Prior to his call to vie for the position of Chairman Alimosho LGA under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Honourable Olatunde Ogunsanya has demonstrated his aversions for injustice and enthusiasm to serve within his neighbourhood and beyond. In this interview with Titi Ilori and Abel Lazarus he bears his mind on why Alimosho has remained a village despite many years of its existence and abound potentials.
Excerpts
TAM: Can we meet you sir?
HOO: My names are Honourable Olatunde Ogunsanya, a Civil Engineer by profession, I was born and brought-up here in Lagos state, did my Primary and secondary education in Yaba and Akoka respectively while my degree program was in the United Kingdom and have been back since 2011 here in Alimosho. I am married with five kids the grown-ups are in United Kingdom while the younger ones are here with my wife.
TAM: How much do you know Alimosho LGA?
HOO: I know Alimosho too well because we moved down to Alimosho in 1978 and it has remains the same except for the Bridges that was constructed years ago; then we use to come in to Alimosho through Iyana-Ipaja. Development here has remained elusive due to the gangsters we have as leaders.
TAM: How do you mean by saying that Alimosho is still same as at when you moved in 1978?
HOO: The living standard of people here has remained the same, there are basic amenities which residents of Alimosho ought to be enjoying well before now; there are no development plans for the youths, the children are neglected absolutely with dirty environment to live, with streets not tarred at this 21st century despite the stupendous money been generated within Alimohso LGA.
TAM: How did you emerge as the candidate of AD?
HOO: I have never been a politician all my life and had never intended of being one, but to my amazement I was shocked when a prominent person approached me that some people were looking for me for the purpose of contesting. I told him that I was not interested because I had felt it was a trap and at the point I had planned to spend few days with my in-laws on the island I had to extend it to spend two weeks for the fear of those people. On my return back to Egbeda they came and approached me gain and told me that they have been looking for me for months now, it was at that point we sat to discuss it. I asked them what was their agenda and I gave them my conditions if I must accept which is to move Alimosho forward and they agreed.
TAM: What are the things you have done in the past that made them looking for you?
HOO: Firstly, I came from a very good family as my father is well known here in Alimosho and as a boy while growing up I have been good to everyone around me and I have had cause to fight against injustice within my neighbourhood. Severally the course of going to NEPA then to make sure we have light in this area also was one of those things I have engaged in the past.
Tam: The developmental challenges of Alimosho LGA are traceable to “godfatherism” in her politics and you just confirmed to us that some people came to pick you, how are we sure we are not going to be faced with the same challenges with a different camp?
HOO: Good. I said earlier that we sat to discuss it, and that was what I discussed with them, I asked them of their plans and they told me and I told them that my plan is to develop Alimosho since previous leaders have neglected her development for the interest of their godfathers. After speaking with them I asked them if they agreed to my plans and they said yes then I urge them to allow me seek the face of God concerning it and I prayed for days with my Pastor and he confirmed it. That is how I emerged and not because I have money or anybody bank rolling my expenses.
TAM: With what of you just said on how you emerged, could it mean that the non-popularity of AD made them to come to you?
HOO: AD is the only party that has the ideology; which is on development. The party is careful in selecting candidates who will continue to align to this ideology rather than people that will renege when they are elected into office. The challenge Alimosho has is that her resources are been taken out by non-indigenes and this I had to discuss with my State and LG chairman on how I would want Alimosho to be built by for Alimosho. All my team members are residents of Alimosho. The one thing I am going to do different is making Alimosho move forward.
TAM: We observed that you have women in your campaign team; also your Vice is a woman, does this represent your trust in their capabilities?
Laughs, women are strong and supernatural being, and God has created them to be rulers no matter how highly a man is placed he must have a woman that rules him and if you don’t carry along you are bound to fail.
TAM: What is your acceptance like going into the election and have you been cleared by LASIEC?
HOO: My acceptance is over whelming right now event at the expense of my safety, I grew up here despite my long days abroad Alimosho has remained my home each time I come home and virtually everyone that grew here knows me. Those days while growing up we treck from here to Iyana-Ipaja and it really made one popular. We (My team and I) have been cleared by LASIEC.
TAM: Talking about your team, how much do you know your Vice?
HOO: Ibidun Ayeni is a symbol of African woman, very industrious and dedicated woman, she also grew up here in Alimosho and we have met on several occasions before her appointment as my vice. When I heard that she will be my vice, I was happy because she is somebody that has the interest of people at heart too.
TAM: In your absence do you think she will fit into the office of Chairman?
HOO: Very well, she will fit perfectly.
TAM: What will be the major thing your administration will deliver to Alimosho?
HOO: We are going to provide adequate and affordable health care, road construction and maintenance, building infrastructures, provision of good water, security, creation of about 2,500 jobs and supporting communities by providing transformers to areas where it is required because power is paramount to any development.
Our healthcare plan will include having at least three First Aid Clinics where minor medical requirements will be attended to for free before referring to a hospital where necessary. Currently the idea of having just three health centre in Alimosho LGA is not encouraging as time is of essence wen life is involved. We are going to embark on construction of new road and create infrastructure that will aid development. The water works in Shasha will be refurbished with cooperation with the state government for the provision of good water for residents and for job creation. We intend to abolish sale of water in Alimosho by providing adequate water supply system.
HOO: We will have the onus to improve on what is obtainable on security at the moment. On job creation my team and I have taken a very good analytical look of Alimosho in identifying those areas of creating employment and I assure you within the first four years we would have created minimum of 2,500 jobs for Alimosho residents. The issue of electricity is beyond the State and local government but want we will do is to build a partnership in helping communities with the provision of transformers to aid distribution of power by the DISCO.
TAM: Outside politics how do you unwind?
HOO: Life outside politics, am an open and free person, I like hanging out with my family to unwind because I understand what family is all about. Though my siblings are not in Nigeria as such most time when am out of Alimosho am with my in-laws.
TAM: What has been your most embarrassing moment?
HOO: I could say one of them is the day my wife saw me crying while I was thinking of ways of coping with the pressure of being a father, it’s really embarrassing when your wife catches you in such mood.
TAM: How have you been coping with female admirer?
Wow! It’s really a big challenge because I have never experienced what am experiencing now prior to this time. One of the day we went to create awareness on my intention to contest and to my greatest amazement a lady came up to me that she will vote for me because am light skinned and afterwards she will be coming to sell lotions to me in the office. I know the challenges will be there but am sure I will cope.
TAM: What are your words to the electorates in Alimosho?
HOO: My appeal is for them to believe that we can do it together, I don’t have money to share to anybody for his or her vote but I want them to believe in me that we are going to make Alimosho better for the sake of all of us. It’s a selfless work that we all need to do, just like my team nobody is paying anybody a dime for the jobs they do today but they are in tune with my vision of Moving Alimosho forward. That is our mission and vision.
