Ramatu Shaibu, broadcaster cum insurance expert, is the running mate of the Lagos State governorship candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Ven. Funso Awe. In this interview with SIMPLE IKEM, she discusses how her party’s administration will govern the state, if elected. Excerpt:
TNE: How do you feel being the running mate of the NCP governorship candidate, Ven. Funso Awe?
I feel honoured and excited. I see it as a call to duty and an opportunity to work with a personality like Venerable Awe, a cerebral politician, activist and man of God. Venerable Awe has the word. He knows what is right and good for Lagosians. He is a man of himself and a man of integrity. Lagos needs such a man who cannot be teleguided from elsewhere. Working with him to return Lagos to its former glory will be a great experience.
TNE: Do you see yourself capable of playing the role of a deputy governor?
Yes, I am capable. If by the grace of God we win this election, I have several things in my mind to contribute to the growth of Lagos State for the benefit of Lagosians. This is an opportunity for me to serve the people of Lagos.
TNE: What would you say are your antecedents and how long have you been in the National Conscience Party (NCP)?
I am a broadcaster by training and profession. I passed through the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) as a broadcaster with Radio Nigeria. I have also worked with several organisations. I am also an insurance expert. Presently, I am an entrepreneur. I am an employer of labour. All these have prepared me well for the role of deputy governor.
Besides, I am a Yoruba, a Lagosian and I speak Yoruba and other Nigerian languages like Igbo and Hausa, as well as French. So, I can interact very well with people in Lagos, no matter the ethnic nationality.
I have been in the NCP for quite some time. I have a good knowledge of the workings of the party, especially in Lagos State. All these have placed me in a vantage position to serve the people if given the chance.
TNE: The NCP is not a party of moneybags. How has the campaign been so far?
The campaign has been interesting. We are doing our best to ensure that the campaign goes well. Since the party is not very buoyant, we rely on volunteers, people who believe in us and what the NCP stands for, which is the eradication of poverty. Such people believe in us not because of what they can get personally.
We have friends who are interested in supporting us. For example, someone volunteered N20,000 for printing of our posters. Someone also on his own printed several of our posters and donated to us. At Mende and Maryland, someone printed our posters and pasted at the whole area. So, we count on the support of people who believe in us and our programme to make the campaign very successful.
TNE: You have been on the campaign trail. What has been your experience so far?
It has been exciting. The responses we are getting are encouraging. We were in Lagos Island recently. After Ven. Awe had delivered a lecture, people were very excited and enthusiastic about the NCP and what it has to offer. People were asking for our posters, banners and stickers. They made up their mind to follow us. Those who took the posters pasted them all over Lagos Island. So, our posters are now seen everywhere in Lagos Island. People are listening to us and making up their minds to vote for us. I believe we are giving them food for thought, which I believe will pay off during the voting proper.
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TNE: How do you see the opponents, especially those of APC and PDP?
Everyone is trying to do well. Having listened to many of them during debates, they do not measure up to the stuff we have. The candidates are a potpourri of human beings. Some of them came out because their parties do not have candidates. Some talk like jesters. That is why we have about 41 candidates. But, I can say that about 12 are serious. There are several candidates that we do not see. We do not even know who they are. I do not think we have more that 12 serious ones. Out of these 12, one will emerge. I believe that the NCP candidate, Vens Funso Awe, will emerge as that winner by the grace of God. That is, if the APC does not rig this election. APC is known for its rigging machine. I hope the masses will shine their eyes this time around and will not sell their votes.
TNE: To what extent do you think the NCP government can administer a complex state like Lagos?
Funso Awe, our governorship candidate is competent. He will assemble the best team and administer the state well. We will perform better than what is happening today under the APC. Venerable Awe has been interacting with professional and the civil society. We will deliver, especially with the scores of professionals in the civil service.
TNE: Do you think your party’s 10-CARE Programme can take care of Lagosians?
It will, especially the areas dealing with employment, education, health, transportation. Lagosians are hungry as a result of unemployment. With the policies will put in place, we will check unemployment. People will be able to set up businesses to take care of themselves. NCP government will eradicate hunger in Lagos State.
Lagosians need houses. The NCP government will build low cost estates which the average family can afford. The housing estates of the NCP administration will not be like those of the APC administration in Lagos which the masses cannot afford. We will build houses which even the pepper seller can afford. An individual who can pay N10,000 per month can own the house after about 10 years and the house becomes his. It does not have to be large apartments, but smaller apartments.
Under water, the NCP administration will set up mini water works in each local government and Local Council Development Area (LCDA). In other words, it will build 57 mini water works that will supply water. It will be done by the state government to be handed over to local governments for proper management. We intend to devolve powers to ensure that local governments are more functional and effective.
In the area of transportation, we will open up channels for water transportation. We will dredge several canals that will eventually become waterways which engine boats can ply to move people and goods.
The BRT has not been very effective to move people. We may move the buses and bring in trams like trains that will be electronically powered to move people. We will put it along the corridors already created for the BRT. It will be faster and ecologically friendly.
Still under transportation, we will link up a lot of roads and areas yet to be linked, even in form of bridges. In Lagos Island, in areas that have not been linked up, we will link them up.
TNE: What is your party’s plan in the area of women empowerment?
We are well positioned for women empowerment. The APC is running a man-man ticket. But, we are running a man-woman ticket, which assures the women prominent positions in our government. Lagos has a lot of women in government, both in the Judiciary and the civil service. We will empower the women more.
Lagos has increasing number of single mothers struggling to make ends meet. We will give them equal opportunities. We will give them meaningful jobs to make them live better. We will look at how to empower the single mothers and widows. More and affordable market stalls will be created for them, while many will be trained to acquire skills.
