Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) senatorial candidate for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Olanrewaju Osho, has declared his ambition to transform the nation’s capital through effective representation, legislation, oversight and sustained engagement with residents.
Osho, while outlining his vision for the FCT on Monday during a roundtable discussion with members of the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) at their office, EFAB Mall, Area 11, Abuja, said the desire for political office did not drive his aspiration, but by a determination to address the territory’s longstanding developmental challenges.
He said his campaign, which he described as “Fix FCT,” was focused on finding practical solutions to the problems confronting residents across the six area councils.
According to him, the FCT needs a senator who understands the territory’s size and responsibilities and is prepared to approach the position with a mindset comparable to that of a governor.
Osho argued that the FCT, unlike states, does not have an elected governor or legislature, making the role of its senator particularly important in representing the interests of residents.
He said his legislative agenda would be anchored on four major areas: representation, legislation, engagement and oversight.
The candidate also promised to maintain regular contact with residents, saying he would meet with people across all six area councils at least twice every year to listen to their concerns and monitor development projects.
He stressed that effective representation must go beyond sitting in the National Assembly, insisting that elected representatives should actively inspect public infrastructure and ensure that government projects serve their intended purposes.
Osho criticised what he described as the lack of a comprehensive development structure in the FCT, arguing that attention should not be concentrated solely on road construction.
He said other critical sectors, including healthcare, employment, youth development, women empowerment, tourism, sports and support for the elderly, must receive adequate attention.
The SDP candidate also called for a change in the perception that only wealthy individuals could successfully contest elections or provide effective leadership.
He said he was not a businessman and had spent most of his career in public service and media, adding that leadership should be judged by competence, integrity and the ability to solve problems rather than personal wealth.
Osho said his commitment to public service was also reflected in his long-standing road safety advocacy. He disclosed that he established Safety Beyond Borders after the death of a colleague in a road accident, explaining that the experience convinced him of the need for individuals to contribute to solving societal problems.
He said he and his wife had invested substantially in road safety advocacy since the establishment of the organisation.
On electricity, Osho said a senator could contribute to solving the power crisis through legislation, oversight and support for policies capable of expanding electricity generation and distribution.
He advocated greater use of renewable energy, including solar power, by households and businesses with the capacity to adopt alternative sources, while proposing incentives such as tax rebates.
The candidate further pledged to collaborate with the FCT Minister and other government officials rather than allow personal differences to undermine development.
“My priority would be to ensure that government resources allocated to the territory were properly utilised for the benefit of residents.
“FCT residents should look beyond political parties and assess candidates based on their records, competence and capacity to deliver results”, Osho said.
He added that his ambition was ultimately to build a people-driven movement capable of transforming the FCT and giving residents a stronger voice in governance.
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