Gov Abiodun’s good works attracted me to APC, his second term is non-negotiable ––Engr. Adeola Sosanwo
Engr. Adeola Sosanwo, Chairman of SAS Foundation was 2019 PDP Ogun East Senatorial candidate and narrowly lost to the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with BANKOLE TAIWO, the oil and gas merchant who recently dumped the opposition party for the APC bared his mind on reasons for his move as well as the need to further rally support for Gov Dapo Abiodun saying that “the governor’s silent revolution across all sectors of the economy already guaranteed him a second term come 2023.” Excerpts:
As a very popular PDP chieftain in Ogun State and even the party’s flag bearer for Ogun East Senatorial district during 2019 general elections, what would you rather say informed your decision to join APC?
Thank you very much, before I initially join Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) I was an APC person, unfortunately, the government at that time, the immediate past government of Sen. Ibikunle Amosun wasn’t giving me the due recognition and opportunity to play my role as party member. The PDP heard about this shabby treatment and wooed me to their side. In PDP, I was given the opportunity to contest for the seat of Remo federal constituency at the House of Representatives, later I got the opportunity to change the ticket to that of the Senate. We did our best, we even took our case to court when we felt that the result of the election was not a true picture of how the people voted. However, due to the intervention of some eminent personalities we withdrew the case believing that there will always be another day. We had since marched on with an assurance of greater tomorrow. And after the death of our leader, Sen. Buruji Kashamu, the fight in PDP had continued and I begin to wonder whether this is how we shall continue till 2023, meanwhile, many of my loyalists and friends in APC had continued mounting pressure on me to come to APC and team up with our good brother and governor of our dear state, Prince Dapo Abiodun in his unrepentant commitment to develop the state. And truly, Gov. Dapo Abiodun has been working round the clock to further develop the state. Against this background, we are also coming on board the ruling party to support the governor with our experience and other resources to ensure that he further succeeds and go ahead to win his second term in 2023 effortlessly
Are you saying that the performance of Gov. Dapo Abiodun in the last 20 months played critical role in your decision to settle down for APC?
Absolutely yes, one thing I appreciate so well about His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun is his sincerity of purpose, he has his eyes on the ball, I mean, he is so concerned about activities that will enhance the economic prosperity of the state. Look at the resuscitated Agro-Cargo Airport at Iperu as well as the Olokola OkLNG, the almost completed ten lane dual carriage Ijebu Ode-Epe expressway among several others that are completed or ongoing across the state. If you look around Sagamu interchange, many new companies are springing up and these are good omens for the state, so for a man doing so much in agriculture, education, health, housing and road construction, it’s just ideal that we give him further support to do more. The future is very bright and promising because I am basically joining APC to enhance the second term bid of our hardworking governor.
Many are of the opinion that the defection of many people into APC is because of Southwest Presidential ambition come 2023, how true is this?
Well, APC will definitely have its presidential candidate in 2023 but I am of the opinion that people will rather vote for individual who they think has the wherewithal and capacity to lead and not necessarily the party. I am not again, against, Southwest producing the next President but the last time we had the opportunity, what did we get here in the Southwest? So, to me, it is immaterial which region produces the next President as long as we allow God to choose for us. Let the best man do the job, though we should also not forget the zoning arrangement but above all, let the best man be given the job to do.
How can the government conquer the challenges of insecurity?
The first thing we need to ask is: what is the root cause of all this? You remember that we used to have the challenges of the Niger Delta boys during the government of Chief Obasanjo and continued till the government of Yar’Adua. People knew what they are fighting for, they were complaining that despite being the source of oil, the major revenue generation for the country, their communities are not being taken care of. They complained of pollution from oil destroying their farms and rivers among others and somehow government has been able to attend to them. Now, it is the Herders/farmers clashes, what are they fighting for? I think some people are behind this crisis, so we should not deceive ourselves, it’s even beginning to have political undertones. Our leaders should be more firm and decisive, our people need security, so government should go after those disturbing the peace of the country, they should get them arrested and prosecute them too, there should be no sacred cow. We want peace in the country.
How do we get that Nigeria of our dreams?
It begins with you and me, when we begin to do the right thing, when you don’t want to cheat your fellow neighbour, Nigeria will be better country. We must change our ways of life and be disciplined.
Was there any directive from the late Sen. Buruji Kashamu that people like you in his camp of PDP should join APC?
I am not aware of such directive, Late Sen. Buruji Kashamu believed in the individual than party and he had told me once or twice that whatever happened, we would go with and support whoever emerged as the governor irrespective of our party.
How will you rate Gov. Abiodun’s performance in the last 20 months?
The governor has done beautifully well, it is obvious for all to see. Though, some are quick to say that the governor ought to speed up things but I have found out that the governor was only being meticulous and calculating to get things smoothly done. The governor has indeed continued to work silently to turn things around for good for the development of the country. You can see his hands in several road construction, education, agric, health, housing among others. In fact, one of the things I am coming to do in the party is to help in pushing out some of the good works of the governor. The governor’s hand must be strengthened to do so much more for the good people of the state. Gov. Abiodun has good intentions for the state, we are from the same industry, the oil and gas and I know how we do our things there to ensure that everyone is satisfied.
Any update on the activities of SAS Foundation?
Yes, SAS Foundation over the years has remained committed to supporting the people and developing our communities. For instance, last year, during the lockdown occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic, every week, we spent millions of naira to feed residents of Sagamu and environs. Immediately after the lockdown, we commenced distribution of WAEC and NECO GCE forms to students who are willing to write the exams but their parents don’t have the means. Our next line of duty is to support the artisans with cash and working tools. We have also been supporting the qualitative healthcare delivery of our people from time to time, for instance, we have a hospital where people enjoy quality healthcare services at a very highly subsidized amount, in fact, you pay half of what you will pay elsewhere. We care for the aged and the widow too. At Remo Secondary School, Sagamu, we are responsible for the payment of salaries of six teaching staff all in a bit to ensure that our children get the best of education. Our motives are not informed by politics but by passion to serve and make our little contributions towards making lives easier for our people.
What is your message to your supporters?
I am using this medium to urge my supporters to continue to support the government of the day under Prince Dapo Abiodun in his determined bid to make Ogun State more prosperous. I am also telling my supporters to follow me to APC as we are more than ready to support the governor to achieve more success.
