Q: Recently you were chosen as the Apex Leader for ward 9, how do you feel?

I feel challenged as the Apex leader of ward 9, Abeokuta North APC. A ward just coming out from turbulence. A ward where everyone is claiming to be a leader. I feel stressed because we need to rebuild the ward. We just have executive members who are performing well. I know that I have a lot of work to do because we need reconciliation. This is the only ward where you have people of diverse backgrounds. I have to start meeting people differently and collectively. You can see the reason why I am challenged. We appreciate the Organising Secretary of our party at the state level, Alh Adelani Igwe, for his efforts. He identified our weakness. He advised us and followed his advice.

Q: How did you resolve it between you and Alaga Mesan?

Alaga Mesan was the first person to accept me as the leader. Alaga Mesan is not what people think he is. He’s an open minded someone. He wants us to move ward 9 forward. In fact, when a leader nominated me as the leader, Alaga mesan was the first person to second the mover of the nominee. So, there’s no animosity between the two of us.

Q: But some people claim that you met some in politics in the ward. How true is it?

I met people in politics truly. However, as far as Sabo is concerned, I will rate myself as the number 2 politician after Brother Ahmed Akindele. In fact, I joined politics because I wanted to work for him. That should be around 1988. I was his megaphone boy when he contested for councillorship. Later, Babangida allowed politicians to form political parties, and PFN, PSP, and others were formed. Later, all the political parties were disbanded. SDP and NRC were imposed on us by the military. SDP for the progressive while NRC was for conservative. That particular year, Alhaji Danliti emerged as the first political party chairman in Sabo. Hon. Muis Aminu was voted as the Councilor. I became the organising secretary of the ward in 1991. I played active roles to the extent that I was made the Sole Administrator of the Youth Forum in the entire Abeokuta North called Action Council. Action Council was later sponsored to Jos convention by Chief MKO Abiola. However, I quit politics when Chief Olusegun Osoba lost election in 2003. I didn’t believe we could lose. It was a shock. Therefore, I am not new in politics. I was a councilor between 1999 and 2002. I have records that no other councilor could match except if Hon Kunle would beat it by God’s grace. I ensured numbering of the streets. I facilitated 32 street lights from Gaa to the Hausa market in Sabo. I made sure the contract was given to a Sabo man, Alhaji Semiu Ologunebi. Moreover, I facilitated the provision of five water taps and provided transformer.

Q: What plan do you have for the ward?

We have started embarking on reconciliation. There were factions. We want to ensure that we all become one. Our moves are yielding results. Special thanks to Alhaji Adelani Igwe and Alhaja Faidat Sarumi-Akintunde for their interventions.

The second plan is to make sure some of the leaders in the ward get appointments. We deserve more appointments than other wards in Abeokuta North. We are the largest in the APC membership registration. Our votes determine who wins in the local government.

Also, I want to cooperate with other leaders in the ward and the exco members to facilitate infrastructure to the ward.

Q: general elections is fast approaching, what should the leadership of APC expects from you?

Election is fast approaching, no doubt about it. Unlike previous excos, the newly inaugurated exco is making sure that all 32 booths hold meetings every week. Every politics is local. Elections will only take place in various booths. We want to empower the booths so that more people will join us. The leadership hierarchy of our party is expecting a lot from ward 9. We want to make sure that we get no less than 90% of the total votes. I can not limit myself to ward 9. The entire Abeokuta North is equally important.

Q: What is the secret behind being a successful GLO

The secret for being a successful GLO is nothing but loyalty to my boss, Prince Dapo Abiodun. I abide by instructions we get from the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). I am privileged to be appointed twice as GLO. We are only two reappointed by His Excellency for the 2nd time out 27. Myself from Ogun Central and one Hon. Oke from Imeko in Ogun West