By Ayodele Abere.
The Candidate for the House of Representatives in the next year National Assembly Election in Ekiti South Constituency 1 of Ekiti State, Air Vice Marshall Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo (rtd), has said that his decision to vie for the position was burn out of his zeal to represent the people of his constituency. That’s Ekiti South Constituency 1, comprising Ikere, Ise/Orun and Ekiti South West. This he said while interacting with news men in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital.
According to the military turned politician, “I am going to represent the people of my constituency, not to represent myself. I am going to have listening ear to whatever they want. When I get there, I am going to be in constant interaction with them so that I can know what they want and how to go about it. I have gone round, I have met with the elders and I have told them what I want to do for them”.
As the saying goes that experience prepares one for a better future, the contestant explained that based on the level of his experience in the military and the level of training he had, he said he stands the better chance to represent his people better.
In his word, “I would address education and I have started distributing notebooks across the schools in my constituency. I have been spending my retirement benefit just to better my people. I also have some students on scholarship and that’s exactly what I will be doing. I have also involved in the security of some communities in the State. When I get to the House, these among others are what I am going to intensify to be sure that at least, a conducive environment is there for our people.
“I have offered myself to my people to serve them and I want them to believe that I am going to serve them diligently. I am not going there to do something in cognisance to what somebody else has done before. I am going there to be who I am and to be pragmatic about things”. Adding that he would look into who to improve the economy.
Speaking on his emergence as the candidate for the Party in his constituency, Ojuawo said when he saw what was happening in Ekiti after his retirement from the military, he said he felt he could contribute politically.
“I met with the former Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and I told him I want to join politics for me to be a further help to the people of the State and he said go ahead”. The primary was conducted and I won unopposed. Said Ojuawo.
“Ever since I have joined, in Ise-Ekiti alone, I have graded about seven farmstead roads and I have also repaired all the faulty bore holes in the community including the ones in the farmsteads. I also did culverts because I owe the community a duty to pay back because they have always been there for me”.
While reacting to the recently commissioned Cargo Airport in the State, Ojuawo who is the Technical Adviser for the project said “what we have done now is that we have a terminal for the passengers, the Cargo terminal is ongoing because the terminal is going to be built by the Federal Government”. Adding that the award process has been concluded and that the contractor might move to the site anytime soon.
“Airport is rated based on the facilities available, right now, what we have is for category five. As we start to grow on it, the classification will grow and more can be accommodated. But before April next year, God willing, the Airport will be fully operational and aircrafts will begin to operate. There is an Airline already promised to make its inaugural flight out of Ekiti on Easter Day, next year.
“The level we are now is to start doing MoU with all the regulatory agencies and with all the airlines also. We are going to have flying school here in Ekiti, Air Force is coming and a UAB unit is going to be established in Ekiti State. Ekiti is lucky and Fayemi has done well for even having the concept that Ekiti should have a Airport. The State is going to be like that town on a hill top that cannot be hidden. This is my honest wish and prayer for Ekiti”. He concluded.
Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, was born in Ise-Ekiti in Ise/Orun Local Government Area of Ekiti State in May 10th,1963. He had his elementary education in Ise-Ekiti before proceeding to Ayede Grammar School for his secondary education in 1976 and passed out in 1981. After his secondary education, he worked briefly with Vitafoam Nig. Ltd in Lagos between 1981 and 1982. He later proceeded to the Air force as a potential pilot in 1982. He underwent several trainings both in Nigeria and outside the country with outstanding performances in all the trainings including academics. He had a very beautiful career in the Air force before his retirement as Air Vice Marshall in May, this year. Based on his contributions in the Nigerian Air Force while in the service, he was called by the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi immediately he retired from service to come and help in the State Cargo Airport project and he obliged because of his interest in Ekiti and his love for his people. He was appointed as a Technical Adviser on the Airport Project which is now a big plus for Ekiti State having done a successful test flight at the Airport as the pilot who did the first flight confessed that since he has been flying, that has been his best runway ever landed on.