By Gilbert Ekezie
Hon Olalekan Akindipe, popularly called ‘Lampholder,’ is a young man who is highly endeared by many in the Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State. His name has gone farther, of which many of those who have been hearing about him and what he has done so far to affect lives positively, may not believe, if they see him one- on- one, due to his cool, simple and gentle dispositions. Politically, he has mingled with some leaders to learn the rudiments of leadership. And, having garnered more experience and exposure, he decided to aspire for the position of Local Government Chairman in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area, on the platform of APC come 2025. In this interview, he speaks on his transformation mission and how he will achieve that, if given the mandate.
Excerpts
Could you tell us about your background?
I was born in Alayabiagba community in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area. I attended Goriola Primary school and later, Oluwa Memorial Secondary School, Tolu, both in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State. Later, I proceeded to the University of Lagos where I studied Public Administration.
I am a Christian, businessman, married and have four children. I believe that Ajegunle is my home, because I was born and bred there. In fact, I have spent about ninety percent of my life in Ajeromi Ifelodun , and can name all the streets in the entire locality and how they are. I also know much about the lifestyle of the residents. So, I will say that I understand the place and the people very well.
Where do you reside presently?
I still reside in Alayabiagba Community with my family. I am familiar with the people and I enjoy them. No matter how anyone may see it, that is the place where I had my humble beginning, and it helped to make me stronger and confident in life.
Politically, where does the Alayabiagba Community belong?
Alayabiagba Community is in ward A, and it is a strong political base in the locality.
How did you start politics?
I started with street politicking as a little boy, just like a joke. I have a political leader, Alhaji Adewunmi Garba, who used to call us to attend party meetings, under UNCP then. You know, Alayabigba is a particular community in which, wherever any leader is going politically, others will follow. So, despite that I was small, I used to attend political party meetings, alongside other children. Thereafter, Alhaji Garba became the treasurer of Alliance for Democracy. Then, he used to bring some items from the state, for us to share together, and we were always happy for that. That was part of the encouragement I had as a boy then. So, when Alhaji Garba wanted to aspire for the post of Local Government Chairman under AD, I decided to strongly stand behind him. I will say that it was then I began to have more interest in politics. Along the line, something happened and some of us dropped, to join the Peoples Democratic Party. There, they negotiated with us and gave us slots. So, I became the Ward A Youth Leader when Lagos State was still using twenty Local Government Areas. Thereafter, I rose to become the Personal Assistant to the chairmanship candidate of PDP, Hon Sulaimon Omololu. After that, we reconciled and came back to the party and worked tirelessly. I sponsored the campaign of Hon Ladi Balogun’s first term, as a member representing Ajeromi Ifelodun Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly. I also sponsored his second term bid, though he lost. During Ladi’s second term campaign, I bought items like groundnut oil, semovita, spaghetti and other things like that, and gave some party leaders to share with people in their various communities. I also sponsored a programme during the tenure of Hon Kamal Ayinde Bayewu, as the council chairman, in which I donated ten computer sets to the LA Primary School, Aiyetoro. During the same period, I sponsored holiday coaching, having seen children roaming around during the holiday period.
How did you manage the holiday coaching programme?
I did that by organizing some young people whom I knew that had the experience, and we started. The coaching lasted throughout the holiday period. At the same period, I also reached out to Okorogbo and Ogbenwankwo communities and organized the same holiday coaching for the young people. It was indeed successful and the young people who benefitted from the exercise were grateful.
What made you decide to support people to contest elections then, but did not contest?
I never had the intention to seek an elective position then. I did all that with the spirit of magnanimity and for the love I have for the party I belonged to. I also felt that it was part of my contributions to community development.
How did you become so popular that your name rings a bell in the locality?
It all depends on what the people are seeing in me. However, during COVID-19 in 2020, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State directed all Local Government Chairmen in Lagos State to provide nose masks and share to their people. And, while our own Local Government chairman was making arrangements to distribute his own, I had already distributed mine to many Ajeromi Ifelodun residents. As an Oliver Twist, I felt that I needed to do more. So, I felt that since many people and organisations were distributing food stuffs to cushion the effects of COVID-19, l should look for something else the people needed. So, I had to buy some quantities of kerosene and distribute them to the residents. In fact, there is no household in the Alayabiagba community that did not get up to ten litres of kerosene from me then. So, as the pendulum swung, I was made the chairman of Progressive Souls of Nigeria (PSN), in the Alayabiagba community, maybe, as an honour for what I have been doing for the people. That actually contributed to my growth politically. So, as chairman of the club, we had the opportunity to give awards to former member representing Ajeromi Ifelodun Constituency I, at the Lagos State House of Assembly and Deputy Leader of the house, Hon Kolawole Taiwo, former Local Government Chairman and now the Chairman of Local Government Service Commission , Lagos State, Hon Kamal Ayinde Bayewu, the incumbent member representing Ajeromi Ifelodun Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Kalejaiye Adeboye Paul and the Executive Secretary of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government then, Engr. Ojora. I also used the opportunity to reach out to prominent politicians, and that made me to be more popular and stronger politically. As a result, people started calling me to join their camps. That was how I joined Baba Rabiu Adio Oluwa’s camp and became a member of AG 20, the team led by his wife. As time went on, I became a member of Baba Oluwa’s team too. That was how the journey into active politics continued.
