The Coordinator of the Grassroot Golden Ladies (GGL), Ibitoye Sadiat Oyedoyin In an interview with reporters, speaks on the 2023 presidential election; the chances of the PDP; the activities of Grassroot Golden Ladies, and the performances of the current administration in Kwara, among other sundry issues.
Excerpts:
Crew: Would you mind giving us a brief hint of your background taking account of your birth, education, and other things?
Ibitoye: I am Ibitoye Sadiat Oyedoyin. I was born over three decades ago to parents I am super proud of because of their efforts in toiling hard for me to be here today. Alhamdulillah.
I had my primary and secondary school education in Ilorin. I attended Kwara State Polytechnic for my Ordinary National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Science Laboratory Technology and graduated in 2011. I proceeded to Kwara State University to earn a degree in Microbiology and thereby, cracking for myself the glass ceiling of HND/B.Sc. dichotomy, which has qualified me as a Laboratory Technician & Microbiologist respectively.
Thereafter, the firebrand in me wouldn’t let me wait for any white-collar job that is not forthcoming, as I immediately ventured into entrepreneurship. Today, I am a proud owner of a small-scale enterprise and a grassroots politician. I am happily married and blessed with kids.
Crew: What is your group all about?
Ibitoye: Grassroot Golden Ladies, GGL, is a network of intelligent and committed young ladies, who came together with a straight mission: to support the presidential ambition of Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki; to support the PDP at state level via aggressive mobilization; and to sensitize/enlighten the people at grassroots on the need to participate in the ongoing INEC registration exercise and also the PDP e-registration. We understand that supporting the our party to reclaim power will rescue the sinking national economy, and steer us to a much better path.
Crew: Was the group floated before Saraki’s presidential ambition was made known to the public or after? How was it formed and who are the people in this group?
Ibitoye: Yes, it has been around before his public declaration of the presidential ambition. In fact, one of our key goals is to advocate for his emergence as the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party and subsequently win the election come 2023, In Sha Allah. We all know that Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has been nursing the ambition to be president for a long time. We got ourselves ready to back him since there were speculations that he will run again for the 2023 elections. It is not just about the party, it is about the person. He is the transformer Nigerians have been waiting for. GGL will ensure an aggressive mobilization across the grassroots for this cause. He is one we all believe in and we are supporting him every step of the way.
The formation of GGL is impressive. Our members are drawn from various local governments of the state on the basis of interest and like-mindedness. All are vibrant, energetic and very bright ladies who are fully supporting the PDP and Dr Bukola Saraki. We don’t just gather an assembly of ladies for the fun of it. We are spreading to every nook and cranny of the state, to ensure PDP reclaim Kwara and Nigeria come 2023 by the grace of God almighty.
Crew: How is the group funded? Or should we say who is bankrolling your group?
Ibitoye: This funny question just reminds me of former Aviation Minister, Chief Fani-Kayode. I won’t reply you by his standard anyway, I will only say it has been God all the way. GGL is bankrolled through the resources of one, the strength of all. Grassroot Golden Ladies does not enjoy funding from any individual outside the group, nor we form the group to extort anyone. GGL engages directly with youths from across the local communities in the state to ensure their support for Dr Bukola Saraki and the PDP. We built the house on truth; equity; fairness; love and passion not material-oriented or monetary benefits. We ensure our mission is clearly stated to new entrants to avoid conflicts of interest. No other purpose than voluntary support for Saraki leadership and strengthening the party via our (sensitization/reorientation) activities. It is our hope that victory for Saraki/PDP is a victory for all of us.
Crew: Why should Nigerians vote PDP/Saraki in 2023?
