President Tinubu Is Taking Bold Steps To Reform Nigeria
President Tinubu is Taking Bold Steps to Reform Nigeria and His Presidency is Different in Many Ways… Dr Mrs Omodoro Adeseye- Ogunlewe
Olorogun Ambassador Dr Mrs Omodoro Adeseye-Ogunlewe, is a native of Orogun and Evwereni in Ughelli North local government area of Delta state. After her primary education in DSC Model Primary School,Aladja, Delta state, she left for Lagos for her secondary education. She had her university degree in Ilorin, kwara state and a Master’s degree in marketing, in United Kingdom. She has another Master’s degree in Executive Leadership in the United States of America and a Doctor of philosophy also in the United States. A philanthropist, mother and wife of the former federal minister of works, federal republic of Nigeria, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, she has had career experiences in the banking, insurance as well as in oil and petroleum industries. She is currently an entrepreneur and an investor in real estate both in the United States of America and in Nigeria. She is the founder and National president of a group known as Urhobo Nation For Tinubu 2027. The group is a political movement with representatives in UK, Russia, USA, UAE , Ghana, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Edo state, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta states of Nigeria among others.She is equally an Ambassador of UPU worldwide(plenipotentiary).
Chief Mrs Omodoro Adeseye Ogunlewe is no doubt a notable personality in leadership and Community involvement. From the days of her husband being federal Minister, she has been involved in many empowerment initiaves. She is currently using her political movement to mobilise the Urhobos, the fifth ethnic tribe in Nigeria for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election come 2027. In this interview she bares her mind on several burning national issues.Excerpt.
By Ovie Edomi
What was your impressions about Nigeria before agreeing to work for President Bola Tinubu from Diaspora?
Nigeria is the giant of Africa but we are still a developing country. Every nation globally is a work in progress.Since 1960 till date we have had different leaders. Nigeria is blessed with natural resources and we need a great leader like President Tinubu to manage Nigeria’s vast natural and human resources. Great nations of the world were built by great leaders along with the support of the citizens. I see President Tinubu as a great leader. Nigeria our fatherland is also a great country.
Remember President Bola Tinubu was the progressive Governor responsible for the reform that Lagos state has been enjoying since 1999 till date.Today he is the President and I must say that he is doing well and I will prove it as this interview progresses. President Tinubu is Taking Bold Steps to Reform Nigeria and His Presidency is Different in Many Ways. Nigeria has opportunity for more growth and that is where we the citizens come in. A lot of people may be wondering why I should be interested in working for President Bola Tinubu, yes I decided to set up a movement to let the President know that the Urhobo people are ready to support him. We know that if we support President Bola Tinubu, he will bring more development to Urhobo land and our country, Nigeria.
My motivation to work for President Bola Tinubu from Diaspora is that we have men and women who can develop Urhobo land and Nigeria. These people need support. The only way to do this, is to support President Bola Tinubu so that he can in return support the people to develop our land. So I am leading the Urhobo people to support President Tinubu. Ours is no longer a pressure group. Ours is a movement that is already on ground in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, South South Nigeria and in the Diaspora. This time, the Urhobo nation under my leadership will support Tinubu to win come 2027.
The apex Urhobo socio- cultural group, UPU under the present President General, commended you for setting up this group, what actually motivated you to set up this group or movement?
I have been silently operating for years but l could not remain silent anymore when I was appointed ambassador of UPU Worldwide by the leadership of Chief Barrister Ese Gam Owe, the President-General of Urhobo Progress Union, the highest socio-cultural Urhobo Union. Of course you know that Urhobo is the fifth largest ethnic tribe in Nigeria.So when I was contacted and told that l have been made UPU ambassador, my love for Urhobo and my people increased. The truth is that Urhobos have been marginalised for so long. We are the largest producer of liquidfied gas in Nigeria.Tell me what do we have to show for it. We desire an Urhobo state or Ethiope state and it is something that everyone who is a true Urhobo including our people in Diaspora should support. So as a progressive person in nature, I reached out to other Urhobos in the Diaspora and those at home to pursue this agitation. While doing it, I saw the need for more development and the need to do more. Being an ambassador of UPU, I also felt the need to reach out to the federal government and that was how the need to form Urhobo Nation for Tinubu 2027 arose. It was founded by me because it is the only channel I know best to support President Bola Tinubu and to use it to attract more development to the Urhobo people and humanity in general.