Then, at what point did you decide to seek an elective position?
As I was busy and serious doing all those things, I never thought of becoming anything politically, either through appointment or election. But at a point, I began to talk to myself saying, since I could be able to do all these, without holding any elective or appointive position, it means I will do more if given the mandate to serve, because I have the people at heart, I know what they need, and when they need them. That was how I decided to vie for the position of Local Government Chairman, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Lagos State come 2025, under APC.
Why did you decide to vie for the position of Local Government Chairman in particular?
In fact, I have spent about ninety percent of my life in the locality. So, critically, I have seen it all. I know what the people are passing through, because who wears the shoes, knows where it pinches. I know the level Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area should be by now. So, I am coming to contribute my own quota towards the needed transformation in the locality. Meanwhile, let me commend the incumbent, Hon Fatai Adekunle Ayoola who has done marvelously well. He has really performed more than his predecessors, and that is how it should be, because in governance, continuity is the rule, and a successor is expected to do more than his predecessors. That is when you get perfection in governance. Really, I have been in politics for a long time, and understand that for someone to do well is a gift.
How do you mean that performance in governance is a gift?
Yes, one might be a degree or PHD holder, but will not do well in leadership. It is not a matter of certificate, but the talent and gift God has given every individual. Local Government is closer to the people, and when you are chosen, for you to do well you must be closer to the people.
How would you assess the level of development in the entire Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area under Hon Fatai Adekunle Ayoola?
Hon Fatai Ayoola needs to be commended for the good job he is doing. He has touched so many areas of infrastructure and human development. Ajegunle we know was seen as a ghetto, slum and all sorts of that. But today, I am happy and proud to say that it is not true. The perception has really changed. One cannot drive or walk through Mba-Cardoso road, Kirikiri road, Ojo road and other places in the area like Tolu Schools Complex, Maracana Stadium, Nathaniel Idowu Sports Complex at Oregie, the sports facility at Awodi Ora and other sports facilities in the area and still sees the area as a ghetto or slum because things are changing for good. In fact, some schools at Ikoyi and Victoria Island are not up to the schools we have here. Also, many of the roads have been reconstructed. I am also aware of the empowerment, skills acquisition and other programmes Ayoola has done. So, Ayoola has done immensely well so far. He has really performed more than his predecessors, and that is how it should be, because in governance, continuity is the rule, and a successor is expected to do more than his predecessors. That is when you get perfection in governance. I have been in politics for a long time, and understand that for someone to do well is a gift. Moreover, there are many things to be done.
How do you mean that performance in governance is a gift?
Yes, one might be a degree or PHD holder, but will not do well in leadership. It is not a matter of certificate, but the talent and gift God has given every individual. Local Government is closer to the people, and when you are chosen, for you to do well you must be closer to the people.
From what you have just said, how close are you with the people of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area?
I am a pure grassroots man. It might surprise you to hear that as young as I am, I have been in politics for more than twenty-five years and spent ninety percent of my life with the people , and I understand their challenges and how best to tackle them.
What will be your main focus, if given the mandate as Chairman?
Obviously, more jobs still need to be done after Ayoola’s tenure because development and provision of infrastructure are things that need continuous attention. I am offering myself for a better transformation of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area. I want to step in as the next chairman. Because I have observed that the health facilities available at the moment are not enough to cater for the health needs of the people. So, we will ensure that every ward has a Primary Health Centre, and more people will be engaged in skills acquisition and empowerment programmes . We will also look into roads, education, sports, security and others. In fact, we are on a pure transformation mission. And, at the appropriate time, the people will see and understand the reason, I am coming to serve them.
Have you been able to consult APC leaders in the locality concerning your ambition?
Yes, I have done that. I will say that I have gone to many of them individually and they gave me their blessings. But, I am still consulting. As time goes on, I will widen the consultation scope to reach out to more people. However, I am optimistic that the APC leaders will do the needful by giving me the opportunity to serve.
How prepared are you to face the serious tasks you are aspiring to meet ahead?
With my experience on the things that are needed to make the locality and its people better, I will say that I have seen it all and am well prepared to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people, because whoever wears the shoes, knows where it pinches. I know the standard Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area should have been by now. So, with God on our side and the support of the people, we shall succeed.