Chief Dele Faseru, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the High Chief Saba of Ijebu-Jesa in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State. He speaks on a number of issues in this interview by SAM NWAOKO.
As a community and political leader, how would you assess the current democratic dispensation in Nigeria?
Honestly speaking, for this our on-going democratic dispensation to remain forever, we need to discourage and discontinue with the idea of electing or re-electing people of questionable characters and corrupt politicians into positions. For example, a situation where people that have issues and cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies are being celebrated, elected or re-elected into political offices is very dangerous for our economy and the entire democratic setting in Nigeria as a whole. Secondly, the Nigerian electorate should also shine their eyes by making sure they do not elect hooligans and those who don’t have the interest of this nation at heart into offices. They should avoid electing those that cannot deliver or fulfill their electioneering campaign promises. Such people are only out to steal and loot the public treasury. It is sad that corruption in this nation has now become a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabric of our society and we must all fight against and condemn it if we really want our nation to grow and move forward. Thirdly, rigging of election by unpopular parties and their candidates to suppress the wishes of the electorates is never a good practice if we really want our democracy to last. Therefore, the electoral body should intensify efforts in making sure they always conduct a free, fair and credible election anytime that there are elections.
Also, our judicial arm of government should be truly independent by not allowing desperate politicians to pocket them via monetary inducement to pervert justice in their favour. In the area of security, the Federal Government needs to do a lot towards the proper security of lives and properties of the citizens of this nation. The government can do this by having constant meetings with our security chiefs to inquire from them on their daily activities and to encourage them towards working together to achieve the success of proper security of the good people of Nigeria. The federal administration should also make it as a point of duty to create jobs for our youths so as to reduce criminalities in our nation because an adage says “an idle hand is the devil’s workshop.”
You have played the political turf in Osun State and as a political leader, how would you assess the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke so far?
I think he is doing well. He has been able to touch most areas within a few months as governor. To me, Governor Adeleke is hardworking, intelligent and competent to rule Osun State. He is also humble. I urge the people of Osun State to continue in their support for his administration. I also think that PDP governors in Nigeria are performing better. They are doing beautifully well in the states they are controlling unlike the APC. Look at their administration starting from the federal government of President Tinubu, who removed the fuel subsidy without any palliative to cushion the effect for ordinary Nigerians. The suspended CBN governor Emefiele is a member of APC and even contested for presidency on the platform of the party without resigning as a CBN governor. We all saw how Nigerians suffered with his cashless policy and how eventually he was suspended and arrested. Emefiele is a member of their party. Also, most of the EFCC bosses in the APC administration have had issues. Example is the latest EFCC boss Abdurasheed Bawa who is currently in detention. Talking about the states APC have controlled or are still controlling, there is no way you will not see traces of massive corruption. Example is the immediate past governor of Zamfara State, Senator Mattawalle who is alleged to have siphoned billions of naira during his administration alongside with the allegation of discovery of about 40 government vehicles in his compound. With all these in APC and in government, the only way out for us in Nigeria is to go back to the party we have tested and trusted and that is Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). PDP to me is the only party that can bring Nigeria out of this present economic mess we are in. Take for example, I will say that the best House of Representatives member we have in Nigeria today is Hon. Busayo Oluwole Oke of Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun State, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
At 88 years, you have seen quite a lot. What has life taught you and how has life been with you?
I thank God for the privilege. I might attribute my longevity and sound health to rest of mind. Hard work, prudent management of resources, constant and regular prayers, creativity, respect to the elders and ones parents, shunning of drunkenness and bad relationship, self-discipline, always having positive thoughts because “as a man thinketh so he is”; as well as determination to be educated because I believe it is the bedrock and foundation to life success, are all important. These have been my guiding principles in life and have greatly helped my longevity and success.
Life taught me to be innovative. After my education at St. Mathew School, Ijebu-Jesa and Bamgbola Central School Igbo-Elerin in Ibadan and later Ijesa Divisional Teachers Training College Ilesa, Osun State, I studied as a private student and passed the Royal Society of Arts (London) stage III in Accounting, Economics and Commerce at International Certificate of Corporation of Secretaries now Chartered Institute of Secretaries London. I taught at Igbo-Elerin area of Ibadan district and also at Oriire Ogedengbe Grammar School, Ilesa, Osun State. I was bursar at Ijebu-Jesa Grammar School for four and half years. Thereafter, I established and managed Obokun GCE School Ilesa in 1966 and also Faseru Model High School Ilesa.
I also authored Questions and Answers on Office Practices and a textbook on commerce and office routine for secondary schools and colleges. I was the first person in Ilesa to purchase a brand new Mercedes Benz from the money I made from the school I established. Today, the schools I established have produced many senior lawyers, engineers, medical doctors, pharmacists among others. I was sponsoring many students on scholarship in the old Oyo State years before the advent of the Bola Ige administration in the then Oyo State which later introduced free and compulsory education in the state. I’m grateful to God.
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