Government has not done enough for students —Reps aspirant ( Comrade Segun Otetubi)

Comrade  Olusegun Otetubi seeks the ticket to represent Ekiti South Federal Constituency II in the House of Representatives under the All Progressives Congress (APC). He speaks on his plans for the constituency and his party, among other issues. SAM NWAOKO brings excerpts:

How prepared are you for this contest?

In terms of preparation, I know it is a multi-faceted thing. In terms of mobilisation, affiliation with the grassroots, financial preparation, I believe I am fully prepared.

The question arose because you are going to face stiff contest both within and outside your party; from your immediate locality and your constituency at large. Have you considered all these?

One of my convictions is the quest by my people who have said it was apt that I represent them this time. I didn’t just jump into the race because of any financial muscle or because of a few people calling on me. I decided to join because of the large number of people because their voice has become so loud. More than 90 per cent of the leaders and youths in the constituency have called on me to contest. They saw what I was able to do when I was a students’ leader in the constituency. They feel this is the right time to rescue the constituency because it is not properly being represented. It is only our constituency that hasn’t got federal presence out of the six in the state. There is no federal institution whether educational or otherwise. So, we need to change that and the time is now to change the sense of marginalisation in the area is redressed.

The belief in many quarters is that the APC, having lost the governorship election, is seriously weakened. Compare that with your chances in the race if your party chooses you as its candidate?

I don’t subscribe to the idea that we lost in the last election. However, I believe I am a candidate of the constituency, not the party. The entire people believe in me, even beyond the confines of any political party. Both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APC and even others, including Labour Party and all believe in me because I have my base.
What is your antecedent as regards relationship with the people of your constituency?
I was the president of the Students’ Union in my community and during my time, I led a struggle that was widely recognised and widely reported and since then, I have remained a shining light for students in my constituency. When I was in the University of Lagos, I was a member of the constitution drafting committee for Ekiti State Students’ Union and I was really close to young people. Even after graduation, I instituted a scholarship scheme for indigenes, which is still being enjoyed by the students. For my political party, I gave all the support we could, especially during the governorship election and people recognise the effort we put in.

How do you surmount the hurdle of the seeming desire of the people to have one of them at the grassroots represent them?

I am a grassroot person. If I had relied on the strength of the elite, it wouldn’t have augured well and all the while, I have only been doing grassroot mobilisation. All through my primary and secondary education, I was at home and even after my university education, I have been playing a very active role in the affairs of my people, especially the students. So, I am in constant touch with the people at the grass roots and I work with them and they know me.

What do you plan to do differently and what do you feel you have that could unseat those who currently represent your constituency?

ADVERTISEMENT

Let us look at bills or motions that had been sponsored by those representing us now that have influenced the life of the common man in our constituents. Are there any? It is time we sat down and look at our problems. Most of the bills we currently have don’t affect the life of the common man. We need to look at the education sector, it is our right to have qualitative education; it is our right to have electricity, it is our right to have potable water. There are some basic things that are required of the government for the citizenry but we don’t have access to them. When I was in the university, I would have been a First Class student if I was able to access loan but there is no bill mandating the government to do that for students. So, if you are not from a rich home, you are shut out. Looking back, is there anything stopping the National Assembly from enacting a bill that will mandate the Federal Government to sponsor indigent students in the country to the tune of N100,000 per session? This happens all over the developed countries and we should take a leaf from them.

SOURCE: Nigerian Tribune.