Our Achievement So Far is Unequaled - Kehinde Ogundimu (AERA President)

Kehinde Ogundimu (AERA President)

The events leading to the conquest of reigns from the past executives of Abesan Estate Residents Association (AERA) to the new executives were full of expectations as most residents expected more than they were getting from the past regime. The last administration was swiftly sent parking and another installed. Since the inauguration of the present administration in September of 2016 however, little has been noticed in terms of achievements. Abesan News met with Pastor Kehinde Ogundimu, the president of AERA in his office on Tuesday July 11, 2017. In this interview, he talked about the achievements of his administration and their plans for residents of Abesan. Please enjoy the excerpts.

It’s almost a year you and your executives were inaugurated into office as AERA executives. What are your plans for the people and what are your achievements so far?

Thank you very much, I am grateful for the opportunity to talk to the people. I want to assure you we have lofty plans for the people. We want to be sure Abesan is safe for the people and we have put so many things in place to achieve that. We have established a good relationship with the Police and the local vigilante. We have been having interactive sessions with them. We have also rolled out procedures to sector chairmen on how to curb the thieves. We want to assure residents that by the end of our tenure, security in Abesan will be very tight. We are also ensuring that at the center, we have barriers at all entrances and exits of Abesan. Anytime from 12 midnight, we want professionals to man the posts so that movement in and out at those odd hours will be regulated. We are also working on all sectors to do same.

Since we assumed office, we have been able to apprehend over ten people whose area of specialization is to steal generators, break into cars, steal brain box, cut net and things like that. We have prosecuted four and have won in all the cases. This has reduced the rate because a signal is sent to the others that Abesan is not a place to come and steal. We are not stopping at that, we have been having security meetings with our Baales, in particular, Baale Opeki once a month to strategize how to curb the menace. We will within the next few months meet with the Lagos Neighborhood Security Corps. We thank our governor, His Excellency, Gov. Ambode as this will bring community policing because they are in the community and they know the nooks and cranny of the community.

ON FOOD, we are talking to a body that will be coming with food produce periodically at a much reduced price that our people will be able to stock till the next time they come. This is to help reduce the burden on the amount they spend on feeding.

We also want to bring in INTERNATIONAL BODIES LIKE THE LIONS AND ROTARY. These bodies are centered on rendering service to humanity. When people join, some of their needs will be met. The bodies will have one or two things to do for the estate. Sometime ago, the Rotary club donated a Borehole in Abesan, the club I belong, Rotary Gowon Estate has also given scholarship to two indigent students till higher institution level.

EDUCATIONALLY, we are looking into how we can partner with bodies so that our students can excel in their examinations and assist them in securing admission into higher institutions.

We also hope to assist those seeking EMPLOYMENT to get jobs. In one of our meetings, we told the parents to always check a notice board we will put up, so applicants can know the jobs available and make use of the opportunity.

Of course we cannot do all these without the support of the residents and the SECTOR CHAIRMEN. Most of the sectors owe the central body their dues. I am using this medium to appeal to them to PAY THEIR DUES AND SHOW COMMITMENT. We need their support through prayers, time and resources.

Cross Section of AERA Executives

Electricity supply in Abesan has been one of the worst in recent times. Do you have an agreement with the company not to supply electricity during the day? What are you doing about it?

We do not have any agreement with Ikeja Electric not to supply us power, rather, we are working with them to increase supply to us. We all know power generation in Nigeria has reduced and consumption has increased which brought us to where we are. We in Abesan don’t believe in rioting, antagonizing, going to court, rather we believe in dialogue, jaw-jaw rather than war-war. We are therefore using this medium again to appeal to Ikeja Electric to increase their power supply to this estate because what they generate in terms of revenue in Abesan is more than anywhere around us. So when you get the best in terms of revenue generation, it is only normal you give them the best services. We have had meetings with them in that respect and we hope they will let us know if they have challenges so we can help them inform their bosses.

We are not enjoying Ikeja Electric here at all. Majority of the users here are on analogue, and this is giving room for estimation in their billings. We like to assure residents to bear with us as we will do our best. If the residents have any contact they can give us, we will appreciate so we can have a lasting solution to this problem.

On the issue of Kiosks and Containers, people are worried and will like to know how far you have gone. Is the demolition still imminent?

On the demolition of Kiosks and Containers, I will like to say the MD of LBIC, Mrs. Folashade Folivi is a good woman, a mother, a woman of substance and a good listener. She has been so kind and tolerance as regards this. Out of 14 estates built by Alhaji Jakande, Kiosks and Containers in four have been demolished. It is not our making in Abesan but to the glory of God. The MD has been giving us a listening ear. Not that the MD wants to destroy property but she wants to bring back the glory of the estate. You will agree with me that the structures were not structurally built but haphazardly built here and there and this is an estate, an organized place. Things ought to be done in an organized manner. If I fail to say the United Estate went to court on the issue, I would be economical with the truth. There was a court case, and I use was, because we have been told in court to settle out of court and to maintain status-quo on the matter. I am not saying when it’s time to restructure the containers, it won’t happen. I am appealing to our residents to stop indiscriminate construction of kiosks and placing of containers. We thank the MD and pray for her to have long life and more wisdom to steer the ship of LBIC.

Finally, what’s the plan of your administration for the Youth of Abesan?

I thank God for the youth of Abesan. They have been cooperating with our administration. There has been no violence and restlessness unlike the youth of other areas that we all know who have turned themselves into menace. However, there is room for improvement. We want the youth to come up with proposals that will move them forward and will move the community forward and let’s see if we won’t be part of it. The present executives of AERA incidentally are made up of 70% youth. The Youth are the ones that will succeed us, so they should come close to us to observe us, come for close meetings, sectors and central meetings so taking over won’t be difficult. By 2019 when our tenure will end, we expect the youth to take strategic posts.

Finally, I will like to appreciate my colleagues, the members of executives of AERA from top to bottom for their cooperation since we started our administration. I will also like to appreciate the sector chairmen and the residents of Abesan. Please let everybody work together for the improvement of Abesan, together we stand, divided we fall. I will also like to thank all our past presidents and executives, I implore them to come for our meetings because their wealth of experience is important to us. God bless AERA, God bless Abesan, God bless Lagos State.