Prof. Francis Faduyile is the former President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Special Adviser on Health to late Rotimi Akeredolu. In this interview with MUYIWA ADEYEMI, he spoke on the effects the demise of Akeredolu will have on the forthcoming governorship election and why he wants to succeed him as governor of the state.

What impact will you say the death of former governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu has on the political calculation in the state as it relates to the coming governorship election?
Well, we all know that death is the ultimate end for all mortals and debt we all must pay, but that of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, was one too many and sudden to us in Ondo State. Nobody expected it. We thought he had cheated death until it struck with that tragic blow. To us all in the state, we missed him, and the gap left behind cannot be easily replaced because he is unique in his sense.

But as regards the forthcoming governorship election in the state, his absence does not make much difference except that he won’t be there to see the person who would have succeeded him in office next year. I am saying this emphatically based on the kind of person our Arakunrin Akeredolu was; frank, resolute and never biased.
Oftentimes, he would tell all the intending aspirants without mincing words that he did not have a candidate in the election. Akeredolu would always bare it to all of us that he would ensure a level playing ground for everyone jostling to get the ruling party’s ticket for the poll. So, I believe now that you can see why I said his absence wouldn’t make a significant difference in the election.
There is no gainsaying this, the next governor must emerge from the South Senatorial District, it is sacrosanct politically and nothing can change it. Akeredolu would have finished the two terms of the North District after Dr Olusegun Mimiko had concluded the two terms for the Central District in 2017. So, it is very clear and instructive that our dear Arakunrin was not contesting and had no anointed candidate for the poll. He was very neutral and nonpartisan about whoever emerges.

Is there any possibility that Akeredolu’s aides will have a united front and support a candidate for the April primary of the APC?
If what you meant to say is about getting a consensus candidate, I doubt it. And in such circumstances, what is the intent politically? Is it to fight a common enemy? As far as I am concerned, the Ondo State 2024 governorship election is not about any common political enemy, it is about bringing the dividends of democracy to the people.
It is about signing a social contract with the people to serve them and bring development to all sectors of the state, not about any vendetta or chasing clout.
To the best of my knowledge, we have about three to four persons who worked in the cabinet of the late Akeredolu, who are genuinely interested in the APC ticket, who then will step down for who? In the spirit of fairness and representative democracy, every aspirant should go to the field to exert their political mettle, and the best candidate will get the ticket.
As I am talking to you and I know, there is no common enemy to gang up against in the forthcoming primary in the APC, all the aspirants are eminently qualified to run. And to commemorate the life and times of the immediate past governor and all the goodwill he stood for, the best man will get the ticket; and without being immodest, I will get the party’s ticket.

Do you still see APC in Ondo State as strong enough to win the November governorship election?
Unequivocally, yes! There are only two parties in Ondo State: the ruling APC and others. This is evident across the 18 local government areas of the state, 203 wards, and 3933 units. APC still enjoys uncommon unity, peace, tranquillity, and goodwill of the people like never before. We hear more than the rumours of wars and crises in the other parties, just like the Biblical prophecies of the end-time premonitions. Tell me, a house divided against itself, how can it stand let alone win an election?

You are a professional and you have made marks in the medical profession. Why are you contesting for the governorship election?
Chairman Mao Tse Tung once said, as paraphrased that, the best amongst comrades is he that is ready and eager to go to where the work ahead is tasking and herculean. I have been serving the people since I was very young; I am highly motivated by the biblical teachings of Jesus Christ about service when he told his disciples that the greatest among them is he who is available to serve others. This has been my compass and motivation to date, and I am unrepentant about it.
I did not just wake up one day to be the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), no, it was a product of a conscientious effort to make myself available and to do things better than I met them. Everything about me started in Ondo State, even in the medical profession before I moved to Lagos State, I held some positions in the NMA Branch, and I got back as Special Adviser to Mr. Governor on Health and now here I am again answering the Macedonian call to take Ondo State to greater heights.
At this critical time of our history as a people, only very significant leaders can make a difference in our society, especially in politics. Who is Professor Adedayo Faduyile? There are a lot of significant answers to this question, and they are everywhere in NMA, Ondo State Ministry of Health and other community engagement endeavours far and near.

