Hon. Lere Olayinka, a political communicator, public affairs analyst and media aide to former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Ayodele Fayose, is the PDP House of Representatives Candidate for Ijero/ Ekiti West/ Efon Constituency of Ekiti State. In this interview with AYO ESAN, he speaks on the forthcoming general election, the state of PDP in Nigeria and Ekiti State, among other issues of national importance. Excerpts:
What is the state of the PDP in Ekiti State?
For a party that lost a major election, it is expected that there will be issues here and there. So that party is going through some expected crisis, but we are pushing on. We are talking to ourselves, restoring confidence and trust, and I am sure that ultimately, we will all work together as one family. Also, those who left the party are coming back.
What is your reaction to the current crisis rocking the PDP at the national level?
There is really nothing unusual that is happening in the PDP at the national level. It is just a conflict of interest and I am sure the moment all interests are served, we will all come together and win together. Most importantly, politics in itself is about conflicts and conflict resolution. Other political parties are also facing theirs. For instance, why is the ruling APC going back and forth with its Presidential Campaign Council and the flag off of its campaign?
Is it not because some major stakeholders are aggrieved? Is the APC not also facing issues on its Muslim-Muslim ticket? Look at a small party like ADC, did the party not expel its presidential candidate? But I think Nigerians are more concerned about happenings in the PDP because the party is their only hope to rescue the country from APC terrible governance.
How optimistic are you that the PDP will win the next presidential election scheduled for February next year?
I am very optimistic. The mood of Nigerians is for an end to come for this rudderless APC government that has plunged the country into untold confusion. Apart from those who are directly eating from the APC government, I doubt if there is any Nigerian that is not tired of the party. Is it about a bag of rice that was N7,000 in 2015 and now N45,000? Is it about diesel that was below N150 per litre then that is now N800?
As at 2015 that APC took over, Naira to Dollar was N197, it is now over N740. So Nigerians want the country rescued from total collapse. Look at a state like Ekiti, the PDP-led Federal Government gave the state a university, Central Bank, Federal High Court, Appeal Court, etc. Now what has Ekiti State benefited from the APC government since 2015? As I speak, all the federal roads in the state have collapsed. Therefore Nigerians are desirous of a change that can, at least, return the country to how it was in 2015 and they know that only the PDP can achieve that.
You are contesting the Federal House of Representatives election next year. What informed your decision for this?
The passion to serve the people and contribute to their well-being. Most importantly, I believe that I have paid my dues in the politics of Ekiti State and Nigeria in general. I also believe that I have the required experience and political exposure to impact positively on the people as a member of the House of Reps.
In the last 15 years, I have worked under two substantive governors, one acting governor and a minister. I was a media aide to Engr Segun Oni both as governor and as PDP National Vice Chairman (Southwest), I was media aide to Prince Dayo Adeyeye when he was Minister of State for Works.
Under the government of Governor Ayo Fayose, I was in charge of the State Radio and Television stations as Director General. I was also in charge of public communications and new media for the government. Therefore, I am well equipped and the people of Ekiti State know who Lere Olayinka is.
They know that he will represent the people of Ekiti West, Efon and Ijero Local Governments well.
How optimistic are you of victory and what do you think will aid your victory?
I have a very good chance of winning and we will keep working to improve the chances. Like I said earlier, Nigerians look up to the PDP as the party that can rescue the country from going below the bottom. So I have two brands, PDP and myself. Lere Olayinka is a name that nearly everybody in Ekiti State can relate with. I doubt if there is a household in this State that you won’t find at least, one person who have heard the name. And the name has never been associated with negativities.
On the other hand, my closest opponent, the APC candidate, will only be relying on his party and power of incumbency. I doubt if his name and personal identity can give him 20 votes.
Good enough, myself and the APC candidate both have yardsticks with which we can be measured. I have been in public office before and he was Governor Fayemi’s Chief of Staff (CoS) for three and half years. People will ask him, as a former CoS, what did you do? How many people did you affect positively? On that pedestal, I stand far above him.
Then, on the scale of personal popularity, acceptability, and good relationship with the people, I am far ahead of other contenders.
If elected, what should the people of Ijero/ Ekiti West/ Efon Constituency be expecting from your representation?
Robust and developmental representation. We will bring our political network to bear and the voice of our people will be heard loud and clear. Most importantly, people will have free access such that they won’t have to struggle to get my attention. As of now, my phone numbers are in the public domain, I pick all calls and that will not change. What our people desire is someone who will ensure that they are not shortchanged or neglected in the sharing of national benefits and with me, they can be sure that they will not be pushed aside.
Let me also say this, the incumbent member representing my Federal Constituency, Hon. Wumi Ogunlola has done well.
People are speaking well about her and despite that she is of the APC, I can’t but commend her. She has laid precedence and I can assure that hers will be a child’s play in terms of what I will do.
There is one fundamental issue that is dear to my heart. That is Ijero Local Government, one of the biggest in Ekiti State, with 12 wards, having only one state constituency. On paper, Ijero Local Government operates two State Constituencies but has one State House of Assembly member. We need to ask what went wrong and see how it can be resolved. By and large, what I promise is a brand new deal.
How will you advise the people of your federal Constituency as we are getting set for the 2023 elections?
They should be ready to use their votes to change governance in the country. They should be prepared to elect people they won’t have to beg to see. They should not forget that we once had a Nigeria where rice was N7,000 per bag. They should remember that there was a time in the history of this State when they can move freely to anywhere in the State and at any time without fear of being kidnapped by terrorists. For instance, I remember leaving my hometown, Okemesi Ekiti in December 2007, at about 2am and drove to Ado Ekiti alone. That’s when we still had a working country. Unlike now that people are being kidnapped in their farms.
They should also remember a government in this country that got our foreign debts paid, making us debt free. Someone was in charge of our country’s Economic Council then. Today, Nigeria is owing over N40 trillion and the borrowing has not stopped.
The people must therefore have to put all sentiments aside and vote for the PDP from top to bottom so that the country can return to that era that it was moving from bottom to top.
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
