Prince Francis Fadahunshi is a retired Deputy Comptroller general of Customs and a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State. The Ilase born Prince is also a member of the reconciliation committee of the party in the state. He spoke on his experiences being part of the PDP campaign team of Senator Iyiola Omisore and the chances of the party in the August 9 election.  Excerpts

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

How have you been received in your campaigns round the state?
It has been very warm and interesting. We have been enjoying warm reception in every part of the state visited. As a group that will soon form government, we are taking notes of all those things we saw. Personally, I am taking notes about what I have seen that may help to do one or two things for the people. As you can observe, we have been going to the “forgotten ones”, the rural dwellers, who do not even know that any government exist in the state because they are just abandoned to their fate there.

Our candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore has been telling them his plans, if voted on August 9 and these people have been telling him also what they want him to do. So I believe our job is half done already. We are only waiting for the election to pass and as soon as Osun people regain their mandate and hand over to us, you will all see the difference. But I can assure you that we have been getting very fantastic reception.

What positive or negative effect do you think Ekiti poll will have on Osun governorship election?

I have never harboured any doubt about the chances of Iyiola Omisore winning Osun governorship election. He is here and knows the terrain very well. He has been on this project for close to 20 years now committing his time, energy and resources to it. His political structure has even helped others attain seat of governor, so I am not in the category that became suddenly optimistic about PDP winning Osun governorship poll. By and large, having gauged the feelings of majority of Osun people, I am certain Omisore will win landslide. The positive effect Ekiti poll is having on Osun people, as you can see is the open rejection of APC at the moment. In the past, people would have been afraid, but Ekiti people have shown the way and the people of Osun are groaning in the pains their rulers inflicted on them, are ready to free themselves from those ruling them with propaganda. That is one positive effect. It reawakes sense of readiness to free themselves from the shackles of bad government.
The negative effect would be for us to get complacent and that will never happen. We are working very hard to set Osun free and that will happen soon, I am assuring our people.

*Fadahunshi

Do you see insecurity as a threat to the conduct of the August 9 poll?
I am a security expert and I know when I see a person or group that portend danger for the security of lives and properties of people. The worrisome aspect is that government of Osun State appears favourably disposed to those threatening security of Osun State now.

The group called “State Boys” has been unleashing terror on our party members wherever we go for rally.

There was an explosion in Ife, members of PDP were attacked in Ede, one of them nearly got killed by these hoodlums that are called “state boys”. We have lost billboards and posters to the these boys, who have been given specific mandate to unleash terror on innocent and harmless Osun people. There have also been massive stockpiling of firearms by some desperate politicians who are smelling defeat.

But I can assure you that none of all these arms will be used that day. Security operatives must be alive to their responsibilities and prevent unnecessary loss of lives by acting swiftly on information.

But there have been insinuations that some members of your party have been using the tag of “State Boys” to cause mayhem in a bid to discredit government?

If government of Osun state did not form state boys, how would anyone impersonate them? No PDP member would impersonate that criminal gang. They carry weapons even in the presence of security operatives as if they are above the law. PDP is not associating with criminals and would never impersonate any dangerous group.

The administration of Mr. Rauf Aregbesola is believed to have done some turnaround of basic infrastructure. Do you agree?
He is building some roads in Osogbo and few other places but how has that improved the quality of lives of Osun people? First, some roads are built in the city centres but those ones in the rural areas where the farm produce that feed the state comes from are neglected. Even those ones renovated or constructed by this government are done at cut throat prices that will still put Osun State at the receiving end.

I was part of PDP campaign to some places under Ila and Oke Ila, the roads in all those areas are impassible and no one is looking at the plight of these people.

The secondary school in my village, I employed ten teachers there and wanted to demolish it under the reclassification policy of Aregbesola’s government but people resisted them. The economy of the state is not in proper shape because of low purchasing power. New market has been commissioned but no money to trade there. Local contractors are not being patronised and this is affecting everyone.

The rate of failure in external examinations has increased, drawing education back several years. The gains recorded under previous governments have been destroyed on the altar of politics!