Olajide Esan, the African Action Congress candidate for Osun State's upcoming gubernatorial election, has demanded major overhauls to Nigeria's political architecture. He argues the current system actively pushes away capable citizens from seeking leadership roles.
Esan made his position clear on Tuesday while speaking to journalists at the Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists' guest platform. He laid out his plans for running the state, touching on governance, economic expansion, and citizen welfare.
The system favours those who treat politics as a money-making venture rather than service to the people, he explained. This flaw, he believes, explains why he decided to throw his hat into the ring.
"The system doesn't allow people with ideas, but those who see politics and governance as a business to run for office. It is not sustainable, and this is one of the reasons why I decided to run for office," Esan said.
His administration would shift toward a model where residents have real power in decision-making, Esan promised. Governance must be shaped around what people actually want and need across Osun, he added.
Esan took aim at the country's political elite since 1999, claiming Nigeria keeps recycling the same leaders while nepotism grows stronger. "Leadership should be based on service and not imposition.
Nigeria has too many politicians but not leaders," he told reporters.
The AAC hopeful warned that poverty and ignorance have been weaponised to control citizens. His plan includes strengthening interfaith bonds to cement community unity and block attempts at division.
On caring for vulnerable populations, Esan pledged to dedicate his entire salary to assisting elderly residents once elected. He also wants to build a detailed database of all Osun residents to help authorities plan better and deliver services more effectively.
An Osun Child Trust Fund forms a centrepiece of his welfare proposal. Every newborn in the state would receive an investment account they could access at 18 for university fees or business startup funds.
Traditional rulers deserve stronger financial support, Esan argued, but must stay clear of partisan squabbles. A fixed slice of local government money should flow to them, he said.
Agriculture needs serious attention, Esan stressed, with policies that shield local farming methods. He expressed caution about genetically modified organisms, saying Africa must examine these technologies carefully before rolling them out widely.
Illegal mining has become a theft of state resources, Esan alleged, with only a select few profiting. His manifesto targets tackling this problem head-on.
"Leaders are the ones benefitting from the proceeds of illegal mining. Curtailing illegal mining is part of our manifesto because the proceeds of mining are meant for the people of Osun State," he said.
