A front line Senatorial aspirant for Kogi West on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief (Mrs) Doyin Ibikunle has asserted that for equity and fairness, Yagba Federal Constituency should be supported by all to ensure the Senator to represent Kogi West in 2019 comes from the constituency. She made this assertion in an exclusive interview recently.
Below are excerpts of the interaction.
Can we meet you?
My name is Chief Doyin Ibikunle-Eshanumi from Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State; Isanlu precisely.
Kindly let us into what inspired your aspiration to Kogi West Senatorial seat?
Looking at the previous occupiers of the seat, I sadly observed a lot of inadequacies I know I can correct and do more for our people because they really need it. This I will do as a mother, daughter and sister?
Can you be more specific on the areas you feel need to be improved on?
Building people, having positive impact on their lives and rehabilitating infrastructures especially our roads. Unfortunately people who have been representing us are either fighting the Governor or President; a situation that does not give room for the required lobby to attract projects to the Senatorial District. Presently, every road to Kogi West is dilapidated. I will work assiduously to change this, ensure the development of our youths and empower the womenfolk.
What is your take on the clamour by constituents of Yagba Federal Constituency for the Senatorial slot of Kogi West?
Actually, Kogi West consists of seven local government areas and there was a mutual understanding among the people for rotation. Lokoja/Koto with two local government areas had it for eight years by Sen. Tunde Ogbeha, Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu also have had it for twelve years now; eight years by Sen. Smart Adeyemi and fourth year of Sen. Dino Melaye but Yagba Federal Constituency with three local government areas have not taken it’s slot since the Fourth Republic was inaugurated in 1999. Yagba Federal Constituency demands equity and fairness and has a genuine claim to the Senate come 2019. Especially when a local government; Ijumu has retained it for over 11 years.
Some people are of the opinion that Yagba Federal Constituency have lost the bid to the Senate several times because of the number of aspirants that come up, every election time; dividing their votes and thereby giving aspirants from other areas undue advantage to clinch it as witnessed in 2011 and was repeated in 2015.
Whatever is the case, the Lokoja/Koto Federal Constituency have agreed it’s the turn of Yagba Federal Constituency and this will give whoever is going to emerge from Yagba Federal Constituency an edge over any other aspirant outside Yagba Federal Constituency. Lokoja/Koto insist on the Senate slot returning to their Federal Constituency after patiently waiting for 16 years for the other two Federal constituencies; Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu and Yagba to take their turns. Their commitment and sincerity is a relief. If I am chosen, bulk votes is assured from them in addition to votes from Yagba Federal Constituency.
Can you give an overview of your plans particularly for human capital development when eventually you are elected Senator?
I have been into human capital development for the past fifteen years in addition to Widows empowerment to enable them have resources to train their children. I am equally running a program for Youths empowerment apart from payment of WAEC, NECO and JAMB fees for indigent students. This has been part of my direct positive impact on individuals.
I have been able to secure loans from the Federal Government to empower the farmers.
Presently, I have secured an intervention to empower over 3000 women; not only for widows under the auspices of Bank of Industry with disbursement starting very soon.
So, if I can do all this before involvement in politics, the sky is just the beginning to empower my people for self-sustenance. Everyone cannot do the white collar job but by empowering them, the positive impact in terms of enhanced productivity and economic activities is assured.
There are abundant deposits of mineral resources especially gold in Yagba Federal Constituency but up till the present moment, we have noticed that no concerted effort is made for our local business persons to spearhead any viable business venture in this sector to tap these resources. Instead, we have people from South Africa and other countries coming in and taking away these resources with little or no gain for the people. What do you intend to do, to reverse this ugly trend?
Unfortunately, when you look at this issue, a lot of costly mistakes have been made in the past because allocations have been given to people who are not from the communities for over 10 to 15 years. So, what I intend to do if given the opportunity to represent my people is to find ways to review and if possible, revoke these arrangements and look for competent persons within the communities to take over and operate these ventures because they will have the interest of our people at heart. The terms of existing arrangements which I have had the opportunity to read is not favourable to our people and the communities.