What do you want to do differently that will make people trust you?
Ondo State is blessed and we have an age-long history of excellence, greatness and competition in the comity of nations. We have more than enough human and natural resources in all the districts, but underutilised. I will harness these rare qualities and potential for maximum productivity, consolidate them to make us the envy of all nations and ensure we get to that 21st-century pedestal in science and technology.
We used to have wonderful companies and industries like Oluwa Glass Company, Okitipupa Oil Palm Plc, Nirowi Wood, Ifon Ceramics, Alpha 3D just to mention a few; back in the days, some of these companies bailed out the state government in times of financial distress in the 1980s. What happened to these glories? I will bring back those industries and put in place better ones.
I am placing special attention on education, also prioritising technical education at all levels like it is obtainable in advanced climes. What happens to innovations without proper education? Such tragedy will not befall us again because ill-educated people will destroy innovations and make the efforts a waste. I will ensure qualitative education at all levels, emphasising patriotism and statesmanship as a core. Our education sector will become a reference for standards in Africa.
Moribund assets will be revived and new ones will be built to pave the way for youth empowerment and employment, especially in science and technology. Who says Ondo State cannot be the Silicon Valley of Africa? Technological and business innovations will be greatly enhanced. I will prioritise workers’ and pensioners’ welfare, it will be improved to meet up with the present realities.
The most buoyant but neglected sector, agriculture, will be revolutionised with technological innovations for food sufficiency, economic enhancement, and job creation to surpass the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Our tourism potential is underutilised in the state: Oke-Maria, Olowo’s Palace, Igbo Eledumare in Okeigbo, Idanre Hill, Araromi Beach, Ayetoro Island and many more will be exposed to international exploration for our gains.

Apart from being a medical doctor, what are your experiences in administration that qualify you to be the governor of Ondo State?
Empathy and sympathy, these are the two essential things that make the difference. King Amenhotep IV said: “The glory of a king is the welfare of his people.” Well, I think I am so lucky to be a member of that noble profession that has more than enough of these qualities. This is the motivation and force that enables anyone to see a gap and pushes him or her all out to fix it. Anyone can be lucky to be a governor, but it is empathy and sympathy that goad you to be remembered as a good leader.
Over the years, my work in private and public practices has made me understand and come to the realisation of the truth that no great records can be made nor achievement recorded if not borne out of these two attributes. It is widely said and believed that necessity is the mother of invention, but to me, I can see say without any ambiguity that sympathy and empathy are the mothers of invention.
It is all about identifying a problem and going all out to find solutions for it. One of the attributes of a leader is to solve a problem before it becomes an emergency. This is leadership, and one of the things to be looked out for in who will be the next Ondo State governor.

Politics in Nigeria, especially party primaries are often won by the highest bidder, how deep is your pocket to contest with moneybags and political merchants?
I am one of the richest, if not the richest. I consider myself the richest because I have the people to my side and their interests at heart. It is a popular maxim where I come from that people cover more fabrics, and anyone who has the people on his side has everything. Now there is a noticeable reawakening amongst the people and we are departing from that ugly political trend.
The masses have come to the sudden realisation of the fact that moneybag politics is a trap and decoy to steal their commonwealth, and they are saying a big no to that this time. Ondo people are resolute to put in place a governor who will be answerable to them, accountable and empathetic to their cause; not someone who will come with cash in hand to buy their conscience, future and that of their posterity.
With the people by my side, I am the candidate to beat in the forthcoming APC governorship primary in Ondo State. My pocket is the deepest because therein lies the keys to state-of-the-art health facilities, urban-rural development initiatives, massive infrastructural development, trendy scientific and technological innovations, unprecedented agricultural growth, youth employment opportunities amongst others that supersedes “See-and-buy” budget that has jeopardised our collective welfare and progress all these years.
What kind of primary will you prefer your party to adopt, direct, indirect or consensus option?
I stand with the national leadership of the party under the leadership of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the national chairman of our great party, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; whatever decision they make to produce the next flag-bearer and governor of Ondo State in the forthcoming election is good, thoughtful and sacrosanct. I will only implore them to listen to the yearnings of the people of the state who deserve and desire the best for themselves, and want a leader amongst them.