Senator Yele Omogunwa is the senator representing Ondo south senatorial district at the upper chamber of the National Assembly. In this interview with RichieNews.com, the lawmaker gave account of his stewardship in the last three years and also spoke on other burning national issues. Excerpt.
Can we meet you Sir?
I'm Yele Omogunwa. I'm the senator representing Ondo south senatorial district.
2019 is around the corner, and politicians are already mapping out their next line of action. You as a politician, what is your next move?
I have not started to dot my I’s nor cross my T’s because I need to watch carefully and follow developments. Of recent, the party executives from the national to ward level has tenureship challenges. So we need to be careful on how we go about some issues of ambition. That's why I said I have not started.
At least there is no guildine from the party. I should wait for the guildine of the party before the implementation of any action plan.
In the last three years you have been representing people of the Southern senatorial district. What have you been able to do differently for them?
For the first time in the history of Senators representing Ondo South Senatorial district, I decided to make sure that I have impact amongst the communities, especially the agrarian and rural communities in the Southern senatorial district. I raised some money, through loan and my salary, I have been able to purchase a Grader worth N43 million and grading every community free of charge. Doing this for my people gives me great Joy. I pay my workers, I pay those operator and the people working on the gradder monthly. The grader has worked in four local governments starting with Ileoluji/Okeigbo local government. Although we didn't accomplish our target there because of the uncompromising stands of some people that feels that we are not part of them.
We have worked in two wards in Ile Oluji, and we have worked at Okeigbo side. We plan to go back there. Though, we have worked there before. But on this aspect of making life better for both township and rural duellars by making their roads motorable through grading, we are the first while others join. We have worked at Odigbo local government. We have worked for about 30 days free of charge.
As at yesterday (Easter Friday), my report says they have worked at constituency one or two of odigbo local government.
After the Easter holiday, precisely on Tuesday and Wednesday we are moving to gradable part of Ilaje local government.
From Ilaje local government, we shall move to Ese Odo local government which is a very close neighbouring local government to Irele. Then from that place, we will move to Irele local government. We have been working virtually in all the local government because we feel for the rural duellars. These farmers have no roads to transport their goods to the market place. When you get to those places, you will be sorry for our farmer. During campaign and elections, we would approach them, convince them in other to secure their votes without bringing the dividends back to them. That's why I feel it is my project to concentrate on these people that have been working for us, voting for us without getting anything concrete in return. So, grading of both township and farm settlement roads across the entire Senatorial District are the unique thing I have done differently for free and nobody else had ever done such. It really makes me happy. For any body to secure the services of our Grader, they only have to book at our Constituency office. We even go extra mile to provide security for the lives of our operators and our equipment.
There are other things I have been able to do since I was elected to the eight Senate, I have facilitated employement for more than Ten people even when they will not say it out. I have used my influence even when my son has no job.
Also, I have been able to influence solar light to Irele local government, am working on some other parts of the local government for their own solar lights. Currently, boreholes are being sank at different locations across the district, at the last count, Seven out of nine boreholes have been done. Aside that, we have organised some seminars for our boys, and those that are living witnesses can attest to the success. We have given empowerment three times, giving out 200 motorcycles, sowing machines, about 500 pieces of guinea and Ankara to about 500 women. We have given stipends of N30, 000. 00 each to about 36 widows in the senatorial district during the empowerment. We gave out several bags of cements to atleast 13 Schools. We have given out text books on mathematics in their thousands to JSS 3 students anchored by ANCOPS in the Senatorial District. We have been able to give out three engine boats of about 200 horse power each. We have been able to do all these things and many others that we can point at.
I'm not a noise maker. You do little things, you blow it, by my calling, it's not in my nature. Several people, I mean a lot of my people have come with different situations ranging from hospital bills to house rent, and Children School fees that I have to settle almost immediately. And the money is not really there anyway but we have to give back to our people. My case is even peculiar, I won election on the platform of the PDP. They are still my friends, many of them are coming to me because they have been with me when I was in the party. After God it was the PDP that won the election for me, now am in APC, both parties come for different assistance from me, which makes it kind of heavy financing both old friends and my APC party people, but again, if the opportunity arises, and I need their support or vote in the nearest future, then it becomes a added advantage.
Sir. Your explanation will take us to the next question. You were once in: AD, Labour Party, later PDP and now in APC. Why this jump from one party to another?
