The first Executive Chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, Chief Martins Ayoade Adegboyega, has declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress will win the forthcoming local government polls landslide. He also called for more autonomy to local governments to enable the chairmen perform better.
In this exclusive interview with Echonews reporter, Damilola Kusimo, Chief Adegboyega, who served from 1990 to 1993, spoke extensively on politics, his time in office, the Local government election and other topical issues in the community. Excerpts:
In clear terms, who is Chief Adegboyega sir?
I am Chief Martins Ayoade Adegboyega, the first Executive Chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government from 1990 to 1993 before the military took over. I am well over 80 years of age and I thank God for that. I still work, although I’m a politician, politics without work is nothing. I have my business; a shipping company in Apapa. I’m into clearing and forwarding. I’ve been in the business even before I became the local government chairman. I live in this estate in the house I built before I became the chairman.
During your tenure, what were your achievements?
When I was the chairman of Oshodi-Isolo LG, like the usual saying charity begins at home, I created this ward from Ward F which is Isolo and we became Ward G. I carried out so many infrastructural developments and other needed developments. I repaired so many roads in Ajao Estate and Oshodi. I did a lot in Ejigbo too and that is why I think I have a primary school named in my honour.
In fact, during that time I was the only local government chairman who was paying teachers’ salaries as and when due. Roads were well maintained and maternity centres in good shape. I can’t remember everything. Where Isolo secretariat used to be my Area Office and where Ejigbo secretariat is now used to be my area office. During Abiola’s struggle, Isolo was torched a bit. It was the compensation I got from the federal government that I used to rebuild it. I installed a lot of street lights. My impact was felt in almost every nook and cranny of the council.
What were your major challenges then?
Healthy rivalry among the communities was one of my challenges because they all wanted their communities developed at the same time. I worked hand in hand with the supervisors and councillors.
What are the projects you could not do or the ones you could have done better had the military not truncated your administration?
I would have had time to finish some of the projects I started like the Secretariat in Oshodi, the reconstruction of the area office in Isolo which was 80% completed. Though the secretariat has been modernised now by the incumbent chairman and I give him that glory.
What is your leadership philosophy and the logic behind your exemplary performance in office?
There was no special logic behind it. It was because I went there with the pure mindset to serve. Before I became the chairman, I had been a contented man. I wasn’t there to look for money or wealth. I’m proud of that and that is why you still see me living in the house that I built before I became the council chairman. Then, Jakande used to be proud of me and always told my counterparts to emulate my good works in Oshodi-Isolo. There was peace in my local government.
Why didn’t you contest when democracy was restored?
You should leave the podium when the ovation is loud. If you’ve done your bit, let others do theirs too and you should always be there to guide them. No champion is forever. That is one of my takes about life. My people tried to convince me to contest later on but I told them to let others do it and that gives me peace of mind.
What’s your take on the performance of your successors?
That the council was broken into three parts helped them a lot and it took development closer to the people. The breakdown has made them perform better. They tried and the incumbent ones are also trying to improve on what we have done.
They are trying their best with the meagre resources they have. During our own time, we were very powerful, we had the power to fire and hire. There was a certain degree of civil servant we could employ and sack. Our hands were not tied like these people. We had the freedom to use our initiative. Nobody held our allocation, but this is not really how it is now.
The local government needs to be autonomous. In the past, we used most of our IGR for development. Isolo is lucky; we have so many industries in Isolo unlike Ejigbo. In fact, when I was the chairman we had more revenue from Isolo because of the industries and hotels left and right.
In a nutshell, the past chairmen have tried their best and the incumbent are also trying but if the local government can be autonomous, they will try better.
What will you say about the politics now compared to how it was practised 30 years ago when you were the chairman?
Politics then was nice, lovely and we respected the elders, the people that matter, we respected their opinion.
Nowadays, politics is not what politics used to be back then. In the past, people voted for personality; for those who had convincing and realistic manifestos on how to practically move the society forward; those who could deliver. But nowadays, it’s not what it used to be. It’s improving anyway and I’m happy that I’m alive to witness that.
In the past, we had less thuggery in politics but now thuggery is the order of the day. I’m saying this without any apology. If thuggery could be minimized, politics will be a better affair but if not people with better plans, people who are willing to serve selflessly will just feel discouraged because they won’t get the chance.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has remained the ruling party in the country down to state and local government level, what do you think contributed to this sir?
I think it is because the people trust us more, they are impressed by the works of our party. The dominance has made us more popular and it means the electorate prefers us. If there is nothing about the party, they won’t be voting APC. Look around you, you’ll see that our various political office holders are doing wonderfully well in their capacities, starting from the council chairmen and others. Shammeh is doing great in Isolo, ditto Obe; I often heard about him on the radio and Oshodi is trying his best too.
What will you say about APC’s readiness for the forthcoming Local Government election?
For this election, APC is going to win the election by 100%. We have been the dominant party here and no other party can beat that. We will convincingly win in all wards.
Sir, PDP has always been challenging APC in Ajao here and other wards like Okota. Are you still convinced that the forthcoming election will be a walkover in all wards for APC?
You are right about that and that is because in those areas we have more foreigners, people from eastern regions and naturally, they have soft spots for the PDP but the narrative is now changing. I don’t think PDP is as popular as it was before in all these areas. As a matter of fact, nobody wants to call themselves a PDP member because nobody wants to belong to the minority party especially in the local government. Their threatening influence is a thing of the past. APC is ready and we will win the election 100%.
What’s your take on the number of aspirants that have emerged from different groups and caucuses in APC?
All these caucuses and groups will close ranks and merge when the time comes. As soon as the modus operandi is out for the election, the narrative about groups and caucuses will change and everything will be as expected. APC will take it all, as I’ve said, at the end of the day.
What is your take on indigenes’ agenda in Isolo?
Indigenes are only trying to tribalise politics. Politics is a game of numbers. If there’s a free and fair election and the indigenes win, good for them and if they’re outshined that shouldn’t be a problem. How many wards do we have indigenes in Isolo here, only Akinbaiye out of seven wards. This is democracy and election is a game of numbers. This is an election and not a selection. The indigenes should go to primary and if they win, fine and if they don’t that shouldn’t be an issue.
What will you say about the ongoing APC membership registration and revalidation exercise?
I have mixed feelings about it because the registration we did back then hasn’t expired and now we are doing another registration. Well, that’s the fate of a party that is popular. For people like me, we just do it because we have to do it. But I’m sure that at the top there, they know why they’ve told us to do it and I’ve encouraged my people and followers to do it and they’ve done it.
What’s your advice to party members, aspirants and leaders?
Honestly. Let’s be very honest to selflessness. Let honestly, selflessness and loyalty reflect in our doings. Don’t cut corners. The aspirants, I will advise them to respect the party’s supremacy, respect their leaders and commit their aspirations into God’s hand.