In a significant development reflecting the ongoing political realignments and renewed aspirations within Oyo State, Hon. Shina Alabi, a respected chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recently assumed a pivotal role as the Ibadan North Local Government Renewed Hope Ambassador.
Beyond his new ambassadorial role, Alabi is also known for his previous service as Chairman of the Oyo State Trans City Transport Services (TCTS), now Pacesetter Transport Service (PTS).
He is also the Chairman/CEO of Shortollab Int’l Property Company Ltd and Shortollab Int’l Poultry Farm Ltd, and holds the traditional title of Mogaji Ile Abikayin, Ita-Agba Akin, Oranyan, Ibadan.
In an exclusive interview, Hon. Alabi elaborated on his new responsibilities, outlining his vision for the role and explaining what the 'Renewed Hope' agenda truly signifies for the residents of Ibadan North, Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.
He also discussed his party's strategies and plans to reclaim power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state come 2027. Read on....
Congratulations on your new appointment. How does it make you feel?
Thank you very much. It feels good to have been identified with and given a new role as the Renewed Hope Ambassador for Ibadan North Local Government. It's also a great honor for the leadership of our great party the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the local government level to have deemed it fit for me to be appointed. To be honest, it's a huge task but we are up to it, and shall deliver by the grace of God and the full support of our people in the local government and in the state generally.
I have no doubt in me that we'll succeed, especially as people have spoken in unison regarding our Leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his re-election for a second term, judging by his unprecedented achievements since he came onboard.
And if you look at it, you will see that influential figures within our party across the states in Nigeria are being appointed as Renewed Hope Ambassadors to effectively carry out the assignments. That is why you will see on the list people like the former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin.
So as a result of his appointment as the Renewed Hope Ambassador for Oyo State, Folarin came back to the state to inform leaders of the assignments given to him which part is to appoint Renewed Hope Ambassadors in all the 33 local governments of the state.
You must be aware of the internal rancor that our party has faced for many years. So the appointment of ambassadors across the state is also part of the reconciliatory move being initiated by the party leaders. And as we all can see, the move is already yielding positive results.
We have taken the reconciliatory cause to the grassroots across the nook and cranny of the state, and the party is now more focused and united and getting ready for the main battle ahead, which is the 2027 general elections. We shall take over come 2027 by the grace of God.
We the ambassadors have already been sworn in. Our primary duty is to spread the news to the grassroots, to let them know how far Mr. President has gone in steering the affairs of the country in the last three years, and his efforts to bring comfort to all and sundry.
You will agree with me that when President Tinubu came on board a lot of things had gone wrong. So the immediate steps he took to redeem the badly damaged system were kind of harsh on the people.
Today, we are gradually seeing the positive effects of those hard decisions he took. I mean his efforts in stabilizing the Economy, Infrastructural Developments, Education through NELFUND as well as his interventions in Agriculture and Manufacturing sectors and all of that.
We have to let people know about all these things. To let them know that for more dividends to come and for the betterment of Nigeria, President Tinubu has to be re-elected come 2027. So that it will be a relief for all of us in the country.
PDP has been in power in Oyo State for six years and half and APC is trying to take over. How do you see the whole thing playing out?
Of course, it's going to be a very big task. We don't have to deceive ourselves. This is so because we have been out of power for a while, for over six years. So we have to do extra work. We also have to present a good, strong and sellable candidate. Thank God we have many people that are more than qualified in our party. The case at hand is like trying to make a change. And by so doing you have to present to the people what is better than what they are used to. Definitely we are going to work hard. So with our efforts and the achievements of President Tinubu, and the party's goodwill in the state, we'll be victorious in 2027.
How do you balance out your many roles as a politician, businessman and a socialite? How do you create time for everything?
I believe strongly that one should have a second address even as a politician. There is no way you can be respected if you don't have a profession aside politics. You know respect should be earned. How do you earn respect? I believe it's when you don't wait for political appointment or government patronage before you do the necessary things for your people. I am a grassroot politician. I know what it takes to be in tune with your people. And for you to achieve this you have to have your personal money to consistently oil your political machinery. Like you have mentioned earlier, aside from politics I'm a farmer, I run a viable transportation business and I am also into real estate in a big way. I'm also a socialite like you rightly pointed out.
So, to maintain a good look and a reasonable wardrobe and have something in my pocket, I must work.
I don't say it's until I get money from politics before doing all these and also to pamper myself and take care of my family and my people at the grassroots level. But in all, we thank God for the grace.
What is your message to your political admirers and party members reading this interview?
After the swearing-in yesterday, I told my people that the job has been given to us. And that the next thing is for us to get it done. The only way we can get it done is to make sure that we showcase President Tinubu's achievements to the people at the grassroots. To be disciplined in all our dealings to really convince people that we are truly ready to serve them. We have to make sure the grassroots are carried along with happenings within the party from time to time. We must also be able to endure and tolerate one another for us to achieve the desired results. It's when we achieve results that we'll be able to fix the right people into good positions and they, in turn, will be able to serve at the state and local government levels. That is just the ultimate goal.
Credit: City People
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