Prominent journalist, Babafemi Ojudu, last weekend put aside the pen and mounted the soap box in his hometown of Ado-Ekiti where he announced his intention to vie for the Senate on the platform of the Action Congress (AC).
Ojudu, the Managing Editor of The NEWS magazine, is toeing the line of other journalists like Smart Adeyemi, Ayogu Eze, Osita Izunaso and Chris Anyanwu who are now members of the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
He believed that his 26-year experience as a journalist in which he had won many awards had prepared him for the business of advocacy in the Senate for the people of the five local government areas that make up Ekiti Central Senatorial District.
The journalist-turned politician was of the view that Ekiti had long been cheated in the allocation and distribution of resources saying it is high time the trend stopped for the "Fountain of Knowledge" to get its due in the Nigerian federation.
It was at the occasion of the inauguration of the headquarters of the Ekiti Rebirth Organization (ERO), the platform Ojudu intends to use to actualize his ambition.
The senatorial aspirant at the well-attended ceremony said those who had represented Ekiti at the National Assembly since 1999 had not done enough to fight for the interest of the state saying it is high time Ekiti got his fair share of the nation’s wealth.
The event which was chaired by the former Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank, Chief Samuel Bandele Falegan was graced by party leaders, community leaders, members of the party.
He declared that the time to liberate Ekiti State and his senatorial district in particular has come noting that his experience as a journalist, pro-democracy activist and defender of the masses had prepared him for the task ahead.
The senatorial hopeful revealed that he was very much involved in the battle against the Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha dictatorships which led to his detention for several months by the Abacha junta in which his firstborn was delivered in his absence.
Ojudu, who is gunning for Senate on the platform of the Action Congress (AC), pledged that he would fight vociferously for the interest of Ekiti State if elected into the upper chamber of the National Assembly in the 2011 general elections.
He promised a quality, responsible and responsive representation at the Senate if he wins the bid for the nation’s highest lawmaking chamber.
Ojudu expressed regrets that all federal roads that lead to Ekiti State are in very bad condition noting that state representatives in the National Assembly are keeping mute on the development.
He charged the electorate in Ekiti State to use their votes to send their ‘best eleven’ to the Senate in the 2011 arguing that he had to throw his hat into the ring having been an observer since the nation’s return to democracy.
Describing AC as a party that has the interest of the masses at heart, Ojudu revealed that he chose to contest on the platform of the party because he believes that the party means well for the masses and is capable of solving the problems of the electorate.
According to him, the emergence of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the ruling party since 2003 has been a disaster for Ekiti people as their lots have not been bettered by the ‘umbrella party’ describing AC as a better alternative to restore Ekiti’s glory.
He commended the AC members for standing by the party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his running mate, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, in the legal battle at the Election Petitions Tribunal expressing hope that the pendulum of victory would swing in AC’s favour whenever judgment is delivered.
Noting that he is not like an average politician who is only seeking for what he would gain from public office, Ojudu stressed that he has thrown his hat into the ring mainly to serve the electorate in Ekiti Central senatorial district having used journalism to fight oppression for over 26 years.
"Our roads are bad, our children’s schools are dilapidated and our graduates are roaming the streets without jobs and it is an anathema for our graduates to become okada riders.
"I am going to fight for Ekiti at Abuja ; since 1999, we have been sending people to Abuja but they have not done enough. Those going to the National Assembly from here are always silent when issues affecting you are being discussed.
"There must be light in Ekiti, our schools and hospitals must be well-equipped and all our graduates who have no jobs for the past 10 years must be assisted and that’s why people like me are coming out to fight for your interests in the political arena.
"Anytime I come home, people always ask me that is this the way leave Ekiti? That’s why I am offering myself for your service.
"We are not politicians who are in politics because of what we are going to gain but we are in politics for service and real service", Ojudu said.
Earlier in his speech, Falegan said he had known Ojudu as a courageous boy when he was a student at Ado Grammar School and urged the party members to ensure his victory at primaries and the general election.
The highpoint of the programme was the unveiling of the campaign secretariat and a huge billboard in front of the building which was personally done by Ojudu, assisted by his wife, Tola amidst pomp and pageantry.
Besides, the senior journalist also inaugurated all his coordinators in the five local government areas and all the wards in the senatorial district who are to operate under the name of ERO.
The five local government areas (LGAs) that make up Ekiti Central are Ado , Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ekiti West, Ijero and Efon.
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