Ibitoye: The agitation is not far-fetched. Can’t you see the situation in the country? I remember in 2015, the Naira weakened and fell to N200 to $1. Everybody, including myself, said, “Jonathan had to go”. It was such a terrible thing to happen in the country at that time. Today, if $1 became N200 won’t the whole nation celebrate? I’m a business owner, I deal with food items, this has availed me with the opportunity to understand the economic hardship the country is faced with. The APC-led administration has already plunged the country into many crises. The economy of Nigeria today is nothing to write home about. Insecurity/insurgency has become a norm in our daily news. The unemployment rate is on the high side. Health and education sectors are deteriorating. Even as a substantive minister of petroleum, the President has not been able to manage the oil sector effectively to the benefit of average Nigerians, not to talk of management of the entire sectors. The mines and steel; agriculture; communications; aviation; and other important sectors of our economy are sick. It is greatly disheartening that we overrated him, thinking he’s our saviour. Hence, we are no longer throwing our support behind someone who has not delivered. We need a courageous man with intellectual capacity and better understanding of the economic drive to rescue this country from collapse and reset it. Saraki has been tested and trusted with leadership in the past and we all knew what magic touch he gave to every space he has occupied. We need him to steer this country and bring forth a leadership that will give hope and quality of living to all Nigerians. By God’s grace, APC will be voted out, come 2023 and the presidential candidate with the best track record Abubakar Bukola Saraki will take his place. l can boast that he is the most qualified person to pull the nation out of the quagmire that the All Progressive Congress (APC) has placed the country since 2015.
Crew: So, what are the setbacks you have encountered in selling Saraki to Kwarans/Nigerians?
Ibitoye: No setback because Kwarans/Nigerians have common sense. You know somebody by their works, not by their carefully edited speeches. Saraki is qualified in all ramifications. The acceptability of his candidature across the board comes in term with our offer which makes the gospel easy for us to propagate. If truly the youths are the determinant factor of electoral victory today in the world and Nigeria is not an exception; then I can state without exaggeration that Saraki is the next president of this country. For GGL, we have been enjoying smooth sales of this product called Saraki because it is a viable one.
Crew: Some Nigerians are talking about integrity as a selling point for any presidential candidate. Isn’t this a concern for many of you who are his apologists?
Ibitoye: No it’s is not a problem at all. The APC cannot find anything against Saraki. They have exhausted their arsenal when it comes to political persecution, media slanders, malicious intrigues and subjection to public court. The numbers of ill-conceived cases instituted against him by the APC over the fear of the unknown were enough to crimple him politically if truly he’s a corrupt public officer. They were all mischievous political conspiracies to wreck him, while his clean slate exonerated him in all. People should stop hiding behind a finger to harm us the more.. “Nigerians don’t need anyone with frivolous INTEGRITY again but CAPACITY!”. Calling the dog a bad name just to hang it doesn’t change anything, anymore, people are wiser now. Can you name one proven allegation against Saraki? Buhari is seen as incorruptible? Don’t be deceived. If corruption has been found under him, doesn’t that mean he himself is not clean? He is the head of government. None of these can be done without his knowledge. And if he claims not to be aware then he’s not capable to lead. That’s why we have resorted to ‘real capacity not pseudo integrity’.
Crew: Some Nigerians see Saraki as being desperate about this presidential bid. What is your take on this?
Ibitoye: If you say he’s determined I will concur with you, but desperation, far from Saraki’s political ideology! Get to know him, you’ll understand how soft and consummate he is. This I can confirm to you through my private meeting and phone conversation with him. If he’s a desperate politician, 2019 general elections wouldn’t have been as peaceful in Kwara as they were. He is a leader per excellence. He knows what he wants and is ready to offer what it entails to obtain what he desires, that’s all. You know sometimes you have to be very tough to attain leadership position, but that doesn’t mean when you get there you shouldn’t be kind to the people being led. If anything, what that desperation shows is that he is determined to progress this country. He is contesting for the voiceless, for every Nigerian from the smallest to the greatest, to reset Nigeria and get it back to where it needs to be. Saraki is a game-changer who knows how to get Nigeria working again, and he is determined to get this nation out of poverty and mismanagement.
Crew: Let’s have a recap of Dr Saraki’s 59th birthday?
Ibitoye: We are still basking in the euphoria of the birthday ceremony. It was funfair all through. It left us with an unforgettable memories. Everyone needs to celebrate the gift of life. Dr Saraki’s birthday is a celebration of gift of life and accomplishments. A man of many branches. A Medical Doctor, a former banker, a former Special Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic, a former Governor, a former Senator and president of the 8th Senate, a responsible father/husband, a philanthropist, a political player and leader of note, a game changer and builder of human capacity. He is indeed, an accomplisher. We are in no doubt that this last birthday has sent a strong signal to the other side that Saraki’s name goes beyond what an opportunist can crush or carpet. He enjoys the relevance, love and support of his people anytime. Most of the activities/programs held during the birthday were voluntarily designed by his followers, my group inclusive, to celebrate the iconic element in him, and that tells you more about the acceptability he enjoys back home in Kwara. What more can one say than to pray for a longer life of good health and greater accomplishments in years to come.
