Omolaja Professor Muhammad Omolaja is the president of the Yoruba Elders Union (YEU) which covers the entire Yoruba race in Nigeria and abroad. He is also a prominent member of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) which is another socio-cultural association of Yoruba Leaders. Professor Omolaja’s socio-cultural engagements go beyond the Yoruba Land as his network cuts across the entire north and south of Nigeria and beyond. For instance, he is the Ike Mba 1 of Africa and one of the National Patrons of the Nzuka Nd’Imo Organisation (NNIO) worldwide among other connections.The professor in this exclusive interview explained in details his mission and vision for his constituency and beyond if he gets the nod under the platform of the Social Democratic party (SDP) as a prominent member of the Party.
Excerpts:
Humbly introduce yourself, Sir.
I am Prof. Muhammad Ayinla Omolaja (MAO) - The Ike Mba 1 of Africa - from the Obe Royal family of Emado Quarters, Ayetoro City, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
What's that position you are virying for and under what party?
Actually, this question is immature as (a) INEC has not issued out guidelines on the 2027 general election, and (b) I have been aspiring and contesting consistently for various positions under various Parties from 2007 up to date. I came out for positions including Federal House of Representatives (under the PDP), Senate (under the ANPP and DPA), Governorship (under the APC), up to the Presidency (under the ADP) in 2023 general election. This means that definitely, I will come out again in 2027 by the special grace of the Almighty God. However, I am still consulting. The decision as to which position I will contest for will be a joint one with my political colleagues and associates when the time comes. I am presently a strong member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which means I will be contesting under the platform of the great Party.
Are you coming under consensus or you are solely voted for?
For now, there is no information on this.What are your chances going by the fact that it's APC that is ruling?
Definitely, Nigerians, including me, have suffered more than enough hardship of various magnitudes under the APC and PDP administrations over the years! We are now wiser! What we need now is a complete change of guards in the political arena, and the only Party that can do that as at now is the Social Democratic Party being the only Party that is settled. Other Parties in opposition are presently faced with one crisis or the other ranging from factionalism, court cases, unnecessary rivalry, hatred and jealousy, to mention but a few. Therefore, anybody that will contest for a position under the SDP in 2027 has a very high probability of winning the election.
If eventually you emerged as the party’s candidate, do you see yourself winning the general election?
For a person to win a general election, irrespective of the post, he or she must be someone that is popular and acceptable to the majority of the people within his or her domain; that is, his constituency. This depends on many factors including his upbringing, family background, education background, community participation or contributions to the community, his political activism, leadership quality, and of course, his financial stability to mention but a few. In all these criteria, I think I am up to the task!
What's your plan for your constituency?
My plan for the great people of my constituency may be summarized as “To let the masses live in all ramifications! This depends on the post I will contest for, but my mission in governance includes adequate food supply, uninterrupted power supply, adequate security of life and property, quality education, youths and women empowerment, good intergovernmental relations, appropriate civil service reforms, fiscal and monetary policies, adequate reforms in the traditional settings, industrialization, as well as taking care of the elderly; the old people in our communities, and so on.
Is there any team you put on ground that make you believe you can win the election?
Yes! There are many. One of them is the National Liberation Patriots (NLP) of which I am the founder and National Chairman. It has membership in all the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. The national political group parades the best quality of politicians that can be found anywhere in the world as members based on their level of political exposure and activism. The second group is the Omolaja Solidarity Forum (OSF). The OSF also spreads to the entire Nigeria covering all the six geopolitical regions of the country. This is followed by the Coalition for Sustenance of Democracy (CSD) which is also a national political association. Again, I am one of the National Patrons of Nzuko Nd’Imo Organisation (NNIO) Worldwide apart from being the Ike Mba 1 of Africa. Finally, I am the President of the Yoruba Elders Union (YEU) which covers the entire Yoruba race in Nigeria and abroad! I am also a prominent member of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE). With all these socio-cultural and political associations, and many more, on ground, I believe I can win election into any political office in Nigeria.
What is your message to the people concerning your ambition?
My message to the good people of our great nation is that the job of recovering, restoring and developing our much-cherished damaged country, Nigeria, is a task for all of us individually and collectively irrespective of our tribes or ethnicity, religions or our places of birth. We should forget about our differences in diversity and team up as one indivisible Nigerian family to recall our country back to life through the power of ballot papers during the forthcoming 2027 general election
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