Mrs Khairat Animashaun Ajiboye ( KAA) is a leading politician in Lagos State. A few months back she joined the Lagos governorship race, on the platform of APC, but was persuaded to step down.
Since then she has decided to work for the party to ensure a resounding victory for her party at the state and federal levels.
She is one of those who feel unhappy at the loss her party recorded in Osun State. She is also in firm support of the choice of Sen. Shettima, as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s running mate.
A few hours back, CityPeople Magazine got her to talk about the political developments in Osun State and how the Tinubu/Shettima ticket will play out.
What does she make of the political situation in the country right now, we asked her?
“My feel of the political situation may be divided into segments. Generally, I can say that it’s a mixture of deep-seated concern and fear, on the part of ALL stakeholders.”
“For the less privileged or the low-income earner, plus the middle class, who have been shockingly thrown into the lower class, by the overall system, they are not leaving anything unturned to get a deserving leader or a set of leaders that will take the country and them, out of the inflation ridden state of our economy, the high insecurity, underemployment, and unemployment, ASSU strike, and devaluation of our educational system among others!
“They fear the fact that they have to do much more and work harder for very less, in order to care for themselves and their families where appropriate. The concept of community support and love may be fast eroding and we all must put a stop to it.”
The Rich, The Connected and the Technocrats may feel that their reach of ‘power’ is not guaranteeing their perceived safety anymore, hence they may feel the heart throbbing pain of insecurity, where they no longer feel comfortable driving their luxurious cars or exhibiting their affluence.”
“Of course, they also feel the brunt of the exchange rate, the clogged drainages and waterways, the traffic and the infrastructural decay where necessary, and more importantly is that they now have to ‘voluntarily feed’ those that have been thrown into sudden poverty if they can sustain some more level of kindness. This class subconsciously seeks a renewed state that works for all, even if they still continue to get the better share.”
“And for the political class, they are bringing up permutations and consulting deeply about the situation of the country and how they can fix it. Some are sincere, while some are not. Some are wolves in sheep’s skin, while some are real politicians that care for their constituents.”
“They may have ‘cards’ they play like in the ‘old’, they may need to actually engage the people and demystify politics. They need to urgently empower, re-educate, and support our people from all climes NOW. The politicians also feel the pain as well, they just have to put a real face to it, after all, we have families, friends and we live in communities too. The politicians should create access.”
“So, in answering your question I dare say, that the ethnic and religious cards that we have played for so long is coming around to bite us. The fact that we may have elected people who chose to be silenced in collectivity at the peril of our people is a cause for deep concern.”
” I also found out that these issues are not just with the powerful, but also with the powerless or less privileged.”
” The political situation is in need of a rejig where everyone will feel needed, from our market women, to our youths and to our younger generations.”
How does she see the recent victory of the PDP at the Osun Governorship elections?
“The election in OSUN was expected to be keenly contested. Me and the APC crew are devastated by the loss, because Governor Oyetola was good to the Workers and planned to do more, but when I also saw the happiness exhibited by Governor Adeleke, Davido, and all, I could feel the taste of victory and hard work.”
“Yes, victory is sweet. A lot of lessons have been learned especially when the very classy and erudite political class may have forgotten the basics of building bridges and consciously and consistently catering to the needs of their people.”
“There are great programmes that we must put together for the benefit of our people, regardless of who belongs or who doesn’t. It should be our mantra to work for our people and be seen to work for our people.”
We saw her recent views on the choice of Sen. Shettima as running mate to Asiwaju Tinubu. Does she think the combination of the 2 will be a sure win for the APC?
“We have 4 major divides for the Presidential contest right now: Tinubu, Atiku, Obi and Kwankwaso.”
“Everyone is battling for a good share of the votes of each bloc and the soul of the country.
I said that Borno State has suffered immensely since the abductions began and fast forward to today’s complicated and complacent situations we face across the country. Borno has been one of the most peaceful areas of our country with different religious and cultural elements. They didn’t have issues about which religion was worshiped and by whom. The only challenge was transporting ourselves there to enjoy the calm, and beauty.”
I am positive that there are classified data and information to show the actual culprits that started this ‘war’ and all the enablers that are taking advantage of it. Hence that region can spew the Vice Presidential candidate in the person of Governor Shettima to console their people and to move the country forward.”
” I am not oblivious of other factors. I however also know that when I visited Abuja years back, during the time of President Jonathan, we had a majority of compatriots from the Eastern extraction dominate most or almost all the strategic positions of the country leaving one other side bare.”
“We experienced the same thing with President Buhari. There are strategies and there are stratagems. Our ethnic political leaders are playing this card and neglecting what is sacrosanct- the lives of our people!
“For the regular guy in the streets,I believe what is important to them is the dignity of life, property, good wages, and a fair structural system that gives leverage to anyone willing to aspire to any position in Nigeria.”
With the experience that Asiwaju has gathered over the years, I still believe that a Shettima can add value to the ticket and we can take victory to the people.”
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