You are not even correct. Not Labour, PDP, APC. I started with SDP and we made sure that former governor Olomilua won election. I took him round my local government. I was a member of the AD, that's Adefarati regime because I knew Adefarati was a father. He was simply a saintly father indeed. We supported him. After AD, We wanted late Agagu to become governor in PDP and we saw it clearly that PDP would win, so I moved to PDP. Im not a loser, I never lost. So after PDP, I think that former governor Mimiko, a friend as at that time, I thought that a friend wanted to be governor, I said well, under the platform of what? I even suggested that we should move out of PDP because we didn't have a chance to secure the ticket. So we moved to Labour Party. When Labour party was not getting it right, I left. I joined the PDP, I saw it clearly by my own enquiries, don't ask me how I enquired. I knew Arakunrin Akeredolu would win the election despite all odds. So that's why I defected to APC to work for Akeredolu to get the party ticket and eventually to becone governor. So I have always had my reasons for jumping political ships because I'm not a loser, I have never lost elections since I started close to 30 years ago. So may be its a policy or a philosphy that when a house is crumbling, you move out of it. So no matter what anybody says, that's why I have been jumping; yes I jump to the righr places every time.
Considering the fact that you are not a foundation member of APC, I know you will still want to continue to represent your people in the southern senatorial district. What is your chance of picking the party's ticket?
Well, chance of picking the party ticket lies on God. I can't beat my chest that I'm the person because I'm not a foundation member of the party. It's indisputable that I have come and I have added value to the party, and at the same time, we are all friends. There is no single politician in Ondo state today that we have not been in the same political party together at one time or the other, so I'm trusting God that by the time I see the guideline and I feel that I can contest the primary, I will move and I will tell people that I'm interested in it, by the grace of God Almighty I will get the ticket.
You have always been aligning with Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. What do you actually see in him?
Well, I align with him wherever he goes as the number one party leader in the state. Firstly, by divine instruction, I knew Akeredolu would win. Otherwise, I wouldn't have defected to his party then that he was one among about 30 competent aspirants. And as a matter of fact, my colleagues walked out on me at the senate when I submitted my letter of change of party to the senate president. What was their reason? They said I should not have said that I was joining APC to work for Akeredolu an Aspirant. They said I should have said that I was leaving the party because the party was divided or in a crisis state. But I'm a man who says what he believes in, so I said yes Im going to work for this man. So I have been following him, I have been monitoring his works and activities. He's a man of good character. He has the strength off character to lead. He's not a person that will say come when he means go. He will just say it blunt. That's how a man should behave. He's not a deceiver. And he will say it straight the way he sees it. And it takes a man to have that courage. In addition to whatever I have seen before, I have seen that this man is followable. One can follow him and wil not regret.
Let's quickly assess his one year in office in Ondo state. To you would you say he has done much?
I can't thank him more for his impressive take off. The general people of Ondo state are better off for it. The Civil Servants have every reason to be thankful to his Excellency Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for the prompt payment of their monthly salaries, he has even been defraying the inherited backlog of unpaid salaries from the previous administration. In the area of infrastructure, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has made us proud. The roads he constructed and commissioned are all with functional drainages as evidence in Ifon through to Akoko and around Akure to my own Southern Senatorial District. In a deliberate attempt to deplete the teaming numbers of unemployed youth, he flagged off in partnership, quite some numbers of industrial projects across the state.
He was in Ikaro for the Sugar cane industry, an Ethanol factory is sited in Okeluse, Fertiliser blending project in Ore.
He laid the foundation of a 100 bed General hospital in Ifon, and this is equally significant to the people of Ose local government, being the only Local government in the state without a general hospital. I mean, Governor Akeredolu leasings to the yearning of the people.
In my district, His Excellency Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu commissioned and flagged off several people oriented programs which are worthy of mention, for example, in the area of security, the Governor Commissioned some Security Boats for the surveillance operation in the Riverine Areas of Igbokoda. In the educational sector, Arakunrin Akeredolu built and commissioned a total of 3km Internal link roads at Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH), Okitipupa for which the University community is very happy. Still celebrating my one year anniversary for my choice of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, the Governor made physical visitation to some ongoing projects like the renovation of existing Buildings and construction of new Classrooms at St Jude's Pry School, Obinehin. The Construction work on the 1.4 km (Swampy section) along Okitipupa/Ayeka/Irele road.
