We Need True Federalism In Nigeria -Ifako/Ijaiye L.G Chairman, Toba Oke

The Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government, Hon. Oloruntoba Oke has been doing well since he got to office over two years ago. He is seen as a man of the people, who has been developing the semi-urban local government as the man-in-charge of the council.

Oladipupo Awojobi and Funsho Akinwale spoke with ‘Toba Oke at the celebration of the 50^th birthday of the Publisher of First Weekly Magazine, Mr. Dayo Asaju and he speaks on true federalism, local government autonomy and other matters.

For sometime now, we have been talking about local government autonomy and true federalism, what is your opinion

On the issue on true federalism, we all know that every progressive and right thinking Nigerian wants it, when you practice true federalism is when you can have progress as every section will act at its own pace and develop at its own pace and every part of the country will develop according to the ability of the people in that area. It is something that is desirable and it will give progress to the country. On, local government autonomy, I stand on the submission of my party, All Progressive Congress (APC), anytime I am asked to speak on it, I tell people I support whatever my party leaders say.

We want you to talk about the proposed National confab called by President Goodluck Jonathan, is it desirable at this time

I think the sincerity of the president is in question, I don’t think the President is sincere with this, what we have been asking for is not just National Conference, but Sovereign National Conference (SNC), where the decision of the conference would be final and not subjected to the manipulation of the presidency. But, we have been in the forefront of true federalism, but President Goodluck Jonathan has never supported true federalism, how can we just call a national conference, no, we have seen beyond it in APC. We have people that are ready to battle, when it is time, Presidential Election must take place latest by November 2012, so how long will it take for the national conference to hold, when we have only one year to a general election in the country. In Lagos State, when additional 37 local councils were to be created, it took the state three years to go round the state to create the councils as the objective was to bring the government closer to the people. Are we saying the national conference would be completed within 12 months; the committee has not even come up with the modalities of choosing the people that will attend the conference.

Road construction seems to be your focus in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government, do you focus on other areas

We campaigned with 6-points agenda, when we were moving round the council, at the time we got in, the entire infrastructural facilities in the local government had broken down, that was why we placed so much attention on infrastructural upgrade because we know that the generality of our people pass through the council that was why we placed so much emphasis on infrastructure. However, we are doing well in the area of sports regeneration, Keke High School in the local government won the Principals Cup for the first time, in the Junior League, we came second, in the Speaker’s Cup Competition, we came second, on care for senior citizens, which we promised to do, we meet with them every month, speak with them and give them stipends. In the area of youth empowerment, we have done empowerment for about 800 youths in the local government. There is no aspect of the 6-points agenda that has been left untouched, but the most visible is the area of infrastructural upgrade and people think we give so much attention to road rehabilitation or construction.

Are you satisfied with the activities of local government chairmen in Nigeria as people have criticized some of your colleagues for not doing well

I cannot speak for all the local government council chairmen in Nigeria, but I can speak for my colleagues in Lagos State, it is very difficult for any local government chairman in Lagos not to perform. We know that we don’t have adequate resources for all the things we want to do, but I know that the little we have, we spend them judiciously. I know that the programmes and policies of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now APC through which we campaign would not allow anybody voted on the platform of the party not to work.

November 05, 2013