Prominent businessman and former National President of Alumni Association of the National Institute Alhaji Jani Ibrahim is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Kwara State. He spoke with ADEKUNLE JIMOH in Ilorin, the state capital, on his ambition, zoning and chances of the PDP at the polls.

Why do you want to become the governor of Kwara State?

I see a state with abundant potentials that have not been fully utilised. People say the state is poor, but, I see untapped potential. In Lubcon we have been able to accomplish extra-ordinary things with ordinary people; our products have accomplished international certification without a single expatriate staff. I believe that the same feat can be accomplished in Kwara State. Taking the state from "good" to "great". I look at the hoards of unemployed youths, and the potentials lying waste; I look at poor rural dwellers surrounded by uncultivated land as far as the eyes can see, and I see untapped potentials for turning their lives and the economy of the state around. I have worked hard to build a successful business and I intend to deploy the wealth of experience that I have garnered in business to help shape the lives and fortunes of our youths and our children. I have been trying to do that in my business through grants, scholarships, youth empowerment initiatives and direct support to young entrepreneurs as well as employment opportunities but that is not enough. I know I can do more because you can never be comfortable in the midst of poverty as it is today in Kwara. So, to improve the living conditions of our people is enough motivation for me.

What is the chance of President Goodluck Jonathan in next year's election?

The country is experiencing a seven per cent growth rate, which is one of the highest in the world. Foreign investors, after careful assessment of the economic prospects of the country, are coming into the country despite the negative image that some are wont to present of the country. The Transformation Agenda and other programmes such as the power sector reforms are beginning to bear fruit, despite all the troubling security challenges that the country is faced with. Nigerians just need to be a little bit patient to see the full results, as the benefits of these initiatives do not become apparent overnight. The recent rebasing of our GDP, the first ever, is a commendable exercise that has helped to shed light on the true structure of the economy and contribution of various sectors to the GDP. This is an invaluable tool in correct policy formulation. Yes, there are challenges facing the nation; but the response of everyone of us should be joining hands and working together to take on the challenges; every nation that is great today, passed through some rough patches in its history. We cannot afford to let Nigeria fail; there is no place in the world where 170 million people can run to - failure is not an option. The President, despite the security and other challenges facing the country, has continued to forge ahead; and we should give him our unwavering support and back him with our prayers; "you don't change a coach in the middle of a match".

What is your reaction to the agitation for power shift to Kwara South, where you comes from?

My party will conduct a delegate election to decide who is the best person for the job. Yes, you are right that our people from the South are insisting that equity demands that the zone be allowed another four years in power. I am not aware of any binding agreement to that effect in our party.; But, don't forget that we have eminently qualified candidates from all the zones. We are consulting with our brothers and sisters from both the central and the North, if our zone wants to keep it for another four years, they have to work hard and convince the other zones. What remains important is for the best candidate that can deliver the state to emerge. The problems of the state -poverty, unemployment, underdevelopment-cannot be zoned. They are all over.

What is your vision for Kwara State?

I was raised from a very humble beginnings and I would like to see a Kwara State in which people that can aspire and attain to great height no matter their background; a state where every child rises to the fullest of their potentials. A state where kwarans can participate in the political process without fear of retribution and where our votes will be counted. Without going into too much details, our programmes revolve round the acronym of my name. JANI; J - job creation, A - agriculture development, N - natural resources exploitation and I - infrastructure development. On the job front, in addition to the various programmes we will be putting in place, we will work at making Kwara State the choice destination for foreign businesses coming into the country. As you aware, Africa is the next big thing in global business, and Nigeria is the prime location for the foreign businesses that are coming into the continent. SMEs will be a major tool for job creation.

How are you going to achieve these programmes?

With the abundant arable land, excellent land and air connection and the hard working people that the state is blessed with, we will be leveraging on the programmes and incentives that the Federal Government has put into place under its Agriculture Transformation Agenda, to position the state as the foremost agriculture and agro business region in the country. With well articulated policy in place, rural farmers in the state could easily meet 10 per cent of the country's annual rice needs and earning themselves N30 billion annually in the process; mind you, that is just slightly lower than what the state receives annually from the Federal Allocation. Such initiatives help address the inclusive growth concerns that is bothering development professional around the globe.

We will also enter into partnership with local and foreign firms to exploit and very importantly, processing the mineral resources that exist in the state. Thailand and India though not big time mineral producing countries, have very vibrant precious stone cutting and polishing industries. We intend to make Kwara State the centre for a similar operation, catering for the needs of the precious stones mined in the mineral rich belt that extends from Nasarawa/Plateau state, down to Kogi/Kwara State.

On the infrastructure front, we will be opening up every part of the state by construction of good roads, upgrading of schools and hospitals, extension of grid and off grid electricity and the provision of water and sanitation.

I'm always sad when I hear that a child cannot read, because the doors of opportunity had been closed on that child. Our youths know that government alone cannot solve all their problems. But they believe that by reducing the cost of governance, practising tight fiscal management and a radical change in Government's priorities, every Kwaran will have a chance to a decent good life. We will embrace transparency, and will be reaching out to Kwarans at home and abroad, as well as bilateral and multilateral development agencies to join hands with us in birthing the Kwara of our dream.