The Construction work on Sabomi - Ajagba road. The Construction of Box Culvert and Concrete Channel of various sizes at Power Line Junction, in Ore. Again, if you are familiar with Ore, you will agree that this particular project is very strategic to our people in Ore, especially in the control of (rain) runoffs and ease of traffic flow in that area.
The other projects that calls for my celebration despite the fact that I was outside of the country on an official assignment at the time of the flag-off of the Construction of Araromi Seaside (Ilaje) to Akodo, Lekki area in Lagos State in Partnership with NDDC, but because of their Joy, my people kept me abreast of the happening back home. You can imagine the enormous economic development and increase in the value of Landed properties that this road infrastructure would deliver to this my area. Not to forget the construction of selected roads in Ile Oluji and the Construction of Okitipupa/Igbokoda bypass road, and the flag-off of the Ore Industrial Park Project and the long overdue life saving Flyover Construction across Benin-Lagos Express road at Ore, all these in my Southern Senatorial District alone. This is the kind of change we voted for in our Trail blazer Governor.
In all, you can see that my major reason for decamping from the PDP to the APC is paying off for my state and at long run, it will continually pay off for me too.
Most distinguished Sir, Are you of the opinion that the people of Ondo state wouldn't have gotten it better?
Well, the political World is a stage, but I am a complete grass roots person, am very familiar with my terrain and the people. I have served in quite a number of administrations in the state, and now as a Legislator. I have no budget that can provide these further infrastructural needs for the people, and here comes Governor Akeredolu fulfilling on some of these vital needs of my people, and for those who probably were sceptical on his abilities to deliver, and those Civil Servants who have genuine reasons for their anxiety over the faith of their salaries at the inception of Governor Akeredolu' administration a year ago has been swayed by the deliverables from the noble Governor. I am convinced that if given his maximum constitutionally allowable tenor, his ratings would surpass that of late Pa Adekunle Ajasin.
Sir, what will you advice in view of all the different challenges facing the country at this time such as security, economy and threat to national unity?
The 2018 budget in is full functionality should be able to ameliorate the economic hardship of Nigerians.
I think our security outfits should endeavour to continually reflect our old order of Quoter system in their recruitments, this strengthens our unity, maintain our confidence and believe in one another. I equally believe that our security Officers are rising up to the challenges the more now, and the authorities that be should always try to improve on areas that will improve the promptness of our Officers to distress calls and emergencies.
I will want our Leaders to equally know that a genuine show of empathy is a great form of therapy to the bereaved families and their society and a huge sign of honour to the diseased.
You have highlighted some of your achievements in the last three years. But some people are saying in some quarters that you have not done enough. What is your reaction to this?
Yes, everybody has his own fundamental human rights; freedom of speech. You can assess me the way you want to see me because I have not been making ‘blabla noise’. I know I have done much for my people. But you can't satisfy everybody. No matter what you do, if you have not put enough money into everybody's pocket, you are not doing anything. It's as simple as that. Can I continue to count the number of people I have affected? No, I'm not the one to say that. Otherwise if I reel out the people I have assisted, you will marvel that waoh! Even when people come to this place, they come up here, I will give them money. When they get downstairs, if anybody ask them, they will say no, he has not given me anything. They have pocketed what you have given them, no matter how big. If people ask you for a favour three times and you are able to meet it two times, the only time you can't meet it, you are in soup. Peopel will go out and say you have not done anything.. People are free to talk but it's between me and God.
Sir, Recently I was at the unification rally to mark the first year of governor Akeredolu in office where the APC national chairman promised Olushola Oke a senatorial ticket of even the area you come from. What's your reaction to this?
I was not at that rally but I heard the story. Olushola Oke (SAN) is a vibrant lawyer. I don't doubt his ability. If Oyegun has said that to him, I was not there
He has denied it before me because I took him up about it in a caucus meeting of APC that “I heard you said something like this when my tenure is still on, I mean when I'm still on seat. Have I told you I would not be interested in it again? Chief Oyegun said he didn't say it. He denied it openly in the APC caucus meeting. I took him up. I said I heard you said it, because I wasn't there. “He said ah! No o! I didn't say it o?” And I quite can remember all the other things he said right there and then against this position.
You would recall that the National Assembly of which you are a member tried to reorder elections recently. What is your take on this?
