“NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO MORE IN EDUCATING THE YOUTH”–DELE FASUYI SPEAKS

 TALKS ABOUT 2023 GENERAL ELECTION

 The quest to have an egalitarian society where there is rule of law and even development has been working glaringly clear for this Computer Scientist turned politician Dele Fasuyi who in this interview has reiterated the need to train Nigerian Youths to meet up with the demands of 21^st century by getting entrepreneurship skill, that will sustain development. He also advocated for All Progressives Congress APC to elect the kind of leaders like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to flag the party’s presidential flag as he has been found worthy to lead Nigeria come 2023 as he has the expected nationwide coverage and popularity spread. “Our government should improve more on educating the youths. Because with a solid education, the rate of crimes will reduce. The lack of this leads to banditry, stealing, cultism, kidnapping and whatsoever.”

Town Crier recently had an exclusive interview with Dele Fasuyi at Lagos his base and herein comes out with his political sharp reflexes in finding solutions to Nigeria’s most troubling issues.

Read On.

Within some quarters in Lagos, we are made to understand that the government of Lagos State is not doing anything, from the opposition, from the market women, virtually everyone is saying that they are not seeing the impact of the government, what would you say to that?

          Actually, in Nigeria, there is something about governance that our people need to know and even those of us that are close to the government know not everything that shows a public impact. A Yoruba adage says “Ti a bayo ipin loju, oju ni won fi nhan”. So, you need to show the impact you are having on the people. I think that is what people are not seeing in the government because you know; a lot is going on, a lot of development, a lot even in terms of coping with challenges. The challenges are there and they are inhibitive progress. But, when people know that these are the challenges, we need to surmount this, we need to remove this blockade so that we can get there. Then people will appreciate a lot more what the government is doing. So, I think a lot is going on in various areas. Let us solve our problems and then move forward. People don’t understand the fact that this government came in and there was a pandemic and when the pandemic came, we are still struggling to get out of that nasty experience. And get to proper shape before we can now see the kind of quantum leap that the people want. But what I appreciate about this current government is that it keeps the ball rolling. That is the first thing because a lot of people shut down because of the pandemic and because they did not expect the shutdown. So, that’s a positive thing because though we suffered during the shutdown, things were moving and we only need to step up now that things are becoming normal so that business can go more smoothly. That’s why I say we need to feed the masses. Part of what I see that is lacking and we need to work more on is enormous. Am a Project Manager and I see that a lot of projects are needed to make progress. And when you are not showing progress on the projects you have embarked on this is not applicable to Lagos State. It is what is happening in Nigeria’s context. It is only when you have one on one conversation with the government that you will understand the parlance. When you explain to the people and say that look at the reduction we’ve had as compared with the past administration. Let the people know that we have made it to show more, have a dash board. Let people know that this is where we were in 2019, this is where we are now. This will go a long way in explaining the achievements of the state. In a two-year assessment, I want to be able to show this was where we were and this is where we are now; and we are here now because of the pandemic that has happened. So, if we can improve on one on one conversation with the people, they will understand oh, so this government is working. When you explain to the people today that look at the reduction we have, look at how much we are importing flour compared to the previous administration. Let the people understand that oh so, you have made this progress. All those things that you import, you are burning your reserves. So, I think we need to show progress, have a dash board. Lagos ought to have a dashboard that will show where things stand from 2019 till now. These are the things we need to see. When I say am doing a two year assessment, I want to be able to say that this was where we were oh, and this is where we are now and we are here now because of the pandemic and if we can improve on the Metrics that this is our target, we need to show people like that even when a lot are happening and you can’t show people, you’ll get that kind of feedback.

Let us talk about security, it is obvious that certain ethnic groups are currently calling for a break up, what do you think is the right thing for the country and the president to do about this?

          Unfortunately, for security, we have neglected it for several years and now we are doing firefighting and you know what firefighting means; as you quench one, another springs up. So, that’s exactly what we are doing and when you have that crisis, first thing is to see how you’ll reduce or stop the menace, map out strategies in order to quench the fire with your fire – fighting equipment at your disposal. I move around the streets and I see mothers cuddling kids to beg for money while youths also do the same and I wonder what kind of adults these will grow to be. Our government should improve more on educating the youths. Because with a solid education, the rate of crimes will reduce. The lack of this leads to banditry, stealing, cultism, kidnapping and whatsoever. So, while we quench the fire, the next thing is to ask, how are we sure that we will not get back to that stage. We need to ensure that our value system is intact and the Omoluabi in us is paramount. We need to be remorseful of our actions, be our brother’s keeper like we used to be in the past.

