How Kolapo Kola-Daisi Used The 2022 World Cup For Political Campaign, His Other Plans To Win Oyo South Senatorial Seat Revealed

Though Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles didn’t participate in FIFA World Cup 2022, hosted by the oil-rich Qatar some Nigerians definitely benefitted directly or indirectly from the world events.

While some benefitted directly by working at stadiums mainly constructed for the matches, others had their businesses affected positively during the World Cup.

Idris Kolapo Kola-Daisi, the Accord Senatorial Candidate for Oyo South in the coming election, is one of such persons who used the World Cup to their advantage.

A giant outdoor led screen with sound system and power generating set was mounted at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium (formerly Liberty Stadium) Ibadan, courtesy of Kola-Daisi. For 29 days that the World Cup lasted, the very interesting moments at Qatar were brought down to doorstep of the people of his constituency. The banker-turned-politician didn’t stop at providing the avenue for people to watch the World Cup alone, he also watched some of the matches and interacted more with them. In fact, the gubernatorial candidate of his party (ACCORD) Chief Bayo Adelabu was on the ground for the tough final match won by Argentina against France.

The initiative didn’t only attract the youth but also some old ones who are football lovers, as well as fun seekers around that area. It was indeed a great booster for Kolapo’s campaign for the coming election. As his posters and banners were pasted around the screen and his jingles played intermittently during the matches.

This of course is one of the many strategies Kolapo Kola-Daisi has adopted for his campaigns. He recently sent out season greetings letters to the people of his constituency. The letters were well distributed across the length and breath of Oyo South senatorial district. In the letter, Daisi gave detailed accounts of his views about how politics is currently being played in the country and why things must change. He also talked about his plans and visions for his people if he is elected as their senator.

“Politics, as it is currently being practiced, is unfortunately not working for the people. From insecurity issues to economic issues like inflation and chronic exchange rate depreciation to the very high unemployment rate (especially among the youths) to the level of poverty in the nation to the deterioration in the level of education to the absence of health and other social infrastructures – things clearly need to change.

I am writing not only to highlight some of the issues we know are holding up the vast potential of this constituency and its people but to also seek support for all of us to come together and bring about the change our historic and resourceful constituency and its determined and vibrant people desperately deserve.

I attended Federal Government College, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, gained a BA in Economics from the University of Manchester, UK, I’m a Chartered Accountant (2004), an MBA holder from the University of Bangor (UK) and a Chattered Bankerin Nigeria and a Chattered Banker in Scotland. I have been in employment in the private sector since the year 2000 in both the UK and in Nigeria in various fields including the Accounting profession and in financial services.

Apart from finding lasting solutions to the issues highlighted that are crippling our communities, our youths, and the general population, I wish to represent our communities in a manner that returns power to the people. I will bring back regular community engagements such as town hall meetings and regular consultations with critical stakeholders in our community. This will allow all my actions and areas of focus to be drawn primarily from issues raised by these communities and stakeholders.

Our intervention programs will tackle youth unemployment through the provision of skill acquisition training programs and financial empowerment through provision of financial assistance for youths who want to start their own business.

We also need to review and/or propose laws which will boost economic activity (such as our unfair tac laws) and to encourage private sector participation in more areas of our society. Creating jobs for our youths must be a priority for the next administration and we must find all avenues to ensure jobs are available for the youth – for instance, tax incentives/reliefs for corporation that employ and train youths.

We can only begin to effect this change in our constituency by supporting the right candidate who has no other intention but to deliver for the people. As a 44 years old and with my wealth of experience, I will deliver not only for the youth, but for the generality of our constituency. I am ready to serve and will ensure that all the dividends of my tenure in the Senate will be for the people.

Let the change start with you Sir/Ma – JEKA DASI!

With a deep sense of responsibility, I hereby ask for your vote in the upcoming elections in order to serve and represent you as the next Senator for Oyo South Senatorial district,” the letter reads in part.

Kolapo Kola-Daisi, it would be recalled, wanted to contest under APC but was denied ticket. He later dumped the party and pitched his tent with another political party, Accord.

Also, considering status of the political bigwigs in the race, Kolapo Kola-Daisi, to some people, is an underdog as far as race to Oyo South senatorial seat is concerned. The former Oyo SSG Barr. Sarafadeen Abiodun-Alli, the APC candidate and a close ally of Governor Seyi Makinde and candidate of PDP, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe are both contesting the same seat. But Kolapo Kola-Daisi seems to be unperturbed with whatever assumptions that might be flying around in the political circle. He appears to be battle ready for the election. That also explains why he has engaged in door to door campaigns.

For Kolapo Kola-Daisi’s team, he has many things going for him. The family background, the qualifications, his achievements in the private sector and the age on his side. But can he pull a surprise by beating both Alli and Tegbe in the poll? Time will definitely tell!