We were lucky . By the time many of us were going to school, my father was transferred to the North and in the north the truth was that there was free education. So, he did not need to pay, the way he was paying in Lagos. There is free education in the South West but I think immediately after Chief Obafemi Awolowo left power,(as Premier of Western Nigeria) nobody can really say education was free.

Professor Pat Utomi is a rare individual and many would agree. But he is also a concerned Nigerian. His shot at the presidency in 2007 was considered a fool’s errand in some quarters – a wasted effort – but the man believes and, therefore, insists that it was one wonderful experience which has touched and continues to touch many lives. How? It is about changing the mind set of the leaders of tomorrow, making them realize that Nigeria can not get anywhere with the present template on which it is governed.

When you look at the remaining candidates: Uche Ekwunife, Soludo, Uba, you will see that these three are virtually PDP people. They all belong to PDP just like me. But the difference is that for the first time, a woman has the confidence to run seriously and I believe that we should support her if the polls favour her. I will say the same thing about Soludo who is my friend and Andy Uba. So, my position is that the best candidate should win.

How do you present a Sunday Interview and the only thing you discuss all through is GARRI, the Nigerian staple? Or, how do you interview Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, former governor of Oyo State, and you will be barred from asking questions that border on politics?

The electoral process
is fraudulent, too much rigging, too much thuggery and so, decent people run away from it. So we do not really have quality
people in government