Comrade John Olusegun Mayowa is the Chairman of Iwo Ate Youth for Change (IAYC), a group of young professionals from Iwo Ate, in Ogo Oluwa local government of Oyo state. In this interview with BODE OLAGOKE, he speaks on the education policy of the present government in Oyo state and the need for power shift in 2015. Excerpts;
What is the motive behind the establishment of Iwo Ate Youth for Change?
Thank you, Iwo Ate Youth for Change was established about five years ago, it’s a group of young professionals from Iwo Ate in Ogo Oluwa local government of Oyo State. Our sole aim is to give back to the community what the community has given to us by giving scholarship to students; we provide study aids to some schools and help other indigent citizens in their trades and activities. We concentrated more on education because we believe that education is an important tool in development of any community.
But recently most of your activities has been political, why?
We are not political; we observed that as a non-governmental group we could only do little in ameliorating the condition of our people, it is the government that is saddled with the responsibilities of providing enabling environment for the people. As conscious youths if we fail to comment on the activities of the government, which has direct impact on our people then all our other efforts will be in vain, I don’t think that is being political, all we want is a just a better life for our people
But your group in a recent publication endorsed the former governor of the state, Chief Alao Akala, why did you do this?
Yes! What we did was to compare the current administration in the state with that of Otuba Adebayo Alao Akala and we make recommendation to our people . Without sounding immodest, Ajimobi regime has failed the people of Oyo state and more importantly the people of Ogo Oluwa local government.
He has not been able to deliver on the better life he promised our people during his campaign, he promised to create job, he ended up sacking a lot of people. Not until recently when he employed some teachers in a political rally. His administration has no single completed project in our local government, the schools are dilapidated and our health centres are not working.
Thanks to the Governor, he gave us the Commissioner for Finance, our brother Zaccheaus Adelabu , but what good things has Egbon (my brother) brought to Iwo Ate apart from his multimillion naira mansion in the midst of poor neighbourhood. Otunba Alao Akala has done it before and without prejudices, our people can testify to the different, and look at the man representing us at the state Assembly now, Elder Matthew, he has not move a single motion since he joined the House of Assembly, the only time he spoke in the House was when he defected from his party to the ruling party in the state, our people have never had it this bad.
These and many others made us to come out to advise our people that we cannot continue like this, we need a change.
How will you convince people that you are not been sentimental?
You see, my family is a political family, they have been active in politics before I was born, even right now my father is contesting for the state assembly but u can’t find his name in any of our publications, Zaccheous (Finance Commissioner) is my brother but our concern is the common prosperity of all and not a government which rule without human face. Look at Hon Odebunmi Olusegun (Bunvic) the Honorable representing us at the National Assembly, he is a model to all other lawmakers, he brought real dividends of democracy to all the nooks and cranny of the constituency, he empowered a lot of people and he even influenced some of us to do the little we are doing for our people. We do not only condemn we give commendations to those who also deserves it.
So, what is next for Iwo Ate Youth for Change?
We are expecting a shipment of laptop computers to be distributed among students not only in Iwo Ate but in the entire local government, we have produced a Career Guide book to be distributed free for our secondary school students, and we will continue mobilizing and sensitizing our people on their rights, including the right to vote out a non performing government.
