Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun was the first Secretary to the Lagos State Government and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with Kunle ADELABU, the Publisher/Reporter-in-Chief of THE IMPACT, he bore his mind on the proposed shopping mall at the present location of Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat, crisis rocking APC Congresses, slow pace of work on the rehabilitation and extension of Igbogbo/Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Agric/Owutu/Arepo roads, Lagos East Senatorial seat and evaluation of Governor Ambode and other elected representatives in Ikorodu division. Excerpts:
IMPACT: It’s no longer news that there is a resolve that a shopping mall should be sited in Ikorodu, though , there is a handful opposition regarding the acquisition of the Ikorodu Local Government secretariat land for its construction. What is your view about this sir?
Basorun: On the shopping mall, it’s the IBILE Properties that is bringing the mall to Ikorodu. What we gathered is that about 52% of the shoppers patronizing the Ikeja Shoprite plaza are from Ikorodu. Sometime last year when the idea was conceived by the IBILE Properties, the governor sent for me and Prince Ogunleye. In attendance at that meeting was the General Manager of IBILE, Mr Amokomowo. The governor briefed us about the shopping mall and that it will be sited on the council land and he promised to relocate the council secretariat elsewhere with a befitting structure. Although, we were satisfied with the presentations, but we still requested that the governor should still convey a larger meeting to brief stakeholders in Ikorodu, which he did. At that larger meeting, Prince Ogunleye and I were there as well as Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, Princess Aderenle Ogunsanya, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, Hon. Nurudeen Solaja. I think the kabiyesis were there too. It was at that meeting that we were properly briefed on the project and other projects that the governor is planning to execute in Ikorodu, including the two roads (Ebute-Igbogbo-Bola Ahmed Tinubu-Igbe and Agric-Owutu-Arepo roads which are now under construction). It was at that meeting that we were told that a new structure for the Ikorodu LG Secretariat would be erected at the site of the former council headquarters opposite the Post Office at Ita-Elewa,Ikorodu.
The history of the present day secretariat is well known to us. In the 70s, that place was acquired to build the headquarters of the Ikorodu Local Government but it was not available for use until early 80s. The premises is very large and extends far inside. We were told that recreational centres and other facilities would come along with the shopping mall when completed for the use of Ikorodu people. The project is part of what would complement the Lagos State Mega City Project. I know there have been hues and cries regarding the project and on one occasion, I had to engage a person who stated that it was a sell-out. How is that a sell-out? Has anybody been paid compensation which we shared? Or is it because we were consulted to bring development to Ikorodu and in our own judgment, we felt that it is right, does that makes it a sell-out? What is being proposed is in the interest of Ikorodu division. Why do we need to go to Shopping mall at Ikeja when we can have same here and increase our own wealth rather than spending the money in Ikeja which would increase their wealth. Those who do not understand the rationale behind the new development should see it from this angle. Where the new council would be located is very befitting for Ikorodu. Some of us regard the new location as the heart with which Ikorodu breadth. It’s an excellent location. I hope that it would not take the government too long in putting in place a befitting council secretariat at that place.
IMPACT: There have also been hues and cries over the slow pace of work on Ebute/Igbogbo/Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Igbe and Agric/Owutu/Arepo roads which are currently under construction.What do you have to say to that?
Basorun: Some of us have expressed our feelings concerning this, but it seems that the contractor is taking his time. Although, we have been seeing them in the past few days, but like others, we are also worried and I want to appeal to the contractors to move faster because several people were displaced and we regarded the road as sadness that would bring goodness. But the goodness seems to be slow in coming and we want it faster. We do not know the value of the contract but we are aware that it is a short term project and we want it to move faster. The contractors are not taking off as fast as we expected, but I have noticed in the past weeks that some works have been going on there.
IMPACT: On the issue of congresses that have put your party, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikorodu, in serious dilemma, how is the party resolving the matter?
Basorun: Some of us regarded the entire scenario that played out in Ikorodu before and after the congresses as putting something on nothing. As a result, we are involved in finding a lasting solution to it because what we proposed was what the national body did. What we proposed was to build consensus and get important party members involved in the congresses, rather than sitting down somewhere to write the congress results. We are on it trying to settle it. The best thing to do is what I have proposed earlier. What many of our colleagues did was simply to build something on nothing and they are very hard on it. I just want to appeal to them to sheathe their swords and let us get everybody to be involved in running our party in the six councils in Ikorodu division. That is my appeal to all those involved.
IMPACT: The recent clamour by the people of Ikorodu division is that the senatorial seat in the next dispensation should come to Ikorodu on the basis that we last have the opportunity between 1999 and 2003. What is your view about this sir?
