2019: Osoba declares for Reps, explains reasons behind decision

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By Femi SHODUNKE

NIGERIA: A PEOPLE’S Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives (HoR) aspirant for Ijebu Central Federal Constituency in Ogun State, Comrade Niyi Osoba, has explained the rationale behind his decision to contest in next year general election.

Osoba, a one-time Chairman of the Labour Party in Ogun State and former Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ogun State Council, told GatewayMail that he believed that he has all what it takes to ensure quality representation for the people of the federal constituency.

“My decision to represent my people in Ijebu Central Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives is mainly to provide quality representation,” Osoba, who was a Consultant to the Ogun State Government on Workers Welfare and Pension and ex-Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Ijebu Ode Local Government, stressed.

He also said: “The good people of my constituency being Ijebu North East, Ijebu Ode and Odogbolu local government areas should expect impactful growth and development centred on human capital development.

“They should also expect high quality representation that shall serve as catalyst to improved well-being and meaningful life in all facets.  I believe that the nation’s resources, if well directed to betterment of life and equal allocation of resources among various competing needs, shall enliven the purpose of existence and democratic dispensation.”

The PDP aspirant, however, assured that he would support the war against corruption and unity of Nigeria, adding that he would also clamour for employment, empowerment, youth and women development agenda.

“Legislations that can make improvement in the life of citizenry shall be my utmost concern,” Osoba, who holds two Master’s degrees and currently a Ph.D candidate, also assured.

“I shall be accessible to my people; interact with them regularly; and open constituency offices in the headquarters of the three local governments.  I shall consult them on their pressing needs and take collective decision based on participation,” he maintained.

The aspirant boasted that the qualities he possessed would be of utmost advantage to him in winning the seat.  “Based on my antecedents, pedigree, experience, orientation, education and philosophies, I am convincingly and indisputably better than the incumbent,” Osoba, who has declared his interest, stressed.

He added: “I must let you know that I have my first degree in English Language, Diploma in Law, Master’s degree in Industrial and Labour Relations, Master’s degree in Personnel Psychology and PhD in Applied Psychology (in view).

I had 20 years career in local government administration and retired as Director on Grade level 16.”

He further said: “I was Students’ Union President of Olabisi Onabanjo University in 1988/89, State President of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees 1996/2000, I was the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress 1999/2003, and National Trustee of NULGE 2005.

“My experience as a Consultant to the Ogun State Government on Workers Welfare and Pension 2007/2011 as well as the Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Ijebu Ode Local Government and State Chairman, Labour Party 2014 are some of the credentials that I have and that put me in better stead comparably.”

Osoba also descried himself as a man whose popularity in the Gateway State would help him win in next year election.

“For anybody who lives in Ogun State, my popularity, profile, goodwill, charisma, zeal, doggedness, commitment to goal, perseverance, courage and forthrightness can be attested to,” he said, adding: “I, therefore, modestly believe that I will do better to bring joy and happiness to the life of my people.  I pray that the almighty God will see me through these tasks.”

“I shall attend to the needs of physical challenged, the aged and orphans.  My 20 years in local government administration where budgeting, supervisory and legislative duties are well rooted and governance is herculean shall be of advantage to me, I so believe. I can never be a novice, a greyhound and apprentice in the duties of National Assembly,” Osoba stressed.

The HoR aspirant lambasted the current occupier of the seat, Honorable Kehinde Odeneye of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for not doing enough for the people of Ijebu Central Federal Constituency.

He said: “I am not comfortable with the level of indolence, ineffectiveness, lackadaisical, negligent and criminal passivity of our incumbent representative in the National Assembly.

“I am equally worried about the enormous neglect of the well-being of the good people of my constituency.  It is alarmingly worrisome that in the last seven years that the incumbent legislator, Honorable Kehinde Odeneye of APC resumed at the National Assembly seat no worthwhile infrastructural project had been put in place.”

Osoba further said: “The roads are terribly bad, hospital facilities are abysmal, no pipe borne water, primary education is nil, empowerment is zero, no employment and poverty level has increased.”

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