……tells South-West Governors to invest in Agriculture to conquer food shortage, poverty
Photo Caption:Folabi Fasanmi
As son of one of the leading lights of the second republic-Senator Ayo Fasanmi, he had the opportunity of witnessing a semblance of good government.
For Folabi Fasanmi,now a multi-disciplinary young man with eyes on public service, he has to return to the classroom to learn more even after serving as a Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he was Governor of Lagos state.
In this interview with Editor,Tunde Abatan, he declared that the only way to curb and eradicate hunger in the South west region is for the governors of the region to return to agriculture and tap its maximum benefits for the health and well- being of the region since provision of food and other basic amenities remain the first preoccupation of any government.
Speaking on the nations economic vum social crisis,he is of the opinion that a steadfast pursuit and implememtation of the various programmes of President Bola Tinubu will see Nigeria out of the woods.
Excerpts from the Interview:
How best do you think the Federal Government can carry Nigerians along in its programme to redirect and Restructure the economy?
The necessity for, the reasons, the benefits, and the expectations of government’s economic policies, in the simplest of terms, must be communicated to the populace through the engagement of stakeholders, citizens, businesses, and organisations through the instrumentality of workshops, town halls, and media campaigns. The government must foster transparency through regular updates on progress and challenges encountered. Monitoring and evaluating through continuous assessment of impact of government’s programs, by ensuring its benefits to all Nigerians, regardless of tribe, religion or socioeconomic status. In this regard, one must commend President Bola Tinubu for recently appointing 6 liaison officers for each geopolitical zone, to help communicate and highlight the policies of government at the grassroots.
Would you say SW part of Nigeria has any reason to depend on food from other regions, considering its natural endowments?
The Governors in the South-West of Nigeria have to wake up to the reality that the region has to go back into Agriculture, as it was in the Western Region, during the Awolowo years as Prime Minister. The region is naturally endowed with fertile land to grow crops and farm produce. Same can be said regarding animal rearing. It is embarrassing that the region has to depend on the North to buy cows and rams, tomatoes, pepper and even yam, to consume, when we have thousands of graduates and unemployed youths that can be encouraged to take to mechanised farming. We have several universities in the South-West, including the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, churning out thousands of graduates in Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics, Fishery and Aquaculture, Crop Science, Agronomy and Animal Science among many others, every year. These are youths that have been taught the rudiments of modern agricultural techniques. They have no business roaming the streets after graduating from the university. The regional governors need to work out a robust blue-print that will that encourage a return to the farm. Provision of modern farming equipment and machinery, availability of fertilizers at affordable rates are needed to develop farming and agricultural practices. This has to come with irresistible incentives and workable loans to farmers.
What is your view on the LG autonomy and the plot to set up an independent electoral commission to conduct LG elections?
Local Government autonomy is long overdue. With the recent pronouncement by the supreme court, in a suit (SC/CV/343/2024) instituted by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, where he sought an order to guarantee and establish the independence of the local governments. This was the initiative of Mr President and he must be commended. Also, I am aware that the Senate has introduced a bill to create National Independent Local Government Electoral Commission, for the conduct of local government elections in Nigeria. Interestingly, INEC has come forward to say that they are capable of overseeing the LG elections together with the federal and state elections, if given the opportunity. This interest is in conflict with section 197 (1) (b) CFRN 1999, which established State Independent Electoral Commissions (SEICs). The constitution, here will have to be amended. One of the proponents for the scrapping the state electoral commissions, is the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. He had described SEICs as “governors’ rigging tool” It must be noted that the political party of incumbent state governors always have a clean sweep in all conducted LG elections.
How could federalism be better served?
Decentralisation of power, resource control, fiscal federalism, constitutional reform, promotion of diversity and inclusivity, strengthening of institutions, encouragement of regional growth and development, will bring Nigeria closer to true federalism.
The nationwide protests themed “Days of Rage” has come and gone. What impact did it have and what are the lessons learnt?
The “Days of Rage” or “End Bad Governance” protest, readily brings to mind the 2020 “End SARS Protest”. The conduct of the participants then was largely peaceful until the protest was hijacked, leading to unnecessary loss of lives and properties. History seem to be repeating itself now in 2024, though in a different manner. Peaceful demonstrations must be allowed to flourish and not be allowed to be turned into tumultuous riot. This time around, in 2024, the South largely had peaceful protests. This contrasts with what was experienced during the End SARS demonstrations. The North which did not witness a single protest in 2020, had children as young as 5-6 years, take to the street to unleash mayhem, leading to the destruction of lives and properties. With the nationwide address by Mr President, one is assured that the demands of the protesters will largely be met. Lessons have been learnt and one thing that stands out is that dialogue is the master key in any conflict, as it is better to jaw-jaw than to war-war.
You are said to have acquired two first degrees, three Master’s degree and a PhD (in-view), cutting across physics, geophysics, information technology and law.
Can you tell us more about this?
