MY CANDIDACY IN 2023 IS NOT NEGOTIABLE – AJOMALE

In 2019, Ladi Ajomale contested the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the seat of Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II covering Isolo and Ejigbo LCDA in the Lagos State House of Assembly. Following the policy of the party to enable the incumbent, Hon. Jude Idimogu, who had just crossed from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to spend a second term, Ladi stepped down. After almost four years of obeying the wish of the party, he believes it is time to get the party’s nod to run as a candidate. He spoke with ECHONEWS Editor, Abolaji Adebayo. Excerpts:

What can you comment on the just concluded APC primary elections?

I think we can reasonably conclude that democracy has shown itself and prevailed. I’m saying that because when you look at Ejigbo and Isolo, the constituency I belong to, we had the ballot boxes there on time, we had the officers on time and people came out to vote for whom they wanted. We heard that all the councillors and the chairman are returning for the second term except the one who lost the election in Isolo.

Although we had a little bit of hiccup, I can conclusively say that democracy proved itself. It was fun, it was interesting for us to see that it was fair play. We had many candidates coming out to show their interest but fortunately, Hon. Bayo Olasoju turned out to be the winner of the primary election. So, I think it was a fair play. Normally, those who are not favoured would make noise and I think the party has been settling that.

Why do you think what happened in 2019 won’t happen again?

Well, knowing our party for what it is, we all have the belief and ideology that once we have the candidate that has won an election, we always believe that such a person is likely to go back for a second term after which we now bring out new candidate and new contestant for the new administration.

And that time it was a healthy competition. I can say that it was just for me to compete and show my popularity and to let the people know that I still have them in my heart. So, I decided to come out and contest the primaries just to show my strength and to show that I still have the popularity and I’m still the people’s favourite. But as it is, as I said, the party’s principle and leadership are supreme no one goes against the leadership of our party.

So, when the situation which I was expecting anyway came that I had to allow our man, Hon. Jude Idimogu to go for a second term, I agreed without any challenge; it didn’t cause any problem, it didn’t cause any fight. I decided to yield and I was happy at the same time I was proud because I came out as the winner of the primary election.

Now, to answer the question, I don’t believe it will happen again. It wouldn’t happen again because he has succeeded in his second term. We believe that’s what they have in the set up for him to do. So, come next election God keeping us and protecting us, I believe that I will be the one representing our party from 2023 in Lagos State House of Assembly.

People thought you would ride on your father’s influence as the former party chairman. Why couldn’t you use his influence?

Yes, that is to tell you that the party is supreme and some people made the mistake of saying that once you are in a particular position you can do and undo. Yes, my father is the immediate past chairman of the APC Lagos State and if he wanted to influence anything I believe he could but we believe in fairness and equity. You know for someone like my dad who happens to be my mentor and my best friend, I have learnt so much from him and ultimately everything goes down to when it is your time, it will be your time.
When God says it is your time then it is your time so at that time the way it went we did all the necessary things that we were supposed to do, we made all the requirements, we went to see all the necessary leaders and we did a grand walk and you will confirm that the elections turned out positive for me. Unfortunately, the party’s decision was that I should step down and allow him to contest for a second term and there was no argument. My dad did not even fight because it was the party’s decision probably if he were still the APC chairman, I don’t know, maybe they would have said he should allow me as the APC chairman’s son but he didn’t do it.

Ultimately that just went down to prove that he is a different party man and that’s to show that he believes in the supremacy of the party. as well which I do believe too. Whatever it is that happens in 2023, we are just going to make sure that we do the same work we did to make sure we have the people on our side and we believe that this time around I would be allowed to be the party’s flag bearer.

How are you preparing for your ambition?

I have been working with various groups of people across the constituency in Isolo and Ejigbo. I have been working with all the ward chairmen in the two LCDAs. Though there are no more caucuses, I have my teams who I work with and give me the necessary information that we need to work on. We also do some humanitarian work, sponsorship programmes, training programmes just to keep the people with me and let them know that I still have them in my heart.

We’ve been having meetings but it is just that recently our focus has been on the local government election. So, we’ve diverted all our energy, all our strength into the local government elections but after the local government election in July, we would kick start my ambition and try to start again towards 2023.

What have you done in the community to endear yourself to the electorate?

I have been able to do several sponsorship programmes, scholarship programmes and I have created job opportunities in the local government service commission where I served as the commissioner representing Ikeja. The tenure came to an end last year September.

During the period, we got the mandate of the governor to employ about 2,000 people and to the glory of God when I got my slot I was able to get people from Isolo and Ejigbo. I was able to get at least about 30-40 jobs for our people.

