In this interview with AlimoshoTv, Agbaje Lukmmon Abiodun expressed his readiness in the forthcoming local government election and why the people of Ayobo -Ipaja LCDA should give him the mandate to lead among other issues…
Exerpts:
AlimoshoTv: For the records, Your name please?
Agbaje: My name is Agbaje Lukmon Abiodun, the current secretary to Ayobo -Ipaja local government chairman.
AlimoshoTv:You have been around politically for a while now. Can you please lead us into your politcal sojourn?
Agbaje: So far so good, i give glory to almighty God. I have been in active politics since the days of Social Democratic Party (SDP) & National Republican Convention (NRC). Practically, since 1998. I started as the secretary of the old ward H when Alimosho federal constituency had eleven wards. Later I was appointed as the general secretary of the party also under Ayobo – ipaja LCDA when it was carved out of the old Alimosho from 2002 up to 2008 before I was appointed as the supervisory councilor for works between 2008 and 2011.
In the same year (2011), I was re-appointed for same office till 2014 and later appointed as the sole administrator between 2016 to 2017. Before my appointment as the sole administrator, I was among the aspirants vying for the chairmanship position of Ayobo – Ipaja LCDA but the governor in his wisdom and the party preferred caretaker committee in which I was given the opportunity as sole administrator to serve my people.
Aside these experiences, I had served as the Director General, Prince of Hope campaign organization, Hon. Bisi Yusuff for the three consecutive times he contested for the office which he is currently occupaying as member of Lagos State House of Assembly.
AlimoshoTv: As a supervisory councilor for works at two different times, what were the achievements of the administration?
Agbaje: Glory be to God. I served two different administrations and as the smart ministry, it is saddled with lots of projects. So all projects in Ayobo -Ipaja today were started by these administrations. We were able to build four health centers amongst other things…
Cuts in…locations please?
Agbaje: Bada health center, Baruwa, Jangun Deyi and Cele Apata health centers. Though the local government was a baby then having just been carved out of the old Alimosho local government. We had little fund to work with therefore, we had to come up with up lots of ideas. We built the council, legislative chamber, CDC office , canteen for staffs and a library at Ayobo. We also constructed Olu – Onasile Road, Fatolu Road and many more.
Construction of Baruwa and Isefun primary schools was also carried out under my watch as supervisory for works and a newly established school.
AlimoshoTv: As a sole administrator, what did you do?
Agbaje: Despite the fact that we had a short time in office, we upgraded Owode international market to a standard. Ayobo international market and Baruwa. As a sole administrator our mandate was to create a relationship between the government and the people. So we created avenue for feedback mechanism between the people and the government.
We also graded so many roads to ease the pains road users were facing on a daily basis. Few roads were also constructed by the state but monitored by us. We equally introduced house numbering boxes to indicate name of streets and numbers.
AlimoshoTv: Another election is around the corner, why should the people of Ayobo -Ipaja LCDA give you their mandate?
Agbaje: Well, I have been able to establish relationship with my people over the years. Even before I was chosen to be supervisory councilor or sole administrator, the people have been calling on me to represent them.
It is long overdue.
So, aside my public life service,I have my personal Foundation which I established in order to help people – most especially the young secondary school leavers. We dole out GCE and JAMB forms to assist those who cannot afford it. The Agbaje Educational foundation’s annual GCE /JAMB distribution usually targets between 100/250 beneficiaries. This gesture started over six years ago.
AlimoshoTv:Research shows you are doing more in the area of education. If elected, what else should we expect from you?
Agbaje: I believe that with education you are have everything. The reason I take education more serious is because it is what you can bequeath on your children. Meanwhile, we will also give our attention to security because development can only be realised in a peaceful atmosphereI.
A good relationship with our security agents is our target to achieve this. On infrastructure, we will construct more roads. We thank past administrations for putting up the health centers but we will still do more and upgrade other centers to the level of the one we are having within the council premises.
AlimoshoTv: You are assumed to be a man of the people but that only is not a guarantee to earn you the party ticket. Do you see any challenges on your way in clinching the party’s ticket or what If you are asked to step down by the leadership of the party, will you?
Agbaje: Firstly, God is in control. This is my time and God’s appointed time. I’m actually not disturbed, this is my time.
AlimoshoTv: What is your growing up like?
Agbaje: Who is Agbaje?
I was born on the 2nd of February, 1970 into a devoted Muslim family and hails from an ancient town – centre for opencast mining, the making of pig iron, home of blacksmiths and a traditional centre for cotton spinning and weaving town, Iseyin in Iseyin local Government Area of Oyo State.
I had my primary education at A.U.D Primary school Atori Iseyin then proceeded to St. John’s Catholic Grammar School, Iseyin. I attended Government Technical College, Shaki, where I obtained a certificate in MECP and subsequently obtained a C&G I, II & III Certificate Mech. Engr. (Production) equivalent to HND certificate from City Guild of London Institute.
After my completion of the technical and professional courses, I moved to Lagos where I began my career and joined International Polyworks Company Limited IPCL, Ipaja as Machinist and later moved to C. M. D Ogba as machine repair department engineer. I later joined the Metalum limited Ogba as Line Technician but due to need for education, I enrolled for General Certificate Examination and proceeded to Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education to study Political Science/Economics. I bagged Nigeria Certificate In Education NCE. I round off my academic pursuit with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Political Science Education from the Ekiti State University EKSU, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
My life has been of service to the people. My political participation started when I was appointed as Alliance for Democracy Secretary of Ward H in the old Alimosho LG from 1998 to 2002. When Ayobo Ipaja LCDA was created, I emergedthe first Action Congress LGA Secretary from 2002 to 2009.
I’m a bonified and registered Member of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria,TRCN/Professional Diploma in Education, PDE, Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Personnel Management and other professional bodies.
AlimoshoTv: How did you meet your wife?
Agbaje: Smile… well, I’m a socialite and man of the people. We met at Ipaja and during our ‘moving rounds’ I saw her in her sister’s place. I told the sister that Aunty this is my wife o. And to God be the glory, we are close to two decades into the union. So, among my girl friends then, she was the lucky one. Here we are, no regrets.
AlimoshoTv:Any memorable or a particular event that scares you since you joined politics?
Agbaje: Well, mine has been the era of five fingers of leprosy according to chief Bola Ige of the blessed memory. I was in Prince Adeniji Adele’s team during the days of GDM. It was Abdullahi Enilolobo and myself that was part of the state excos from Alimosho. So, the shocking or scary moment was the day we went for a meeting. Alhaji Toyin Giwa who happens to be one of our leaders dropped me at Alaguntan bus stop thinking that I was close to my house. Meanwhile , I was still going to Ipaja but I could not tell him. The time was around 1am. It was a terrible experience. I couldn’t go to work the next day. In fact, I was issued a query and my colleagues lampooned me that I risked my life for politics at the detriment of means of livelihood. My grandfather was a member of UPN and the razzmatazz around campaiging in those years was what attracted me to politcs.
AlimoshoTv: How do you handle ‘political betrayal’ since it is part of the game?
Agbaje:I let things go easily. I treat friend as friend and betrayal as one. It is a matter of diplomatic distancing. So easy.
AlimoshoTv:Your words for your supporters?
Agbaje: I won’t let them down.
