Below is the full text of Evang. (Dr.) Yinka Ayefele MON's interview. Read on.
How will you compare the 2015 general elections to the past ones you witnessed?
Well, I thank God. This has been a very huge success. It is quite different from what I have witnessed. It is violence-free. The only problem is about the card readers, and we are getting there gradually. It is a gradual process.
How do you see the emergence of Buhari in the presidential polls?
Although I am not a politician, we all want change in Nigeria. My concern is actually about the people who make up the opposition party. We are all crying and vying for change. But most people in the opposition were part of the ruling party and they are still talking about change.
To me, Buhari is a man of integrity. He is mature and nobody can push him around. His emergence, I think, is a joy to the Nigerian people.
What aspects of our country and economy do you think the president-elect should first focus on?
First of all, the country needs power. That is, electricity. If the problem of power is solved, every other problem will be solved. After this comes security. After these two areas, he should work on tackling corruption like he promised.
Mainly, I would first advise him not to be too close to party leaders. He must ensure that he rules by himself.
Election season is usually regarded as the ‘cocoa season’ of musicians and artistes. Are you feeling it?
Really? Since January, I have not been going for shows. I have been indoors with my band boys. I do not know what to say about that. Everyone is broke, and we have not been able to work. Especially when the elections were postponed, it was a real problem for me.
I did not have any other job than to sing at bands. Because of the sake of the elections, people did not organise parties. A lot of people thought there would be problems. A lot of them were not sure that the elections were going to hold. After the presidential elections, people now began to work on events. Generally, after the whole exercise, we hope to revive the entertainment world.
Did you vote on March 28?
Unfortunately, I could not go out because I have an Internet radio, and we were on air on that Saturday to feed listeners outside Nigeria. We were giving them updates. But I will not be on duty this weekend. Definitely, I will exercise my civic responsibility.
Let us talk about Oyo State. Who do you see emerging in the governorship poll?
I am not a politician. I am AGIP (Any Governments In Power). All I know is that any government that gets to power must do well and work for the people. Secondly, once God says it is anyone’s turn, it will be so.
A politician could share money and food, but still lose. The ruling party spent so much in the presidential election, but never got it. I only pray that the state elections will be as successful and violence-free as the presidential poll. Anyone who emerges will get our support.
In developed countries, the physically challenged are better taken care of by government. What assistance do you want the Nigerian government to give to the physically challenged?
My major concern is our airports. There is no plan for the less privileged at the Nigerian airports. When you get there, the elevators are not working. So, if you are on a wheel chair, you will need people to bring you up and down to get our luggage.
This is unlike the developed countries, where officials would have come to meet you. I want the government to really make life easier for the less privileged. I think it is time the government implemented a law for builders to make plans for the less privileged in their house construction.
Your hometown is in Ekiti, what can you say about the political impasse there?
I am not happy about the wahala in Ekiti State. There will never be growth in the state if we continue like this. Even since the time we were under Ondo State, Ekiti politics has always been raw.
Everyone causing problems should work on how to grow and make positive changes happen.
Source: Punchnewspaper
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