Hon. Adeola Olamilakun is the All Prpgressives Congress(APC) senatorial candidate for Lagos West. He is representing Alimosho Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Olamilakun, who is also the Chairman, Public Accounts Committee, speaks on his programmes for Lagos West if elected senator and why the people of Lagos will continue to support APC.
Excerpts:
You had an overwhelming support at the primary elections. How did you do it?
From my point of view, they are all tested politicians, loyal party men who have distinguished themselves in different fields of endeavour, and who have contributed immensely towards the development of our great party, the APC. Apparently, what I considered that worked for me is that in the last 12 years of my life, I have been involved in legislative business. And the position we are vying for is still the same business of legislature. If you look at the two experienced politicians, they have always been involved in executive arm of government. None of them have the opportunity of serving in the legislature.
What could have necessitated the actions of the delegates for the votes to come my way could be the experience factor. Two years of legislative experience is not something you can just put away, and it is for the overall benefit of the Lagos West senatorial zone. Because since I have had experience to serve in the lower chamber , and I get to the Senate, automatically, I am a ranking member. All others who are just coming will go there as greenhorns in terms of legislative business. So, all these and more I believe are responsible for my victory in the primary.
What are you offering to the people of Lagos West, viz a viz the fact that from representing just one local government in the House of Reps, you will now be representing 10 local governments if you make it to the Senate?
This is the largest senatorial district in Nigeria, and it also constitutes 51 per cent of the entire Lagos population. So, that shows how big, this senatorial district is. Not forgetting the fact that as far as representation is concerned, my ability is not in doubt when it comes to the legislative experience, when it comes to speaking the minds of the of the good people of Lagos West. It is also not in doubt when it comes to the issues of fighting for the right of the people of Lagos West.
The unique thing that I will be giving to the people of Lagos West, is the ability to carry them along in all facets. I want to believe that because of the hugeness of the senatorial district that I am aspiring to represent, part of what I have put forward is to always organise a senatorial forum on a quarterly basis.
In that forum, I intend to ensure that all issues pertaining to the senatorial level is brought to the table for discussion. I am on the firm opinion that if that is done, everybody who is a stakeholder in the senatorial zone will be aware, of what is coming in terms of constituency project, in terms of bills that to be discussed and how the senatorial zone can benefit from it, in terms of other fringe benefits like employment slots and all other things that will be coming to the senatorial district.
So that the stakeholders can be aware of what is going on. And in terms of the constituency projects, it will be evenly distributed among the local government areas in the zone. These are part of the ideas I am putting in place that will be different from what has obtained in the past. Everybody who is involved directly or indirectly can be seen to be carried along from the point of representation.
Except that method is adopted, looking at the size of the senatorial district, there might be no much impact felt across the senatorial district. Since democracy is government of the people by the people and for the people, that is the only way. That is representation at its best.
The PDP in Lagos is saying that your party has not done much for the people and so wants to give it a red card in 2015. In your own case you will be contesting with the same man you contested against last time, why do you think people should still vote for you and your party in the next election?
We are all living witnesses of the impart the progressive party that has been in charge of Lagos since 1999 till date has made in terms of people- oriented policies and programmes, which are too numerous to mention.
First and foremost, when you mentioned that PDP felt that we have not done enough for the people and they are coming on board to show us the red card; don’t forget that Lagos is the fifth biggest economy in Africa and it is the most populated state in Nigeria.
The local government, Alimosho Federal constituency, which I am currently representing is bigger than Bayelsa and Yobe as a state in terms of population. With that in place, we are of the firm opinion that if within a state, a local government is like a state , what that tends to show is that in terms of population, landmass, water front and everything, Lagos is big and large.
Also, don’t forget that Lagos still remains the commercial capital of Nigeria. And if we have been opportune to rule this state since 1999 and have done so much under a ten point agenda, that was put in place by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which was followed to the letter by Governor Babatunde Fashola, and to be continued by Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; anybody that meant well for this state, will have no choice but to continue to support this progressive minded party, so that we can take Lagos to the enviable height of our dream.
We are the fifth biggest economy, the fifth biggest city in Africa; if we are the fifth in Africa, then in the whole world, we have a position. There are basic things that have to be in place for you to qualify to be called a city. In terms of infrastructural development, I know that the average Lagos resident will score the government a minimum of 60 and 70 per cent. And the other aspect of the economy which is the bane of our problem today, is electricity. We would have been involved in this process until the then Federal Government under the Obasanjo regime truncated the process, because they don’t want us to lead by example.
There was an IPP project that was already in place, which could have contributed some megawatts to national grid, but it was truncated, it was stoped for their own selfish end. You see turbine being built by PDP governments in the later part of that regime.
Their own states are there for comparison with Lagos. And anybody that has come in and out of Lagos, has agreed that Lagos has changed and changed for good.
I don’t know what they are coming to offer. The person they are presenting as their candidate has no experience to show. He has not been in government. He has not held any position as far as governance is concerned. All he has done in his life is work in the private sector as a pharmacist. Aside that, there is no other thing he can refer to as his experience that places him better than somebody who has served for over 30 years in government, and rose to the position of Permanent Secretary/ Accountant General of Lagos State. And who is also a fellow of the most reputable accounting body in Nigeria. It goes to show that we are not bringing out just anybody. But that we are bringing somebody with credentials that people can listen to and believe that the legacy we have built over the years can continue.
Coming to mine, that I am contesting against somebody I contested against in 2011, is a game of politics. But the position is crystal clear. Lagos is a mega city. It is the most sophisticated state in Nigeria. And people that reside here, know their left from their right; a mediocre cannot go and represent Lagos. Because Lagos wants to feel the impact of their representatives.
With due respect to other aspirants who are contesting, I believe that when you are contesting elsewhere, you can have your way and go. But when you are contesting in a state like Lagos, when there will be a lot of debate, a lot of invitation from here and there for you to appear and say what you are going to offer, what you have in stock that places ahead of other contestants, I don’t see that as an issue, other than somebody the other side just wants to contest. And I believe that under a free atmospheric condition, I don’t see him as a major contender that can be an hindrance to my clinching the seat.
I am deterred. I am not bothered. I believe in myself. I believe in what I can do. I believe in the quality of representation that I can offer my people. And I believe in what I have in stock going for me, which is my 12 years legislative experience. And I have been opportune to chair one of the most strategic committee, which is the only constitution recognised in the House of Representatives, the Public Account Committee. And I have demonstrated to the whole world what I can do at that level. I am not a greenhorn and I know that people will listen and listen carefully, and judge me by my performance in the lower chamber and also the experience I have in forming their opinion in voting for who will be representing them in the Senate.
-The Sun
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