Hon. Olanrewaju Akinbowale is the Leader Ejigbo Local Council Development Area representing Ilamoshe Ward. He spoke to ANTHONIA DURU on his drive to serve humanity and his foray into politics.
How many bills have been passed under your leadership as the Leader of Ejigbo LCDA Legislative arm?
We have passed a couple of bills into law and over 40 resolutions. We constantly engage with the electorates and try as much as we can to have good relationship with the executive arm so as to fast track dividend of democracy to all. We go on oversight duties and most importantly we serve as check and balance to the legislative arm.
There is a popular notion that legislators in this part of the world are just rubber stamps to the executives. Is this the case with Ejigbo LCDA lawmakers?
That is not the case in Ejigbo. We are very transparent and follow due process. We carry out our duties as legislators without any interference from anybody. We do quarterly review of our budget performance too.
Are you satisfied with budget performance of Ejigbo LCDA?
It is very excellent; we invited head of budget and she gave us an excellent report on budget. Same goes to the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR), we will definitely surpass our expectation of generating N66 million. You can see so many transformations in Ejigbo, our council secretariat is about the best in the country. I can tell you without any iota of doubt that the Council Chairman is judiciously making use of all available funds and resources.
Can you share with us your foray into politics?
I am a graduate from the University of Lagos where I studied Chemistry. Upon completion of my one year mandatory national service, I went back into business prior to that time my father was assisting me in managing the business. I joined politics not to amass wealth but to serve. I get pissed off when people complain about the government yet they fold their arms all because they think politics is dirty. We all need to stand and contribute to the development of the society, it is not enough for us to criticize, we have roles to play in bringing about development in the society. I became a partisan politician in 2013, l worked during the 2015 general election and I contested in 2017.
On whose back did you ride on to get to where you are now in politics?
I rode on God’s back and I am still on God’s back. My father was never a politician but he was a selfless community leader and a philanthropist. I think my father’s deeds and popularity assisted me to achieve these strides in politics. My father single-handedly donated four transformers to our community. All these gave me an edge in politics.
What are some of your efforts in keeping up your dad’s legacy of service?
I am doing everything in my power to do just that. I don’t need to know you before I come to your aid when you need help and once I have the ability to assist you, then i go ahead. I recently gave out scholarship to an indigents pupil.
How far do you see yourself going in politics?
I aim higher but all power belongs to God.
Are you aiming higher because of the free money politicians make?
Far from it my motive is service and quality service to humanity.
Don’t you think you can also make impacts if you were in private business?
I will make impacts but I will make more impacts through politics.
What kind of change have you effected in your locality as regards the essence of politics?
If there is a message I have passed through words and action, it is that we can do politics without any iota of bitterness. I tell them they should do away with politics of bitterness.