          As a son of Osun State, we need to ask you that when Aregbesola was the governor, it seems the state had more popularity than the present government of Governor Oyetola. What is your take on this?

          You know, there are two categories of leaders, the first one is the silent performer and the publicized performer of course which Aregbesola belongs to. But what makes a leader is based on the resources you have and have you achieved much more. The present governor is achieving tremendously but silently. I have seen a lot of awards coming his way. And when we have a technocrat of his nature in government, I think government will be smooth because there will be strategies. I think when you give him a second chance, I mean a second term, you will start appreciating much more all that the current government is doing. Just like in Lagos, we have Fashola who was Chief of Staff for four years and became governor. Fashola was not the fun fare Tinubu governor; he was tactically closing ranks probably on all his projects and all that. We have the same thing in Osun State today, Aregbesola he can be the lousy type, but governor Oyetola is looking at the problems and fixing them. So that is what is happening in Osun State.

          The July 3^rd, 2021 Sunday Igboho rally is gaining momentum, where do you belong?

          Actually, I belong to Nigeria. I am not saying that I am against his decision, the only thing I am saying again is I don’t think the approach is right. Having a Yoruba nation in a form is not a bad idea but again, who is involved? Who is speaking for Yoruba? One of the problems we have in Nigeria today is the fact that people don’t know history. People don’t know what has happened in Nigeria, people don’t know what has happened in the Roman Empire, in Oyo Empire and in Benin Empire. If they know, you’ll take a lot of all these agitation as a pint of salt. We had an Awolowo in the National Assembly that stopped the idea of the state of Emergency in the South West and if you read his paper to the national assembly, it was clear the reason why a state of emergency was to be declared in the South West. When the Yoruba Nation is a discourse, you need to know who their leaders are. Who is speaking for them? To have a peaceful resolution you need good leaders who are going to be on the round table. If you can’t have leaders who will be in the round table with the current Nigeria being part of that, what are we saying? So, I would expect that for instance, if the Yoruba Nation agitators write to all State governors of the South West, write to all Senators, all House of Reps members and say we would have a meeting, we need to discuss and have an agenda. But I don’t think they did that and I don’t have any idea that anybody has done that and published it. Everybody will know that there is a meeting here, we want to discuss our agenda. This is our agenda point to discuss. So, I am for Nigeria because, you see, we are better together. Just one week right, one week the Northern farmers or the logistics people not even the farmers decided that they were not going to bring food to the South, we know the impact and effects. So, what that means is that before you start agitating for a Yoruba nation, we need to ask questions. Even though it is not a seceded nation, bear in mind that in the South West, we could feed ourselves, we could export like it used to be in the past. Export Cocoa. Why is it that we are only interested in importing chocolate? So, until you start working out stuff like that, now we know you are ready.

          It’s 22 years of our nascent democracy, how would you describe the journey so far?

        Actually, we are still going through transformation. Again, I would go back to the last question that talks about our country Nigeria. What the people need. The fact remains that we need to go back to history, we are in a phase, we are still learning from this democracy that we are running now and the tendency of leadership. Take for instance, from 2015 till date, we don’t have any improvement economically but, I need from our report up till last quarter that even 2021 budget is budgeted 45% in oil revenue and the remaining 55% from other sources. Meaning that what we should have done 20years ago in terms of generating more revenues and getting glory for Nigeria. We find ourselves in a situation where we do not have a choice.

          The APC Government promised to reduce the price of oil, make housing available to people, water, electricity, good road and others available, but it seems nothing is happening six years after. What is your take on this?

        Well, I think the APC promises based on projection. But whether APC has done well in terms of all their promises, I will say Yes. All that you mentioned have been strategically worked on. The only one that I know we have challenges on right now is insecurity which will be resolved in due course. Look at electricity, if you check properly, you will realize that there is improvement because even though we are conducting this interview, there is electricity. It was not like this before. Let’s also talk about the economy, if not for this government being prudent, our economy would have been in a mess.

          Is that the reason the government keep borrowing at any point in time, money that cannot be paid back?

          If we cannot pay back, the borrower will not borrow us. Have you borrowed before? If you’ve borrowed before, you will know that the bank will never give you money if they know that you cannot pay back. As a matter of fact, Nigeria is not the highest borrower in the world, it is the United States. But the main problem that we should be concerned about is what are we borrowing to do? Which is, are we borrowing to build infrastructure, but when we get a loan, we did not build and that’s the problem. You have money, you should embark on infrastructure and that is where we should focus our efforts on. I am borrowing, but am borrowing to do something tangible. Let us focus our effort to use this borrowed money to do projects that will benefit Nigerians. Well, we have challenges where some state governors borrow not for infrastructure development, to the detriment of both the Federal government and the people of that state.