Thank you. I didn’t set out to be a multi-disciplinary professional as my initially desire was to study law. In this part of the world you will agree with me that parents play a major role in determining what you study and what you become in life because they pay your school fees. My parents were science oriented, with father as a Pharmacist and mother as a Nurse. They led me into sciences. The flair for Physics as my best science subject informed my decision to study Engineering Physics at first instance. I went further to obtain a second degree at the postgraduate level in Geo-physics with the hope of working in the oil industry.
Along the line, my innate desire to be a Lawyer was rekindled. I got myself a private secondary school Literature teacher, one Mr Daramola Abiodun Olawale, as ordinary level (G.C.E) credit in Literature remain a major pre-requisite to study Law in the University. Along with Literature, I registered for four other non-science courses that included Economics and Government, passing all with distinctions. I remember so vividly that when I entered the examination hall to write the G.C.E. exams, I was mistaken for the invigilator.
Folabi Fasanmi
I went on to have another first degree in Law, a Master’s degree also in Law and a PhD (in-view) in Law on Climate Change finance. I had to step down my pursuit of a PhD in Information Technology after being active for an academic semester, as I had earlier earned a Master’s degree in Information Technology.
Why a PHD in law?
Having graduated as one of the best students in the same University. I wanted to utilise the opportunity of the PhD to explore the option of adoption and application of a developed Remote Electronic Voting (R.E.V.) model into the electoral process in Nigeria as a remedy for persistently low voter turn-out and participation in the electoral process. Just like you can stay in the comfort of your home and transfer money without physically going to the bank, remote electronic voting would also aid voter participation and voting process. With this, low voter turn-out resulting majorly from voter intimidation, ballot box stuffing and ballot box snatching, will definitely be a thing of the past. Brazil, Australia, Canada, Venezuela, India, U.S.A. (limited to few States), are among the countries that have successfully adopted Remote Electronic Voting.
Sadly, Nigeria recorded the lowest voter turn-out/ participation ever during the 2023 presidential election at 27% (ratio of voter participation to registered voters). That percentage remains the lowest ever recorded in the continent of Africa till date. Interestingly, my dissertation work at my LL.M (Master of Laws) program centred on reform of Electoral Laws in Nigeria. As earlier mentioned.
In pursuit of a PhD in Law, what galvanised your interest towards Climate Change Finance?
The quest to save the planet earth and the inhabitants from the horrendous effects and impact of earth warming occasioned by ozone depletion in the upper and middle stratosphere by greenhouse gas emissions. Scientific evidence is unequivocal about the fact that climate change is a threat to human existence, economic survival, wellbeing and health of the planet, needing concerted global action to combat. Climate change finance refers to the financial resources and mechanisms required to address climate change., It involves the mobilisation, allocation, and use of funds to support climate change mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation efforts.
My interest is tailored towards the significance of climate finance at ameliorating the impact of climate change in Nigeria and around the world, x-raying the negative impacts and effects of climate change in Nigeria and other jurisdictions, examination of the legal and regulatory frameworks as it impacts the mobilisation of climate finance from different sources including public and private funding, review of the challenges faced by stakeholders in complying with the legal and regulatory frameworks governing climate change finance in Nigeria and around the world, carrying out a comparative analysis of legal and regulatory frameworks governing climate change finance in Nigeria and other jurisdictions.
Who are your mentors in the legal profession?
Aare Afe Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti will always come first followed by Mr Femi Falana and Chief Wole Olanipekun.
Is it because they are from your state?
Not at all. Chief Mike Ozekhome and Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali comes next in line to the three earlier mentioned. They are legal giants that I respect so much in the field of Law. They have paid their dues undoubtedly.
Are you still into politics?
Once a politician, always a politician. I am only on a self-development journey and self-rediscovery mission into the world of academics.
Can you give us a brief history of your political journey?
When I was in year one in the university, it was not fashionable and acceptable for first year students to participate in campus politics (elections) because it was reasoned that they barely understood the system.
I rose above all oppositions to contest election in to the office of social director of the faculty of science at the then Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti against an established candidate, defeating him with just 9 votes. The following year, I again won election as a member of the students’ representative council (SRC), same time the former Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Program, Kingsley Kuku was elected as the student union Public Relation Officer (PRO). Kingsley Kuku and I were probably born few minutes apart, as we were born same day (14th), same month (February) and same year.
I contested in 2003 and 2007 to represent my constituency of Ekiti North Federal Constituency II at the national assembly. I lost the 2003 National Assembly elections to a PDP candidate with about 200 votes. The ‘victorious’ PDP candidate later won election into the senate. Also, in 2003, I served as Chairman of Alliance for Democracy Congress, Lagos State, the only state retained by Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the south-west and Nigeria after the general elections of 2003. I took charge of the affairs of the party by successfully conducting ward, local governments and state congress elections.
These are elections into office positions of the party at the wards, local governments and state levels. It was a difficult assignment but I rose to the occasion and delivered. I remember the President then the governor of Lagos State telling me that I had to postpone the state congress due to some serious challenges that needed time to sort out. I insisted on going ahead with the state congress despite ominous signs of cracks, bickering and wrangling between various interest groups within the party. I had received close to 100 petitions demanding for cancellations of some conducted congress elections. Mr president, as governor then, was amazed that I was able to resolve all the outstanding crises within stipulated timeframe without postponing the state congress that took place at Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Ikeja on the 11th of December, 2003.
