As a way of giving back to the
community that has given her so much, the immediate past two-time Vice Chairman
of Mosan-Okunola LCDA, Honourable Opeyemi Akindele distributed books to the
four primary schools in the LCDA. Abesan News caught up with her and asked her
a few questions. Please enjoy;
AN: You recently distributed books to the schools in the LCDA,
can you give us an insight into what it is all about?
Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: I’m an educationist to the core; I did
that as part of my pay back to the community. As a professional teacher, I have
been involved in the development of education in the LCDA. Though I live on my
salary alone, I floated an N.G.O that has been assisting people in various
capacities including education, health, empowerment and many more since 2006
because of my love for people and their wellbeing. The books’ distribution to the four schools
is my way of lifting a little burden off the parents of the pupils. We
distributed books in Abesan Primary School, Estate Primary School, Housing
primary School and Mosan Primary School.
AN: So how will you rate the standard of education in public
schools in Mosan-Okunola?
Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: I think with the good performance of His
Excellency Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, you can see that education is
improving and things are getting better from the performance of the students.
In Mosan-Okunola, there is this competition that comes up annually called
Spelling-Bee. It was started by the then First Lady of the State and present
Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Pupils in the 57 LGs and LCDAs go to compete. A pupil from Mosan-Okunola
emerged winner and that is to show that we are doing really well as far as
education is concerned. The students at secondary school level are also doing
excellently well.
AN: Did you distribute the books in your capacity as Vice
Chairman or as WEGEC convener?
Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: As both…as the convener of WEGEC and as
the Vice Chairman. WEGEC, Women Empowerment and Gender Equity Center care for
the less privileged, especially the young girl-child but because of the name
“equity” in WEGEC, the Board of Directors decided we should touch education in
Mosan-Okunola. As a Vice Chairman also, I decided to give back to the
community. Though the Local Government did theirs, the one I did is in my
personal capacity.
AN: Tell us about WEGEC
Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: I have two mentors who made me register
the NGO, these are Dr. Abiola Akiyode, the convener and Director of Women
Advocate Research and Documentation Centre and Chief (Mrs.) Olabisi
Olateru-Olagbegi, the Executive Director of Women Consortium of Nigeria
(WOCON). Also, the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, that’s the late wife of
Abiola (MKO). I had interest in Politics from school and joined to contest as a
councilor then. Though I didn’t have much as a teacher, I contributed by buying
GCE forms for people. I ran to these people and they supported me by printing
postal, fliers, T-Shirts and so on. I thought if women could do this, I can
also be a part of development to the community. If you look at it, you will see
women are more but they end up singing and staying at the background with
nothing really tangible for them. I source for money to assist them by training
them in Fish farming, Bead making, paint making, decoration, Fashion designing,
catering and many more. So WEGEC was set up to assist people, especially the
women.
AN: You were part of the immediate past government of
Mosan-Okunola, how would you rate the performance of the administration?
Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: It’s been ok, nobody is perfect you know,
and there is no government that can finish the work of a community. Our
children unborn are still coming to rule the Local Govt. With the little
resources we had, we tried our best to deliver in Education, Health,
empowerment, security and many more.
AN: People in Abesan Estate in particular have complained that
they did not feel the impact of Mafe’s administration which you were the Vice
Chairman, what do you have to say to that?
Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: (smiles) they won’t say that, like I said, a government cannot finish the
work of a community, we have two Wards in Abesan, I and II. Formally, the roads
were not ok but now, the roads have had a facelift. Primary Schools were
refurbished, about six blocks were constructed by the administration, there is
an on-going Mini Health Centre going on and will be completed soon. What I
believe Abesan needs most because it is a well developed community, is a good
drainage system. The administration has tried in the health sector, youths and
sports too. I made the Jerseys for the final match they played during the world
cup competition involving Germany and Argentina. Like I said, no government can
finish everything, the people of Abesan should be patient, when continuity
starts, they will feel the impact more.
AN: We
are hearing rumour you might be contesting the chairmanship of Mosan-Okunola
LCDA
Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: It’s not a rumour, I have interest. I
have been Vice Chairman for two terms now, I have gone through training and I
know I have what it takes to be chairman so as to continue where Mafe stopped.
AN: In
the last administration which you were part of, the relationship between the
administration and the people of Abesan was not too cordial, if you eventually
become the chairman, will it change?
Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: Cordial in what sense?
AN: Policies, contribution to the Estate among many others
Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: I have been in the Estate since 1983 and
I got married in the Estate. I won’t open my eyes to see that Abesan is not
being developed at all. Interestingly, I was the Chief Education officer in
Abesan Estate Residents Association for two or three administrations. If I
become chairman, Abesan will definitely feel the impact very well. I am a good
administrator and I know what it takes, I was a Principal of a school for five
years and I taught for seventeen years in total. There is no doubt that my
administration will be the best ever.
AN: Do you have plans for the youths?
Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: Oh my God! They are my constituency; they
are the brain behind any politics. The youths and the women will be at the
forefront. They are the ones that go around during elections, they sing your
praises and run around for you, they make things happen. If you are a good
politician, you know you can’t joke with the youths and the women because
during elections, they are readily available for you. The youths in
Mosan-Okunola will not regret having me as their chairman, I promise you. I
will surely pay them back through empowerment programmes, trainings,
employments, and so on.
AN: Talking about empowerment programmes, some people are
complaining it never gets to them. Whenever there is any empowerment, the party
leadership hijacks it and it won’t get to the people at the grassroots.
Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: That is not true, it’s not true at all, there
is no how everybody will be beneficiaries, for example, if we have 2000 members
in Mosan-Okunola and we have 20 slots, it will be by ballot and it won’t go
round. This time around with my connection in the State, because I was the
Chairman of all Vice Chairmen in the State, with that connection with
commissioners and people in high places, I will assist the youths and they will
never regret having me as the chairman. It is not everybody that will do
white-collar jobs. I understand they also train youths in vocational jobs
during youth service now, though I don’t know how true it is, but it is very
good. Some of these trades give more money than full time employment. My
administration will give direct and indirect employment to all youths.
AN: What’s happening to our roads, the Ayobo/Ipaja road to be
precise?
Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: We have to give kudos to our governor,
Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. We all know the challenges there. There is a
pipeline that is causing delay there, and that is why the government had to
contact the NNPC so they can work together to avoid explosion and loss of
lives. If not for that, they would have finished it. They are trying, and it
will soon be completed by God’s grace.
AN: What should the elderly people expect from your
administration?
Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: They will also enjoy because they are our
parents and we have to take care of them. Most of them are pensioners; we will
take care of their health and welfare. We will reach out to them, and they will
also benefit largely.
AN: They say women are better leaders because they are
passionate, are we going to experience that when you become the chairman?
Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: I promise you.
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