Q: How would you describe your life?
A: I thank God for giving me the opportunity to be the representative of the good people of Ikorodu. I am not the most brilliant but they have chosen me amongst other qualified people to be their representative. It is indeed a great privilege and I am grateful for that.
Q: Sir, you have just commissioned two blocks of classrooms to mark your birth day. Why the option of school instead of picking other projects?
A: It is unfortunate that only two projects were ready at this time. We specifically chose Maya and we spread it out just to also honour the late Koro, who was a strong party stalwart in Ikorodu North.
The Imota project was brought to our attention and we decided to work on it. There was also a great need in that community for that school and what gladdens me most is seeing happiness on the faces of the people. They yearned for it and they got it and it tallies with my slogan that “I like to put smiles on the faces of the people.
Q: How would you describe the support of Ikorodu people so far?
A: Their supports are tremendous and outstanding. My friends have missed my birthday this time and they have been asking where I was. But I can’t leave where I am now because I am basking in the euphoria of wide acceptance, kindness and love that everyone has been showing me. I am extremely grateful to God and all the residents and indigenes of this great constituency.
Q: What is the secret of your popularity this time compare to during electioneering campaign when some people were alleging that you don’t reside at Ikorodu?
A: I have always stated that the works of a legislator are in two phases, which involves the micro and the macro. The macro aspect has to do with defending and advancing the cause of my constituency in Abuja-moving motions, handling petitions and writing bills while the micro part is about giving back the dividends of democracy to my constituents.
No matter how vibrant you are on the floor of the house, if you don’t do the micro, if you don’t come home to service the people and to add value to their lives by meeting their needs, the macro one will come to nullity. You have to be able to balance the two. I give thanks to God and I give thanks to the people for being gracious and supportive. I also give thanks to the governor of Lagos State, who always supports me and many others.
Q: How do you intend to intervene to make sure that Ikorodu is included in the Lagos at 50 committee?
A: Firstly, I do comparative analysis and I base my submissions on very valid facts. I will compare the Lagos at 50 programme with the budget of 2017. I will compare the involvement of Ikorodu in the 2017 budget vis- a vis the involvement of Ikorodu at the Lagos at 50. I will trade off one for the other.
In the budget we have, Ikorodu is number one in terms of infrastructure and it is infrastructure that makes a country rich. We are getting fantastic roads at Isawo with the stake-holders meeting coming up soon. They are going to displace some residents and I am part of that committee. There is Igbe road, a giant project coming up very soon too and the stadium which will cost billions of Naira to fix.
So, if you don’t put Ikorodu in cultural festival, I am not bothered but I still met with the acting Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Arts, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola. I commend her because she is a silent and smooth operator. We had a discussion and I told her that if she knew all these why didn’t she come out to defend her position.
She said that the thing that came out was a proposal that punctures it at intervals. I have also spoken to the co-chairman who happens to be a former House of Representatives member, Alhaji Habeeb Fashinro. So, there is no need to worry.
Q: Sir, you recently sponsored a bill regarding EFCC seized assets and loots. What inspired you to take this bold step?
A: All the assets the Agency has seized till date are in three dumps; Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Lagos. For instance, in a dump, you have about one thousand cars, the EFCC has also seized ninety seven vessels with some carrying oil. Recently, an oil tanker sank with all the oil contents. Now, imagine the de-commissioning of that vessel. Somebody else is going to pay and those assets could be ploughed back into the economy for it to work for us, especially as we are in a recession period.
Q: What can you say about the whistle blowing bill, which may not have received the approval of the house?
A: Let me say that it is not everything you read on the social media that is true. The House cannot deliberately frustrate the whistle blower’s bill. I think we have seen a lot of people that have been exposed and we have also seen that a lot of them have not really been arraigned because there is a lot of media blackmail out there.
Q: How would you describe Ikorodu constituents in terms of their demands for projects and their personal demands?
A: I think they are very vibrant and they interrogate me on face book and twitter. Most of them ask for things that are communal in nature. I am always happy because their questions keep me going.
Q: How much did you spend on the school projects you executed?
A: Each project costs fourteen million (N14 million) and they are being facilitated by me from the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) programme of the federal government. We hope to be able to facilitate more so that people will get the dividend of democracy.
Q: What should people be expecting in the next two years?
A: We should be expecting more of such projects. These are blocks of three classrooms, we should be able to get storey buildings and more classrooms.
For now, we have got the rehabilitation of Shagamu – Ikorodu road in the budget to gulp over two billion naira inclusive of other projects.
Q: You are sharing the same birth month with Asiwaju Tinubu, what is your message to him and your constituents?
A: I see Tinubu as an orange, which symbolizes vibrancy, knowledge, vitamins and warmth. I don’t know whether to all he is David in the Bible or Samuel but I will prefer to call him Samuel. Asiwaju is an indescribable politician who has made governors, a president, a vice president, commissioners, permanent secretaries, local government chairman, house of representative, members, senators, among others. He is someone I share similar acronym with J. B. (Jagaban Borgu), and J.B (Jimi Benson). He was born on March 29 and I was born on the March 30. So, I can lay claim to being his ally and son while he is my benefactor.
Q: Can you say that you are fulfilled yet looking at where you are coming from?
A: Yes, I am fulfilled and I give all thanks and glory to God. I also thank my late father who taught me how to give and special thanks to Asiwaju Tinubu who made me number two man at LSDPC at the age of thirty