THAT OUR COMMUNITY MAY HAVE A VOICE FOR CHANGE AND IMPACT: Being the Statement of Press delivered by Dr. Eniola AJAYI, the APC House of Representatives (Ado/Irepodun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency) Candidate at Inaugural Campaign Press Conference on 26th December 2014.
Gentlemen of the Press,
I am humbled to be amidst you today, as a feminist-comrade in the course of re-shaping our National polity and political space. It is no fallacy that the best time to collectively save the Nigeria political system is no other time than now, if we take a cursory look at our fiscal federalism, security and the spate of rising poverty in our land; it is indeed worrisome!
For the records, Dr. Eniola AJAYI is my name, an ocular pathologist, optometrist and a servant of the public. I had the opportunity to serve Ekiti State as Commissioner in two different portfolios: Firstly, as Honourable Commissioner for Education Science and Technology, and secondly as Honourable Commissioner for Environment. Most importantly, after a keenly contested free and fair primary election between men of high political wit and candour, I had the choice of majority of our party (APC) Faithfull’s votes and thereby returned as the Candidate of the All Progressives’ Congress for the Ado/Irepodun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency Election, scheduled to hold on the 14th of February 2015. It will also interest you to know that I may probably be the only female candidate of our great party in the south west.
Gentlemen, as a patriotic Nigerian, I have painstakingly taken my time to analyse the problems facing this nation within my closed doors, and I have come of the accurate finale that only our legislative system can restore and reposition the Nation through robust and vigorous parliamentary bill presentation, deliberation and adoptions. It is a statement of fact that the law-making arm (Legislative) of any nation/government is the mitochondrion of its existence and death; thus, if indeed we are interested in the unity, sanctity, and development of this political system of our nation, intellectuals of firm principles and progressive ideological leaning, must rise up to take up the challenges and correct the wrongs. It is on this background that I volunteer myself to serve the people of my Federal Constituency (Ado/Irepodun/Ifelodun), my dear State, Ekiti State and my country, Nigeria.
One key thing that I learnt in the period of my soul searching over the years as to why Nigeria is where we are today is that we do not rightly value and appreciate our country men. It is like, being a Nigerian does not count for anything. We don’t seem to consider our fellow citizens in our individual or collective decisions or actions as a people. I would like to see what I call the CITIZENS CHARTER, where the interest and the rights of the weakest in our links are protected. The life of every Nigerian- young or old, man or woman, strong or weak, in the North or South should count for something. I want us to be true CITIZENS of Nigeria. Every life is important and crucial to the well being of Nigeria.
My inspiration to contest in this election come February isn’t borne out of the singular fact that I am a feminist- who believes that the voice of the women must be heard in every society, neither is it limited to the fact that I have a vast experience in the private, public and military sectors of administration, but it is on the foundation that it is time for our National Policies to be reviewed; It is time for us as a Nation to review our Fiscal Federalism System, It is time we review our Strategies for Job Creation and Employment therefore reducing the threatening peace and security of the nation which is as a result of the intimidating unemployed army that the Nation parades, It is time we legally institutionalise the percentage of women in Public Sector, It is time we review our National Education Policies to contemporary times and functional National Systems, It is time we address the unending spate of terror, It is time we effect via robust legislation workable plans to cut down cost of governance and curb corruption in our land, It is time we put in place social security plans for our aged and the vulnerable in our society, It is time we deregulate our National Economy, It is time we protect our Natural Habitat and Ecosystem, most essentially, It is time we ensured that the principles of the Federal Character is pursued to the letters not selectively reserving the juicy positions for a geopolitical zone and tribe.
It is in these interests of my good people that I believe I would win the election with the backing of my people and the God I serve. I cannot undermine the fact that it wouldn’t be an easy ride to the Federal House of Representatives, but I am confident that our programmes and track record of diligence, hard work, virtue and sense of purpose in the private, public and military sectors will speak for us.
Presently, I am proud to inform you gentlemen of the press that my team is confident in victory and thus commenced the processes of writing necessary bills that are considered urgent in re-shaping our country. Aside my duties as a legislator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I shall also in my little way and in the dictates of the ideological predilection of our great party APC, ensure that the government of Ekiti State shall have her way through in facilitating the essential infrastructures needed from the Federal Government. I shall ensure that the good people of Ado/Irepodun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency shall greatly benefit from constituency project scheme of the Federal Government, which shall be a result of a town hall dialogue approach before being facilitated on behalf of the people.
In conclusion, I hope to accomplish these dreams through quality and accountable representation. Again, I repeat, I am contesting for this seat, in the interest of my people.
Thank You.
Dr. Eniola AJAYI (@DrEniolaAjayi).
APC Candidate, Ekiti Central I (Ado/Irepodun/Ifelodun) Federal House of Representatives
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