Gov Abiodun is good enough for another term—Kaka
In this interview by Bankole Taiwo, Hon Segun Kaka, a reputable Civil Engineer and 2019 PDP House of Assembly candidate for Ijebu North State Constituency 2 speaks on his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the commendable efforts of Gov Dapo Abiodun at repositioning the State, declaring among other things that the governor is good enough for another term.
Tell us briefly about yourself, sir
As you are well aware I am Engr. Segun Kaka, a Prince from Ibipe, Idode in Ago Iwoye, Ijebu North local government area of Ogun State. I went to Grace Children School, Gbagada in Lagos for my primary education afterwhich I attended Federal Government College, Umuokoro, Port Harcourt. I later proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife where I trained as a Civil Engineer specialising in Water and Waste Management with structures. After my university education, I set up my own logistics company, Hartsfield and Haul. We handle logistics for companies like Globacom, OBAT Oil, Oando and the likes.
What would you rather say motivated you into joining politics?
I think it all started in 2008 when one of my uncles came to look for me, encouraging me to join politics as a way of serving my people back home. He told me that serving the people runs in our lineage with the precedence set by my grandfather, Baba Yinusa Kaka Eleran who was the second in command to the famous Prof Onabamiro during the days of the NPN and their pivotal roles in bringing notable development to Ago Iwoye such as the Olabisi Onabanjo University among others. So, I joined the PDP and trained under the Late Sen Jubril Martins Kuye. I later moved to the camp of Late Sen Buruji Kashamu and contested for the House of Assembly election in 2019 but it didn’t go my way…
…(cuts in) But you have decamped to the ruling party now…
Yes, I have defected to the ruling party, APC. After looking at the present political scenario, I found out that Ago Iwoye is not in the good book of the ruling party and this may certainly cost us some of the development we so much cherished and coveted, so, one may have to be physically present to combine forces with others in the party to ensure that our people get the best from this good government of Prince Dapo Abiodun. Additionally, my former party, PDP is bereft of disciplined leadership and that is why it has for over a decade now been unsettled and crisis-ridden. This lack of unity has always robbed the party of victory all these years. This has also made many founding fathers of the party who have the visions and the mission for the party to move away. Where are the likes of Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Isola, Sen Lekan Mustapha, even our great leader and former two term governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and many of his loyalists and followers today? The owners of the visions and missions have left, the ideology has gone, what is now left of PDP in Ogun is its body, carcass.. the spirit has gone… just remnants
So, ahead of 2023, PDP can’t spring any surprise or fly again?
Fly to where? Do you see a bird which its wings has been clipped flying? The visioneers, those who are carrying about the mission of the party have all left, so, what remains of the party is empty shells. The party lacks discipline and worship money too much, I don’t see things getting better for the party as we approach 2023.
Is it also safe to say that your coming to APC has anything to do with the performance of Prince Dapo Abiodun in the last 20 months or so?
Absolutely yes, many do think that I have been talking with Gov Abiodun or collected money from him, but I have never, it’s just that the governor is a silent achiever and this alone is endearing to me. He has achieved a lot in education, opening up of rural roads, qualitative health delivery, revolution in the agricultural sector among others. If he is the type that celebrates his successes, I don’t know of what any opposition want to say about his government, he is so pragmatic and very considerate too. Without any fear of contradiction, I want to say that the state has been better handled under the focused leadership of Prince Dapo Abiodun, this remain incontestable. Yes, his sincerity of purpose really made me to conclude that APC is a better place for me. That’s why I am baffled when I see some people on social media celebrating what they ordinarily earn so much to do. And if you want to fault the governor on the security challenge, that is a national problem, it cuts across the federation. However, the governor has not gone to sleep over this matter. He has visited affected places and assured the people of adequate protection. He has set up a peace committee to engage the farmers and herders, he has also set up Special Task Force to quell this crisis, so, he has been on top of the situation. The governor has been a perfect Omoluwabi, he has not been reckless or excessive with governance, we are very lucky to have him steering the ship of our dear state.
You are the brain behind DA Mandate, what do you want to achieve with this?
Thank you, DA Mandate which will soon be unveiled is a platform we are putting up to push for the second term agenda of Gov Dapo Abiodun. A good and great term deserves another. The governor has done too well and so he deserves another term.
What can you make of this gale of defection into APC?
It’s a movement that cannot be stopped, whoever dares to stop it will just find himself or herself going with the flow. Those who refuse to take the advantage of the ongoing APC registration exercise may regret this in the future. The Southwest has taken its position and those who can read in between the lines, those who can listen to what the spirit is saying won’t waste time to join this moving train that APC seems to have turned into. You won’t because of a local sentiment now forsake a national movement, there’s bigger picture ahead, Southwest 2023 is real and it is unstoppable.
And for you, what are your aspirations for 2023?
That’s safely in the hands of God. Let just pray that the almighty God will spare our lives beyond 2023. However, for now, my major concern is for the almighty God to help Prince Dapo Abiodun finish this term on a sound note and go ahead with his second term begining from May 29, 2023. He truly deserved it
What message do you have for your people back home?
Well, to my people back home, Ago Iwoye has always been topmost in the political equation of the state and has always been getting its due democratic dividends and therefore, I will encourage them to join the flow and not be deceived or discouraged by the attitudes of some leaders. They should not be moved by the projects some people are doing here and there that they are celebrating all over the social media as if they have not been paid heavily to serve the people.
What is the beauty of this ongoing APC registration and revalidation exercise?
It’s a wonderful opportunity for new members to be fully integrated into the party while others too who are members already can further affirmed their membership. It is a big way to strengthen the party, increase its membership and prepare it for the challenges ahead. Whoever designed this registration policy must have been a prophet projecting greater future for the ruling party.
What is your take on SWAGA?
That’s a brilliant idea, it is one out of hundreds of conglomerates of pressure groups promoting and supporting Southwest presidency by 2023. It is not about Tinubu’s affairs, it is about Yoruba land and the mandate is for all Yoruba to defend and work for its success.
How true is it that Sen Buruji Kashamu gave his disciples the order that they should join APC before his death?
Well, everyone knows that the relationship between me and Late Sen Buruji Kashamu was a father-son relationship. Yes, the Late Senator actually called me before his death to tell me that if I want to leave the party I could do so and join APC and not Ladi Adebutu’s PDP…
Does that mean others are on their way?
Definitely yes, by the time they meet brick wall, they will have to come back. APC is the way to go now.
How do you think the problem of insecurity should be addressed?
The federal government should encourage synergy among all the security agencies, the hunters, the local vigilantes and others. The federal government should also adopt carrot and stick approach. They should look inwardly at what is fuelling these shades of insecurity at different parts of the country and tackle it head on. We must all also eschew violence and give peace a chance.