In the 2004, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the then Governor of Lagos State graciously appointed me as his Special Assistant on Mineral Resources Development, a position I held till 29th May, 2007. I was also privileged to work as Senior Special Assistant on Solid Mineral Resources to Governor Kayode Fayemi, one of the most refined and resourceful governors ever elected in Nigeria, between 2011-2014. I had represented the state at a world mining conference in Perth, Western Australia through an invitation by the then Minister for Mines and Steel, Architect Mohammed Sada. My participation attracted Australian investor, Andalusian Mining Company, to Ekiti State less than three months after my participation in 2012.
You are from Ekiti State; how will you assess the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji?
Interestingly, His Excellency and I attended the same university, Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti). It is a thing of pride to all present and former students of Ekiti State University that since the establishment of the university on the 30th March, 1982, (then known as Obafemi Awolowo University, Ado-Ekiti) by the administration of Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, the first civilian Governor of old Ondo State, this is the first time an alumnus of the school will be elected as governor of the state or any other state in Nigeria.
I am so proud of what he has been able to achieve in the last 18 months. He surely deserves another term. All the former civilian governors of Ekiti State with exception of one, have now endorsed him for a second term.
To the progressives in Ekiti State, Governor Oyebanji is the political Jacob (Israel) of our time. Before the advent of His Excellency Gov. Biodun Oyebanji, we had Dr John Kayode Fayemi (the political Isaac of Ekiti, and also the political father to Gov. Oyebanji). The first civilian governor of the state, Otunba Niyi Adebayo (is the political Abraham of Ekiti and also the political grandfather of the governor). This is a complete re-enactment of biblical genealogical order of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). Just as Jacob wrestled an angel and prevailed leading to his change of name to Israel, His Excellency Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has also prevailed in tackling all the major challenges hindering the development of the state, giving Ekiti a new name and enviable status.
What is your honest assessment of the President’s performance who was your former boss as governor of Lagos State?
First impression is said to last longest. The removal of fuel subsidy on day-one in office for me is the boldest and most decisive decision ever taken and implemented by any Nigerian president. The very reason why there wasn’t any backlash about that painful but necessary decision was the fact that Nigerians knew he meant well for the nation, being the very reason they entrusted him with their mandate. Ever since that decision was taken, he has confronted the myriad of problems like insecurity, inflation occasioned majorly by the value rating of the naira to the dollar, head-long. What we see today as challenges to his administration are booby-traps and land-mines set of by people that never wanted him to be president in the first place.
What is your advice for Mr President on the way forward?
The President should remain firm and focused and must not be distracted by naysayers. It is almost unimaginable to think that the President has just spent a little over a one year in office yet the activities that have taken place since 29th May, 2023 are such that one would think the President has been there for three years. The impact is massive, from the reform at the central bank of the Nigeria to the petroleum industry (the removal and management of subsidy) to the educational sector (students’ loan) to infrastructural development, removal of foreign exchange trading restrictions, attainment of local government autonomy among many others.
Your father, a first generation Awoist and the late Afenifere leader in his lifetime was one of the most vocal and die-hard supporters of Mr President. His contemporaries like Chief Ayo Adebanjo fought him to a standstill for supporting his aspirations. Are you taking up the support from where your father left it three years ago?
Definitely. My father’s support for him was traceable to the time Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu began his aspiration to become the governor of Lagos State in 1998. As the then National Vice Chairman (South-west for Alliance for Democracy), he had confided in me that Asiwaju not only had the qualities to become a governor but also a president. That was the kind of impression my dad had about him while aspiring to be governor in 1998. My support for the president is total. Remember I was one of his aides when he was governor of Lagos State. I plead with the opposition to rally round him and give him all the necessary support to move the country forward.
Senator Ayo Fasanmi got into the bad books of some of his best friends for championing the cause of Asiwaju. His love for the president was absolute. He committed himself to him despite the generational gap between them from the era of Alliance for Democracy (AD) formed September 9, 2008, Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) created on March 2006, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) founded in September 2006, and All Progressive Congress (APC) formed February 6, 2013.
Also Read:Agoro replaces Muri-Okunola as Lagos Head of Service
Bill for establishment of Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy Scales Second Reading At Lagos Assembly
Africa loses $15bn annually due to climate change — AfDB president
Still on COP28: Jamboree, profligacy or serious business
Still on agricultural marketing boards: To be or not to be?
Economic Hardship:Nigeria drifting into Chaos,ACF Warns
What is your dream about Nigeria in the next 7 years?
Surplus, abundance and stability. Nigeria should be out of the woods and doldrums in the next two to three years if the same energy, zeal, zest and efforts are sustained and maintained by Mr President and his team. I am convinced that Nigeria’s economic and security challenges will be a thing of the past. I see a lot of Nigerians returning back home from overseas, scrambling to re-establishing themselves right back into the country before the next 7 years.
Folabi Fasanmi, is a Law Researcher at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti and the political heir to the late Afenifere leader, Senate
