"I WILL ADVISE US NOT TO VOTE BASED ON SENTIMENT OR NEPOTISM" - PHOENIX

This week on the Dentatics Press Interview Desk, we reached out to Mr Adebayo Akindele, popularly known as Phoenix, and an aspirant for the post of Assistant General Secretary in the last concluded UADS election. 

Good evening, it's good to have you here.

Good evening Dentatics press, I'm glad to be here.

Can you do a brief introduction of yourself?

The Official name is Adebayo Akindele. A 300L Dental student of University of Ibadan. Phoenix is a name I adopted because of its mythical meaning as related to the Greek mythology. It depicts a 'reborn' and I was at that stage in life that I was going through a rebirth.

This is our first encounter with you since the last electoral debate of the Dentactic press. So, how have you been doing since the end of the election, especially relative to how the result was on your side?

Yes.This is the first contact after the debate. As for the elections, I've been doing very fine. It was a very competitive contest. Certainly the most competitive of the whole elections. But there can only be one winner. And it eventually boiled down to the decision of the electorates.

Did you relay your congratulatory remarks to your opponent, Miss Omotainse?

Yes. I contacted her immediately the results was released to congratulate her.

Now that the election is gone, what's next for Mr Akindele within the Association? Or is this a bye bye to UADS in politics?

My Transcendence Agenda was based on effective Welfarism of the association members and correcting the errors that the office of AGS has been making for some time now. So in furtherance of the Agenda and to honour the 60 other electorates that trusted me with their votes, I have joined a couple of committees (including welfare) to bring the Agenda to reality. And when the time for another election comes, the next plans will be revealed.

How would you describe the last UADs election, was it satisfactory or below expectation?

Whenever it comes to online stuffs, technical problems cannot be totally avoided. And according to the electoral report, they had less time to prepare. So it's just a lesson for consecutive elections. But generally, the electoral committee did their best. Kudos to them for their effort.

Moving on, what are your expectations from the newly elected executives and senators?

I'll expect them to give their best for the association, just the same way I would have if I had won at the elections.Leadership has to do with a lot of sacrifices.

Any word of advice for your last electoral opponent?

I believe she's capable for the job too. So she should ensure that she keeps to all her electoral promises and be diligent with the responsibilities of the office.

We heard that prior to the last election, you were the representative for the 300l constituency. Are you still willing to continue serving as the representative of your constituency?

The Majority leader of the class is automatically the representative of the class. Which means I'll definitely have to hand over that responsibility to the Majority leader.

Away from UADs politics, as an advocate and enthusiast of politics, how would you describe the current political rumble in Nigeria?

We have a lot of permutations going on in Nigeria politics presently. Everyone seems to have their different belief of who the good, the bad and the ugly is among the core aspirants. But above all, I hope we get things right in this country soon. Because we don't have anywhere else to call home. The future starts now.

From the current unfolding and also owing to the fact that the election is almost at our door step, what are you expectations? Do you see your choice aspirant winning the election?

There are still a lot of issues in the camp of all the aspirants. Especially when it comes to the choice of a running mate. So I'll rather prefer to wait till all is settled before I decide or endorse any candidate. A lot is still going to happen before INEC deadline for submission of list of aspirants.

Finally, what's your advice to all Nigerian, especially the youth within and above the voting age, in preparation for the coming election?

I'll advice us not to vote based on sentiment or nepotism.That we look very well and juxtapose the plans and feasibility of the candidates before picking a choice. God bless Nigeria.

It's been wonderful having you on the Dentatics press interview desk, we hope to see you around very soon.

Thank you very much for having me. It's a pleasure.

Alonge Razaq Adebayo