Otunba(Dr) Adebayo Adebambo Odunowo 

By: Our Correspondent.

An APC Stalwart and Philanthropist in Ogun State, Otunba Dr. Adebayo Adebambo Odunowo has said he didn't join politics to contest for elective post but to contribute his own quota towards the development of the Country.

In an Exclusive interview with our Correspondent, Otunba Odunowo explains that he is more of a political strategist than a frontrunner.

Enjoy the Excerpts of the interview below;

Question: Can we meet you Sir.

Answer: My name is Aare Dr. Adebayo Adebambo Abdul-majeed Odunowo or Otunba Dr. Adebayo Adebambo Abdul-majeed Odunowo. I was born 57 years ago into a prominent family in Ijebu Ode, the Odunowo family. My Grandfather on my father side is a prominent man in Ijebu Ode and is one of the 7 Ijebu men that bought Ansar-ud-deen into Ijebu Ode in 1923, his name is Alhaji Biobaku Odunowo and my Grandfather from the mother side, who is Chief Zacchaeus Odusanya was the Aare Ona kankanfo of Ijebu Igbo. Our family lineage is royal; in fact, the present Beje Roku of Oke-Agbo is my maternal brother.

I am a man of many parts. I am a trained Animal Scientist, Business Administrator, photographer, Bible Scholar, among others; but first and foremost, I see myself as a helper of people because I believe in fairness.

I don't like when people are being looked down upon. If God has blessed you, no matter the amount of blessing either big or small, make sure you bless others out of it. I told God whatever you give me, I want to create a positive impact in the lives of people and that's what drove me to be a Philanthropist. I believe in hardwork and it’s hard work that has gotten me to where I am today.

Question: Many people say you are too refined and Academic to be a politician, don't you see this as a stumbling block to lead your Constituency or state in General?

Answer: Every positive attribute has its advantages; if you are too soft or too disciplined, people will talk. We can never please people but I believe that as long as I can please God Almighty and my conscience is clear, then I have tried my best. I leave the opinion of people to them.

Yes, it’s a fact that I am well read, but politics has two legs, comprising the core politicians and the technocrats. It is the technocrats that will help the core politicians actualize their political vision for the country. Once political victory has been achieved at the polls, the victors need the technocrats beside them to help turn their campaign promises into reality and for the benefit of all Nigerians. This is leadership and it has no discipline; leadership is influence.

This is how Politics is being played all over the world; so, it is a wrong notion for people to say that I am too refined to be in politics.

Looking at our country, a lot of us technocrats know the problem of our country and we know the solution but lack of political will has prevented us from towing the right path.

I often say our president made a mistake on his inauguration day by removing oil subsidy and floating the naira simultaneously. Both are a recipe for disaster; one year after that announcement more and more Nigerians have been economically impoverished. If I were the president, the first thing I would tackle would be the exchange rate of the Naira because it has a major effect on the micro- and macro- economic indices.

Right now, subsidy is back, if not we would have been buying fuel at the pump at 1300 naira per litre. So, what have we gained? The economy has been distorted.

Look at my industry - Agriculture, Boko Haram has prevented a lot of farmers from going to farm in the north; in the south kidnappers have prevented farmers from going to the farms too. We are now in the rainy season but a lot of farmers have refused to go to farm. Now look at price of farm produce, before the commencement of this administration, a trailer (30MT) of maize and soya were being sold at between 5 to 6 million naira, but now it’s about 25 to 27 million naira; likewise for other farm produces and yet the economist will tell us that inflation rate is about 27%.  

Question: what do you think caused this.

Answer: It is the Exchange rate and distortion in the Economy; you don't float the Naira or leave the Naira completely to market forces when there are no solid fundamentals to back it up.

Question: How do we curb the Boko Haram problem?

Answer: Security. Our Security needs to be overhauled; unfortunately, we always react, we don't pro-act. We have fine and highly intelligent men and women in the Nigeria Police Force today, but is their intelligence being utilized efficiently and effectively? I don’t think so. They don't have effective equipment to work with; in fact, a lot of things are wrong in this country.

Is not just at the level of leadership but down to followers. When people say our leaders are bad, I reply that the followers too are bad. Where Nigeria got to today is as a result of the role of every Nigerian including you and I played.

 Question: You have tasted the private sector, what is your experience in service delivery?

Answer: I was lucky to have worked with a multinational company in the private sector; I actually started my career in the private sector because I wasn’t interested in working in the public sector. In the private sector, our service delivery was topnotch, there was nothing like mediocrity. We make decisions based on fact and not on sentiment but in the public sector, it is not like that. In the private sector, you will still see service delivery because we believe that if we please our customers, they will come back again.

The Yoruba will say " Sebi ise Ijoba ni, owo osu ma pe"; you don't take this mentality into the private sector. In the private sector if you perform, you make progress, if you do not, you will be moved out, whereas in the public sector, whether you perform or not, you will always be there until you retire; the worst scenario is that you will not be given promotion. This mindset needs to change and for me the civil service is over bloated, it needs to be restructured.

Question: Some of your critics are saying that all the empowerment you are doing, is because you have ambition to Govern the state? True or false?

Answer: It is not true. I have always been a progressive and a foundation member of APC. If I have not been running for an elective post since 2014, is it now that I will run for office? I didn't join APC to run for an elective post; I am more of a political strategist and analyst than a front runner. I just want to contribute my own quota towards the development of our great country.

I don't believe in the politics of violence and bitterness nor do I believe in the politics of money. I have made it known to my people on several occasions that I didn't come back home to contest an election; my strength lies working behind the scenes, to utilize my intelligence and help those in Government to actualize their vision or campaign promises. This is why I won’t reject government appointments or opportunities to become Vice President or Deputy Governor.

If, however, my people say that they want me to run for office and it’s what they really want, then we have to sit down and talk about it exhaustively because there are going to be conditions. However, as I am talking to you, I still don't have any ambition to vie for political post.

Now to the issue of my empowerment. I have been empowering the widows and the youth for so many years, it was when I returned home to my Local Government that I decided to make it public. Moreover, the love and affection showered on me by my people at Odogbolu Local Government, further encouraged me not to relent in my philanthropic activities.

Question: How will you rate the Performance of the Current administration in Ogun State?

Answer: The Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has tried his best; no doubt, he has performed creditably well but there is still a lot of room for improvement.

Question: The Judgement by the Supreme Court on Local Government Autonomy? Your Reaction.

Answer: I am happy, it’s a judgement that is long overdue. In fact, when I was campaigning for His Excellency, Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel, one of his campaign promises is that he will work assiduously to ensure that the Senate and President would grant the 774 Local Government their full autonomy; and it came to pass: nevertheless, the role of the judiciary cannot be undervalued in this cause.

Local government autonomy is very good, we can now bring development directly and close to the people and the people on their own part can hold their Local Government Chairman accountable. It is a welcome development.

Question: What is the most memorable day in your life? Positive or Negative.

Answer: I have had so many memorable days in my life but I think that the three that stood out was the day I got admitted into the University of Ibadan to study Animal science, the day I had my first child, and the day my company was adjudged the best SMME all over Africa in 2007 at South Africa.

Question: How do you relax sir?

Answer: I am a very restless individual, I don't like being idle; even when I am alone, you will see me playing spider solitaire games on my phone. I am not an introvert neither am I an extrovert, I am in between; moreover, I am more of a family man.

Question: Lastly, Your Advice for the Youths?

Answer:  The youths should imbibe hard work and patience as one of their core values as well as ensuring that they preserve and not distort their family name because a good name is better than gold and silver. With these, they will surely get to their destination.