You rarely wear suits, is it because you are a Muslim or is it a cultural issue
The sum of my consciousness has a link with how I usually want to be seen in the public. There are other inspirations but Black nationalism is cardinal to my political awareness and consciousness; it informs my appearance. I don’t want to say worldview because other factors are quite relevant in the development of my perspective but Black nationalism is, to a large extent, the basis of such adherence to traditional outfits. I am not against the wearing of suits or any such wears but I think that for our environment, the most convenient and fitting clothes are traditional wears. When you look at the provenance of my political consciousness coupled with the fitting comfort traditional attires give, you will understand why I usually put on traditional wears.
Have you worn a suit before
Well, I will tell you. I did twice.
On your wedding
No, I’m a Muslim. Muslims hardly wed. Muslims do ‘Nikkai.’ I wore a suit when a friend of mine was wedding; I was his best man. I cannot recall the second time.
Some people claim your administration’s decision to distribute 150,000 computer tablets to secondary school pupils is a misplaced priority and that it’s probably a way of embezzling funds, what’s your response to this
The decision to distribute the computer tablets is the biggest revolution in Nigerian educational sector. In this run, we are distributing 150,000 computer tablets free of charge to our students. We have already produced 20,000 units of the computer tablets and we are distributing them. We are waiting for the supply of 30,000 units by the end of September this year. The remaining 100,000 will be produced here locally in Osun and will be distributed by the end of the first quarter of next year. Students of three schools across the state already have the computer tablets distributed to them.
You must consider logistics and other factors. Computers are not produced like some other household items. And I must say that the process is not taking too long because we just launched the tablets barely two months ago and distribution has already begun.
Don’t you think that building computer centres in schools and e-libraries would serve a better purpose than giving each student a computer tablet, which could easily be lost or damaged
I am always very careful when I want to respond to this type of question; does that question sound logical? Let’s look at it – we are replacing hard copies of books – books, which if the will and means to supply the students is there, are meant to complement classroom works and homework. The computer tablets are meant for private, individual study at your own pace. And this is what we have reproduced electronically.
How then could any study centre put anywhere – whether in the school or outside the school replace such a need? Like every other innovation, all sorts of alternatives, ideas, suggestions and replacements might come but you have to convince yourself that what you are doing is superior to every other thing anybody could say. Let me give you an example.
When automobile was invented, the first set of automobiles had no horns because technology had not developed the use of horn – as simple and small as horn device is, the automobile preceded it. Do you know how owners of automobiles alerted road users
A human being would run in front of the automobile, alerting the people about the oncoming vehicle. Before you could be licensed to use a motor vehicle, you must have the means to employ a man, who would be running in front of your car, shouting that your vehicle is coming. As tough as that was, the aristocrats of that time still realised the need to use motor vehicles. What I’m saying is that every new thing will always have its critics and cynics. But what is important is not even the newness of the innovation; it’s the functionality of it.
But some people still believe the cost of the computers is a rip-off.
As I’m talking to you the State of Osun has not spent up to N1.5bn. When I say N1.5bn, I don’t want to give a figure that would be less than what we have spent. We are still far away from N1.5bn. That’s even still not as important as to the huge cost of the alternative to it – if you are thinking of hard copies. From my open, impromptu interaction with students, I got to know that the average cost of hard copy textbook is N1, 000. Some mischief makers published a document on the cost of the acquisition of the e-books bought from Evans which was put between N200m and N220m. They thought it was an issue spending about N200m on the acquisition of e-books. Accepting that a hard copy textbook is sold for N1, 000 per copy; let’s say each child will even have just eight textbooks, these are aside the other invaluable textbooks and subjects contained in the device.
Why do you always insist that Muslim, Christians and traditional religion practitioners must pray at state functions
I want to be as democratic, just and fair as possible to my people because we are in the era of democracy.
But Nigeria is a secular state.
That is not an excuse to deny the people of their right to worship. Are you saying Nigerians don’t have religions or that they don’t worship? The fact that the country is a secular state does not reduce anything from the fact that people worship and our administration would encourage freedom of worship for the people.
