In April edition of Personality Interview, our correspondent had a chat with the former Caretaker Chairman of Iseyin Local Government, who is currently the flag bearer of the ruling party in Oyo State vying for chairmanship position in the forthcoming LG election.
In this interview, our guest gave stewardship account of his days in office, challenges confronted, how he overcame them, his relationship with his committee members, his response on some people’s impression that he is stingy and most importantly, the journey ahead.
Enjoy Reading!
Oduduwa News: Can we meet you sir?
Chairman: I’m Abilawon Muftau Osuolale, the former Caretaker Chairman, Iseyin Local Government and the flag bearer of our great party in the forthcoming Local Government election that will come up in May, 2021. I was born in 1967 precisely, and I attended St. Mary Primary School, Iseyin between 1973 and 1979, also, I attended Ekunle High School, Iseyin, between 1981 and 1985. I thereafter proceeded to St. Andrew’s College of Education now Emmanuel Alayande College of Education to study Fine and Applied Arts with Distinction between 1987 and 1990. I served my fatherland which was called Olurin Service then between 1990 and 1991 and later joined the Teaching Service Commission TESCOM in 1992 and was posted to Muslims Grammar School. I have worked in many schools before I finally retired. I am currently pursuing postgraduate course in University.
Oduduwa News: You were a teacher who even rose to the rank of Vice Principal, how did you manage to merge politics with teaching career?
Chairman: That was where I developed interest in politics because you have your own team, people will be praising you, and hailing you, we thought everything was a childish play then, it was then I discovered myself and later dawned on me that politics is somehow interesting, and thereafter I developed interest in it. When I got to college of education, I was the Publicity Secretary of our great association, I mean association of students of Fine and Applied Arts. I contested for elective post and won. So, my sojourn in politics started from my tertiary school days.
When I was appointed as a teacher, you see, you may find it difficult to combine teaching career with politics, but I know how I was able to combine both without one affecting the other. I see politics as a game and a call for everybody to be involved. Then, as a teacher, I was able to manage politics with my career and I didn’t allow politics to jeopardize my activities in teaching career, I know how I used to play the game very well. I used to carry out my work as expected, if you can interview some of my past students, you would see the feedback. I usually went to school as expected, did all activities in school as expected including writing of my lesson note. In summary, politics did not in any way affect my teaching career.
OduduwaNews: You served in the capacity as Caretaker Chairman of Iseyin Local Government, can you share your experience with us?
Chairman: I even forgot to tell you that between 2007 and 201, I was appointed as the electoral officer of this local government during Akala regime, I served as the electoral officer for Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC then, coming back to your question, I see my appointment as a clarion call to serve humanity, when I came on board as the Caretaker Chairman of this local government, I faced many challenges, and to the glory of God, I was able to overcome those problems. Coupled with the experience I gathered during my teaching career, I was able to successfully manage the seat, and interacted freely with people. If compared to other local government councils, though, I can’t hail myself but people would say I have done very well.
OduduwaNews: Sir, before you took over as Caretaker Chairman, there was a legal battle between the State Government and the then ALGON, has the case been resolved?
Chairman: Well, I think all I know is that the then ALGON took PDP to Court for dissolving the local government chairmen, the case is still in Court, I think by May 7 they said there would be a judgment, let’s wait and see.
OduduwaNews: Can you give us an insight on your tenure as to what people were expected from you?
Chairman: Once again, I want to thank our dear governor, a listened governor, who has been doing marvelously well in Oyo State, who deemed it fit to appoint me as the Chairman of the ancient Iseyin Local Government. I also thank our leaders in the party, the likes of Hon. Hosea Ayoola Agboola, AKA Alleluyah, Alh. Kunmi Mustafa, and others in the party at large for their support.
As I said earlier, when I came on board as the caretaker chairman of Iseyin Local Government, there were many challenges I faced, the first thing I noticed when I got to the Secretariat was that everything was black out, the whole council was in total darkness. What I mean was that, no electricity supply in the local government. Having noticed this unpalatable atmosphere, I decided to query why it was so, and was told that it had been like that for over 6years, and that all the wires that led electricity into the local government had been seriously disconnected, I was told by staff members that they were helpless because the past administration left it undone. To God be the glory, I was able to restore electricity back to Iseyin Local Government.
Honestly, Office accommodation in the local government was nothing to write home about, even in the chairman’s office, if you see it, you won’t say this is a chairman’s office, I took time to renovate everything, if you get there now, you will see that the office has been well furnished, because your personality will show where you’re living, residing and where you’re working, that was why I took time to put everything in proper shape in the local government.
