The governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, Olajide Esan, has called for sweeping reforms to Nigeria’s political system, arguing that the current structure discourages competent citizens from seeking elective office.
Esan made the call on Tuesday while addressing journalists at the Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Guest Platform, where he unveiled his vision for governance, economic development and social welfare in the state.
According to him, Nigeria’s political system requires fundamental reforms, alleging that it favours individuals who view politics as a business rather than a platform for public service.
“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,” he said.
The AAC candidate said his administration would pursue participatory governance by involving residents more actively in decision-making and ensuring that government policies reflect the aspirations of the people.
He also criticised Nigeria’s political leadership since the return to democratic rule in 1999, alleging that the country has continued to recycle the same political class while nepotism has become deeply entrenched.
“Leadership should be based on service and not imposition. Nigeria has too many politicians but not leaders,” Esan stated.
He argued that poverty and ignorance have been exploited to manipulate citizens and pledged to promote stronger interfaith relationships as a means of fostering unity and reducing divisions across communities.
On social welfare, Esan promised to donate his salary to the welfare of senior citizens if elected governor.
He also proposed the establishment of a comprehensive database of Osun residents to improve planning, policy implementation and service delivery.
The governorship hopeful further unveiled plans for an Osun Child Trust Fund, under which every child born in the state would have a dedicated investment account that would mature at the age of 18 to support higher education or provide start-up capital for a business.
On traditional institutions, Esan advocated the allocation of a defined percentage of local government revenue to traditional rulers to strengthen their role in community development while maintaining their non-partisan status.
Speaking on agriculture, he called for the development of an agro-based economy and urged the government to adopt policies that protect local farming practices. He also expressed reservations over the widespread adoption of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), urging caution before embracing the technology.
On the mining sector, Esan alleged that the proceeds of illegal mining were benefiting a few individuals rather than the people of Osun State.
He said curbing illegal mining would be a priority of an AAC administration, insisting that the state’s mineral resources should be managed for the benefit of all residents.
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