How prepared are you to ensure that a repeat of what happened in Ekiti will not happen in Osun on August 9?
Firstly, I don’t even think about it and that is the interesting part of it. I set about this being cautious of democratic norm.
I said after the Ekiti election that a genuine democrat must be willing and ready to embrace defeat as he or she will embrace victory, provided the election is transparent, credible, free and fair. The real issue is not about the candidate but the quality of the electoral process. Once the quality is good and high, whatever the people say, because they are the ultimate decider of who represents or govern them.
Democratic choices are expected to be correct, good and right but it is not always good, correct and right. To answer the question, long before I assumed this office, I prepared so well for the office in a way that going by the normal run, I should not be working as hard as I am working now for re-election.
As a loyal All Progressives Congress, APC, member, I was disturbed, but as a head of a government that has worked so well with the people, I don’t even see the effect. I look at my engagement with the people, the products of my government, which has not left any home unaffected positively, and I said if election is about acceptance, popularity and impact you have made on the people, we are waiting for what the dictate of democracy would be.
In a credible, transparent, free and fair election, Rauf Aregbesola does not have any worry at all about what people will say about his administration.
What gave you so much confidence about your re-election?
From the day I entered this office, I started my campaign. How many governors walk the streets with their citizens? I have been doing that since the first month in office. How many governors create interactive forum in Nigeria before me? There is none. I was the first governor that devote close to ten hours of continuous engagement on a quarterly basis with the citizens. The people ask any question in no barred hold atmosphere.
