MY STRONG BOND TO IFAKO-IJAIYE LGA WILL PROPEL ME TO WORK ASSIDIOUSLY – Hon Saka Fafunmi
Hon. Saka Dayo Fafunmi is a very notable Lagos political impresario who served as member representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly. His performance to the LGA and party loyalty are legendary and his contributions were very visible due to his great impact on Youths and Children of the poor who found it difficult to cope with financial capacity. In this interview with Adaobi Enekwa, publisher of Blissful Affairs Magazine, Honourable Saka Fafunmi spoke on issues that delve on politics and personal ambition. Excerpts:
What is your ideology about Politics in Nigeria?
I will say that politics in our country is all about the people. When l was a member of Lagos State House of Assembly, l looked at the challenges faced by the children in my Constituency and to a reasonable extent l was able to provide succor to the people in the area of provision of free transportation and l was able to know the mindset of the people in improving their welfare and l used my constituency office as the a platform to develop people and earn their own living.
I organized fashion training, make-up training and l did not just stop there, l equipped them and today most of them are entrepreneurs on their own, fending for themselves and their families. Those are the positive contributions that are expected from the executives. I mean someone who is occupying the role of an executive in a Local Government. I am interested in becoming the Chairman of the Local Government because l want to meet the needs of the people, l want to ensure that even the very downtrodden is given a glimpse of hope. I believe that a child’s growth should not be limited to anything that can be provided by their parents.
So, that is one thing l intend to do and one of my core programmes is Human Capacity Development and l cannot emphatically say that l will embark on agricultural development in Ifako-Ijaiye because there is no land to do that but at the same time, Ifako-Ijaiye is blessed with a lot of potentials most especially in the area of Sports, Academics. So, I am going to tap into that if l eventually get nominated or elected as the Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye LGA.
WHY ARE YOU INTRESTED IN THE POSITION OF CHAIRMAN OF IFAKO-IJAIYE LGA?
It’s all about service, l want to serve the people. I want to meet their needs, l believe that the level you are serving the people does not matter and l know as the Chairman l will be able to touch more lives that what l was able to do as honourable Member of the State Legislature. And if you feel that Saka has spent some time at the State’s law-making, why is he interested in becoming the Local Government Chairman, the answer to that is in Senators who have spent times as representatives at the highest level still have interests in becoming governors, and what is paramount to them is that they want to serve the people more extensively.
Based on that, l have decided to come out and contest as the Local Government Chairman.
TALKING ABOUT GOD FATHERISM IN NIGERIA’S POLITICS, HOW DO YOU CONSIDER THIS?
Well, l will like to say this that godfatherism is not something you can shy away from, it’s embedded in the system. Democracy is about the people like generally defined, it is a government by the people. Our leader is an astute democrat. I am talking about Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and he practically told us that he wants everybody to test his or her popularity and that is why we opted for direct primaries.
I know it will be somehow, but let me emphasize that when l wanted to contest 2007, l came in with direct primaries and direct primaries could be done in such a way that the genuine interest of the people will count. If the people are allowed to make their choices freely, they will remain committed to the party and all its programmes; and ultimately it will lead to growth and development but l want to say that this time around, the Chairman of the committee has specifically said that the interest is to ensure transparency as the election. So, we are going to hold him by his words and ensure that whoever the people wants emerge as our party candidates.
JUST AS YOU WORKED ASSIDOUSLY FOR THE YOUTHS OF IFAKO-IJAIYE AS A MEMBER OF THE STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, DO YOU STILL HAVETHEM IN MIND AS YOU ARE CONTESTING FOR CHAIRMAN?
You see, the essence of governance of the Local Government level is to bridge the gap, draw your programme and make it synergize with that of the state and that is why whatever happens in the state you get carried along.
The governor of Lagos State has demonstrated a strong passion for the youths and l want to ensure that what l am doing as the Chairman of Ifako-ijaiye will be centered on the youths. It’s all about capacity development. We are going to have Ifako-Ijaiye Youths Centre where they can deliberate on the way forward. I don’t want to limit my training of the youths to Computer alone, l will also train them as DBA and System Administration. It’s just a matter of capacity and l also believe that if you lift a child of the poor, you are not only lifting one person.
I realize that there are so many talented youths in Ifako-Ijaiye and though some are using the talents illegally, but we can change their minds and they can make money legally.
We would also ensure that we improve on the State of Schools in Ifako-Ijaiye LGA, we would also ensure that transportation to and from school is made available. We would also make sure that the financial allocation is allocated and that will ensure continuity.
Aside that, l am going to dwell more on infrastructural development. We would do more on that area because it is vital. Health is also a key area because most of our PHC, to the best of my knowledge is that each ward should have a PHC. The essence of a PHC is if there is any emergency, a PHC is the next point of contact.
It is realistic that a doctor must be available there to attend to people. So, the fact is that if you cannot handle it at that level, that is why it escalate to General Hospital.
However, it is not just to build the structure, but to equip it normally. So, l have a vision and passion to change things in Ifako-Ijaiye. I started my life in Ifako-Ijaiye, from my primary education to a higher level. So, no one need to explain the problem of Ifako-Ijaiye to me because l know the issues. My focus is to ensure the growth and development of Ifako-Ijaiye.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS YOU HAVE IN GENERATING REVENUE FOR IFAKO-IJAIYE LGA?
Well, revenue generating is usually a function of how you are able to develop your infrastructure and develop the Inland Capacity of the environment. Currently, the revenue might be low, but no matter how it is, it’s a function of how creative you are , it’s a function of the Chairman’s level of creativity and ingenuity. We need to look outside the box, what can we do as a local government. I would want to keep my plan to myself for now, but if l have the mandate then l will tell you everything. I will then turn around the IGR of this LGA. I will tell you immediately l have the party ticket. Don’t let us let the cat out of the bag for security reasons. Businesses are springing up in Ifako-Ijaiye and we have lock-up shops everywhere.
So, it is obvious that opportunities are abound if you know how to tap it. I am going to run an economy that is technology driven. Asiwaju blocked the area of revenue leakages changed how revenue is being generated and see whether you are making progress or not. I will say that in Ifako-Ijaiye. We have a collegiate of leadership. Initially, we were 10, every Ward has 10 stakeholders and out of this 10, we lost some, but we tried to get them replaced.
So, when we wanted to have a congress, we now developed what we call an extended leadership. This means some who are Executives Secretaries or sole Administrators, we allow them to become part of the leadership but as at today, most of us are all interested and how do l know, we are in a Constituency that by living in the midst of the people, we can see and know that the interest is to unite Ifako-Ijaiye.
My target is to further transform this Local Government because l know that l am well equipped and prepared to turn this local government around.
When l was the Chairman of Public Accounts at LAHA, I looked at how we would transform this LGA and l know am well equipped to do that.
TALKING ABOUT CRISIS IN THE LGA, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU CAN COPE AS THE CHAIRMAN?
I told you l am going to develop human capacity
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY?
Well, LGA autonomy is given by this present Buhari administration. Although, it may not be total but we have enjoyed the reasonable of autonomy especially in Lagos. I am not talking of any other State, but l can categorically tell you that Lagos State LGAs are getting what is due to them.
