake meal and all that.
It is quite pathetic and worrisome! It is alarming.
is the pathetic situation Ekiti state has found itself. I said it from the
beginning that Ekiti state was making
a big mistake, here we are today, all suffering for it. Please mention one
factory that was setup in the last 2 years that employs up to 50 people. And
government officials would rather prefer to line-up people who are old enough
to be their father and mother and be feeding them with peanuts and asking men
to pose with a sachet of rice, tuber of yam, pieces of cake meal and all that.
It is quite pathetic and worrisome! It is alarming.
Can you share some of your feed-back
from the Ekiti populace with us? Do you think they are tired of their present
condition and need a new leadership different from the populist posture of Mr.
Ayo Fayose?
from the Ekiti populace with us? Do you think they are tired of their present
condition and need a new leadership different from the populist posture of Mr.
Ayo Fayose?
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| President Mohammadu Buhari: Is Governor Ayo Fayose truly the Minister for Buhari Affairs? |
Ekiti
populace are not only tired, they have given up hope on this government. A governor
who has abandoned his duty and decided to be commissioner for Buhari affairs,
is that what he was elected to do? Go to Kebbi state and see the way
agriculture is being used to develop the state, go to Cross-River, Lagos, even Ondo nearby, their level of developments
will baffle you. Most places I have been to in Ekiti, they want salvation including party members of the present
government; they all want change. A state where the governor is the deputy, he
is the speaker, he is the procurement director and at the same time the
contractor. I speak as an angry Ekiti
man. Anyone who says what is happening in Ekiti
is good, I wish same for them and I hope they would be glad if they are
governed the same way Ekiti is
governed.
populace are not only tired, they have given up hope on this government. A governor
who has abandoned his duty and decided to be commissioner for Buhari affairs,
is that what he was elected to do? Go to Kebbi state and see the way
agriculture is being used to develop the state, go to Cross-River, Lagos, even Ondo nearby, their level of developments
will baffle you. Most places I have been to in Ekiti, they want salvation including party members of the present
government; they all want change. A state where the governor is the deputy, he
is the speaker, he is the procurement director and at the same time the
contractor. I speak as an angry Ekiti
man. Anyone who says what is happening in Ekiti
is good, I wish same for them and I hope they would be glad if they are
governed the same way Ekiti is
governed.
What
is your perception about RESTRUCTURING? What does it mean to you?
is your perception about RESTRUCTURING? What does it mean to you?
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| Tunji David to Asabeafrika….’The only Restructuring i understand is the deliverance of Ekiti by Ojudu in 2018′ |
The only language I
understand about restructuring is how my state would be salvaged and restructured
from the present state of inertia. Right now, Ekiti need to be restructured for good governance and a better
condition of living and Senator Babafemi Ojudu is the
answer. If we can restructure Ekiti
and take the state off her present state of indolence then everyone can see us
and deduce the proper meaning of restructuring. Believe me; we will deliver Ekiti from the throes of
ineptitude.
understand about restructuring is how my state would be salvaged and restructured
from the present state of inertia. Right now, Ekiti need to be restructured for good governance and a better
condition of living and Senator Babafemi Ojudu is the
answer. If we can restructure Ekiti
and take the state off her present state of indolence then everyone can see us
and deduce the proper meaning of restructuring. Believe me; we will deliver Ekiti from the throes of
ineptitude.
Do
you have a role model? Who is your role model in leadership and life style?
you have a role model? Who is your role model in leadership and life style?
Jesus
Christ is my role model. Life should be about what you
give to people and not what you take from them. A singer said “Blessed
is the hand that giveth to the world than
taketh” (Lucky Dube)
Christ is my role model. Life should be about what you
give to people and not what you take from them. A singer said “Blessed
is the hand that giveth to the world than
taketh” (Lucky Dube)
What
is your philosophy of life?
is your philosophy of life?
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| Tunji David….A very angry Ekiti man who desires change through Babafemi Ojudu 2018 |
My philosophy of life
is that “life only makes meaning when you
are able to impact others positively”
it is not about what you have but about how many lives you’ve impacted
positively. Giving is life and life is giving. That is how to rate quality living. You give good governance, quality and robust
policy, better sense of living and every other good thing that can make life
more meaningful for the ordinary man.
Life is about giving and giving is about building and building is about
growth and development. Anything below that is slavery. My philosophy is taken
from that prism of thought.
is that “life only makes meaning when you
are able to impact others positively”
it is not about what you have but about how many lives you’ve impacted
positively. Giving is life and life is giving. That is how to rate quality living. You give good governance, quality and robust
policy, better sense of living and every other good thing that can make life
more meaningful for the ordinary man.
Life is about giving and giving is about building and building is about
growth and development. Anything below that is slavery. My philosophy is taken
from that prism of thought.
Tell us about your family; are you
married? And lastly, give your words to the people of Ekiti State.
married? And lastly, give your words to the people of Ekiti State.
I am married with
children. I want to believe my people have learnt their lessons, that good
governance is not about eating amala,
sharing spaghetti and cakes. Good governance is about teaching
the people how to fish and not giving people fish.
And
I want to use this medium to appeal to all Ekiti
youths, male and female, our elders in the interest of
our dear state, in the interest of our future and that of our children and
generations yet unborn, to come, let them ask questions and know the
antecedents of those who wish to govern them . Ekiti a gbea o!
children. I want to believe my people have learnt their lessons, that good
governance is not about eating amala,
sharing spaghetti and cakes. Good governance is about teaching
the people how to fish and not giving people fish.
And
I want to use this medium to appeal to all Ekiti
youths, male and female, our elders in the interest of
our dear state, in the interest of our future and that of our children and
generations yet unborn, to come, let them ask questions and know the
antecedents of those who wish to govern them . Ekiti a gbea o!
