AC represents darkness - Erelu Obada, Osun Deputy Gov

Erelu Obada, Osun Deputy GovernorErelu Olusola Obada, the Deputy Governor of Osun State, in this interview with Sunday Tribune, speaks on the political situation in Osun State and other sundry issues. Excerpts:

You decided to join politics at a time when Chief Adebisi Akande was the governor, why did you join an opposition party rather than the party in power?
Well, I just give God the glory. Today, I look back and I thank God for being with me because when I wanted to join, I asked myself some hard questions, one, do I want to be part of the party that is only regional in nature or do I want to be someone who will feel at home in any part of the country?. Also, I thought about the fact that why should we continually be in opposition to the centre because if you cast your mind back, what were we able to do for our people by being in the opposition anyway? I therefore felt that I needed to be in a party that embraces every part of this great nation where one will feel welcomed and feel at home in every part of the country and also work hand in hand with those at the centre to ensure that the dividends of democracy are brought back home to our people here in Osun State, I opted for the PDP, even though at that time, it was not the party in power in Osun State and today I give God the glory for being one of those that built a strong PDP in Osun State.

People see you as a very strong woman because politics is believed to be a difficult terrain?
My desire to serve overrode all fears. I was just bustling with energy, ideas and I wanted to bring it to pass, I felt no fear whatsoever, ofcourse, I was a bit anxious and skeptical but the beauty of going round, campaigning, organizing rallies and been part of something great and monumental happenings at that time made me to overcome all fears apart from my faith in God which was not shaken. That of course kept me going too. I was fired by my faith in God and like I did then and as I still do now, I know that God has moved mightily in my life. To still be in this position, I think it is the work that the Governor and I did in total harmony. It is just a team that God himself put together, that is why we give Him the glory for thus far.

For almost five years now, you have been in the saddle of governing Osun State; will you say your visions for joining politics have come to reality?
Interestingly enough, in many ways, yes ofcourse, and that is borne out of the fact that the governor and I have chosen to remain together; in the sense that I shared his vision and I shared the dreams that he has for Osun State and you can see that all those things that we promised to do for the people of Osun State we were actually able to deliver in the first term of our administration. We are building upon now to be able to do more for the people. I will say that my vision and dream for the state is been realized and we are even working to do more.

No doubt, the responsibility of deputy Governor’s office is enormous, how is it possible for you to cope with that office and home front?
I will not say it is easy, it is not easy because even if you are the deputy governor of a State, you are still a mother; you are still a wife and you also have a normal family responsibilities and if a man can be magnanimous enough to let his wife go into politics and be away from home for a long period of time, the least one can do is to ensure that the home front is comfortable, that the man is well catered for and he is well looked after and to also spend some quality time with the head of the family and with the children when they are around, so, it is not easy but nothing in life is easy, we will just make the very best of whatever challenge.

All men will not be like Otunba Obada, what advice are you going to give to husbands whose wives love to be in politics?
I will ask men to let their wives take a shot at politics, if they know that their wives have a lot of potential, they should encourage them, the world today is no more a global village but a dot and we are all aware of what happens all over the world, women are also at the vanguard of new movement and that is “support for fellow women”. They are encouraging women, nobody is looking at the issue of gender anywhere, they are just looking for people who can perform.

We have never seen a woman being elected Governor in Nigeria, how do you feel about it?
I have to correct you on that, a woman did become governor in Anambra State and that is Mrs. Etiaba. We should remember Obi left as the governor, and she took over as governor and now Obi is back in the saddle. Maybe what you are talking about is a woman running for that position and actually getting elected in her own right not through other means. It will happen one day in this country and I am sure in the nearest possible time too.

One day you will go back to your homeland that is Ijesaland, is there anything you can tell Ijesas that you have been able to do for them?
First of all, let me start by saying that the Governor tried his best to ensure that projects are fairly distributed throughout the senatorial districts. We had our share and things are still ongoing, we have not stopped, we are just beginning the second term. A lot of roads have been constructed, there are water projects going on both by the state and the federal governments, and all these have been put in place. The most important thing that people actually need in that part of Osun State is water, the federal government is constructing a water project in Kajola which will serve Ilesa. The state government has constructed a mini water dam with quite a huge volume of water, that has been cited at Osu and pipes have been laid from Osu to supply water into Ilesa through the School of Health Technology. We are now waiting for internal reticulation, you know we have not had water in Ilesa for over twenty years, so you can imagine that the pipes that are available, today are no longer what it used to be. So, new reticulation has to be done and that is what we are waiting for now. Before the federal government water project actually comes into being, at least we have water to use in Ilesa. Rural electrification projects have been undertaken; some new ones are taking place. So, we can count dividends of democracy not only for the people of Ijesaland but for the people of Osun State.

Are you saying that your case at the Tribunal is not weighing you down?
Weigh down? Of course not, because it is as clear as day. There can be no room for darkness when light comes in. Oyinlola administration, that is light. God gave it to the people of Osun and it must always overcome darkness and that is exactly what we have seen happening and is still happening. I know at the end of the day, God will give us, absolutely victory in all ramifications. I believe in my soul and it shall be so in Jesus name.

You are a little bit rattled by AC’s incursion into Osun State’s politics or...
Rattled? No, I don’t think so. Of course there were lots of noise. It is nothing but mere distraction to be ignored. We are talking about an administration in the history of this state; that cares about the people; that has managed with total prudence the meager fund from the federation account. Ours is a government with focus and integrity. Not only that, AC is absolute falsehood, propaganda, false information and you can see that with every step that they take, they failed with all the lies. Has it not occurred to you that even God himself is at work and that truth would always triumph over lies, deceits and false propaganda and misinformation? That is what you are seeing, then, people themselves know who will serve them best.

April 16 is a day you will never forget in Ilesa. What was on your mind that day?
I was actually very unhappy. I never thought I will ever see that kind of day in my life because it shocked me beyond my imagination. I was shocked and asked myself, how can this happen? How could you claim to win in a place and set the place on fire? Not only that, remember that all the houses burnt belonged to PDP members. Not a single AC person lost anything but you see, at the end of the day no matter the evil machination of anybody, the truth always prevail. We do not ask anybody to burn anybody’s property but then why should that be done to fellow human being because of somebody’s desperation to govern by thuggery and violence. That will never occur again in Jesus name.