Can you tell us what you intend to do with Team UNT-2027, especially as some people are saying that your group is indeed, a formidable political group?
I want to repeat that ours is a movement. We have been registered in the APC Secretariat in Abuja and in the South South as a political movement. Our intention is to galvanise support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of 2027.Those who say that we are formidable political group may have seen us in action
Why is it only an Urhobo Movement from the name: Urhobo Nation for Tinubu?
Others can do theirs. We have the Urhobos in the Russia, UK, US, Dubai, Bokinafaso, Germany, Ghana, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Delta and so on. We are big and we are growing. Our aim is to be the leading support group in Nigeria
In putting together a pressure group that will work for the return of President Tinubu come 2027 are there things President Tinubu did that you wish to recall that necessitated this advocacy and support for President Tinubu
I would say that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done a lot though more things need to be done. For instance, he brought South South Development Commission. 400 road projects are currently on-going. The Student loan Scheme and Primary Health Care where over 250 billion Naira has been allocated to Primary Health Centre nationwide is something to be happy about. He has reduced Nigeria debt from 180 billion Dollar to 98 billion Dollars. Also our oil revenue grew by 67% in his first six month in office. He created a new Marine and Blue Economy Ministry that has changed the narrative in marine transport and seafaring related matters. So l am satisfied with President Tinubu. But beyond the things l mentioned, President Tinubu will do more for our people like mechanized farming and making Delta State an industrialized State. He will do more to ensure that Delta is a safer State like Lagos and would equally ensure empowerment of the Delta youths the same way he did it in Lagos. I believe also that President Tinubu will in due season make sure the oil companies return to Delta State
Are you sure the oil companies will return to Delta State again?
Yes. The reason the oil companies left Delta State was majorly because of insecurity. But remember that Delta state is the highest producer of crude oil. So why would any body not want to dwell in a place of Milk and Honey. As an ambassador of UPU I will ensure that we re-brand our youths and encourage youth development as well as re-brand our youth in terms of morals. If we can get the youths to stay away from violence and destruction and do re-branding, the oil companies will return.
Recently there was fighting in Warri by two ethnic tribes
(Cuts in) A round table talk with both ethnic groups to discuss this would go a long way to bringing lasting solution. I know the Urhobo youths are expressing themselves and are angry but we don’t want loss of lives so our foundation Omodoro Youth foundation will reach out to the youths soon to understand the cause of the crisis and we would come up with how to address it. Meanwhile, we are equally reaching out to other Nigerian youths and teaching them morals and self development and self reliance. Over time the narrative will change.
You once described the Nigeria’s President, His Excellency Bola Tinubu as Mr Fix it. Have you toured Nigeria’s roads enough especially your state and neighboring Edo and other South South states to warrant calling President Tinubu Mr Fix it?
Like I said earlier, the nation has its own challenges. Nigeria and the 36 states are not there yet but each of the state governors and Mr President will fix the roads with time. However we have to encourage our people to remain patient. Trust me Rome was not built in a day. Even the developed countries have issues of flood, bad roads and so on but of course you may say that response rate to repair of bad roads are faster abroad.
People say in Nigeria even State Governors hardly dwell on state roads. But in actual fact, the State government roads should be fixed by the State Governors. The federal roads that are bad can be quickly done if each State governor where the federal roads pass through liase with the federal government to carry out repairs of such bad portions. In Delta State for instance, my State Governor is not happy that the federal roads are bad, because his people are more affected and that is why Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori is trying his best to change the narrative in road construction and infrastructural development.Mr President is not also folding his hands. Currently over 400 federal roads are on going.
