Vincent Obia
12 July 2009
Lagos — Former Senator for Osun Central Senatorial District, in Osun State, Senator Kolawole Ogunwale, has said Nigerian politicians of the progressive persuasion are more inclined to deliver what the citizens desire in good leadership. Ogunwale said this last week in Osogbo at a ceremony to mark his formal admission into the Action Congress (AC), following his defection from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
"It is a fact that progressive politics in Nigeria flourishes most in Yorubaland, the heart and source of which Osun state is," he said, declaring: "There is no gainsaying the fact that in any free and fair election in Nigeria, the progressive, will win fair and square. This is because they have had the opportunity to taste truly democratic and responsible governance in its real sense which provided the anvil upon which majority of our people could not hazard an alternative."
He traced the origins of his politics to former Premier of the old Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, one of the fathers of progressive politics in the country, whose achievements in the region - now Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Delta, and Edo states - remain a reference point in good leadership and " the yardstick of measuring development."
Ogunwale said progressives are not prone to corruption because progressive politics emphasises economic independence of the individual politician.
"No wonder, progressive politicians have always been better achievers in terms of delivery of dividends of democracy to the people and society. The truth is that they are better equipped to hold public office without the intent to cheat the people of their dues. They always have their source of income serving their livelihood."
Ogunwale confessed concerning immediate past governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi, who is now AC National Chairman, "I was one of those who did not have the benefit of correct perspective and understanding of what Chief Akande was doing then and really reaped from the voting out of the national chairman and his party in 2003.
"However, I make bold to say that I acted, more than anyone else, as a good ambassador of progressive politics when I was elected senator. I must say that I expanded the coast of philanthropism by providing concrete needs of the people in general, in specific and particular areas of my constituency, even as a legislator.
"Perhaps, I could have done much better if I had served in executive position and in a more homely political party like Action Congress."
On the circumstances of his entrance into PDP, the senator said, "I had thought that pure service could be rendered through any platform, but I discovered it was wrong to attempt to be selfless in the midst of selfish people. It became obvious that I can thrive amidst those whose minds work like mine. My situation, like that of my associates and followers, is that of OMOWALE! We are simply returning to where we naturally belong."
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
