A former chieftain of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), Princess Olabisi Sangodoyin, has urged the Nigerian government to create a conducive atmosphere for living among Nigerians in order to reduce the rate of crime and vices in the country.
She further stated that the Nigerian government should revive moribund industries in order to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country and improve the economic status of the country.
Reflecting on how life was while growing up, “Life was beautiful while growing up because of my background. My parents believed that their children must be great and they gave us the best orientation in life and it was helpful to us. Some of the dwindling moral values in the society can be traced to parental failure because children learn a lot from the behaviour of their parents”.
Speaking on the issue of passport racketeering in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), she said, “People working with the government are not sincere while the government too is not sincere with the citizens. Officials of the Immigration service always engage in passport racketeering because of insincerity and the inability of the federal government to have an existing database to profile the data of the people to ease international passport collection”. Princess Sangodoyin was at a time in her life a staff of NIS.
The woman activist gave these submissions while featuring on a weekly radio show, ‘Ayekooto on Radio’ anchored by Olayinka Agboola and broadcast live on Lagelu 96.7FM, Felele Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State’s on Tuesday evening.
Reflecting on her role and interest in politics, “Politics is not my first profession, I am interested in politics because I am interested in the people and a system that makes life meaningful to others. I realised that as much I try in my own capacity, I am limited.
Continuing, she submitted “By the virtue of the Engineering work that we do, you see, I established a factory for women to cater and assist their family as a form of advocacy to help indigent families and solve recurring family crisis.”
She further stated that she decided to take a rest from active politics in order to give room for other things in life, stating that she still participates in politics through mobilisation and support of credible candidates seeking elective positions.
She, however, submitted that she is saddened by the current political situation in the country as politicians now siphon and divert monies meant for the development of the nation and the welfare of the masses.
Speaking on the model of politics practised by the founding fathers of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), like late Alhaji Lam-Adesina, a former governor of Oyo State, she enthused, “They were in politics to serve and better the lots of the citizens, but now the reverse is the case, as most Nigerian politicians now use politics to loot the treasury. In those days, it was service but now it is politics of self.
Continuing, “I remember the late Chief Bola Ige told me to manifest politics and take it for a second profession and never allow it to rubbish my profession because that is where I make my money”.
She stated that the late Chief Bola Ige and Alhaji Lam-Adesina were leaders like fathers who encouraged women to fully actualise their dreams of impacting positively on the society.
She further stated that she was motivated to participate in politics in order to contribute her quota to the development of the nation, welfare of the masses and to serve as role model to typical Nigerian girl-child.
Speaking on the roles of mothers and obligations to the girl-child, she said, “My mother was determined that all her female children would be successful in their chosen careers, she used to caution my father not to lose hope in the female child because she gave birth to many female children. I was the fifth female child of my parents”.
She, however, urged Nigerian parents to cater, respect and value the dignity of the girl-child stating that they are valuable pearls that should be cared for while urging female youths not to feel inferior as a result of their gender.
Speaking on the current situation in the country, she said, “Bad leadership and attitudinal problem are some of the challenges confronting Nigeria as a nation. The problem of banditry and insurgency was as a result of the lackadaisical attitude of the presidency.
“I can recollect that eminent Nigerians actually told the federal government at the beginning of the insurgency to wield the big stick but they turned a deaf ear. The federal government as at today is not working assiduously to end insecurity in the nation”.
Speaking on the agitation for an independent Yoruba nation, “The problem with Nigeria is that it should be restructured. The system is one sided and if we can restructure it, there won’t be need for agitation for a separate Yoruba nation”.
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