TUNDE OLADUNJOYE

Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State, Tunde Oladunjoye, speaks to BANKOLE TAIWO on the controversy surrounding the distribution of palliatives released to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal in the state

How do you assess the handling of the oil subsidy removal palliatives in Ogun State so far?

The template used in Ogun State is probably the best among the rest so far. It involved all stakeholders such as Oba, Baales, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Christian Association of Nigeria, League of Imams and Alfas, market women and men, CDCs/CDAs and community leaders.

What do you make of the growing complaints online by some individuals claiming a 10kg bag of rice was given to over 100 residents? Can you share the modalities for the distribution of these palliatives?

It’s pure mischief. Have you not noticed that the first video was from the Obafemi Owode LG and by a CDA leader who later recanted? Why will you do such a hatchet job and later recant? Have you also noticed that the second video is from the same LG and also from another CDA leader? That should tell you something. You should then ask, why the same local government? Why the CDA? Why the CDA out of all the stakeholders? Distribution to critical stakeholders was not handled by government officials; it was the representatives of stakeholders that were asked to handle items meant for their members. It is therefore unfortunate if CDAs cannot be transparent in getting the palliatives to their members.

Ogun State has the best template; beneficiaries were not asked to go and gather somewhere in the sun to collect the palliatives for photo ops, the items were taken to their polling booths and their doorsteps. The list and phone numbers of beneficiaries were sourced in advance. The bags were branded with a state logo to ensure the quality of content and prevent possible adulteration. ‘Not for Sale’ was inscribed on the bag to ensure it did not find its way into the market. The government paid for the transportation of the palliatives from the state capital to the 20 local government headquarters and then to the 236 wards of Ogun State. All other stakeholders have openly commended the government at different times for a job well done and the positive feedback is on record.

Still on the palliatives, don’t forget that there are other components of palliatives that are unique to Ogun State. The payment of N10,000 transport allowance to workers and N5,000 to pensioners, which started in July and was initially supposed to end by September, but the governor has just extended it by another six months. Ogun State was the first in Nigeria to embrace vehicles with Compressed Natural Gas, even before the removal of fuel subsidy. That shows that we have a creative, forward-looking governor with great foresight to help the people.

What has been the involvement of the party in the distribution of the palliatives?

The party is not involved in the distribution. It is not a party or partisan affair. The palliatives were targeted at the poorest of the poor regardless of political, religious, tribal, or ethnic considerations, or sexuality. Even government officials were not allowed to handle the distribution as the consignments were handed to the representatives of respective stakeholders.

What is your take on the allegation that the opposition is behind the growing condemnation of the palliatives distribution?

If you look at the point I raised earlier, you will know that mischief is involved. The mischief is being spread by the opposition, which is not unexpected anyway with the way we play opposition politics around here, especially after the woeful loss at the election petition tribunals where the opposition lost about 26 petitions to our party, including the governorship petition for which they had already picked uniform-cloth and planned to kill cows and pigs to celebrate their anticipated victory, which turned out to be highly delusional.

With the inauguration of the new cabinet members for the second term of Governor Dapo Abiodun, what is your charge to them and what should the people of Ogun State be expecting?

The new appointees were urged by the party to live up to expectations and cooperate fully with the governor in building our further together agenda. The people of Ogun State will get the best dividends of democracy in the annals of the state. Our governor is a divine project; the more you oppose him, the more he continues to progress. Whatever stone you throw at him, God uses the stones as steps for Prince Dapo Abiodun to climb higher.

Look at the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta highway, for which the government has been so much pilloried, though it is a federal road; the road has finally been transferred to the state government to construct and toll. It was a battle of over four years, but the governor did not give up. It is victory at last and we must thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the transfer of the road to Ogun State. Our people are grateful and joyous.

The agitation has been about cutting down the cost of governance, but Governor Abiodun’s set to create additional four ministries for Energy, Minerals Resources, ICT and Digital Economy as well as the Ministry of Youths from Sports. How this situation be reconciled?

We can’t wait for these ministries to be created. They will certainly add to the state’s humongous revenue that has never been witnessed before in the history of Nigeria.

Why did you recently instituted funds for families of deceased journalists in Ogun State? What do you wish to achieve with this and what is your message to Nigerians on supporting causes like this?

Serving humanity has always been ingrained in me even right from my teenage days. To the glory of God, it has become my daily preoccupation. The recently initiated ‘Ogun NUJ Support Fund for Families of Late Journalists’ was an initiative that I had always wanted to accomplish. Whenever we lose a member of the union, we are eager to print T-shirts, do a candlelight procession, and make emotional speeches at the funeral, but after the burial, do we care about the deceased’s family? Do we call them, visit them or ask about their challenges? For our late colleagues, do we find out how the families are coping, how the children are attending schools, those that need jobs and all that? I try my little best. To some of the widows, I send my widow’s mite, I don’t even know them or where they stay but I use some of our colleagues to get their account details. Those I know closely; I remember them during festive seasons. But I felt our union, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, should do more and should show active concern about the families of our late colleagues. I drew inspiration from Mr Richard Akinnola, who for years has been doing similar things at an individual level in Lagos.

To my surprise, immediately after the news of my initial donation went to town, many people have been expressing willingness to support the initiative, even from the Presidency. I have received messages of commendation and prayers. In fact, a good friend of mine, Lanre Sodipo, within a few hours, supported my initial N250,000 with N100,000. It was soul-lifting.