Prince Adedoyin Eniola Ogunbiyi, also known as Prince Adedoyin Jokotex is a vibrant youth emerging from Ikorodu North with vision of development for his people. The health professional with Master’s degrees in Nursing, Environmental Health Management and Public Health, has not only demonstrated his goodwill to the people of his Ikorodu hometown, but is also bearing the torch of hope on behalf of the teaming youth. Since his graduation from school, Prince Adedoyin Jokotex has been in touch with his hometown of Ikorodu division and has put the community first in his activities. He has used his influence, expertise and goodwill to attract developmental projects to Ikorodu in his humble capacity.
In February 2016, Prince Adedoyin Jokotex facilitated a free cancer screening programme for men and women in Ikorodu, during which over hundred men and women received free screening and drugs for cervical and postrate cancers. Afterwards, he helped organise free screening on blood pressure and blood sugar level with free distribution of drugs to people in Ikorodu. During the covid-19 lockdown, he distributed more than three hundred palliative items to residents of Ikorodu North LCDA. The active young man has also helped some young ones acquire JAMB forms to enable them further their education. Prince Adedoyin Jokotex, who believe that with the right capacity to represent his people at the grassroots as Executive Chairman of Ikorodu North, he would bring bountiful harvest to his people of Ikorodu, was disappointed at the primaries over what appeared to be a charade of democracy. During the recent APC primary council election, Adedoyin Jootex and some other candidates were gagged by internal party stalwarts when it was clear that he commanded large followership/supporters in the community. In this interview with our reporter, Jokotex expressed his disappointment over the attempt to gag young aspirants and challenge the party leadership to be more transparent.
Q: Why are you in politics?
A: I took interest in politics to ensure that our citizens, especially at the grassroots level, enjoy the dividend of democracy. To ensure that the gap is bridged between the people and the government. From the way things are currently going, it is obvious that the people are not in touch with government in their immediate environment. I want to see that they relate with their government and benefit from government programmes.
Q: What inform your choice of party?
A: I have always being a progressive. My family members have a long history of being progressives; so I tow that line right from an early age. Even in my school days, I was active in developmental programmes and have maintained that spirit over the years. After working in the community for a while, I realised that there were some anomalies which needed deliberate efforts to correct. I decided to join the progressive party as a register and active member. Starting from the time of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress, till the party metamorphosed into All Progressives Congress APC, I have always being an active member.
Q: It was reported that all candidates of your party who indicated interest in the chairmanship position paid N2 Million Naira for Nomination Form. Yet you were asked to withdraw your candidacy in favour of more preferred candidate. What truly happened?
A: Actually, the party nomination form was sold to us at the rate of two million and fifty thousand naira each at the party secretariat in acme road. When we approached the secretariat to obtain the form, we were assured that due process will be followed in the primaries. Normally, they have three ways of getting candidates to represent the party at the poll through direct primaries, consensus and delegate system. We were assured they will use the direct primary, where the candidates will test their popularity and be chosen by party members in their constituencies. But we woke up to a different situation in our constituency when a party stalwart, the APC Lagos East Senatorial Chairman, Chief Kaoli Olusanya with some leaders identified as the mandate group invited us (the Council Chairman aspirants) to a closed door meeting. We were told to step down in favour of a preferred candidate Honourable Mathew Adesanya. Right there, I declined and told them I will not settle for that. I have large supporters across the five wards of the council. What I was supposed to tell them? That I stepped down in favour of another party? I objected to that and left the meeting.
Q: After you objected to the party leaders, what was their response?
A: They devised means to stop me. Right there, two aspirants, Hon. Quadri Iyanda Adeosun and Wasiu Banwo stepped down for Mathew Adesanyan after they were promised posts as Vice Chairman and Secretary to the Council. These candidates who stepped down after the negation became their accomplice and they all ganged up against me and the two other candidates, who refused to bow to pressure from the party leaders. During the meeting, we were directed to hold a press conference to announce that we were stepping down for the preferred candidate. We were also told to write a letter of withdrawal of form at Acme to copy the Vice Chairman, Asipa Kaoli. After the meeting, he offered us N100, 000 (one hundred thousand Naira) for transport fare.
