My Wife was Warned by Her Ex that She’d Serve Me Food in Prison
World-famous, his looks belie his doggedness and astuteness. As a celebrated journalist and battle-ready politician, he is up to another mission. He excelled in adversity during the dark days of the ‘Goggled One’, Gen. Sani Abacha, and today, he shines as
What was your experience during Nigeria’s military dictatorship under Gen. Sani Abacha?
Between 1993 and 1998, I was arrested and locked up 15 times – sometimes for two days; one week; the longest was nine months. I had no access to books, radio or any form of communication. At a time about 13 of my colleagues in The News were in detention. I was released a month after (Gen. Sani) Abacha died. The caftan I wore for nine months that time is on display in the Newseum at the epicentre of Washington D.C. Newseum is a museum of news. I lost Bagauda Kalto, one of my staff who was tortured to death, and many went into exile.
It was a nasty experience, but I have no regret. I’m happy and fulfilled today. For me, democracy has been good. We have to continue to work hard. We must not despair; we must not succumb to cynicism. We should continue to search for the best to run our affairs and one day we will get it right.
During that period how did your family cope?
They got used to the choice I made. Although it was hard for them, they were supportive – particularly my wife and parents. I remember when I met my wife-to-be then: she was dating someone else. When she informed her ex that she was opting for me, the man warned her that marrying a journalist would mean taking meals to the prison to feed her husband. Not up to three months after we got married, that prophesy came to reality. But during the courtship, I educated her about what I was doing and she became very courageous. She managed the home front very well.
What did your experience in detention teach you about life?
Many will not associate with you. Some friends and family members deserted me. It was as if the world – my world – was collapsing. There was uncertainty. There were months we could not pay salaries. Hard times don’t last forever.
Why do you want to be the governor of Ekiti State?
It is because there are problems to solve in Ekiti State. Anywhere there is problem to be solved I like to go there. As a young man, I saw that the military was running the country aground. I took it up, collaborated with my colleagues, fought the military and I suffered for it. Ekiti is where I was born and raised. I have the capacity to solve problems especially when my people are suffering under a clueless, ignorant, greedy and egoistic government. I believe that I should go and help solve their problems – and I am going to so do.
What are you bringing to the table?
In the last few years, the government has given us a very bad image. We (Ekiti people) are seen through the prism of the incumbent governor. Ekiti people are decent and honest. They have integrity. We want to call the attention of the rest of the country to the fact that we are not what our governor (Ayodele Fayose) portrays us to be. There are social and economic problems in the state. Majority of the young people in Ekiti are unemployed, so we want to see how we can get them employed. There is no single industry in Ekiti. Aside from the civil servants and teachers, there is nothing happening in Ekiti State. It should not be so. We are not poor. I just got back from America – visited many states meeting with Ekiti people who are hard-working, contributing to the development of America. If they have the opportunity to come back home to develop Ekiti, they are ready to do so now. We are saying enough of the rots and shenanigans going on in the state. We want to bring our intelligence to bear to create a state all of us can be proud of.
The economy is key; our people are hungry, going to bed without food in their stomach. Many can’t send their children to school. People are dying of curable diseases. Many do not have hope for tomorrow. Teachers and civil savants have not been paid for eight months. Many can’t pay their rents, hospital bills, and school fees. We have a governor who is fooling the people. Go to Ekiti State, you will find out he is not as popular as he used to be. The people have seen light.
If you were elected as governor of the state what would you address first?
My priority will be agriculture. Within three months, the work would have started. Ekiti (soil) is fertile. A belt in Ekiti is known for cocoa production. We will revive old farms and cultivate new ones. We will produce ethanol from cassava and corn. We will bring about mechanised agriculture. We are going to mobilise investors to come in and establish processing factories which will keep our youths engaged. Because of its strategic location between Lagos and other parts of the country, we will also add value to whatever product is coming from the North before it gets to the final consumer. So there is so much we can do to create wealth and bring about development. We have done our homework and have crafted our manifesto. We are making contacts with players in the private sector – those in agro-allied industries both locally and internationally. They are responding to us.