Gboyega Nasir Isiaka

Ogun gubernatorial candidate of Africa Democratic Congress, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI) ON Sunday highlighted why he should be elected as the next governor of the state.

The ADC candidate who is popularly known as GNI spoke during the Ogun Civil Society Conversation forum with the governorship candidates organised by Committee For Defence of Human Rights (CDHR)  at the Nigerian Union of Teachers Hall in Abeokuta, the state capital.

According to him, good governance is not just about governing the people, but about looking into their welfare.

“Yes, we have taken huge leaps forward, but we are still punching below our weight in terms of development and exploitations of our inherent potentials. The core of the conversation around development is about the economy and how it is managed for the welfare of the people and to this end, the state is still largely restrained and remains a bundle of possibilities.

“In terms of human capital development, we always scored first, even though that is no longer the case despite our early exposure to education a situation that earned us the reputation as arguably the most educationally advanced state in the Nigerian federation.

“Ogun state has evolved in terms of socioeconomic and physical growth having progressed from the rustic civil service state to an emerging hub in the West African sub-region.

“The fundamental aim of governance is about development, and I believe it is about creating an environment in which people can develop their full potentials and live a healthy, happy and productive lives in accord with their belief and interests; but this can only be sustained if it meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

“I also believe that economic growth and social infrastructure are only means to an end. That end is human development. Therefore if what leaders, especially at state levels do is to concentrate on awarding contracts to build physical structures but fail to relate this to the effect on the people today and in the future, then such have only embarked on a medley of misdirected activities.”

He added that his programme, the seven steps to Abundance which consist of Education, Healthcare Water and Sanitation ,Employment opportunities and Social security, Agriculture and Rural Development, infrastructure including Power, Rapid development of our Border Town and cities, Good Governance and Value Re-orientation will address the various challenges facing the people of the state if he is elected in the 2019 general election.

GNI promisedto convert model schools built by the incumbent governor, that are yet take off to vocational and Technical education Center if he was elected.

The governorship candidate also said he will establish education trust fund to support provision of capital infrastructure in the state owned schools if elected.

He also promised to declare a state of emergency in health care sector and to give free health care services to children between 0-5 years, there will be creation of opportunity of insurance coverage for people between 60-69 years of age and free healthcare system for people who are 69 and above.

“In terms of infrastructure the incumbent governor has really done well but good governance is not about building bridges and be one sided but to larger extent, developing the people is developing that state.

“Right before now I have contributed to the welfare of the people in Ogun through various socioeconomic intervention either directly or through a registered Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) which I facilitated named “Irorun de” for the less privileged. The activities of the NGO cover, agricultural rural roads, health and wellness, education and capacity building and micro support and entrepreneurship skills.

He also promised to create good relationship with the border states if elected.

The two- time governorship candidate also boasted that none of the governorship candidate knows all the crannies of the state as much as he does not because he was contesting, but because of the good relationship he has built with the people.

Comr. Folarin Olayinka, National Secretary CDHR had in his welcome address at the forum noted that democracy can be defined as the Government of the People, For the People and by the People, hence the people’s participation in the election and selection of their leaders is inevitable.

He added that  Civil Society organizations are critical election actors with the core mandate of fostering ideals that guarantees free, fair , peaceful and Credible conduct of elections.

“Today the CDHR and HRGDS in line with the organizations pro-democracy election activities has organized this platform for a robust engagement with Ogun 2019 Gubernatorial candidates, to cross examine the candidate’s manifestos , to reiterate the resolve and unrepentant commitment of the Ogun Civil Society organizations towards a Free, Fair,Peaceful and Credible 2019 Elections and to equally drum the necessity for the respect of Human Rights and Human Dignity prior, during and post 2019 Elections “NO HUMAN LIFE IS WORTH SACRIFICING FOR THE ACTUALIZATION OF POLITICAL LEADERSHIP”

He also warned political and election actors against being involved in electoral fraud, violence and vote buying among others.

“We urge every political party and candidate to visit the electorates market with their manifestos , intimate and convince the electorates why they should be seen as a proven alternative.

“This could be Ward to Ward campaign, Local Government and Interaction with groups. All candidates are urged to play the game according to the rules, they should not heat up the polity with campaign of calumny, hate speeches and actions that has the potential of causing disunity and disaffection among the people.

“Let us remember our democracy has come of age and any attempt to subvert the will and decision of the people will undoubtedly be combatted with stiff resistance.

“As often reiterated, Only Sustainable Peace can guarantee Sustainable Development, our politicians should not kill the people they intend to lead and the citizens should not allowed themselves to be used as instrument of destruction. It is our country , we owe ourselves the responsibility of collectively protecting our Nation

He added that the forum was organized to enable  Ogun State Gubernatorial candidates in the forthcoming election, to avail critical stakeholders of their manifestos as a means of  strengthening participatory democracy.

The panelists at the Forum drawn from different NGOs and civil society orgnaisations advised the governorship candidate on some areas of his manifesto.

Some stakeholders advised the governorship candidate to tackle the prevalent problem of human trafficking in the state if elected.