Kunle Ade-amin, is the leader and Coordinator of the Ifelodun Reformers, a political group in All Progressives Congress. In an exclusive chat with Lagos Focus News, he bared his mind on why their group is contesting for the coveted seat
My political journey started early from my school days when I was at the School of Health Technology where I contested as the secretary, but it was not zoned to our department. However, I later became the director of the male hostel affairs. When I came to Lagos, I joined SDP in Lagos Mainland Local Government then I was at Iponri and two years later before Obasanjo came to power I moved to Ajeromi Ifelodun, in 1986 to be precise. During Abacha era, I was a member of the GDM from there I moved to DPN, by then the five political parties created by Abacha were scrapped before the emergence of the fourth republic. By the grace of God, I am one of the founding members of PDP in Ajeromi.
During the DPN era, I was the constituency secretary that produced Omololu as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly. He won that election for constituency 1 in Ajeromi local government and when PDP came, I became the secretary for Ward K. From then, I have been working at the local government and the state levels respectively. There was a time I was campaigning for Shina Kojekwu who was the coordinator for Ajeromi local government. There was a time again Boseje Oshinowo also aspired for the governorship candidature of Lagos State. I was also the coordinator for Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government handling Segun Awolowo for Senate. I belong to a group at the state level called the Liberal Democrats founded by Chief Olorunfunmi Bashorun, the Asiwaju of Igbogbo, one of the GAC members. It was Olorofunmi Bashorun who said it was time for us to move to the Democrats.
By the grace of God, we were welcomed at the Ikeja Club by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This happened more than 20 years ago and since then, I have been a member of APC.
I was the state secretary of the Lagos Integrity Movement which metamorphosed into BRF progressive movement led by Alhaji Lateef Odunsi who is also a member of GAC. I was the secretary and the group was led by Primate Odumosu. We established structures for former Governor Babatunde Fashola so he could win all the local governments. This took me to the all nooks and crannies of the state. We started the Ifelodun Reformers with Akinbola Lekan as our symbol. Our current chairman is still there and we are still very much in the race. Am a political leader and an elder in my church, Christ Apostolic Church.
We believe that APC has a program that has been enshrined in our manifesto which the local government chairmen, governors, and president are supposed to abide by. If there are any lapses either in the state or local government, it’s a different thing entirely. But we believe that there are still some loopholes and we need block votes and put more effort. Going by the experience of the last four years, we are not saying that people who have been there have not done well.
Is this house still producing an aspirant for the Council Chairmanship or do you want to leave the incumbent to finish his second term?
We are producing an aspirant at the party level. A candidate within our group and the candidate remains Akingbola Olalekan. We are on the race by the grace of God
The progressives will always say allow him to finish the second term, what is pushing you guys to raise another aspirant?
During the second tenure of Fatai Ajidagba when they instructed that all the Chairmen who were serving out their first tenure should go for a second term but not all of them were returned for the second term.
The idea of continuity, No. You can only continue where there is a high level of performance. At the same time, the leaders on top are also listening to the cries of the community. They are taking opinions and they are hearing one thing or the other getting the necessary information. I am sure that this time, they will throw it open; the question of a second term will not arise.
Supposing the party at the State says no primary?
The party is supreme and once they speak out that all the chairmen should go for a second term, it’s not a do-or-die affair. We will hands off.
You talked about students hawking during school hours where did you observe this
Am talking from experience, you will see them in every area, every community in our LCDA, you see some children that are of school age that are still hawking. Gov Sanwo Olu has tried in this aspect, there is this program back to school at the state level but I think the same thing should be done at the local government level. There is no excuse why we should find a child hawking in our local government.
If you were to measure the political and developmental tempo at the end of the serving Council Chairman’s tenure, what would be your assessment?
There is no political tempo. Naturally, people show aspiration just as we are aspiring but once the leader speaks, the tempo dies down. The leaders of the party know how to address issues. They are capable of solving problems and better in managing any issue that may arise either from the primary.
After the successful conduct of an election, you will see most groups collapsing into one. Are your members still under your tent?
When you are aspiring, people from different corners will be behind you but once you are not picked you will see a majority of them going back to their base. We know those who are loyal members of our group. They remain and stand by us and we know them very well
How will you do it better?
The word better means, that you look at the past, and present and you make amendments where necessary. That’s how you can get a better result. We assure you of better service and that’s the slogan of our group
