Interview There is reward in helping the needy- Osanebi

Hon. (Engr.) Comrade Friday Ossai Osanebi was the former President of Beneku Association, Ndokwa National Youth Movement Worldwide, Vice President of South-South Youth Forum and now member representing Ndokwa East Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly. In this personality encounter with Isoko Mirror as part of activities commemorating the inaugural ACNPN Delta Leaders of Excellence Award/formal presentation of the ACNPN Delta Leaders of Excellence Compendium to the public, the lawmaker spoke on his achievements, challenges and other issues.

Excerpts:

In your capacity, what can you say are your major achievements so far?

Well, it depends on the kind of achievement because I am a man that believes in the principle of giving; and when you believe in the principle of giving, those things that you give, you do not start counting them because when you give, you equally receive. So, I do not know where to start counting from, is it the number of people I have given jobs, the number of cars I have given to people? Anything I do in life today, especially in terms of giving, it is a principle which I believe in because when you give to people, you receive from God. I won’t say those things are achievements. Though people see those cars and other things I have given out as politics, I don’t see it that way. When you give, in the spiritual realm, you receive from God; so, all those were not politics. When I was the youth president, I bought over 90 motorcycles (Okada) and gave them to the three local government areas of Ndokwa Nation and I was not having any political ambition. If I had done all this when I became a politician, people might have said it is because I want to run for election, but I have started giving to the three local government areas because I saw giving as part of me. Therefore, I won’t tie it with politics. When I was a youth leader, I shared almost six cars to people and before I became honourable member, almost 15 cars were shared to people. So, just believe me that it is something that has been in me that when I give, I receive from God.

Do you have any area of your life that you are regretting?

In terms of challenges/regrets, if I say I don’t have any regret in life, I might be deceiving myself because everybody in life has one or two regrets. But the regret I have is those things I did not do yesterday because I could not meet up in doing them, but today, I think I have corrected them. So, I don’t have much regret in life since I have corrected them and everyday of my life is full of celebration.

What advice do you have for the society, especially the youths?

My advice to the youths is that they should be hardworking because there is always a space for them to occupy when they are hardworking. They should stop agitating in one way or the other like they use to do before now that the youths were not involved in politics. The youths must not be violent before they can get recognition or attention; rather, they should remain resolute and articulate. They should be peace-loving people because their antecedents will always speak for them, things they do in the past will always tell good of them. Moreover, they should be focussed, showcase themselves for progress as this is the only way someone expects success in life.

Besides, they should be more articulate and be productive in life, learn how to do something for the state and don’t always expect the state to do things for them because when you are productive, the state government will look for you. They should not just sit down and start thinking that when they start shooting, then the government will look for you. The government is looking for that person who is productive and who will bring ideas to the government. Therefore, they should be focussed and productive.