The 2023 general election is becoming a contest of ideas and values, than in previous years when it was cash for cash and bullets for bullets. In the pool of the emerging value-driven and ideologically inclined politicians is Ismaeel Ogunsola, running for an assembly position in the Oyo State House of Assembly. On a one on one with DAMILARE Adenola, Ismaeel dishes out series of his revolutionary plans intended to better the lives of his constituents.

Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Ismaeel Oladare Ogunsola

I was born in Igboora, Oyo state, Nigeria. had my primary, secondary and tertiary education in Oyo And Lagos state.

Studied finance at The Polytechnic, Ibadan in 2013 and later Economics at the University of Ibadan, 2018. I am ICAN and ACCA certified.

I worked in the banking sector for several years, from the defunct Diamond bank to Skye bank, now known as Polaris bank, until 2020 when I was sacked by the bank amidst controversies for front-lining protests against bad governance in the country.

I am now a writer, a stockbroker, digital marketer and the founder of Altruistic Mankind Project (Altmap) where we are mapping out sustainable world for coming men via series of advocacy and digital businesses.

I am currently the African Action Congress candidate for Oyo state house of assembly representing Ibarapa central and Ibarapa North

You tagged your campaign: revolutionary representation, what are the revolutionary plans you have for your constituents?

Yes, It is not tagged revolutionary representation for rhetorics, our ideas are revolutionary as it gets, and we will be legislating from a revolutionary side, which will be in tandem with our party’s (AAC ) manifesto. For instance as Oyo state house of assembly member, I will be sponsoring a bill that seeks to put government officials and civil servants on the same living wage.

I will be sponsoring a bill that seeks to digitalize our contracting system and severe punishment for defaulters.

A bill to efface the ministry of women’s affairs and youth ministry. These ministries were fashioned out to perpetually keep the two demography as minorities.

A bill to end oppressive cultural practices in our society. e.g- child marriage, sexual exploitation, genital mutilation, disinheritance of women, etc…..

How would you rate the Seyi Makonde government by in terms of developing Oyo state?

The Seyi Makinde government just like every other governors score low in terms of what development should be.

Anyone who thinks otherwise will be doing so because we have demeaned governance and development in this part of the world so much. So we take basics and bare minimum as good work.

But for people like us, he has done so little.

In June, Omoyele Sowore, the Presidential candidate of the AAC announced Mr Haruna Magashi as his running mate in the forthcoming 2023 general election. Special about the ticket is its combination of two popular human rights defenders; one a citizens rights reporter, the other a citizens rights lawyer. In an interview with reporter, Damilare Adenola, the party vice presidential candidate throws a shovel into the ditch of his profile.

Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Barrister Haruna Garba Magashi. I’m Hausa by tribe, born in Ibadan Oyo State, and brought up in Kano.

I had my primary and secondary education in Kano and Jigawa States. Attended the University of Maiduguri Borno State for my LL.B and Nigerian Law School Lagos for my BL in 2005. I had a Masters’s degree at Bayero University Kano in 2016.

I’m currently operating my Law Firm HUJJAH CHAMBERS as a Principal Partner

Do you have a background in politics?

I started partial participation in politics in 2003. We were supporting ANPP then when primary elections of the party were conducted. Alhaji Ali Amin Little won the governorship ticket. But Buhari came and dictated that he will never go along with Little. So the ticket was forcefully and illegitimately taken away from Little and given to Ibrahim Shekarau.

That’s when we as youth stood up and supported Little when he was forced out of ANPP and joined PRP.

Some people say you do not have political weight in the North, what do you have to say?

From my point of view, ‘political weight’ as it’s called centers on the efforts one can make to secure the required needs of his party.

It is therefore not something that will be talked over the media, but rather the real effort one can do.

My political weight will be viewed through the structures we can put across the North, and importantly the votes we will be able to amass for our party.

As a human rights lawyer, how do you score the Buhari regime on human rights?

Very poor. Flagrant violations of citizens’ rights have become the order of the day.

What will the Sowore/Magashi administration do differently, as it concerns human rights?
The provisions of Chapter 4 of our Constitution that border on Human Rights will be adhered to without any sentiment.