My name is Kingsley Olorunfemi Fanwo. I am a product of two wonderful teachers: one is still alive, Chief J.K. Fanwo and the other one is resting in the bosom of her Creator, my evergreen Titilayo.
I am a husband of one beautiful wife and a proud father of three handsome boys.
Let me start by appreciating the Almighty God, the one that was before the world and the one that will be forever. He has been my rock. On His Grace alone I stand.
I also thank my parents for the discipline they instilled in me and the fear of God they taught me. These have combined to play big roles in what I am today.
I also want to express my profound gratitude to my boss, leader and mentor, Governor Yahaya Bello. He believed in me and entrusted me with great responsibilities. He stood by me to conquer and deliver on his mandate. He has instilled in me the virtues of great leadership. He is the giant on whose broad but compassionate shoulders I stand today.
Irrespective of the divide he belongs today, Commodore Michael Folusho Daniel (Rtd) remains indelible in my mind. I worked with him for four eventful and fruitful years, learning the gruelling but critical task of law-making, oversight and service to humanity. In me, he was a worthy prodigy.
To my leaders and mentors both in government and outside of it, I have a deep confidence in myself that I shall not disappoint you. The Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Dr. (Mrs) Ayoade Folashade Arike; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Honourable David Edward Onoja; the Honourable Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Mukadam Idris Asiru; the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Bolanle Ampitan; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Affairs, Honourable Pius Kolawole; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Empowerment, Sports and Student Affairs, Bashorun M.D. Eseyin; the Administrator of my dear Local Government, Mopamuro LGA, Honourable Sunday David Alumo; the Administrator of Yagba East LGA, Honourable Razak Ijagbemi; the Administrator of Yagba West LGA, Honourable Timi Joseph,
Honourable Olamide Adesoro; Honourable Ishola David Sunday; Honourable Emmanuel Orebiyi; Honourable Banji Ayelabowo; Honourable Mayowa Alayemola; Honourable Shade Alege; Honourable Oshatimehin, Honourable Fisayo; Honourable Toba Adebayo; Honourable Kenechi Ajayi; Honourable Ademola Bello; Honourable Sogo Williams; Honourable Charles Omoyele; Elder Joseph Olojo and so many others too numerous but equally important to mention. I salute you all!
Let me also recognize the trio of Senator Smart Adeyemi, Honourable Taofeeq Isah and Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd). God bless you all.
I started the voyage of the New Direction with a leader and a mentor, Honourable Idris Asiru. And today, I thank God for following him into that wonderful family.
Today, I officially declare my intention to seek the ticket of the All Progressives Congress for the Federal House of Representatives to represent the good people of Yagbaland in the next general elections.
I heard the call of those who believe in my capacity and competence to give Yagba a worthy representation. To all of you who gave me your trust, I will never disappoint you.
I am here as a vessel of transformation and change; a magic wand for the #NotTooYoungToRun project.
Law-making is a business I have learnt and mastered. We can stand tall and firm for the renaissance of Yagbaland.
With God on my side, I will make you proud in the Lower Chambers of the Federal Parliament.
I have a deep understanding of Yagbaland. I grew up in Takete Ide in Mopamuro Local Government Area. My maternal grandfather, who was a Pastor in the Apostolic Church, worked for many years at Itedo Isanlu in Yagba East. For all those years, we were together. I still visit families there even today. Also, I stayed with my mum at Odo Ere, Yagba West, for 10 years while she was a teacher at YWLGEA, Odo Ere.
I am that Yagba man that has a deep knowledge of fairly everywhere in Yagba Land. As a Representative of the Yagba People, I will work ceaselessly to strengthen legislations around agriculture and rural development. These are our basic needs. Our roads must be better. Our women and youth must be empowered. We must enjoy better electricity and portable water. We have to deal with the basics before aspiring to the complex.
It is my desire to state here that I am going into this with the integrity capital of the New Direction Government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello. My political DNA is GYB and I will continue to promote the ideals of transparency, unity and development that our administration has put in place.
It might be tough now as we nurse the injuries inflicted in the past. I see relief on the horizon. We will surely get better and I shall be a great Ambassador of the New Direction Administration anywhere I am, be it Abuja, Lokoja, or that beautiful village of mine, Takete Ide.
We shall execute a clinical, clean and tolerant campaign. To me, representation is a call to service. The people will choose whom they trust to render effective service. If I am privileged to win their hearts along with their votes, I will justify their mandate. I am not and will never be desperate about anything.
I was born by poor parents into a rural community. I am grateful for what God has done for me.
To our supporters, the coming weeks will be tortuous. Our campaign will be rigorous but bloodless. It will be vibrant, yet peaceful. I am, above all else, a Christian. Like Christ, I am a man of peace. Win souls into our project and project us to win. We can do it. We will do it.
To the Youth, whose constituency I’m representing in this adventure, this is your race. Join me to win it. Let your dreams for a more prosperous Yagba land find fruition through me. The path to victory is long and full of perdition. We will face criticisms that are genuine and cruel. We will be called names. We will dare those who think it is their right to hold us back. However, one thing is sure: when our victory comes, it will be the sweetest ever! We are ready!
The battle ahead will not be won by deep pockets or political gimmicks. It is a battle to restore faith in our people that we can do it better and regain our greatness. I urge you all to go about our campaign with decorum and calm. Violence is a taboo in this project. Hate speech has no place here. In God we trust.
Let me sincerely appreciate those already in the race. We shall have a fair contest. And we must always see things from the prism of service rather than self. I wish us the best.
I am not in this race on the strength of who I know or where I come from; I am in it because I believe I can offer Yagba effective, pragmatic, yet dynamic representation.
I urge you to support me. I will be yours. I will protect your interest. I will be fearless. I will serve you.
Thank you and God bless you all.
– Kingsley Femi Fanwo (KFF)
House of Representatives Aspirant
Yagba Federal Constituency