It is alleged that the debt profile of Osun is so enormous that generations yet unborn would be saddled with it
What you have said does it make sense?
But why does the state enjoy borrowing
Do banks operate on charity? They don’t. Financial institutions operate on reality of returns on whatever advance they make. Financial institutions do not extend credit when there is dim prospect of repayment or income because what financial institutions live on is trading on money. If you understand the meaning of trading, nobody trades for loss; nobody gets into any commercial venture for loss. If there will be a loss, it would be an accident on the part of the investor and the investment. It is not a thing that will be deliberately sought after. If this is the basic fundamental of commercial transaction of trading, then it does not require much of knowledge or expertise to know that. Who will advance you money when the prospect of repayment is dim? Who? A no-brainer knows that the hoopla (over Osun debt overhang) is just a hoopla.
There can’t be any iota of truth in it. There’s no basis for that. We brought into this state the best tutelage in public administration particularly management of public resources. We are working ourselves to the bones in the State of Osun, it is difficult, I must confess. Osun does not have the potential of Lagos today but our drive for development is tremendous. In one of my public media and people interaction fora, “Ogbeni till daybreak,” I clinically explained why and how the debt-profile of the state cannot be more than what the state earns in four years. What that tells you is that whether or not there are regulators, (and there are regulators), Central Bank of Nigeria regulates public finance, Debt Management Office of the Federal Ministry of Finance regulates public finance, financial institutions don’t joke with their money.
Let’s assume that those two regulators are not there and let’s assume that the banks can be easily manipulated – this is not true – it is just an assumption. The fact remains that you cannot borrow beyond your capacity of income. So, if the income of the state is N5bn per month and multiply that by 12 months, you get N60bn and if you multiply that by four years, you get N240bn. When you now net-off what must go into recurrent particularly salaries and wages, what you have left is about N60bn – which is the maximum a state like Osun can get, Lagos can go beyond that because of Lagos capacity.
We are talking of a process that is governed by the ethics and rules and fundamentals of business. Even if your brother is in charge of a bank, he cannot recklessly favour you. There’s no debt overhang in Osun State. We are prosecuting all the projects that we are prosecuting based on the best financial management practice that is conceivable which we have had the benefit of acquiring through the course of our public life.
But some people are saying you might not get a second term because a lot of people are dissatified with your performance
Are they God? Who has power over God? they’re not omniscient, they are not omnipotent.
God is the Omniscient, He’s the Omnipotent. He’s the Supreme decider of the affairs of men. Who are we to challenge His authority? Everything we do here on this plane is at His pleasure. To that extent, in fact, when God decides a thing that’s the end of the matter. I have no doubt in my mind as to the finality of God’s decision. What I usually say when ever this issue comes up is that the God that allowed me the victory that was almost totally forgotten by all men at a time that I was almost powerless, that God still lives and He will see me through in whatever challenge that is confronting me in my quest for a second term. When people come to me and raise issue about this, I tell them, “Did you even give me a chance in 2007 against all the odds that I faced?” If you did not give me a chance – not because you are weak in your faith but because the odds I faced were enormous, the odds I confronted were frightening. Among the enlightened people around here, less than 20 per cent gave me a chance. A week to my election, I was declared a persona non grata here. I was declared wanted by all security agencies. I had to go underground. There was an order to arrest me from Abuja. I was not available to campaign one week to my election.
The prospect of winning an election is the ability to convince the electorate. I sneaked into Osun nine hours before the election. I entered Osun in disguise because Osun was taken over by soldiers. When I ran into the checkpoint of soldiers and they pointed their torches at me, I thought they would discover me but whether they recognised me or not, I didn’t know, all I knew was that they allowed my car to pass. It was one unusual car. I entered Osun in disguise.
Some people believe you bought your victory at the Appeal Court…
I don’t bother myself with such opinions Do they represent any value? You will be ridiculing yourself if you engage them.
It is expected of people with their background and experience to bellyache.
