By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) senatorial candidate for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Olanrewaju Osho, has unveiled his “Fix FCT” agenda, promising to use effective representation, legislation, oversight and sustained engagement with residents to address the territory’s developmental challenges.
Osho stated this on Monday during a roundtable discussion with members of the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) at the association’s office in EFAB Mall, Area 11, Abuja.
He said his decision to seek political office was not driven by a desire for power but by a determination to address longstanding challenges confronting residents across the FCT’s six area councils.
According to him, the FCT requires a senator who understands the territory’s size and responsibilities and is prepared to approach the role with a mindset comparable to that of a governor.
Osho noted that the FCT differs from states because it has no elected governor or legislature, making effective representation of its residents at the National Assembly particularly important.
He said his legislative agenda would focus on four key areas: representation, legislation, engagement and oversight
The SDP candidate pledged to maintain regular contact with residents across the six area councils, promising to meet with them at least twice annually to listen to their concerns and monitor development projects.
He stressed that effective representation should go beyond attendance at legislative sessions, saying elected representatives must actively inspect public infrastructure and ensure that government projects deliver value to residents.
Osho also criticized what he described as the absence of a comprehensive development structure for the FCT, arguing that development should not be limited to road construction.
He identified healthcare, employment, youth development, women empowerment, tourism, sports and support for the elderly as other sectors requiring sustained government attention.
The candidate further challenged 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 the media, stressing that leadership should be assessed based on competence, integrity and the capacity to solve problems rather than personal wealth.
Osho also linked his commitment to public service to his road safety advocacy, explaining that he established Safety Beyond Borders following the death of a colleague in a road accident.
He said the experience convinced him of the need for individuals to contribute to solving societal problems, adding that he and his wife had invested substantially in road safety advocacy since the organization was established.
On electricity, Osho said the FCT senator could contribute to addressing the power crisis through legislation, oversight and support for policies aimed at increasing electricity generation and distribution.
He advocated greater adoption of renewable energy, particularly solar power, by households and businesses capable of using alternative energy sources, while proposing incentives such as tax rebates.
Osho also pledged to work with the FCT Minister and other government officials, regardless of political differences, to ensure that development in the territory was not hindered by personal or partisan interests.
“My priority would be to ensure that government resources allocated to the territory were properly utilized for the benefit of residents,” he said.
He urged FCT residents to look beyond political parties when choosing their representatives, saying candidates should be assessed based on their records, competence and capacity to deliver results.
Osho added that his ultimate objective was to build a people-driven movement capable of transforming the FCT and giving residents a stronger voice in governance.
