Osho Pledges to Transform FCT, Calls for People-Centred Representation

Osho Pledges to Transform FCT, Calls for People-Centred Representation

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) senatorial candidate for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Olanrewaju Osho, has pledged to transform the nation’s capital through effective representation, purposeful legislation, robust oversight and sustained engagement with residents.

Osho made the commitment 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 ambition to contest for the Senate was not driven by a desire for political office, but by a determination to address the longstanding developmental challenges confronting residents of the FCT.

Osho, who described his campaign as “Fix FCT,” said his agenda would focus on practical solutions to the challenges facing residents across the territory’s six area councils.

According to him, the FCT requires a senator who fully understands the size and responsibilities of the territory and is prepared to approach the role with a mindset comparable to that of a governor.

He noted that unlike the states, the FCT has neither an elected governor nor a legislature, making the role of its senator particularly important in articulating and protecting the interests of residents at the National Assembly.

Osho said his legislative agenda would be built around four key pillars: representation, legislation, engagement and oversight.

He promised to maintain regular engagement with residents, pledging to visit all six area councils at least twice every year to listen to their concerns, assess development needs and monitor government projects.

He stressed that effective representation must go beyond participation in legislative proceedings, insisting that elected representatives must actively inspect public infrastructure and ensure that government resources and projects deliver tangible benefits to the people.

The SDP candidate also criticised what he described as the absence of a comprehensive development structure for the FCT, arguing that development efforts should not focus exclusively on road construction.

He said critical sectors such as healthcare, employment, youth development, women empowerment, tourism, sports and support for the elderly deserved greater attention.

Osho further challenged the perception that political leadership was reserved for wealthy individuals, saying competence, integrity, experience and the ability to solve problems should be the primary criteria for choosing political leaders.

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 measured by capacity and results rather than personal wealth.

Speaking on his commitment to public service, Osho cited his long-standing road safety advocacy, saying he established Safety Beyond Borders following the death of a colleague in a road accident.

He explained that the experience strengthened his conviction that individuals must take responsibility for addressing societal problems, adding that he and his wife had invested substantially in road safety advocacy since the organisation was established.

On the persistent electricity challenge in the FCT and Nigeria at large, Osho said a senator could contribute to addressing the problem through effective legislation, oversight and support for policies that would expand electricity generation and distribution.

He also advocated greater adoption of renewable energy, particularly solar power, by households and businesses capable of using alternative energy sources. He proposed incentives, including tax rebates, to encourage wider adoption.

The candidate pledged to work collaboratively with the FCT Minister and other relevant government officials, saying personal differences should never be allowed to undermine development.

“My priority would be to ensure that government resources allocated to the territory were properly utilised for the benefit of residents.

“FCT residents should look beyond political parties and assess candidates based on their records, competence and capacity to deliver results,” Osho said.

He added that his ultimate ambition was to build a people-driven movement capable of transforming the FCT and giving residents a stronger voice in governance.