Chief Sola Iji, a lawyer, former chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State and a member of the party's National Executive Council, who is one of the over 30 aspirants of the party for the Ondo governorship election in October, told ABIODUN FANORO that the development is healthy for democracy.HOW prepared is the Action Congress of Nigeria for the October governorship election'I must acknowledge that other political parties are preparing, but comparatively, people will know that the number of aspirants on the platform of the ACN is a clear indication that the party is poised for a serious bid at the Alagbaka Government House in the October 2012 governorship election.The party is preparing; you can see that from what all the aspirants are doing and the way the party is being repositioned.There are over 30 aspirants on the platform of the ACN. What is so special about using its platform to warrant a mad rush into it'While I may not be able to say if the number has jumped to 30, what is however clear is that there are many of us jostling for the ticket of the party. The reason is simple and obvious to all: simply that the ACN is a party of choice, not only in Ondo State, but also in the entire country. That is reflected in what is happening in the state today.In the Southwest, the party has been accepted and known for its positive development and good governance. Therefore, it's natural for everybody in Ondo State to believe that the next government would be formed by the ACN.Don't forget that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been driven out of existence in the state. The people, however, discern that the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who is a PDP in the heart but Labour Party in the face, is merely waiting for re-election to fully return to the PDP.To these people, and all of us who are united in never allowing forces of retrogression to return to Ondo State and the Southwest in general, the only viable and reliable option is the ACN, on whose platform we are scaling to rescue the sate. That explains why people are trooping into the ACN and why this unprecedented number of aspirants is using the ACN platform.However, you can't say it's a mad rush into the party. I think the question is the people are rushing for what purpose' There must be value; there must be something they are pursuing, which they are persuaded could only be found in the ACN.Let's ask the question: when you go to Lagos, is the government working in Lagos' Go to Edo State; go to Osun, Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti and compare what you see there with what obtains in states controlled by other parties. I am not saying that a semblance of work is not going on in some of these states, but not at the level it is going on in the ACN states.Today, Edo State is a developmental construction yard. Members of the opposition PDP have acknowledged what is going on in Edo. Go to Osun State; Governor Aregbesola has become a reference point in radical and revolutionary development of the state. These are ACN progenitors; people who are projecting good governance.The people of Ondo State have seen all this and they are hungry and thirsty for it; they are eagerly waiting for October. Let me tell you that by the time God gives us the leadership of this state, what is going on in Lagos State, for example, would be a child's play.Going by the numerous awards he has received, Governor Mimiko you are seeking to replace is adjudged to be performing, isn't he'When someone rates himself by the standard of those giving him awards, then he could continue to deceive himself. What we are saying is that when you see something, the thing must speak for itself. If a government is performing, it does not need somebody or a group to affirm it through an award.Performance or good work is like light; it cannot be hidden. Light speaks for itself by lighting up darkness. You don't need someone to tell you there's light here. We all live here; the electorate live here; those who actually feel the pulse are here; so, how can somebody in Ghana, South Africa or Lagos give an award to tell about the situation of things here' You are here in the state and you can see for yourself.I am not saying the Labour Party government has not done anything. Governments ordinarily are supposed to perform some functions, but it has to do the extraordinary to say it is performing and, therefore, must be acknowledged through awards.What you are advocating are people-based awards'Of course! If you work for the people, they would acknowledge you. If you want to test your performance, rely on the feedback from the people. The truth is that all of us know how these awards are given. Most of them are purchased.Don't rely on all I am telling you. You should go to the suburbs; enter commercial buses and listen to comments of the people about this government.But this administration seems to be doing the people's bidding: it has built market stalls, halls, mega schools, etc'Unless as a people, we want to remain at the level of peasantry, that is when we can talk of markets or town halls. Yes, town halls are useful when it comes to holding meetings or engaging in other social activities. There is nothing wrong in building markets if they would satisfy the demands of peasantry.But for a country that is developing, for a state or community that wants development fast, it must go beyond mere selling on peasantry form. We must be a producing state; we must be an economically dynamic state.If you are given the leadership, how do you intend to move the state away from peasant economy'To move out of our current level of peasantry, we must bring agriculture away from what we are currently doing. We must go back to what we used to have in terms of extension services. We must increase the potentials of that sector in terms of food and agro-industrial production.We must increase our capacity and ability to feed our people and still have enough for export, so that the income capacity of that sector would be enhanced. That would involve mechanisation on a scale never seen before.Apart from the above, we must strive to enhance the capacities of the industries and firms operating in the state. The state has a responsibility in this area. We have moribund and dead industries the state must spearhead their resuscitation today. Where is the famous Oluwa Glass Industry at Igbokoda' The Okitipupa Oil Palm Plc is a caricature of what an oil firm should be. Consider what Presco and Okomu Oil Mills are doing and generating in terms of resources.If it means starting anew, a responsible government would re-start the Oluwa Glass Industry. The raw materials are wasting away, yet there is an unlimited market for its products. See what NIROWI, in Ondo town, has become ' ruined economic resources.All these put together, the number of jobs they could generate for our youths definitely runs into several of thousands.What are those things that stand you out among these numerous aspirants'I know what the leaders and members of the party expect from their government. I also know what the general populace is expecting. Anybody who wants to provide leadership at the level of government must be willing and ready to accommodate the feelings, the aspirations and expectations of the majority of our people.The aspirant to be picked as the party candidate must be humble and ready to be the chief servant of the people. He must be a listening person, passionate about good governance and the development of the state. He must have unassailable integrity.I think that humbly speaking, I fully represent all these. I am one of those to make the choice for our party, and these are some of the things I would be looking for. That is what I should assume to the advantages I am bringing into this race.
Click here to read full news..