We should only sympathise with them for overrating themselves so much when they know, or they should know, that they are not worthy of the rating they gave themselves. If the seat of government – Osogbo – with the largest collection of citizens in this state rejected a person, where is the pride of that person in saying that an election was manipulated against him? Even by the result with which they claim they won; did their party win any polling booth in Osogbo? Let’s even talk about the reality of it. Let’s leave Court of Appeal out of it. This place where you’re talking to me now was where they were, this is Osogbo – an election took place here in Osogbo on April 14, 2007. The question we must always ask them is that where did they win here; with their abuse of power, murderous approach to it, more than a dozen of our agents were killed all over the place. I was denied and deprived of the right to campaign a week before the election, there was not a single polling booth they won here and that was how it was all over the state. The only thing they succeeded at doing was that they used the obscurity of some areas to manipulate the figures.
Is it true that you refused to move into the Governor’s office and Governor’s House because some fetish substances were found in those places
I didn’t enter any of the official quarters until the people in charge said the house and office were free and ready for me to use. I didn’t press for it, I didn’t push it. I cannot confirm such a story. I didn’t have such a report from any of those that handled the preparation of my office and residence.
If you look at the time of the year we so do, it coincides with the time of an event that is only today seriously celebrated in Cuba, China, North Korea and probably Vietnam. Of all the nations I mentioned, the only one with some link or identity with us is Cuba. There are Yoruba people in Cuba. Our traditional religion is popular among Cubans. In addition to the fact is that Cuba is one of the places where Workers Day, May 1, is celebrated with such a passion. It is a place, where all people who believe in the centrality of production as the basis of human existence must be interested in. Added to that fact is that in Cuba you have a large number of offspring of our people who were forcibly taken from here to that side of the world and Yoruba consciousness subsists there till today.
But Brazil has some links with Africa.
Yes, Brazil does but you cannot compare Brazil with Cuba in terms of cultural and identity affinities with Africa. These elements are stronger in Cuba than in Brazil. For both ideological as well as cultural affinity, Cuba is a worthy place of regular visit. To those who appreciate Man in his quest for freedom and dignity as well as cultural awareness – those are the reasons for always wanting to identify with Cuba.
Have you compensated the people whose buildings were demolished in Osun
We have been compensating people. It is ongoing. I don’t have the figures offhand but we have compensated quite a number of people.
What’s the true position of Islam on girl-child marriage
I am not an Islamic Scholar, kindly get one that can accurately deal with the subject.
There’s a portion of the Holy Quran that discourages taking of loan with interest. Why do you still borrow for the state despite your other activities that portray you as a devout Muslim
I am a Muslim leading a multi religious state based on constitutional democracy and not theocracy. Any other consideration is dubious and untenable.
Upon assumption of office, you accused your predecessor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, of running the state aground. Did Oyinlola really loot the state or were the accusations all about politics
History will certainly give the right verdict on all administrators of every society. At this point in time recriminations are puerile and un-necessary.
Can you sincerely account for Osun’s resources since you came to power
Yes.
People claim you’re trying to Islamise Osun gradually by your declaration of public holiday for Muslims. The declaration is not recognised at both state and federal levels. Are you trying to Islamise the state
If the adoption of Christian Gregorian Calendar since British colonialism has not turned Nigeria into a Christian Nation, I wonder how the recognition of 1st of Muharram which is the first day in Hegira ( Islamic ) Calendar will Islamise a state. There is no basis for this hysteria when one considers the cosmogony of Yoruba people. We are tolerant, accommodating and very liberal on spiritual matters. I doubt if there is any compound in Yorubaland without a fair distribution of the three major religious expressions; namely Christianity, Isese and Islam. For your information, we declared August 20th 2013 as a public holiday in recognition of its adoption by the traditional worshipers as Isese day and a day universally adopted as a day for indigenous religion. What is your classification of that? Kindly remember that Nigeria is a federation and our constitution is quite explicit on who declares public holidays.
What do you think would happen if a Christian emerges as governor of Osun in the next election
Osun has had a mixture of leaders with varying religious persuasions without any extraordinary development attending successions, since its creation in 1991. We are firm in our belief that the abiding grace of God, the will of the people and our outstanding commitment to the peace, progress and development of the state will earn us another term. Whoever emerges after we might have completed our constitutionally guaranteed eight-year tenure therefore, will seamlessly administer the state and contribute their quota.
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