Nigerians won’t go wrong with choice of Atiku in 2023 — Soji Ogunade
In this interview by Bankole Taiwo, Mr Soji Ogunade, a business analyst, security expert, linguist and member of Atiku Abubakar Campaign Team in Diaspora speaks on while the former Vice President and 2023 PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar deserves to be the next president of the country among other topical issues.
Let’s have a bit of yourself sir?
I was born here at Ijebu Ode but grew up in Lagos. I later travelled outside the country about 20 years ago but I have always come home in between these years. I graduated from Cardiff Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, I studied Business Management and Law. I have my Diploma in Counseling skills as well. I speak French, German, English and Polish too. I am married to a Polish woman. I am a security analyst, I work in the security industry.
What is your thoughts on the problem of insecurity in the country?
It’s really unfortunate that our dear country is having so much challenges with our security, it’s something that makes some of us in the diaspora to develop goose pimples whenever the thought of coming home crosses our minds, yet you want to come and see your loved ones because East or West, home they say is the best. I am also of the opinion that this is a problem created by our politicians because things were not like this in the past. It’s terribly sad and my call is that those handling the affairs of this nation should please do more in this area. One major thing I think has contributed to our problem of insecurity is the unemployment of our large armies of youth, the energies that are supposed to be channeled towards productive ventures are now being use to cause problems here and there. there’s no nation who neglected investing in its youth, which is its leaders of tomorrow that will not suffer for it. Time is now to begin to invest massively in our youths, let the government create job opportunities for them. Honestly, I shed tears for the youth of this country because not much is done for them and an hungry man is said to be an angry man. Other countries of the world don’t joke with their youth. If for instance you are supposed be in school but you are not in the developed countries, you will receive a call for instance, asking why is Tunde not in school. The ASUU strike has been on for two months now, the students are out there just wandering around and only doing God knows what. There should really be a change in our commitment to developing our youths and creating job opportunities for them too.
What is your assessment of President Buhari’s government in the last seven years?
We can see the government doing something in the area of infrastructure, like the ongoing Lagos/Ibadan expressway, the rail too are back, even though we are still having issues with our economy but the biting part of it is the insecurity challenge. It has gone too well unchallenged or checked effectively, though, that is not to say that the government is doing nothing but it must do more to give security to the citizens. As long as we grapple with this problem of insecurity, the investors will always be scared of coming around to invest in the country and this means less jobs for our teeming youths. And like I have said earlier, we must get our youths productively engaged, it will really help to stem this tide of insecurity. I am too sure, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the next President of this country will take care of all of these when he gets to power by the grace of God next year.
Why do you think is the choice of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar that Nigeria need to fix her challenges?
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a two term Vice President, a business mogul and educationist is no doubt someone who has gotten all that it takes to lift this country higher. He was at helms of affairs with former President Olusegun Obasanjo as his Vice for eight years, he knows substantially the challenges of this country and everyone knows that he has gotten the capability and he is competence enough to make this country work. He is a unifier, he has what it take to galvanise every part of this country and make us work as one big, indivisible family. I had little interaction with him last week while I was at Abuja and believe me, Nigerians won’t go wrong with Atiku come 2023. He will surely bring his wealth of experience to bear in restoring our lost glory. This is a man who has promised restructuring such that the country would be seen to be practicing true federalism and this I want to say will be beginning of greater prosperity for the country. Nigerians should believe in Atiku Abubakar, he is the right man for the job. He is prepared to take over from President Buhari come 2023, I am telling you, this is not a choice Nigerians will regret. I have said it and I am still saying it, Nigerians should please allow this highly resourceful leader to lead this great nation of ours come 2023.
Are you not afraid of being seen to be working against the agenda of the Southwest to produce the next president since the office had been occupied by the Northerner since 2015 and it is expected that power should go back to the South in 2023?
I am not a fan of rotational presidency or zoning, no, I am rather in support of competency and merit, Should it be about where you come from or what you have the capability to deliver? If I want to repair my car now, do I look for a Mechanic from my tribe or a good one, irrespective of his tribe who can help fix the problem? Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is competent and will deliver on our expectations of a greater Nigeria.
As a member of Atiku Abubakar Campaign team in diaspora, what are you likely to be doing as 2023 general elections approach?
We shall be galvanising support for our man, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and pass down the message to our loved ones back home to rally round the Waziri Adamawa and join other wonderful Nigerians to make him our next President in 2023.
What is your thoughts on voting by Nigerians in Diaspora?
That would have been very superb, if it is possible for us to get our passports over there, we should be able to get registered and vote too abroad. Americans and British abroad do that, we should be able to do same too. It will give us opportunity to have a say on the government back home. But until then, those of us who can afford it will have to come around and perform our civic duty whenever the time comes.
As 2023 elections hot up, what do you think Nigerians should do right?
Nigerians should please go for leaders who are competent, they should resist this evil of selling their votes for N5000, N10,000 and then suffer for another four years. They should please identify those who can put smiles on their faces, those with selfless leadership qualities and vote for them. They should think about the future of their children and make the right choice. I tell you Nigeria has the potentials to be greater than the United States if only we can organise ourselves, and we will be begin to organise ourselves when we begin to vote in people who can do the job and not because of one sentiment or the other.