Well, that's a very sensitive issue I don't really want to discuss it because it's in the front burner in the senate. If the whole house has taken a decision, the decision is binding on all of us whether you like it or not. But at the same time, credibility and support for Mr president mattes. If Mr president has been doing very well, I don't think such a thing could happen. So it's like everyone should stand and contest elections. You don't need to rely on me to win election and I will not rely on you to win election. But I have won election relying on the former president. The former president is an Ijaw person and I had the highest votes from ijaw area of Ondo State because they were voting for the president at the same time voting for me because they believed that this was our son, this was ijaw person. And that I was going to work with their son. They gave me enough votes close to 21, 000 votes from Ese Odo alone just because the president election came up same day with mine.
But this time around, I will love a situation as a person, this is my personal option not senate opinion. I have enjoyed having a stake with the former president. I will love to have the same opportunity with the current president. But at the end of the day, if the senate says no, this is what we want, there is nothing I can do about it. But for now, I think the Senate is divided: the pro-Buhari, the pro-Saraki groups. Well, Mr president has vetoed the decision of the senate and the Senate has the power to override the veto of Mr president. It's in the process. It has gone for the second reading. I think the party will come in and there will be amicable solution. It's the same part, the same family. So for whatever it is, we will be living witnesses. It's in the news. I have not told you where I belong to but I belong to one of the pros. Simple.
Still on national politics. You would recall that APC NEC extended the tenure of the Oyegun-led NWC. But the President declared it illegal. What's your reaction to this?
The leader of the party in my local government is chief Oyeto and Chief Omoge, and I normally Accord them their due respect, snd I equally respect their opinions. Even the chairman in the ward has a say on what will happen in the ward. Arakunrin Akeredolu is the leader of APC in Ondo state. If he feels that he wants to tilt to a particular angle, I think the party should follow him as a leader. And who is the leader of the party at the national level? It's Buhari. So if Buhari in his own opinion and wisdom feels that well this is what is good for us as a party, I think the party should follow him for the unity of the party. He doesn't want to truncate the constitution of the party, that you can't just elongate tenure anyhow. So if that is his wish as the leader of the party, in his opinion, he's right. If some other segment of the party say no, we can't rely on Mr president, then who else will they rely on?
What is now your advice to your people at the southern senatorial district?
My advice is that we should continue to preach unity. We will come into office and we will leave office. When you say you have four years in office, if God says he doesn't give you another term, do your four years and go. But you need the cooperation of your people. Your people must advise you on what to do. You have one head. You can't be an Island. People should surround you and say this is what we want constructively. If you don't have the support of your people, you cannot please them. They should come closer to whoever is representing them, call them to question so that they can be able to brief you what is really happening. Their are a lot of misgivings that this is what is happening. Whereas they are not correct. People will just hear something without finding out. When they find out, they will know the truth. So the first advise is to foster unity because whoever is representing you is not God. Call him to question, call him to order and let him do the needful. Bring ideas to him so that he will go and marshal it there.
Then two, after I might have left office, I will be able to say it and campaign for it after I might have left office because. Do you want to tell me that Governor Akeredolu after four years, he would have accomplished all his mission? Or Yele Omogunwa who feels that as a senator for the first time, he would be satisfied and fulfil his yearnings for his own people and the act of legislation? It might not work. But after leaving office, after my tenure may be next year, maybe another four years in addition, when I leave I will tell my people, educate them. They need education. It's not the person there that matters. As long as he's doing well, let him continue so that he will get used to what is happening. I want to tell you my brother that I'm just getting used to what's happening in the senate. Like the current appropriation, I hired somebody to work on it for me so that we get enough for our people. The person has been really wonderful working. Going into ministries, agencies doing all that for the Southern senatorial district, we need this we need that. By the time those things comes out, then you will know that you have able representative.
But be you a Governor, if you are there as a first timer, you are just a first timer. There is always the learning process and period. We are all distinguished Senators, but there are senators and there are senators. Can I compare myself with a senator that has been there since 1999? Or somebody that has been in the reps for two terms and now in the Senate as a first timer, he will be a chairman of a committee. You are not a chairman of a committee, then you don't hold strong ground. People should understand all these factors of effective functionalities for a legislator, be it in the State house of assembly, Rep or Senate. In not advocating that people should support me for a second term but we should continue to educate our people. It's just the right way to deliver efficiently. It will come and go. The world is a stage. So at the right time, we know what to tell our people, how to educate them after I might have left office. I will have that audacity and experience to tell my people. Even if is your worse enemy, allow him, provided you guide him to do the right things.
Most distinguished Sir, thank you for sharing your time.
