One of the newly-elected members of Ekiti State House of Assembly, MRS BOSEDE OLOWOOKERE, representing Efon Constituency 1 in Efon Local Government Area of Ekiti State, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC speaks on she would represent her people in this special interview with AYODELE ABERE. Excerpts:
Can you introduce yourself with a brief insight to your background?
I am Bosede Olowookere. The elected candidate of the Ekiti State House of Assembly in Efon Local Government Area of Ekiti State, under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). I am a good native of Efon. I was born and brought up in Efon Local Government. I had both my elementary and secondary education in Efon. My tertiary education was outside Ekiti State.
Ever since I have graduated, I only went to Lagos briefly and later returned to Efon to think of what I can do to encourage my people. I am the owner of the only cold room in Efon. I have a depot because if the people of my constituency need anything, they prefer going to Ilesha, Osun State. I now said why not try something that would get my people more encouraged in Efon? And that’s part of why they love me. I live among them and my parents live with them.
How would you describe the just concluded State House of Assembly election in Ekiti, especially in your local government?
Well, to the best of my knowledge, I will say the election was peaceful because when I went to cast my vote, I discovered that many people joined the queue. They all voted and the election went smoothly and peacefully. Very free and fair.
How about the turnout?
The turnout in my polling unit was quite impressive and other few places I heard their reports within the local government. Though, I learnt that the turnout was low in some other polling units.
Can you tell us the exact time you cast your vote?
I voted around 1:00pm at unit 03, ward 04 in Owode area of Efon Local Government.
Having been elected, what type of legislative house should we expect in the State?
Thank God I won the election. I won the election because I am well loved by my people within the constituency. My emergence even as a candidate then was a thing of joy to all of them including our traditional ruler. By the grace of God, I am going to be one of the honourable members that will represent not only my constituency but to represent Ekiti well. I will be one of the people that will give Mr. Governor a rest of mind and I am going to be one of the people that will seek good dividends of democracy for the people of my constituency by presenting the needs of my constituents. Of course, in the house, we will look into how we could re-orientate our people to make laws that would bring about convenience to our people in Ekiti in general.
What should the people of Efon precisely expect?
To have a very good road network. There is a particular one, alanaka/Ororo road, that Mr. Governor should look into it. I am going to re-present that when I get to the house. Apart from good road network in Efon, we don’t have good reception of radio. It will be fine if we could have a booster station in Efon. So that our people can always listen to what is going on in the State. Mr .Governor is really doing well within the few months he has been in the office, for people to hear much of what he is doing. We are also looking for a way to have a higher institution in Efon because most of our people are farmers and they want something that could make most of them to stay more in the town than the farm because when they go to their various farms on Tuesday, they would return on Saturday and this makes the town look scanty most of the times. We want something that would improve the economy of the constituency the more.
How about employment issue?
You know that employment issue is a general problem. One of the things I know for sure is that ever since our party (APC), has been in government, they normally employ people across all the sixteen Local Government Areas of the State in which Efon is not excluded. So I believe that the present government is going to improve more on that and by the time such opportunity comes, I am going to present the interest of my local government because Efon people are well read. We have so many youths that are graduates and that are looking for employment opportunity. Skills acquisition is also part of what we are going to look into.
How close will you be to your people when you get to the house?
A good politician has to be a grassrooter because every politics starts from the grassroot. If you stay far from your people, I would say you don’t have love or passion for your Constituency. I have always been in the midst of my people. They have free access to me and that’s what encouraged them to vote for me. By the grace of God, I will always be with my people when I get there. Even though, my office will be in Ado-Ekiti, that won’t be a barrier or an excuse.