Comrade Michael Olasoji, the party chairman, Africa Action Congress (AAC), Ikorodu Local Government, the party founded by the popular civil rights activist and pro – democracy campaigner, Comrade Omoyele Sowore who is its Presidential candidate.
Olasoji, who studied Local Government Studies at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), was a union leader and highly conscious political activist and politician and very conversant with the Nigerian, African and international politics.
He shared his view with Kunle Adelabu, Publisher/Reporter – in – Chief, THE IMPACT newspaper and Kenneth Efezino Odede (IT student) on his party’s philosophy, forthcoming general elections and preparations, AAC programmes among others when he paid a visit to our Ikorodu office. Excerpts:
THE IMPACT: Let us know your party. What does it stand for, l mean its philosophy?
Comrade Michael: As we all know, Africa Action Congress, is a party of the masses, and what gave birth to that party is activism. As we all know, the leader of the party, Omoyele Sowore, who is the presidential candidate of our party, is a human rights activist. We also know what he stands for and what he has been standing for; which is the defense of the oppressed in the country. We have looked at it together and thought that, for how long are we going to fold our hands looking at the country the way it is going; for how long are we going to be roaming the streets protesting and complaining, when we know that we can also do better than this people we are complaining about, and that is what gave birth to African Action Congress. So, it is a Socialist Party and not a Capitalist Party that brings government closer to the people and the oppressed and takes back what is meant for the people through some set of few people who call themselves Capitalists and leaders of this country. So far, we all know that they have not done anything progressive for the people and for the country as a whole.
THE IMPACT: Let’s look at AAC in Ikorodu, how have you been going about your campaign?
Comrade Michael: The Ikorodu residents, indigenes and CDCs have welcomed the party. As you know, we contested and we participated in the general elections in 2019 and we performed very well, and this time around, we are building on what we had in 2019. So far, so good, we have been moving round the whole wards in Ikorodu and preaching the ideology of the party to them and what we have to offer and what makes us different from other political parties, which they have been listening to and welcoming us too. They are ready to accept the progressive change we are bringing to them.
THE IMPACT: How do you see your chances in the Governorship and the two Houses of Assembly seats in Ikorodu that your party is contesting for?
Comrade Michael: Our governorship candidates are very competent, and have good characters, qualities and what it takes to govern Lagos and move it to where it ought to be as well as also take Lagos away from those who call themselves Lagos owners. He is going to take Lagos back to the people. Our candidate and our party are taking Lagos back to the people. Likewise, our candidates for the lkorodu Constituency 1 and 2 seat in Lagos state House of Assembly, are people with good characters and are academically sound; they are sound in their respective professions. They have what it takes; they have the ideology; principle to represent the people of Ikorodu and give them what they really want; to defend them and to present bills that will transform the people and the community as a whole at the Lagos State House of Assembly. We will continue to engage the masses and to let them know that we are different from the people that were before us. If we have been defending their rights, how much more will it take when we have the power in our hands? We will make sure that we bring about good governance and benefits of what it takes to elect credible parties and candidates into political office.
THE IMPACT: Now let me ask, what do you think the present government led by the APC, is not doing well, that you think your party will do better?
Comrade. Michael: First and foremost, we have all seen what the party, APC, have been able to do since they came in 2015. They have really taken governance away from the people; they have really made life difficult for the people; people are really finding it difficult to survive and what makes our party different is that we want to correct all those errors which this ruling party has made. In order to make the economy work effectively, we have to make sure the power sector is reformed and working effectively, because there is no country in the world that has a stable economy that their power sector is not working effectively. The first thing in our agenda is to have 24 hours’ power supply in the country. Secondly, we will tackle the issue of insecurity in the country because an economy that does not have security, such cannot grow and investors, both foreign and local ones, will not have the courage to come and invest in such a country. We will make sure that the security sector in the north, south, east and west are put in order, and we will make sure there’s peace in the country. Thirdly, we will invest massively in education because every progressive nation will have a working education system. Once we can get it right in the educational sector, the younger generation will be able to get it right and to decide between the good and bad, and when it comes to the election, they will be politically conscious to elect those that will determine their present, future and create an enabling environment for the future and their career to be effective and achievable.
THE IMPACT: Presidential and National Assembly elections are just a few weeks away, so are the Governorship and State Assemblies, what will be your message to the residents of Ikorodu in particular, as well as Lagosians and entire Nigerians?
Comrade Michael: My message to Nigerians, Lagosians and to Ikorodu people, is that this is the time and they have to get it right. The APC and the PDP have been governing us and we have seen the maximum they can offer and how far they have brought us, that is why AAC has come up to take Nigeria away from the shenanigan, destruction and the poverty state that these parties have placed us. We cannot continue this way. We have to take back our country, Lagos and Ikorodu from those that are destroying them. It is high time we move forward as a nation, as Lagosians and as Ikorodu residents. We have what it takes to compete with other progressive countries in the world.
All our candidates are competent and are of good characters. We are assuring you now that if you get it right this time by voting for AAC and by voting for our candidates at all levels, we will redeem this country and take this country back to the owners. As I have said earlier, we are a Socialist Party and all the assets of this country that have been taken away by the PDP and the APC government will be retrieved and given back to the people of this country. For instance, in the power sector, there is no responsible country in the world that leaves its the power sector in the hands of individuals. All the countries where power supply is constant, has their power sector under the control of the government, because if you leave it in the hands of the private sector, they are businessmen and in the long run, they will be selfish and won’t spend the required capital to run it. The power sector is a huge sector that requires huge capital. Countries like Egypt, South Africa, South Korea among others, are good examples of countries where the government is running their power sector and they are running it effectively. In the case of Nigeria, those that sell the asset, sell it to themselves, which means that they are the sellers and at the same time, the buyers. They sold all our assets, the power sector, telecommunications sector, oil and gas and others which are critical and ought to be in the hands of the government and using it to make life easy for the people. As long as these sectors are in the hands of these people that are still controlling the government, they will continue to take our country backward. If we don’t take back this country from them, there’s no way this country is going to move forward, and there’s no way we can have the required IGR to run the government and make life easy for the people. Our party will be running a socialist system, and a government of the people. We are not running a capitalist government whereby, the key sectors of the country will be placed in the hands of the people that are running down the country.
THE IMPACT: Your party’s candidates in Ikorodu Constituency I and II have been invited to the second edition of the Ikorodu Division Legislative Debate coming up on Sunday. Will they be attending, and what will be your charge to other candidates and parties about the political debate?
Comrade Michael: Yes, our party would be available for the debate because it is also an avenue to share our manifesto with the people of lkorodu. We also charge other candidates and parties to also come and debate what they have to offer the people of lkorodu, and let the people decide.
