Tunde Eso is an author and politician. In this interview
with YEMI ADEBISI, he spoke on the situation in Osun state and his plans
to give the people visionary leadership if elected as governor.
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| Tunde Eso |
Excerpts:
What do you think can be done to solve insecurity problems in Africa especially Nigeria?
Security is key to ensuring growth in any society. You can
imagine that the actions of Boko Haram that commenced in the North is
now treading the Western part of Nigeria and imagine they have extended
their activities to neighbouring countries in the effort to capture the
whole of Africa. They have been able to move thus far because
governments in Africa have been careless about the solutions.
For some
years now, I proposed e-policing, the involvement of community leaders,
youth coordinators, and youth empowerment by situating youth centres all
over the continent where they can lodge complaints and get skills
acquisition that will engage them and put them off negative tendencies.
Fix electricity in Africa, then you have employed 75
percent of the youth in the continent, because they will yield for
massive industrialisation and will be totally engaged. Security problems
will be reduced and we will be sure of economic growth in Africa.
Insecurity is one of the major problems of political
instability because it will make political holders to be flippant in
their attitude towards the growth of the nations in the continent. For
instance, the internal crises in various African countries such as
Somalia, Sudan, Congo and Central Africa Republic whose growth and
development have been stagnated for so long because of internal
conflicts.
The task of rebuilding Africa is in the hands of both the
government and the governed, which constitute the civil society. Since
security is paramount to the existence of any country, government which
is the body saddled with the administration of the State will play the
major role in ensuring the security of the youth in all ramifications,
be it physical, social, economic, educational and in career.
What are the strategies that should be put in place to achieve this?
In achieving these, leaders should ensure good governance
by drawing-up and implementing policies which are pertinent to the
protection and well-being of the youth. Governments should build state
capacity to maintain law and order, by equipping the police and other
law enforcement agencies. They should also strengthen mechanisms for
conflict prevention, management and resolution. African leaders should
also show more commitment to the promotion and protection of right of
the youth, as stipulated in their various constitutions. There should be
avenue for the youth to seek redress in the law courts, when their
rights are abused.
Moreso, governments should introduce youth integration
initiatives, by promoting the role of the youth in socio-political and
economic policy-making processes, in order to give them a say and better
still, a sense of belonging in shaping their future. African
governments should endeavour to empower the youth, through the provision
of educational, economic, social and political opportunities in order
to secure their careers and aspiration in life.
But the youth who is at the receiving end is also facing the security challenges in question.
Conversely, the youth whose security is being endangered,
have a part to play in addressing youth security.
There is need for
African youths to be politically conscious, by participating in
political activities which shape their status in the society. They
should be involved in elections, by electing visionary leaders who have
their interest at heart. Furthermore, youths should take their destiny
in their hands by assisting the State law enforcement institutions to
address issues relating to security.
The war against corruption in Nigeria appears to be the
major agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari-led government. What else do
you think can be done to achieve a better result from this agenda?
Government should give education to all especially those at
the primary level, then their parents won’t need to steal to send their
children to private schools. They should also make the society a
cashless one except for emergency with clear evidence.
Have you been involved in politics?
Yes, right from my university days, I was a Student Union
Secretary; President, Indigenous Association. Before I went to tertiary
institutions, I was encouraged by one Mr. Bankole who was my Church
elder at the age of 24 to go and run for councillorship election in my
town when he saw in me great leadership qualities. So I contested under
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which I was asked to step down for
another candidate by Chief Ebenezer Babatope, the chieftain of the
party, same in 2007. I was also called by party leaders to come for a
run election again and in 2011, I was called by one of my clients and
business man in Osun to come and run Osun Governorship election and in
the process my people said they prefer I run for House of Representative
or local government chairman, then we started meetings and campaign.
Meanwhile, since PDP lost to All Progressive Congress (APC), everyone
returned home. But recently, some youth and elders in Osun came to meet
me in my house that due to my intellectual acumen displayed in the
society, they will prefer me as the fifth Governor of Osun State.
From which party are you likely going to contest?
We are still working on that.
How do you hope to make a difference in Osun if elected governor?
Beyond all, I am a visionary and I got my vision at age 19,
so I am sure of whatever I am saying. Visionary leaders are better
leaders. They are compassionate and altruist in nature. Osun is no doubt
an agrarian State. So, I intend to make our farmers and people enjoy
the benefits of work through empowerment and provision of support for
them. I intend to build on the good works my predecessors; to take
advantage of information and communication technology (ICT); to provide
social amenities and empower the youth cum the aged.
I will make sure
to improve on the availability of water, food and shelter to stop
depending on importation, and I believe government has no business in
business. The role of government is to create an enabling environment by
ensuring security of lives and properties; good roads, effective
railway system and tax-friendly system. When government creates an
enabling environment, industries will spring up.
I have started talking
to Osun indigenes and other investors to come and invest in Osun. We
have gold that has not been adequately tapped for the benefit of the
citizens. My State is known for tourism which is a source of foreign
exchange. We have Osun Shrine, Erin Ijesa waterfall and so on. There is
no reason why Osun Festival is not able to compete favourably with other
festivals in the world like North Hillgate carnival in London.
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