Also, if you go to the typing pool, all our computer systems that were not functioning properly, I took time to replace them, we reorganized everything and things are going on well now in the local government. Aside from that, there were many challenges on infrastructural facilities in Iseyin which we addressed promptly. We provided portable water, we ensured rehabilitation of road network in some areas. We graded some and we fixed granite on some of the roads so that they can be motorable, and people are now utilizing those roads now for their daily activities. Out of the above stated roads, we have road linking Aseyin High School to Gboleya road, that road was very bad, we tried as much as possible to make sure that we make the road accessible to people, we rehabilitated Gaarigbayi area, if you are going through IDGS road and you branch at Ansar-Deen Area, the linking roads in that axis were very bad, and we were able to grade them. Also at Shabab Area, there were some linking roads that were very bad, before rehabilitation people usually faced with a lot of difficulties in getting into their various houses.
Again in Isalu area here, the road from Oke-Ayo to Ebedi Pure Water linking Ikere dam road, and some other linking roads around that place were also graded. So, these were some of the roads, and there are still more that we did.
We did our best in terms of provision of infrastructural facilities, we were able to dig at least five boreholes in my area of jurisdiction. We dug one at Momak area, one at Ode-Olomu, another one at Idi Ose, Ita Adu. There’s another one at around Oju Sango Area, the other one is located at Oke Eyin area. So, those were the areas we were able to dig boreholes.
You know as Chairman, people would come to you with different requests which we were able to grant within our capability, we rendered financial assistance to people, we were able to assist financially the less privileged, aged, widows even the disabled people. Just before we stepped aside from the Local Government Council, we empowered some people with different materials. We gave out generators and distributed quite a large number of electric switch box to some school leavers who were idled to be engaging themselves in charging phones for them to earn income for their daily survival. Also, we distributed clippers to barbers, both males and females, about 140 people were also given cash gifts that very day. So, these are some of the programmes we embarked on.
Furthermore, I want to tell you, in the heart of the town, Oja Oba, you will notice that there used to be refuse dumpsite there, our administration found a lasting solution to the incessant dumping of refuse in that area. When we came on board, I probed into why the place was turned to a dumping site and we found out that one that the vehicle they used in carrying the refuse was not in good shape. We swung into action and we repaired the vehicle, we were able to at least encourage productivity among the workers there. If you go there now, every blessed day, the health workers and those concerned with the job usually go there everyday to carry the refuse and the place has been free of series of refuse that can cause spread of diseases if not taken care of.
OduduwaNews: Sir, with all these you said you have done, I believe some of these things are outside there for people to see, I want to ask because some of your colleagues did complain about paucity of funds, that the allocation coming in was not enough to carry out some projects, as I was made to understand that every month, the State Government usually released certain amount to you to carry out some identified projects, if I may ask, what is the amount of that money been given to you every month, and how were you able to justify the existing projects with the allocation given to you every month?
Chairman: You see, during that time, we were not given allocation, let me correct you, we only sought for approval whenever we wanted to embark on any project, when the project is approved, they would release fund to us, but as God will have it, for having the interest of my people at heart, I was able to write as many request letters as possible to the State for approval so that many projects can be executed, and that was what really helped me. As you write, they release funds for you, and not all that alone, if there’s a special project to be done, and you approach the State, you will be given, a good example is that of the NPC exercise that was carried out some months ago, on the delimitation of some of our areas here, the amount to be spent was too much and the community could not bear the expenses, they wrote to the Local Government and I took it as a point of duty to write to the State and about N7million was released for the exercise.
Aside the monthly money usually released by the State which people used to insinuate, what I know is that if you write to the state that you want to do a particular project and is verified and approved, they will release the money for you to do it. I didn’t relent in writing as many requests as possible and did follow it up and that was one of the things that helped me in making sure that some of the projects we embarked on were properly executed.
OduduwaNews: What could you say about the five million naira people insinuate that the State Government usually give you every month?
Chairman: If you write a project, at least, it should not be more than five million naira and that will be released for you every month.
OduduwaNews: Before the expiration of your tenure as Caretaker Chairman, the State Assembly mandated all caretaker chairmen to come with their financial records, were you cleared of financial irregularities?
