By Asaye Bankole
Engineer Femi Olafunmiloye, a businessman and engineering professional, has declared his intention to contest the Ileoluji/ Okeigbo/ Odigbo Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Olafunmiloye said his decision to enter politics was driven by his determination to contribute directly to solving the challenges confronting Nigeria rather than give up on the country.
Speaking during an interview with D Chronicle, he said his exposure to different parts of the world had convinced him that Nigeria’s problems were not insurmountable, arguing that the country needed competent, patriotic and accountable people in positions of authority.
“Because I refuse to give up on the country,” Olafunmiloye said when asked why he decided to venture into politics.
He said some of his friends had described him as “Mr Nigeria” because of his strong optimism about the country despite its numerous challenges.
According to him, his decision to remain in Ondo State and build his career and business in Akure, despite opportunities to relocate to Lagos or Abuja, reflected his commitment to contributing to the development of his home state.
Olafunmiloye said his experience working and travelling across several countries had exposed him to different systems of governance, development and economic organisation.
He maintained that Nigeria could make significant progress if competent people were elected to represent the interests of the people.
“It is not rocket science. All we lack is competence in power, in representatives. If we had the right people, we can move this nation forward,” he said.
‘My people asked me not to disappoint them’
Explaining his decision to seek elective office, Olafunmiloye said his interactions with residents had reinforced his belief that Nigerians were increasingly demanding better representation.
He said residents had repeatedly expressed disappointment with political representatives and urged him to provide a different kind of leadership.
According to him, many of the people he had encountered during his consultations had given him one major message: not to disappoint them if elected.
He said the appeal had strengthened his resolve to participate in politics and offer himself for public service.
“I tell you something, sir. In this little journey that we’ve been moving around, there is something constant that comes around everywhere we go.
It is the fact that people have been disappointed by their representatives,” he said.
He added, “Everywhere they go, they say, ‘Engineer Olafunmiloye, please don’t disappoint us.’”
Olafunmiloye, however, urged voters to scrutinise his background and track record before deciding whether to support him.
“I throw it out there: investigate me. Look at what we have done, our philosophy five years, 10 years ago. It’s the same thing. It’s all about a better Nigeria,” he said.
Family legacy of public service
The ADC candidate also traced his interest in public service to his family background.
He disclosed that his father was involved in politics during the era of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and later served as the last Speaker of the old Ondo State House of Assembly under the administration of the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin before military intervention.
Olafunmiloye said his father served his people diligently and that the family’s history of public service had influenced his own desire to contribute to society.
He said his political ambition was not merely about holding office but about providing a standard against which elected representatives could be judged.
“As his son, my people have called me now because, of course, I am my father’s son. I’m very patriotic, and I see what my people need,” he said.
Poverty central to political agenda
Olafunmiloye identified poverty as one of the fundamental challenges responsible for many of the problems confronting Nigeria.
He said his political philosophy would therefore focus on creating wealth, empowering citizens and improving living standards.
According to him, issues such as insecurity, poor healthcare, unemployment and limited educational opportunities could be better addressed by tackling the underlying economic hardship affecting citizens.
“The singular problem we have in Nigeria, and maybe by extension Africa, is poverty,” he said.
He argued that government should create an environment where people across different professions could earn decent incomes and live productive lives.
“The more of us that are okay, the better for everybody,” he said.
Olafunmiloye said his campaign manifesto was anchored on the acronym “WE CARE,” reflecting his proposed priorities for the Idanre/Ifedore constituency.
He said the “W” stands for Wealth Creation and Empowerment, while the “E” represents Education and Human Capacity Development.
‘WE CARE’ manifesto
He said other areas of focus include attention to constituency needs, cultural development, traditional institutions and healthcare.
On education, he said he planned to build on community initiatives he had already supported by expanding access to educational resources and human-capacity development.
He also expressed strong interest in the preservation and promotion of Nigerian and Yoruba culture, saying cultural heritage could be developed into economic opportunities for young people.
Healthcare, constituency representation
Olafunmiloye said healthcare would also be a major component of his proposed representation, with particular emphasis on preventive medicine.
He argued that prevention was often cheaper and more effective than treating diseases after they had become serious.
He said greater investment in health education and preventive healthcare could save lives and reduce the financial burden on ordinary Nigerians.
He also promised to give greater attention to constituency engagement and representation, stressing the importance of maintaining regular contact with constituents and understanding their needs.
For Olafunmiloye, politics should be about service, problem-solving and improving the lives of the people rather than personal enrichment.
He said his ambition was to demonstrate that elected office could be occupied by people with practical experience, a track record of service and a genuine commitment to development.
“I refuse to give up. We believe that we can do better,” Olafunmiloye said, urging the people of Idanre/Ifedore to examine his record and judge him by what he has already achieved before making their electoral decision.
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