Adedipe: APC will suffer defeat in Ondo Central

• Published date: 24 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The reason I am in politics is to contribute to national debates and national development. National debate because the issues that confront us as we see them are not being addressed. We do not have an early consensus and the kind of country or nation that we intend to see. I'm not trying to divide the country. I'd rather look at it to ask questions. You find some corporations, statutory bodies, ministries, etc. that we only find people from certain sections of the country heading them from time. And the question is, are there no people from other parts of the country or other faith that could head them?

Now, if you do not look and ask questions, especially having regard to the fact that the constitution talks of equality of citizens and Federal Character, you will not understand why we are having challenges. I should have thought that for a large country like Nigeria, anybody from any part of the country should be able to head any department of government, irrespective of race, religion or gender but it is not so. So, we should have conversations along those lines, so we can understand each other better. It may be that there are things that made it inevitable. Those people who seek, are being discriminated against. When we have this conversation, we will probably see the other side of the coin. But, at the moment, we are not having this conversation. And I think people like me; people with like minds should provoke conversations along this line before we can build a nation out of this country. At the moment, Nigeria is a country and not a nation.

Your victory at the PDP primary was a surprise to many party stalwarts. What are the experiences that prepared you for politics?

I am a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and an Akure indigene. I have been very fortunate that I became a lawyer in 1980 having attended the Awolowo schools in my formative years before I proceeded to the then University of Ife. When I became a lawyer in 1980, I was sent to Rivers State for the mandatory one-year National Youth Service. I had never been there and I was reluctant to go. But, eventually, I did. That was when I discovered that Nigeria is vast and we are all the same. What I want is what an average Rivers' man wants. I found professional satisfaction in Rivers State, so I remained there to date. It was from there I started my first court appearance and eventually became a Senior Advocate. I have received support and encouragement from the government and people of Rivers State more...