Chairman: Yes, I was cleared, nothing to say about that. You see, there were two occasions that we had visitors like that, firstly, a committee was set up by the governor, to oversee the works done by each caretaker Chairman, and I want to say that Sen. Monsurat Sunmonu led the Committee, they came to my local government, they inspected everything and commended me. Secondly, the House of Assembly members came on oversight functions, they inspected everything, the roads we did, including all projects we were given approval for which we did, and I was equally commended.
OduduwaNews: It’s a general belief that to succeed politically, one needs to run administration between politicians and the people been governed, how did you manage the two together?
Chairman: You see, people will say experience is the best teacher, at least, I have been a teacher before, even though I’m still a teacher, because once a teacher will always be one. I have retired but not tired. What I want to draw out of it is that, a school system is a learning space where people of different personalities would be managed. So, for me to have been a teacher, who have taught for about 29years gave me that privilege to manage the politicians and the people. We know what the politicians want, as well as the needs of the people who constitute the voting populace. I was able to manage both parties by utilizing the experience I gathered during my teaching career and it really helped me to be able manage the two sets of people. I thank God for the wisdom bestowed on us to manage them successfully.
OduduwaNews: In Iseyin, it’s factual that there’s crisis within your party, I think we have like two factions claiming the ownership of the party currently, which side of the faction do you belong to?
Chairman: Well, in Politics, there’s bound to be groups, people may be telling you that, but I don’t want to believe that there are personal groups. To me PDP is one, PDP is a family, one great family which cannot be divided, though, some are trying to divide it but I believe PDP is one. The only thing we are having are groups, and that’s not peculiar to PDP alone, it cuts across all political parties. We have people who belong to group A or B, but as I was appointed as the caretaker chairman, I should be the chairman of all, I don’t say I belong to one group or the other, I governed all people in the party and the entire citizens of Iseyin Local Government.
OduduwaNews: As a journalist, it’s our work to find out what’s going on, and as we know, this is not limited to PDP alone, APC is also having the same crisis, it’s a general occurrence in political parties. Before the primary election, there were series of allegations regarding imposition of candidates, it got to a point that the PDP Chairman in Oyo State, Alhaji Kunmi raised concern about a certain faction from the other side, wanting to impose on the party, it was in the news then. What can you say about that?
Chairman: You journalist, you used to carry out some news that may not be genuine at times. I equally heard that, but as I said the other time, PDP is one, and what’s transpiring in a political party may not transpire in another, you see, when the issue of primary started, the aspirants started moving from one place to another to make sure that they achieve their aim, there were many things that they might not see that the party leaders foresaw, PDP as one family made our leaders to come together and agreed if they should allow things to be going on like that, I mean seeing people moving here and there to seek political favour, there might be crisis in the party. That was how our leaders found a lasting SOLUTION to the problem and agreed that we should go for consensus, having invited all the aspirants to the State Office to have their own views either we should go for primary or not. At the end, the primary was conducted in all local governments, and thank God, I’m one of the flag bearers, I came out victorious in my local government.
OduduwaNews: We usually hear from some certain people from Iseyin that you run your administration as a sole administrator and that you’re “stingy”, what can you say about that?
Chairman: Smile, people who are saying that are ingrate, if not that you came late, as early as 6am, people have been trooping into my residence here seeking for assistance, including Ramadan gifts and I know how much I have spent since the beginning of Ramadan. In politics, if someone comes to you now that he needs something, it’s that person that will go out again and say he has not been given anything, that’s how our people behave a times. If they collect millions from you and they go out now, they will say they have not collected anything. I know how much I give out from my salary whenever I received it and they would still complain that one is stingy, that’s people for you in politics.
I want you to know that before politics brought us together, every Individual has his own occupation either as a carpenter, bricklayer, and hairdresser etc, people do not care if you give out money from what you earn from your profession in as much you satisfy their demands. They want you to go extra mile to satisfy them even if it requires tarnishing your name. With the little I have, I have been able to do my best, people may talk in contrary, but to the best of my ability, I know I have been doing my best.
Go and ask my caretaker members, they know how I used to operate, if there’s anything, I will call on them to brainstorm on every decision I want to make as I never engaged in one man show, nobody among them can say that he doesn’t know how our administration was run. My administration was very open, and all inclusive.
As people do come to my residence here, they used to come to my office as well to seek for assistance and the little I could, I used to do it. Like I said, if you give our people an opportunity like an inche, they will increase it to ten inches, that’s people for you.
