In this interview, popular gospel musician, Yinka Ayefele,
speaks with PUNCHNG on the
2015 general elections and other issues.
How will you compare the 2015 general elections to the past
ones you witnessed?
Well, I thank God. This has been a very huge success. It is
quite different from what I have witnessed. It is violence-free.
The only problem is about the card readers, and we are
getting there gradually. It is a gradual process.
How do you see the emergence of Buhari in the presidential
polls?
Although I am not a politician, we all want change in Nigeria.
My concern is actually about the people who make up the
opposition party. We are all crying and vying for change. But
most people in the opposition were part of the ruling party
and they are still talking about change.
To me, Buhari is a man of integrity. He is mature and nobody
can push him around. His emergence, I think, is a joy to the
Nigerian people.
What aspects of our country and economy do you think the
president-elect should first focus on?
First of all, the country needs power. That is, electricity. If the
problem of power is solved, every other problem will be
solved. After this comes security. After these two areas, he
should work on tackling corruption like he promised.
Mainly, I would first advise him not to be too close to party
leaders. He must ensure that he rules by himself.
Election season is usually regarded as the ‘cocoa season’ of
musicians and artistes. Are you feeling it?
Really? Since January, I have not been going for shows. I
have been indoors with my band boys. I do not know what to
say about that. Everyone is broke, and we have not been able
to work. Especially when the elections were postponed, it was
a real problem for me.
I did not have any other job than to sing at bands. Because of
the sake of the elections, people did not organise parties. A
lot of people thought there would be problems. A lot of them
were not sure that the elections were going to hold. After the
presidential elections, people now began to work on events.
Generally, after the whole exercise, we hope to revive the
entertainment world.
Did you vote on March 28?
Unfortunately, I could not go out because I have an Internet
radio, and we were on air on that Saturday to feed listeners
outside Nigeria. We were giving them updates. But I will not
be on duty this weekend. Definitely, I will exercise my civic
responsibility.
Let us talk about Oyo State. Who do you see emerging in the
governorship poll?
I am not a politician. I am AGIP (Any Governments In Power).
All I know is that any government that gets to power must do
well and work for the people. Secondly, once God says it is
anyone’s turn, it will be so.
A politician could share money and food, but still lose. The
ruling party spent so much in the presidential election, but
never got it. I only pray that the state elections will be as
successful and violence-free as the presidential poll. Anyone
who emerges will get our support.
In developed countries, the physically challenged are better
taken care of by government. What assistance do you want
the Nigerian government to give to the physically challenged?
My major concern is our airports. There is no plan for the less
privileged at the Nigerian airports. When you get there, the
elevators are not working. So, if you are on a wheel chair, you
will need people to bring you up and down to get our luggage.
This is unlike the developed countries, where officials would
have come to meet you. I want the government to really make
life easier for the less privileged. I think it is time the
government implemented a law for builders to make plans for
the less privileged in their house construction.
Your hometown is in Ekiti, what can you say about the
political impasse there?
I am not happy about the wahala in Ekiti State. There will
never be growth in the state if we continue like this. Even
since the time we were under Ondo State, Ekiti politics has
always been raw.
Everyone causing problems should work on how to grow and
make positive changes happen.