Agege 2021: I’m not being boastful, If APC primary election comes up today, I will defeat Egunjobi- Gidado

In this interview with AlimoshoTv, Bukola Nurudeen Sofidiya a.k.a Gidado explains why the All Progressives Congress in Agege should give him the opportunity to fly the party’s flag as it’s chairmanship candidate in the forthcoming coming local government elections in Lagos.

Exerpts: 

AlimoshoTv: Can we meet you? 

Gidado: My name is Bukola Nurudeen Sofidiya a.k.a Gidado.

AlimoshoTv: It is no longer a secret to residents of Agege LG that you are aspiring to be the council chairman. What prompted your decision? 

Gidado: Thank you very much for this question. Well, I have been receiving calls concerning my aspiration to be the next chairman of Agege local government. First and foremost, I was born and brought up in Dopemu, Agege and all my life has been in Agege rigth from my birth, up to secondary school but  not untill when I travelled out of the country to further my education where I was for over a decade.  

I have witnessed first hand how government is been run even at local government levels(s). So, good governance should not be a rocket science and someone with exposure is needed to lead Agege to replicate what is obtainable in the developed world. This is why I am offering myself to change the narrative. This is a pay back time from me to Agege, to give back to the society that made me.

AlimoshoTv: How practicable it is to replicate what is obtainable in the United States here in Agege, considering our nature as people interms of social background, culture, politics and all or you meant infrastructure wise?

Gidado: This is a very good question. In politics, there is what is called ‘political culture. Ours here is different from that of the United of America. As a politician, you should take all experiences gathered over the years at every point in time in ones life, be it in education, traveling experiences et al  – are all needed for you to be a better representative of the people. 

What we are going to do are numerous and what they are enjoying abroad can be provided here too for our people. Number one is security. Here in Agege, it is insecurity that is prevailing as a result of unemployment. An idle hand is devils workshop. Of course an unemployed youth would definately find it easy to join bad gangs or cult groups. I can tell you authoritatively that 75 percent of youths in Agege are unemployed but we are going to make sure we provide jobs for them if voted into office. 

Look at the issue of Awawa boys, It started from Dopemu but our leaders and other stakeholders never regarded  them as a threat initially. As we speak, no any  creative measure in place to get the boys off the streets by engaging them meaningfully.

What we are going to do is to strengthen the vocational skills programs and invite them, relate with them by designing modules and create a reward method. Get them in with audiovisuals of those who have risen from grass to grace. 

Another thing we are going to do is, on the first week of my administration, I will set up an independent educational body that would see to how our boys and girls transmission process into tertiary institutions will be aided. There will be a central tutorial centers to be established and funded by the local government, where those who are seeking admission into higher institutions will get the best of guidance on courses to study base on their areas of strength and those whose capabilities are geared towards vocational skills will be discovered and advice to follow their path of strength. 

I will ensure capable hands are employed and  their duties is not only to teach but  guide them as earlier stated. Giving out free jamb forms is not enough without career guidance.

Further on vocational skills, construction sites for production of  interlocking, tiles and more will be established. This will serve as an opportunity for training and also an avenue for employment and business creation for the youth who will want to toe same line of business in the nearest future.

AlimoshoTv: How do you intend to fund these ideas considering the fluctuation in the federal allocation to local governments vis-a-vis councils meager IGRs?

Gidado: My brother don’t be deceived. Do not listen to what we get is not enough narratives. A sincere government would work with whatever they are getting. It is not rocket science, it is a matter of priority and planning. 

AlimoshoTv: The incumbent chairman, Ganiyu Egunjobi is definately warming up for a second term in office and he enjoys the backing of Rt. Hon. Speaker, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa. How do you intend to slug it out with him in the primaries? 

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Gidado: As an indigene of Agege and a Nigerian, I have constitutional right to contest. Well, the same way the current chairman is to the speaker is same way I am to him. Mr. Speaker is a big brother to me. I worked for Mr. speaker for his first term electioneering campaign into the Lagos State House of Assembly and during his second term too. The period I missed in action to campaign for him was when I went to the US to study. 

I was around during the last election and i did campaigned for him. I know Mr. Speaker would give us a level playing field. He is a democrat. I’m a known face in Agege politics and my parents too have played their parts. My late dad was amongst first set of councilors in Agege with records. My mother is also a seasoned politician who had impact in political journey of Mr. Speaker.

Same as Hon. Samuel Adejare and Hon. Amunikoro who happens to be my uncle. So, my family has been known for efficient service delivery in Agege.

AlimoshoTv: What if the primaries comes up tomorrow and someone else carries the day or you are even told to step down for a particular candidate, will you? 

Gidado: I’m not being boastful If the primaries comes up today, I will win. On if the question of stepping down arise, I won’t step down for anybody. I have reached out enough and still doing. Like the slogan of my secondary school then, it is “The best or nothing” either the chairmanship or nothing.

AlimoshoTv: What are your plans for the elders ?

Gidado: One of the reasons that prompted  me to this aspiration is, let me take my own mother as an example, she will be 68 this year. So when we were young, I observed her to be energetic and infact, she was part of the team that campaigned for Asiwaju and participated in all the political rallies – movement here there. Later her health could not take it as she ages. Luckily, I was able to fly her to America under my health insurance scheme for treatment. It was later discovered that she has some  underlining sicknesses. So, there are lots older people who do not have such opportunity. This  really got me thinking. By the virtue of my job as a consultant to hospitals in the USA and Canada, i have time to contacts with doctors and other health experts. 

So, we are going to invest heavily in the health sector and arrangements have been made with some international NGOs that would deliver this top notch services at a very cheap rates. This would enable us to  upgrade our primary health centers. It will assist us in providing medical checkups for the elderly so as to know what to treat and the medications to be recommended .

AlimoshoTv: You have spoken on security, heath and employment. Are you satisfied with the level of infrastructures in Agege? If No, what will you do differently? 

Gidado: Smiles… Satisfy about what? See our roads. How many roads are motorable? Well, I won’t  campaign using roads construction as talking point  because it is part of what you must do. I told you earlier about  how to make interlocking, tile and more. This is how to dysmytify roads problems. Produce it (interlocking) and use it for roads. Though I have seen some roads being done but that is not enough. 

AlimoshoTv: Do you have plans for entertainment? 

Gidado: Yes, let me tell you this, the Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria, Agege branch already endorsed my aspiration. I have built relationship with many entertainers. A musician just texted me now from London, his name is Solek. This  is to show how close I’m to the entertainers. Our administration will partner with them. Infact, there is an Agege born Fuji musician, Safejo,  we met in the USA and I have been very supportive of his career. We would create and support talent hunts, total support is what we will give them.  Let me digress a bit, we will make our government and entertaining a big one by taking the government to the people. We have indentified ten volatile areas in Agege. 

We will be visiting these palaces, sit with them dine with them at intervals. Support them during festivals too. This is a way of entertaining them and carry everyone along. During EndSars why were some stations got burnt in Agege? it was because the relationship between the current administration and these boys aren’t that smooth. In Dopemu here, myself and othe like minds were able to talk to them and let them see reasons why the station here should not be burnt. We made them realized that if it happens, it is still their money that will be used to rebuild it. 

So, what is the point of distroying your properties?  Government needs to engage them, talk to them, what do they want that would better their lives. They should be used as productive tools, not as thugs.

AlimoshoTv: Your last word?

Gidado: I urge the people of Agege  to come out enmase to register and join our party, the All progressives congress.