Adekunle Adegunle is a member of the All progressives congress in Alimosho and the president of Adekunle Adegunle global foundation. In this interview with AlimoshoTv’s crew, he talked about his foundation , All progressives congress amongst other issues.
Excerpt:
AlimoshoTv: For the record, your name please?
Adekunle: My name is Barrister Adekunle Adegunle
AlimoshoTv: You participated actively in the #EndSars protest – tell us how you feel and your experiences?
Adekunle: Thank you very much. I’m so happy to receive you in my office. Well, it is sad the issue of #EndSars ended the way we never planned for and envisaged. We started well but the hoodlums took over along the line which is no news anymore. Our demands are not too much for the government to acced to -that is – end sars and reform the police. They travel every now and then, they see how policemen treat civilians in a civil manner in other climes. So, that isn’t too much to ask for but so pathetic that, it ended the way it ended.
AlimoshoTv: Does it sounds reasonable to you as a lawyer that the #EndSars protest was leaderless ?
Adekunle: I faulted the the notion. It was an error on our part. This is someone’s opinion – so there should have been a leader. If there was /were leaders miscreants won’t have had the opportunity to benefit from it that latter turned the whole thing to the carnage that happened, the robbery , arson , killings and all that… A leader / leaders would have known where to retreat and go to the table with the government.
AlimoshoTV: Why the total refusal of not going to the table (negotiations) with the government?
Adekunle: Well, i would not say the government isn’t sincere. But due to age -long absence of trust between the government and the people, the youth see no reason for going to the table with the government which in itself (not going to the table ) Won’t lead to anywhere. The aftermath is the unrest which then brought about increase in robberies and threat to lives in our communities. As earlier said, if there was or were leaders it won’t have degenerated into this but with time everything will be alright.
AlimoshoTV: A background check on you shows you run a foundation (Adekunle Adegunle Global foundation) where you empower widows and the youths. Where do you get the funds from? International donors or Local partners?
Adekunle:Wow! I love this question. As you have asked…lots of people have called to ask if I have political agenda or getting money from politicians, government, or from international donors . Well, all we have been doing is from our personal purse and few friends. This foundation has been in existence since my universities days but we just formalized it last year. Rendering humanitarian services is just my way.
…cuts in.. do you have political ambition?
Adekunle: I’m a Nigerian and I have right to belong to any association, yes, i am a member of the All progressives congress but this foundation and all we have been doing has no political undertone. It is just my way of life. Recently, we sunk a borehole at Adeku village in idimu amongst many other things we have done. You can dig more about me, I hate seeing people suffering, thank you.
AlimoshoTv: There are plethora of problems in Nigeria ranging from infrastructural deficits, corruption, robbery and lots more. To fix Nigeria, do you think the youths are the solutions or ‘poeple’ of above board – values – either old or young ?
Adekunle: As we do say, we are in a jet age. The late Awolowo got to power in his youthful age and most of our leaders. We all know what Awolowo did as a youth. Let the youth come in, the youth have new ideas and getting along faster with the global trend. Let the older generations take the back seat. We are still agile and know the problems more. It was in the olden days that this sayings get tractions but now it is not, that is “ the beautiful ones are not yet born”. We are the beautiful ones and we are here already.
AlimoshoTv: We have youth in government presently across board. To me, they are not doing anything different, still same of the same. What can you say to this?
Adekunle: I disagree with you. They cannot function in the current system. But if we have much of us in the system things will change for better. My advocacy for youth taken over is not necessarily mean any youth or in as much as you are a youth but a youth with skills, high intelligence and morally upright.
AlimoshoTv: Come 2023, if youth succeeded in having their ways to power across board. What should we expect differently?
Adekunle: The first is to create employment for ‘ourselves’. Look at the #EndSars protest, we were able to create jobs within it, and we were so organized such that how foods were provided and shared amongst other things. So, if the youth are allowed to take over,Nigeria will be better for it. Also , our voices were able to tame police brutality. We will do better if given the opportunity.
AlimoshoTv: Do you want to contest in 2023?
Adekunle: If God say so…
Cuts in… God ?
Adekunle:This is 2020 and 2023 is still very much far. I can’t tell for now.
AlimoshoTv: Aside the hoodlums hijacking the protest. Are you aware that politicians also made clandestine support to the protest.?
Adekunle: Like earlier said, we started well. But immediately the government ended sars , I called my people that we should stay off the street that no point to continue the protest any longer. The blockage of roads were not good I did not support it. And I agreed with you also that, politicians later joined it secretly. The blockage of the roads affected so many people even myself, we should have call it off immediately the government ended SARS.
AlimoshoTv: The APC in Alimosho seems to be in crisis. What can you say as a member of the party?
Adekunle: Nio crisis in Alimosho APC. If there is crisis we won’t be here talking. I can tell you, as at today no crisis and our leader remains Alhaji Abdullah Enilolobo.
Cuts in… I covered an event few days back initiated by Alhaji Abiodun Ejigbadero where a group was formed (’New Alimosho Movement’) to challenge the party leadership, and faulted for poor management of the party . Are you saying you are not aware of all this or you are playing politics with words?
Adekunle: Mr. Olatunji, there is no crisis. I can put call through to our leader as we speak…
Cuts in… are you that close ?
Adekunle: Yes, very close. Alimosho APC is one and Enilolobo still remains our leader.
AlimoshoTv: How do you unwind ?
Adekunle: My family. I unwind with them.I love to be with them.
AlimoshoTV: Tell is about your background?
Adekunle: Huh! To God be the glory. I’m one of the luckiest person on earth. How do I mean? After my elementary education, I went to state high school Alimosho though not a too brilliant student but of an average level. My parents can easily predict my performance after exams. Then, and after high school I was thinking of studying theater art due to my educational level. Upon writing Jamb after my high school final examination – and as at the time of filling the the jamb form, I told my people that I will be putting in for law but they all laughed at me and called me “olodo” and all sorts of names. In fact, my mum tried to convince me not to put in for law. So, I challenged myself to go for it and to God be the glory. Today, I’m happy that I’m amongst the few youths recognized by the government, by international communities and also in my community.
AlimoshoTV: Will you influence the choice of careers for your children?
Adekunle: No. The story i just told you shows i won’t. Though if I had gone for theater art I would have been more successful than this, i still thank God for all he has done for me, what He is still doing and what He will do.
AlimoshoTv: Thanks for your time.
Adekunle: You are welcome