Crew: Away from national politics, what is your assessment of the Kwara State Government?
Ibitoye: The current administration in Kwara has what I called propaganda in multitude and has failed to face the business of governance since inception. All they’ve been throwing in the table is blame card. This is not a political statement. Even a political novice can decrypt this administration is up to nothing but vendetta. It is clear as day, and all they give is excuses, downsizing the 16 years of PDP rule in the state. Having forgotten that, it was their acclaimed inequalities of the PDP that brought them into power. The hue and cry that administrations before this were not doing enough made electorates tried the alternative which has offered little as you can see citizens are now yearning earnestly for PDP to come back and reclaim Kwara. This government has reneged on so many promises it made and embarking on white elephant projects just to tomfool the populace. Apologists of the government once said the unfulfilled promises we complain about were not literally made by him. Then we ask them: are your party’s promises and manifestos not yours anymore? What I know is that ‘a bad party manager can’t be a good administrator’. They promised to change the narrative, saying things would be done differently to progress the state, while castigating previous administrations. Any change downhill has a name, it is called failure. Any change that makes a state or organisation not to meet its goal is called failure. Even a farmer in the village knows he must deliver. He cannot be on the farm all day and come home with excuses. He knows his wife won’t cook with excuses. His children cannot eat excuses. Where is the minimum wage they promised our workers during campaign? Where is the security of lives and property when kidnapping has become the order of the day in some parts of the state? People can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed. Why is this government still operating the same KWIRS – the Kwara Inland Revenue Service they condemned the establishment and conduct? Why haven’t they conducted local government elections two and half years into the administration? Where is the rule of law; visa-à-vis the suspension of duly elected council and dissolution of statutory boards/commissions? Where is the transparency in the spending of taxpayers’ money? Where is the fundamental human right when citizens are no longer free to constructively criticize the government they voted for? Where is the value for sustainability when devaluation is brought upon public infrastructures like state banquet hall – being used for wedding ceremonies, stadium football pitch – being messed up just to rubbish the glorious legacies of the past administration? The government is going about renovating old infrastructures built by administrations he claimed they didn’t do anything and adding the feeble new ones to show the gullible as achievements. He comfortably gives excuses like human beings are not suffering as a result of his lack of performance. It is very bewildering that he is even thinking of running for a 2nd term when his first term performance can’t justify the amount of monies received by his government. We have seen his best and we say his best is not enough to take us to the next level. Reclamation is a must task!
Crew: How prepared is your group for the enormous task ahead?
Ibitoye: Very prepared! We are leaving no stone unturned as regards the theme of the group which is “ready to take it back”. It is a mission to reclaim Kwara and Nigeria for the PDP; to reset the country and improve the already bastardized economy. As an individual, I’m a passionate Sarakite, everyone knows that. If in the course of loving what I believe in, there are obstacles on my path, I know how to weather the storm unhurt. “Ariwo koni music”..laugh!
Crew: You are full of confidence, what’s the propelling force?
Ibitoye: Allah (SWT) is my propelling force. If only you know me very well, you will understand how confident I am on this project. I didn’t wake up one day and started doing this, it is a collective effort, as a tree does not make a forest. I don’t just build without solidifying my foundation. Many seems to see us as if we are out to joke or enjoy media publicity, we are above that! The level we are at GGL right now is what I called ‘a moving train’ that will crushes whoever crosses it.
Crew: Do you envisage emergence of similar groups?
Ibitoye: Does my response suggests that? How does emergence of any group affects us? GGL is built on love, compassion, trust, equity, fairness and unity. The sky is wide for every bird to fly. If there is anything anyone is doing to support Saraki, it is a welcome development. Like I promised our Leader, Dr Bukola Saraki, the last time we spoke, to do everything humanly possible to mobilize, canvass and deliver for the party. GGL can’t do it alone, we all have a role to play if we truly need to reclaim power from these set of direction-less drivers. I can only channel my strength on the opposition not on any of my party member. We are out to exhibit capacity on a common goal and I’d rather resort to jaw-jaw than to war-war for the sake of progress and betterment of my party.