Q: When you refused to participate in the press conference and write for withdraw of form, what did they do?
A: They used other means to get what they wanted, the election was marred with violence; they know I have large supporters and that I couldn’t be defeated if they subject the primary election to popular vote. They had to resort to unethical means, unleashed terror at the poll and followed up to Acme Road by filling names to State Secretariat without due elections.
Q: What do you intend to do now?
A: I used to run a community programme in Ikorodu before council election came up; I will continue with the work. I have been running the PAG movement for years now, I will not stop helping people in my community. I believe in the party slogan which says, ‘The party is supreme.’ However, I will like to appeal to the party leaders to avoid any practices that will tore us apart. The recent practice during the primaries is not healthy; such things disenfranchise people. They should let the candidates test their popularity amongst the party members, not forcing candidate on the party. Before we obtained forms, they told us there would be primary elections; now the story changed and they started telling us something different. They sidelined the youths by indirectly telling us to wait for our time. This kind of treatment is discouraging the youths from participating in governance. Our youths are becoming weary of the system; 65 percent of the youths are willing but are scared of things like this. I want to encourage the party leaders to change the narrative.
Q: What do you have to say about Asipa Kaoli?
A: He is my leader and a father figure. But I must say that it is important for him to understand that we all must have a plain ground to participate in the electoral system. I know he has a good heart and he would listen. Asipa Kaoli should do the right thing; we are looking up to him as our party Chairman.
Q: Why do you think you are a better candidate to replace Banjo?
A: From the recent opinion poll carried out by the Ikorodu Youth Initiative group, results indicate that Ikorodu North is extremely low in terms of infrastructures. As a youth, I am better informed, exposed and current. If given that opportunity, I will lobby both private and non-governmental agencies to draw them to my Local Council Area and ensure that they explore the agricultural opportunities that abound in Ikorodu north. One of the things I will do is to partner with stakeholders in the Council, like the CDC, religious leaders, artisans and farmers to fully tap and use the various resources available to foster progress in the Local Government Council.
Q: Do you still have the intention to pursue these goals?
A: For now, the PAJ Movement is waxing stronger and I will give in my best to building the movement into a bigger and better non-governmental organization, where we will continue to impact lives positively. In the near future, I will participate in political events in my constituency that is another way I will also make impact in my community.
Q: What are the major challenges your constituency is facing and how do you plan on resolving them?
A: Insecurity is one of the biggest challenges bothering our society and people are very concerned about that. It is evident that the insecurity we face boils down to joblessness. Most of our able-bodied youths are not engaged in any job; as a result, they become easy target for crime mongers. I will look into the issue of unemployment and ensure that our youths are engaged in rewarding services. Another major challenge we have is poor road infrastructure. These include poor road network, poor drainage systems, which lead to floods and potholes on our roads. It is shame that Ikorodu North is the largest LCDA in Ikorodu division and we are still having bad roads everywhere. I will ensure that we explore all means of fixing the roads and clear the drainage systems.
Q: What is your overall impression of the party?
A: I want to commend the party; in some areas, they have done well, especially in the area of youth inclusiveness. They are giving platforms to some of us like Sesan Daini. However, we want them to do more. There should be more room for the youths to actively participate in the political system. There is a large number of youths who are interested in politics; the party needs to encourage us by giving room for youth participation.
Q: You have known Oriwu sun for some time now, what is your impression of the media house and its Publisher?
A: Oriwu Sun is the foremost community newspaper in Ikorodu. My father has been a fan and as a youth, I have read copies of Oriwu Sun newspaper with my father over the years. Their integrity and impact in Ikorodu have won my admiration. The Publisher, from my perspective, is one of the icon of community men. He is a most reliable leader, father figure, mentor and we look up to him. He is an erudite Journalist, who has attained the pinnacle of the profession. I will always give him kudos.