          The Federal Government is diverting the borrowed money into vital projects that are to the benefit of Nigerians. Let’s look at the fact that Nigerians have shown enough zeal to know what the Government has done and what the areas are.

          We learnt that the National Caretaker Committee of APC said they are not doing the Presidency to the South, they are making it open to every zone. What will then happen to your principal come 2023?

          Our party is always throwing it open. The issue of the President coming from the South or from the North and it has always been like that, so they will throw it open. But, if there is a gentleman arrangement, there was a gentleman arrangement during the candidacy of MKO Abiola. There was nothing written that a candidate should come from a particular zone apart from the South West. But what happened, all the other candidates came from the South West.

          How are you so confident about your principal, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu?

          Look, it is politics. What I mean is that I can be confident but I have to do it proactively and that’s what I am doing.

          And you think your chances are bright to get the ticket, in spite of the allegations flying around?

          Allegations are bound to come from the opposition and these allegations are meant to deceive the public about certain personalities because if you know my principal, you will know all that he has done and the kind of person that he is and how he has helped  to nurture people, nurture the economic development, growth and transformation in all the area that he has been involved in, either within or outside the South West, but the people that don’t like him personally, like what he has done. So, there can be a lot of things from the party, but he is always open. Politics is a game of numbers and who is rooting for you, you can have a lousy voice and like the Yoruba say “Agba ofifo loro pariwo” meaning only an empty basin makes the loudest noise. You can have a substance, who and who is behind you. So, all those things must come to play when the primaries come. You see, primaries in the political landscape are the main election, so we are waiting for them. We will continue working. I mean, when you ask a lot of people and a lot of “things” written about Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you ask them, give me one cogent reason why it shouldn’t be Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Honestly, no one would have anything to say, they just gesticulate. Those who Asiwaju inspired into positions, are they his family members? No. Asiwaju is the one who tips on Hausa man to become a commissioner in Lagos, we tipped an Igbo man to become Commissioner in a sensitive ministry in Lagos.

why is it that imposition seems to be a domineering part of your party? Recently at the Anambra APC primary election, someone just sat at his hotel to declare a candidate winner, how come it is your claim that APC is a democratic party, and progressive and we are witnessing something else, what do you have to say to this?

          The party does not impose candidates even though we have a lot of interests, we tried to see a lot of things like that, but one thing I know our party does, being progressive is that we always address our issues.

          We look inwards at challenges and we devise ways of solving them, and that’s how to be progressive. We see issues not because of different challenges, we tackle the issues and move forward.

          Tell us more about the victory of Usman Hamzat as Chairman of Ifako/ Ijaiye during the APC LGA primacies?

        The victory of Usman Hamzat at the APC primaries is on merit. This is because I have been in the opposition before contesting for the position in this same local government and the political gladiators were nowhere to be found close to him. So, it’s a case of people looking for change. If it is in terms of alliances, it happens anywhere in the world. Even in the United States of America and other advanced countries, there must be consensus to pick a candidate.

          What is your take or youth’s involvement in crimes and how do you intend to keep them off from this menace?

          Well, our current governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is an ardent lover of sports which is the fulcrum of the youth. The main problem is that we should address our youths and let them know that this present government is a keen lover of the youth. Let us also emphasize to you that our youths are very hardworking and proactive.

          Fortunately for Nigeria, the population of the youth is 20 times higher than any other age category of the population, so in everything that we do today, we have to see how best to leverage on our youth population, develop them in sports and other areas and I see that we just need to see how best we can leverage and make use of the resources that we have for our youths like business development and others. So, we have challenges and the challenges are limited based on the fact that our institutions are out that good within business, private sector and others. However, we need to find how to engage the youth and factor them in terms of training so that they can start their own businesses and for that line, vocational training, other business training, entrepreneurship and all that so that you can enable the youth to grow. However, some companies have done tremendously well for the youths. For example, the First Bank which engaged almost 30,000 staff nationwide. Also look at UBA and others. We also have other corporate entities that can help the youths in different areas like sports, entrepreneurship and other.

          I don’t want to call somebody from Cotonou to do my tiles and that has been what is happening for the past 30 to 40 years. No Nigerian is good enough, we need to remove that. Same thing applies to all artisans and Nigerian workers.

          Your word of advice for Nigerians as regards 2023 elections?

          During the #EndSARS protest, I addressed the youths and told them that if you know that things are going on well, you won’t come out for this protest. But I see them showing remorse for police brutality in the lowest manner. I will keep telling my people that they should ensure they get their Party Membership card and National ID Card.

          Try and have an original and bona fide Nigeria through these most important means of identification so that you can have a taste of what democracy really promises.