I’ve always been a pace-setter. We need competition in the game of politics but it has to be a healthy one; if we really need to add value. Even the so-called leader(s) love it when their followers are competing to deliver; it gives such leader more comfort because the goal will be achieved without much stress for the top manager like in the ‘organisational management’ of social science. So, I wish to see more groups emerging from the PDP with a similar mission so that the APC will know we are not joking about our reclamation agenda. Anything aside this is unimportant to me.
Crew: Should Saraki lose the election, what next for your group?
Ibitoye: Saraki, if given the PDP ticket will not lose by the grace of God. We are double sure that if Saraki clinches the party’s ticket, it is a goal already. As a matter of fact, once he emerges as the PDP standard flagbearer, we’ll start celebrating his victory because Nigerians want a figure like Saraki to move the country forward. As a group of young Nigerians, we are not supporting a political figure who will only see us as a willing tool, we are confident in his leadership and we are going around to inform people to come and see the light we have seen. We are the reservoir of hope and creative optimism of this country. All that is good and great about us as a people is inherent in we, the youths. I am convinced, we are convinced, Saraki is the best for us at this trying time.
Crew: Many Nigerians, especially the APC members believe that the PDP ruined Nigeria while in power for 16 years, what gives you the hope that they will want Nigeria to return to them?
Ibitoye: As I said, we are backing the individual Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and not the old way of just the party name. Every aspirants should make their names a selling point first before the party. People keep talking about PDP 16 years misrule, forgetting that the APC is worse in less than 8 years rule. Saraki’s track record shows that he is the most exceptional aspirant by far. Even the 8th senate he led was pronounced as the best in the history of Nigeria’s democracy. If PDP ruined Nigeria, what has APC done? Under PDP Nigeria was never the poverty capital of the world. As people have their different sentiments for one reason or the other, you must come with facts and not sentiments. This is a country where we tried to build around every available factor to blindfold people. Has corruption goes into extinction under Buhari? Where are the several recovered loots? Re-looted, I guess! Nigeria is worse off under Buhari/APC no doubt. Returning the economy to how PDP left it in 2015 would be seen as a milestone achievement for the APC at this time. But we will not give them a chance to further plunge the country into poverty and debt.
Crew: Let’s talk about zoning in your party. Do you perceive like others do that Kwara North senatorial district has been so long marginalized?
Ibitoye: Well, to me, zoning is a child of equity, fairness and love for one another. It doesn’t change the progress or development of the state, it only gives room for socio-political peace and sense of belonging. Let me tell you something, if we say Kwara North should produce the next governor of the state, it means we love for our brothers what we love for ourselves. The agitation is that, Kwara Central has taken much of the share since 1999. Go to Ogun State, go to Oyo State where Oyo Central have been ruling since 1999, except for the removal of Governor Rasheed Ladoja which paved way for his then deputy, Alao Akala from Oyo north to hold sway for eleven months and later contested, won and ruled the state only for one term. Similar thing is happening in Osun state, Akande, Oyinlola and incumbent Oyetola are all from the central senatorial district, only Aregbesola came from osun east, while the west senatorial district are agitating for power shift till today. Kogi is not left out. You recall how Governor Yahaya Bello emerged in an election he didn’t contest. If not for the mysterious death of Prince Abubakar Audu, the Igala people from Kogi East would have been the only Senatorial district ruling till date. Why are we taking the issue of zoning so paramount than the unity of the party? We need to put the house in order first before talking about where the governor should come from or not. What I’m saying in essence is that it doesn’t matter where the governor comes from because it is about the ability and capability of individual,s not the region/zone they come from. However, to give peace a chance, to show love for one another, to give room for equity and fairness and to serve as a good example to other party and state, Kwara North should be allowed to produce the next governor. As a matter of fact, we want a very young and vibrant person that will understand our plight and quench our thirst for good governance. Like every other zones, Kwara North deserves it now!
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