OduduwaNews: During the last primary election, there were some people who are not happy with the outcome, we also learnt that some are still in Court to challenge the outcome of the primary election, what has been the step taken by the party to resolve that amicably, or has it been resolved?
Chairman: Anyway, that’s not happening in our town here, especially in Iseyin. You know Iseyin is a peace loving town and those of us in PDP in Iseyin are equally peace loving people. I think all happenings that you’re talking about are in Ibadan, we have heard about that, that some set of people have gone to Court and I think it is between the State Party Office and those involved. I don’t know much about that but I think that one has been handled by the State Secretariat.
OduduwaNews: Sir, before the expiration of your tenure as Caretaker Chairman, some people worked with you, Politicians and non-Politicians, how was your experience working with them, and if you are elected, will you prefer the State Government to allow the set of people to work with you again?
Chairman: Honestly, I really enjoyed the company of my caretaker members because they really cooperated well with me, we used to dine and wine together, no problem at all when we were in office, because I equally ran an open door administration, all inclusive one. I will not say somebody is this or that, when there’s an issue to discuss, I call on everybody and we discussed it together. Go and ask, in Oke-Ogun today that I know, I was the only Chairman that bought an official vehicle for my secretary, so my relationship with my caretaker members was very cordial and nobody can speak ill of it among them.
I equally enjoyed the company of Career Officers there, HLA, DF, and some other directors that were there, they really worked well with me, and I want to at this juncture commend their efforts and thank my able HLA, in person of Alhaja Kudirat Naibi, the Director of Admin and General Services, Alhaji Alabi and the director of Finance and Supply, Alhaji Tunde Olagunju, the Director of Education and Social Statistics, Prince Ekun Adeyemo, Director of Agric, budgets and hosts of others, they did wonderfully well when I was serving as the Caretaker Chairman. May God continue to bless them.
To my able caretaker members, their efforts and contribution are quiet appreciated, starting from my able Secretary, Hon. Lateef Kolawole Olayiwola, Hon. (Mrs) Selihat Adeniji, the supervisor for Education, Hon. Yekeen Tajudeen Bolaji, Supervisor for Agric, Hon. Ojo Michael, Supervisor for Health, Hon. Muhibi Afeez, Supervisor for Works and Hon. Afolabi who was in charge of women affairs, I thank them all for their cooperation, may Almighty Allah continually to bless them.
Again, to the part B of your question, they have worked very well with me, there was mutual understanding and if it’s the tradition that they will be reappointed, I will not regret working with anyone of them again, they have done wonderfully well.
OduduwaNews: Will the sharing formula of 60 % to main Local Government and 40% each to the two other LCDAs continue after the election?
Chairman: I might not be able to answer that one, when the time comes and we get there, we would know more about the sharing formula.
OduduwaNews: What can you say about Local Government Autonomy that people have been clamouring for, I mean running local government independently, what is your position about that, considering the fact that election will be held soon?
Chairman: This is a very good question, I have read many write ups about that, heard people’s views, but to me, I think giving local government autonomy is a very good idea, the little experience I gathered during that caretaker period gave me an insight into that, you see, the local government administration is the nearest to the grass root people and those that are appointed or elected to be managing their affairs should know better about the people living in that area, community or in the local government, so he will know where the shoe is pinching the people of his each area or community, and that will help alot in developing our communities at the grassroot level if we have local government autonomy
Like I said, it will be very good, and I want to advise again that autonomy should be given to local government and if that comes into reality, the people at the grassroot will be enjoying governance unlike before, that’s my submission.
OduduwaNews: They say politics is a dirty game, how can one survive?
Chairman: To me, politics is not dirty, it is the people that are playing politics that are painting politics to be dirty, if you know what you’re doing in politics, that dirtiness in politics will never get to you. So, to me, that has been my answer whenever people say politics is dirty.
OduduwaNews: What will be your advice to aspiring youths in politics and in general, what do you have for the people of Iseyin provided you are elected as the Chairman.
Chairman: By God’s grace, the good intention I have in heart has been following me in my path to succeed, nobody will say when he gets to power he will not perform, but the first thing one should see as watchword is prayer, I use to pray alot to be guided in all my endeavours but I can assure that the people of Iseyin will never regret voting me into power. I have many goodies for the people of Iseyin Local Government which we shall kickstart immediately I am elected. Virtually every sector of life shall be touched if given the mandate to steer the affairs of Iseyin Local Government. I will advise the youths to be determined and courageous in all their endeavours and ensure they face their education as this can catapault their to their Promised Land.
Good job