Would you say that you are satisfied with the contributions of the Urhobos to the national government under President Tinubu and is this government also fair to the Urhobos as the fifth ethnic tribe in Nigeria in terms of appointment into federal positions?
See what Festus Keyamo is doing in the aviation sector. It is commendable and it shows the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu in the aviation sector. There are other Urhobos that may not be seen or heard but they are in the system. We hope to have more of our people in government especially as the fifth largest ethnic tribe and the largest producer of liquidfied gas in Nigeria. In terms of fairness, the President has the prerogative to choose those he wants to work with for the good of the country.
Some people say our Electoral system is still faulty. What is your reaction to this?
We are a developing nation. Even in the US the last election has issues too. I want to believe that the next election will be flawless. We have enough time to make sure that all electoral instruments are in good shape.
How would you describe the average Nigerian politician and public office holders
The average Nigerian politician is one who wants progress for his people and that is why he is going into politics to bring change to his community. The public office holders are there to carry the people along. Some of them have not gotten it right but it can get better. The public office holder should not work in isolation. They need the support of the public.
Can you compare the Nigerian Presidential system with the American Presidential system, where you are based and lessons there are, for the Nigeria People?
Like I said US is a developed country. Nigeria is a developing country. Our technology, politics etc are still developing. America Presidential system is different from ours because our culture makes us do the things different despite the fact that we are the giant of Africa.
The lessons: we must learn to love our country. We must as a people learn to put ourselves in the position of others as equal being. We must respect each other’s religion, culture, tribes and so on
We believe that you have met Nigerians who ‘Jakpa’ a slang for those leaving Nigeria and not wanting to return. Are you using your group to enlighten Nigerians in Diaspora on the need to return home to invest?
That is why we are in this also. We talk to they but the truth is that we need to empower our youths. We need security.We equally need to bring growth to our various communities. We have to introduce many things to Nigeria to stop our people from running abroad to become 2nd or 3rd class citizens. Our health sector needs to be developed. If our youths can pay their school fees like President Tinubu is doing now through the students loan and they have access to quality health care system, security and so on this country will see a decrease in the rate of youths going abroad. It will increase investment in our country and we talk about it with our youths from time to time.
Election in Nigeria is most times based on regional politics. What is your view on this?
Regional politics is not what I can change. I will leave the electorates to decide that because it has been part of Nigeria’s electoral history.
Suppose our people call you to come and represent your constituent in the next election
(Cuts in) I am not political power drunk but if I am called upon, as a mother who sees the way things are happening to our women and elderly that can hardly feed well and our youths who are hanging on drugs, Yahoo Yahoo and many other things that are ravaging our communities, I will consider it especially if it comes from President Tinubu who is so passionate about Nigeria and our people.
Which office would you like to run for?
(Laughs) , I don’t want to run and I won’t run for any office just I leave that to Mr President. My main concern now is to galvanize support of Urhobos for President Tinubu come 2027
What support system do you have back home in Nigeria for the youths, women and elderly especially now that you are seen to be working for President Tinubu’s return come 2027.
The support system that I am aspiring to put in place to support our youths, women and elderly is for the government to build skill support system for the youths and introduce empowerment scheme for women because if women are happy, the home too will be happy.
As for the elderly, in the US, elderly people are provided for in terms of health, food and infrastructure until God call them home. We will work on how to build homes for elderly but for now as a short term measure,we will need Mr President to help the elderly people. In this regard I will bring back the experience that I have in addition to Mr President’s vision for elderly Nigerians and run with it.
If the Urhobos choose to support you to run for an elective office in 2027, is our most Distinguished Senator Ogunlewe supporting you in this project also?
My husband is the grand Patron of the Urhobo nation for Tinubu.He trained me to be what I am. He puts in me the value people see in me. Our team has visited him; and he has thrown his support. He is one of our pillars. So l have his support for the Urhobos Nation for Tinubu come 2027.We also have another person in Chief Dr Mrs Cecilia Ibru among others as patrons.The plan is not to seek elective office.