Our youths are brilliant and hardworking – Kogbodoku

Hon Olatunji Kogbodoku, Deputy Leader Ojodu Legislative Council

FACING FACTS: with ‘Tayo Aderinola

The Lagos Panorama interview column Facing Facts Special Editions focuses on the grassroots politics, spotlight the oversight functions of local government legislators. In this edition, I interviewed the Deputy Leader Ojodu LCDA Hon Olatunji Olami Kogbodoku.

The politically savvy councillor talked on several issues that bothers on the sustainable development of the grassroots most especially as it relates to  the Ojodu LCDA and a host of other issues. Please enjoy excerpt from the interview with yours sincerely ‘Tayo Aderinola.

LAGOS PANORAMA: For the benefit of our readers please introduce yourself?

My name is Olatunji Kogbodoku the Deputy Leader Ojodu LCDA. I am the Chairman Committee on Budget and Planning.

Budget enhances planning and lays the foundation for the annual activities of any establishment just as it’s obtained in the local government administration. Recently you had your Budget Retreat, what are the highlights of the budget that have direct benefit on the people of Ojodu LCDA?

First and foremost, the budget was centred on infrastructures within Ojodu LCDA. Infrastructures are very important. The Chairman has on  his mind, the Primary Health Centres. They now run for 24 hours daily. Unlike what we met on ground then they open for just 7 hours a day. So the health centres now run 24 hours 7 days a week. In the budget we look at the critical areas. The health sector is very important, the 4 PHC have been upgraded to service our people 24 hours every day.

The education sector is equally very important. And the infrastructures are very important for instance when we resumed all the roads are bad. We decided to fix one major road per ward at a given time. From ward A to ward F.

As a councillor your major function is to legislate laws at the grassroots, however as a political office holder, which other ways have you been able affects your constituency and Ikeja in general?

Thank you very much as you have alluded that I am a legislator and not an executive member but be that as it may be what I did was to ensure that  I have a one on one relationship with my chairman to help foster projects in my ward. I facilitated the construction of the ICT in my ward. The library was there but abandoned when we came in, so I approached the chairman and thank GOD it has been upgraded with ICT facilities. I also met with the chairman on the construction of vocational centre. Four roads were identified to be bad and with the support of the chairmen, 2 has been fixed and the third one which  is Nob-Oluwa is work  in progress right now.

Personally I relate with the leadership of my ward on the needs of the ward. During festive period, I give different packages to support them collectively and individually.

How will you describe the relationship between the executive and legislatures of the Ojodu LCDA under the leadership of Hon Engineer Julius Olumuyiwa Oloro?

So far so good it has being so cordial. Engineer Oloro runs an open door policy. He is a free man and very assessable. It’s not possible not to itches once awhile, even when itches come up, he will seat with you to discuss and sort things out. We are moving as one family.

As a grassroots legislator what’s your take on the federal government’s policy on local government autonomy?

Yes presently it’s not a full autonomy yet, most especially financial autonomy. I think it’s a brilliant idea. It will enhance free running of the local government. We have 3 tiers of government so there won’t be any domineering power by the state government over the local government. The local government will have free access to their finance. In other words, the local government have direct access to the local government money. So the local government will have more money to do more developmental projects. So the issue of deduction or reduction by state government will be eliminated. I think it’s brilliant and welcome idea.

What is your take on the prospects of the Babajide Sanwo-olu’s administration?

Babajide Sanwo-olu is well experienced, has been in the system for decades. He understands the need of Lagosians. He has being in politics for a while so he understands what it takes to govern Lagos. Babajide Sanwo-olu is a technocrat, a team player and I believe he is going to do his best. My advice is for everyone to cooperate with him, he is a capable man who knows the needs and yearnings of the people and ready to deliver.

On a final note, what is your advice to prospective youth aspiring for political positions or those hoping to be entrepreneurs trying to setup their own private businesses in this hard times?

You’ll agree with me that youths are the vibrant part of our economy. Any progressive government, any government that sincerely wants development, any government that believes in good economy of the nation, will take the youths very seriously.

So my advice to our youths is to be very hardworking. You must have perseverance, endurance, the ability and resilient to deliver. Don’t expect gains immediately, you have to work very hard and have faith that your work and efforts will pay-off at the end. To me our youths are brilliant and hardworking so they should channel all these to the right path not on “Yahoo-Yahoo” or “419” (fraud). Let them channel their ideas and efforts towards the betterment of our nation and economy.

Wow, GOD bless you, it’s nice talking to you.

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