The Social Democratic Party (SDP) senatorial candidate for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Olanrewaju Osho, has pledged to pursue a people-centred development agenda, saying his ambition is to transform the nation’s capital through quality representation and effective legislative intervention.
Osho made the pledge on Monday while interacting with members of the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) during a roundtable discussion at the association’s office in EFAB Mall, Area 11, Abuja.
The SDP candidate said his decision to contest for the FCT senatorial seat was inspired by a determination to tackle the developmental challenges confronting residents rather than a mere desire to hold political office.
He said his campaign, christened “Fix FCT,” would focus on identifying practical solutions to the concerns of residents across the six area councils.
According to him, the peculiar nature of the FCT makes the position of senator more demanding, as the territory does not have an elected governor or legislature.
Osho said the senator representing the FCT must therefore demonstrate a deep understanding of the territory and work with a broad development perspective.
He said his agenda would be driven by four major principles — representation, legislation, engagement and oversight.
The candidate promised to maintain direct contact with residents, saying he would regularly engage communities across the six area councils to listen to their concerns and follow up on government projects.
He added that he intended to meet with residents at least twice yearly in each of the area councils.
Osho stressed that lawmakers must go beyond participating in legislative proceedings and ensure that projects funded with public resources are properly executed.
“Representation should not end at the National Assembly. A representative must return to the people, understand their problems and ensure that public projects deliver value,” he said.
The SDP candidate said the development of the FCT should be holistic and not centred only on the construction of roads.
He identified healthcare, employment, youth development, women empowerment, tourism, sports and support for elderly citizens as areas requiring greater attention.
Osho also argued that wealth should not be the determining factor in political leadership.
He said Nigerians should elect leaders based on their competence, integrity, experience and ability to address societal challenges.
The candidate, who said he had spent much of his career in public service and the media, noted that effective leadership did not necessarily require enormous personal wealth.
He also spoke about his road safety advocacy, saying he established Safety Beyond Borders after losing a colleague in a road accident.
According to him, the incident motivated him to become more actively involved in efforts to address road safety challenges and promote public awareness.
He said he and his wife had continued to invest in the organisation's activities as part of their contribution to society.
On the lingering electricity challenges, Osho said the National Assembly could play a significant role through legislation and oversight.
He called for policies that would encourage increased electricity generation and distribution, while also promoting renewable energy alternatives.
The SDP candidate advocated wider adoption of solar energy and proposed incentives, including tax rebates, for households and businesses willing to invest in alternative energy sources.
Osho further promised to work with the FCT Minister and other relevant government officials to promote development, irrespective of political affiliations or personal differences.
He said his focus would be to ensure that resources allocated to the FCT were properly utilised and translated into meaningful development for residents.
Osho urged residents to assess candidates based on their performance, competence and capacity to deliver rather than political party considerations.
He said his aspiration was ultimately aimed at building a broad, people-driven movement that would give residents a stronger voice and promote sustainable development across the Federal Capital Territory.