Khairat Animashaun-Ajiboye, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and founder of Peace Dynamix, Peace and Development Initiative (PD, PDI), recently got the support of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in an empowerment programme organised for youths in Festac Town, Lagos. In this interview with YETUNDE AYOBAMI OJO, she speaks on why Nigerians should support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to become the president come 2023, why Sanwo-Olu deserves a second term in office, women participation in politics and some activities of her NGO.
Are you satisfied with the present level of women participation in politics in Nigeria?
I am encouraged by the voicing out of President Muhammadu Buhari through the advocacy of our women leaders and supporters in the legislative and political chain, to bring more women into politics. I applaud and appreciate these moves. I believe that women’s innate nature gives us a natural advantage to be more fair, considerate and less damning in our actions and or inactions. I will be very proud if we can genuinely have more good women participate in politics as we move into another transition election.
Which of the presidential candidates is best suited to tackle the multifarious challenges confronting the nation?
I had made an attorney by raising my voice. Right now, I unequivocally support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, inspite of what the naysayers might be saying, to become the next President of Nigeria. I am also supporting Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to return for a second term in Lagos State. The duo have good hearts and they are always willing to put their best forward.
Tinubu, like I have said severally, is not necessarily a perfect human being as well as you and I, but he has more than one thing going for him in this critical state of the country; he can put us all together. He will break all the religious barriers of leadership aspirations and will target putting round pegs in round holes. He is someone who appreciates the truth and works towards it. Let us give him the chance. He has good plans for Nigeria. And in the political arena today, Tinubu’s records of achievements are second to none.
Your NGO focuses on empowerment and other youth development initiatives. What areas of empowerment would you suggest to Tinubu to collaborate with NGOs on if he wins?
Three keys are needed to help Nigerian youths today; they are reorientation, unlearning and relearning. Government needs to start massive orientation through local community leaders, trusted religious leaders, and educators, to go back into our communities to teach ethics and values while providing mentors in several sectors of growth within the economy and even internationally to show that it is possible. Nigeria must utilise older age parents before they are all gone, so that our cultural values will not fade with their generation. This community cultural education is what has kept many of us grounded.
Retooling and skilling of the youths is needed. Vocational studies and online programmes that can enhance their capacities and make them realise the good they are capable of is essential. We can send volunteer educators, who can also go into the communities to teach petty traders how they can be more productive. On another hand, we should endeavour to encourage and support good behaviour and reprise bad ones genuinely and fairly. This will motivate the younger ones to understand the value in doing the right thing.