Okunland is blessed with arable land and climate conducive for agriculture; what do you intend to do to leverage on this huge endowment not only to increase economic activities but to improve the lives of our people?
I have stated earlier, my efforts that will provide farmers with millions of Naira to go into mechanized farming across Kogi West from Gegu to Egbe.I will build on it because a successful implementation now will unlock thrice the takeoff. I will also ensure my people utilize the money efficiently.
There are problems of school dropouts and teenage pregnancy though widespread but not peculiar to Kogi West. What are the programs you have in mind to ensure that those who have fallen into these problems are assisted to be lifted up again to ensure a better future for them and the products of the relationships they got into at very tender ages?
There is a program in place by the Federal government for youth empowerment that I have keyed into that will engage Consultants to train those that dropped out from school in various vocations of their choice. For graduates, they will be trained in several spheres of ICT. This will also commence soon.
Most importantly, we have to empower our women because if a woman is empowered, it translates to the empowerment of a whole community. I am a living example because, I have lost count of the number of people God has used me to empower over the years.
The political situation in the country presently is very fluid especially when it comes to the participation of women. Women face a lot of challenges, they are incapacitated by so many factors and that has reflected in the low number of women that are elected to represent their people at all levels. Is the quest to give women a voice one of the reasons for your aspiration?
Certainly. I am going to represent the womenfolk but women are more reliable. My focus as a senator is how to develop the people because in so doing there is fulfilment. I intend to encourage the young ones coming on board because by the time we have more women in the National and State levels in elective positions, Nigeria will move forward.
There is the line of thought that favourable consideration should be given to aspirants who through dint of hard work have succeeded in their various endeavors. What is your take on this?
I think it’s better because by the time you choose those who are hardworking and successful in life, they will represent you better. I am an example coming from my background. My struggles in life will enable me identify with the plight of my people going through similar challenges. I am not going there to make money because considering my worth, caliber and age, I can say I am a successful woman to the glory of God.
What are your plans for the aged and senior citizens?
Within my capacity before now, I have the aged in my community who are either barren or whose children have abandoned that I am taking care of by placing them on salary for the past 15 years. People in my community can attest to this.
Kogi West is one of the most intriguing senatorial district in Kogi State. Despite your various laudable programs, how do you wish to be remembered after a successful tenure in the Senate?
First and foremost, I have been paying hospital bills for people, some I don’t even know sometimes while on vacation outside the country. Recently, I brought some expatriates from America for a free medical outreach in my community and other areas in Okunland. Plans are on to bring them back in December to replicate the program in Lokoja/Koto. I hope to sponsor the free medical care twice in a year subsequently for the benefit of our people. With my background as a nurse, I have an idea what good health care entails and will do the needful to improve facilities in our hospitals if given the opportunity after all, I have been doing it for long in my private capacity and as a senator, I will only do more.
What is you advice to politicians as we approach the general election?
My advice is that, they should allow the will of God to prevail because it is only God that gives power. Whoever emerge should join hands with others and work together. And we should not be too desperate in looking for positions. The interest of the people must be paramount in all we do. So that at the end of the day, we should be able to help the people because I am going there on a rescue mission.
There have been suggestions that all Yagba aspirants to the Senate should convene a stakeholders’ meeting to see if one or two across party lines can be presented and supported for the Senate, so that Yagba Federal Constituency will have a better chance than the previous attempts?
Yes, it’s a good idea but the issue is that some of us are more committed, working assiduously for a long time. The constituents have the right to choose who they want to represent them. I am bound and will go along with any such decision. It is not a do-or-die affair. Power truly belongs to the people and that should be the guiding principle.
The moribund state of infrastructure; bad road and epileptic power has prevented investors from coming to the Senatorial District. What in your opinion do you think can be done differently to attract investment to boost economic activity and consequently reduce unemployment?
I have told several people that, I will ensure a harmonious working relationship with the Governor in my state and the President lobbying intensively to address these issues. Infrastructure and education will be my priority as Kogi West Senator.