The Chairman of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju with assertion, stated that he knows that the state’s Governor Seyi Makinde will not manipulate the fast-approaching local government elections.
He said that the governor has never hidden his doggedness in ensuring matters of polls, are done according to the people’s choice; freely and fairly.
On December 14, 2020, Aare Olagunju who will be sworn in as one of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria, revealed all these while featuring on a weekly radio show, ‘Parrot Xtra Hour on Radio’ anchored by Olayinka Agboola and broadcast live on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State’s Oluyole 98.5 FM Ibadan, the state’s capital on Tuesday evening.
Olagunju added that the Seyi Makinde-led government is committed to ensuring the conduct of ethical local government election in the state while affirming that a fair playing ground will be created for all candidates not paying attention to party affiliations.
“Those doubting His Excellency’s sincerity will be shocked because old things have passed away. I don’t believe he will do like others. Engineer Seyi Makinde is a sincere man who is dead serious to change the status quo. He said he will make sure the election is free. I believe him. I will never preside over a one-sided election. Why will I want my name to be dragged in the mud? I have absolute faith in God that He will be with us as we carry out our assignment.
Olagunju also revealed how he got to become the chairman of OYSIEC saying “I am not His Excellency’s friend. Yes, we attended the University of Lagos together but we never met.
He just summoned me one day and I went to meet him only to be told that I should become the chairman of OYSIEC. I am a complete bar man, a committed member of the Nigerian Bar Association. I have served the bar in different capacities. I recently left office as the Secretary-General of the NBA. So, you will understand where I am coming from.”
Olagunju then went ahead to guarantee residents of the state of the impartial nature of OYSIEC under him while accentuating that all votes of the electorate are valid and must count during the whole electoral process.
He said “We are going to be transparent in the electoral processes and all votes of the people must count, we are not going to allow politicians to induce us with baits as we are determined to conduct a credible election. God will uphold us.”
He, however, authorized all politicians to allow internal democracy to exist in their various political parties adding that this is actually where democracy stems from. He maintained that democracy is very important at the grassroots level as it will hasten widespread development across the state.
The yet-to-be-sworn-in SAN also spoke about the dispensation of justice in Nigeria, at length, and in detail.
According to him “the challenges facing the judiciary in the country is known to us all. All I can say here is that I will wish to call for a concerted effort from the stakeholders to rise to the challenges. The government, the counsels and the bench must all be involved in the search for solutions”.