And for the community directly, I have been supporting the orphanages with my resources. I also support the less privileged during festivals. During Ileya and Christmas celebration, we do the needful to make sure that people feel that they are being carried along. I distribute bags of rice and oil just to cater for those who do not have enough to celebrate with their family. This is just part of what I have been doing and plan to do more if elected. I have been able to try the best I can. I believe I have reached out to quite a number of people and touched lives in the constituency.

If you eventually win the election in 2023, what are the major things you plan to do?

My priority is to the women and the youths of Oshodi-Isolo constituency II. I’m embarking on a lot of programmes – entrepreneurial training programmes for the youths and the women. Some of which I have already mapped out and have already planned. I have already had some talks with some of the industries and companies within the area to secure some jobs, to secure some training and get some sponsorship from some of the industries. I really wouldn’t want to say too much in order not to divulge some of my plans or some of the things that I have been able to discuss with these people because I don’t want my counterparts to come and steal my ideas and use them but yes, I have been able to secure some opportunities that I know will be beneficial to our people especially the women and the youths.

Again, I’m looking at scholarship sponsorship for the youths to be able to get a quality education. Aside from that, I have a plan to do some sorts of a talent hunt for the youths because it is not necessary or compulsory these days for one to just focus on academics. That may not determine your future so, I have a plan to embark on talent haunt for the youths. And based on that particular talent that we discover as we have quite a number of people that are good at football, table tennis, long tennis, whatever sport it is.

I will try to have a good relationship with the governor. If one doesn’t have a good relationship with the state governor, one will not be able to discuss some of the issues and challenges in one’s constituency. I don’t know but I’m suspecting that some of the reasons we haven’t gotten some of the development that a member of the State House of Assembly can point to which he has facilitated to the constituency from the state government unlike our MHR, who has done fantastically. He has done quite a number of works. Now what people do not understand is that it is not his own money, he is only able to influence the government to come and do the projects in his constituency.

So, imagine when you have a team of representatives from the federal and the state working together with both governments at the local government level and the state government level and we can bring down the ministry of works, the ministry of education, environment, down to our constituency based on the relationship, we will have a lot of things moving. These are just part of what I’m going to take advantage of to bring development down to our constituency here.

When did you develop an interest in politics? Will you say your interest in politics was influenced by the position of your father as a politician?

No! I picked interest in political struggle as I was motivated by the way people supported Abiola and that was when I started pursuing knowledge about politics. I started making enquires, I started talking to my dad because he was the one who was into politics so he explained the situation to me that for you to be a president these are the certain steps you need to take, these are the certain things you need to do and that was how I started taking interest in politics. And from there, I think it was the year 2000 when my dad started having ward meetings in our compound in Okota. I started joining the meeting. I found the singing and dancing interesting and the merriment that normally followed – a bottle of coke and biscuit.

My interest became high when my dad contested for House of Reps though he was asked to step down even after winning the party’s primary.

He did and I believe it was a blessing for him as he is more recognised now in politics. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has been noting my dad’s activities, said he has served faithfully during the time of NADECO so he brought him back on board as a cabinet member and I think he started being the Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Governor who was Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the time. That’s when I got interested in politics, I became more active in 2000.

During your tenure as a commissioner representing Ikeja division, what were your major achievements?

As a commissioner representing the biggest Local Government out of the 57, Ikeja has 23 LGA/LCDAs under its jurisdiction and it was tough initially jumping into case files of hundreds of staff members in the local governments.

I handled staff employment, deployment, transfer, disciplinary issue and setting of panels for staff who defaulted in one way or the other, ensure that the welfare of the staff was a priority which led to visiting of the 57 Local Government staff and management at least once a year.

Some of the council chairmen joined our meeting to address staff challenges and to resolve issues by bringing people closer to politicians and make the politicians understand the basic needs of the local government staff.

What was the major problem in the local government administration?

The problem we had was irregularities of grade such as having a council manager on level 14 and the council treasurer on level 16 and there was the issue of communication because the council treasurer would believe that he has been in service longer than the manager and that he shouldn’t dictate things just because he got an appointment.

We were able to regularise things by putting the council manager and treasurer on the same grade level so that they could work hand in hand to achieve a common goal.

Most times, both council manager and treasurer were always on grade 16 or 17 while other management on grade 16 below also has a sense of belonging and respect.

What do you do presently?

I am a lawyer by profession and I have gone back to practice. I also run a business/ training consultancy firm. I run all together at once.

How do you relax?

I like to drive, I drive myself even when I was a commissioner because I enjoy driving. But the only aspect I don’t like is the traffic. Another relaxation is having good food and listening to good music, no particular choice because I don’t discriminate.

Are your family members in support of your political ambition?

My wife has been my backbone, strength, best friend and we always agree on things and at times she is the one advising me that I need to keep pushing forward because she knows what I’m trying to achieve and to do for people. She always encourages me that I must fight to prove to people that politicians are good with good intentions.