Basorun: That was not the first time that we are having a senator from Ikorodu. Before 1999, Abiru, was a senator for four years between 1979 and 1983 and later, we had Ogidan before Seye Ogunlewe. Let them not bring sentiment that it is Ikorodu’s turn. Anybody that is interested in a position must be part of the party, work and be an integral part of the party. Such person must also be able to come out on his own and not saying that it is Ikorodu’s turn which is meaningless. Last time, we did the same thing with the governorship agenda and we got nothing. People should be able to come out and fight for position without sentiment. In 2002 for instance, I vied for the governorship as a person and I stoutly opposed Funsho Williams and at the end, he got the ticket and we supported him. The first thing when aspiring is for you to declare your interest. It’s only after that that we can start political permutation to see who has got what and why a particular area should get something in compensation for another. That is the only time and when we can play the ‘it’s our turn’ joker and not using it as basis for aspiration. The last time when our party leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, made a public pronouncement that the party has zoned the governorship ticket to the Lagos East Senatorial District, despite our strength as a section of the district, nobody showed interest until many of us had gotten ourselves involved in Ambode’s campaign that some of our people who have given themselves several names, like Eminent Citizen, started shopping for candidates. You cannot shop for candidate in 21st century; anybody interested must endeavour to show interest. Nobody shop for Trump, Obama and even Buhari. They wanted to be presidents and they came out. Although, it was a different thing in the case of Obasanjo because I was among those that shopped for him because those people who were active in the polity then felt bad about what the government did to Abiola and they wanted a Yoruba man from Abiola’s tribe to assume power to pacify the Yorubas. People aspiring for positions should be ready for battle. There have been two aspirants in Ikorodu who have indicated their interests in the senatorial seat, one of them has come here (Basorun’s place) to discuss about it, while the other sent a letter in that regard. I wish them good luck. Before their interests, some of us have seen some good in the serving senator, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, and we have joined others to endorse him for second term. I was reading somewhere about some people asking what Sen. Ashafa did for Ikorodu. He has done a lot. He does his empowerment seasonally either in Ikorodu or at his constituency office at Kosofe and I have seen many Ikorodu people benefitting from it. As a member of the Senate Committee on Transportation, he championed the cause of Ikorodu – Shagamu road and the Minister did not hide it on the day of the flag-off of the road. It’s also not true that he’s just coming back to us in Ikorodu when he heard that two others have signified their interests in his seat. He recently donated set of computers, benches and chairs to Ayangbure Primary School in Ikorodu. Earlier on, he built an ICT centre in Oreyo Grammar School, Igbogbo, but for the new road HiTech is constructing in Igbogbo which has affected the structure, it would have been commissioned. He donated 25 systems with benches, chairs, solar light and internet service. In term of his primary duty, he has been a performing Senator . On the floor of the House, you cannot push him aside because he is very active. If he had indicated to us that he would like to go for another term and we have agreed, it is incumbent on us as responsible men to honour our agreement with him, unless there is a change, then, we can turn round and start considering Ikorodu ‘lo kan’ (it’s the turn of Ikorodu). Until then, I do not see myself supporting the idea that Ikorodu ‘lo kan’. I will continue to repeat that those who are interested in the position should endeavour to come out to sell their candidature and if people adjudge anyone among them as the preferred candidate so be it. And we shall give them full support.
IMPACT: It’s been a year since the present local government Chairmen assumed offices, can you say that the Chairmen of the six councils in Ikorodu division have performed to expectations?
Basorun: The word ‘expectations’ is dependent on individual perception. To me, I think that within the limit of resources available to the six of them, they are working. They took their elections as challenge and you will find them running up and down trying to do one thing or the other. Like the one in Ikorodu Central LG, he is trying to make Ikorodu a mega city by fixing inner roads and make them motorrable. Likewise, the man in Ijede LCDA has also been doing lot of works. Also, the man in Imota LCDA has been working very hard and the one in Ikorodu North LCDA has been working very hard too and the woman in Ikorodu West LCDA has also been working within the limit of resources available for her. Concerning the chairman in my own territory, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, not only does he consult regularly, he is trying as much as possible to justify his mandate. I want the six of them to see my submission as a way of waking them up to their responsibilities. They need to do more so that they can, in all honesty, justify their mandates and our trusts in them. At the Apex level of our party in Ikorodu, we call them every month to come and brief us on their activities and challenges and we always oblige them whenever we can render assistance.
IMPACT: At the beginning of Gov. Ambode’s administration, several promises were made to Ikorodu division. It was stated that there is going to be a Governor’s Chalet; construction of two major roads (which are now under construction but slow); construction of a stadium (which is yet to commence) and rehabilitation of the existing sporting facilities (which are also yet to commence) among others. Sir, will you state that in the three years of Governor Ambode’s administration, he has done a lot for Ikorodu and what should the people of Ikorodu be expecting from his government in the remaining one year?
Basorun: Emphatically, I will say Ambode has tried, except that the seed that he’s sowing are just germinating and not yet ripe for cropping. Those who have been following his workings since 2015 will see that most of our schools are either renewed or new ones built. On the road, when he designed his two roads per council, Ikorodu was not left out. This gave us 12 completed roads at same time in Ikorodu which otherwise would not have been possible because of the ways local government operates. The two roads under construction: Igbogbo/Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Igbe and agric/Owutu/Arepo roads, are landmark roads. It appears that these are the major things people are seeing but there many other things that the governor has done which are adding, positively, to the lives of our people. When Ambode came on board, he facilitated the passage of BRT buses on Ikorodu- Lagos road which is first of its kind in Nigeria. He is increasing the buses plying the route to make lives more easier for the people. The fery service that was constructed by his predecessor is now in use. I decided on my own to ascertain this and I went to the place and I discovered several vehicles parked by people who had boarded ferry to Lagos. Another set of roads, at least one each in the six councils, are under construction as the second phase of his two roads per council. Apart from Ikorodu, you will see the man’s presence virtually everywhere you go in Lagos. So, endorsing him on the 1st of March by the Lagos East Senatorial District of APC was a way of saying thank you governor, please continue.
IMPACT: Since you have endorsed Gov. Ambode and Sen. Ashafa, what is your view about Hon. Babajimi Benson, the representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency, and the two members representing Ikorodu Constituency I and II, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade and Hon. Nurudeen Solaja?
Basorun: I really do not know how many people are now vying for the House of Representatives seat, but the present occupant, Hon. Babajimi Benson, is performing. For me, he should go back for another term. The man in Constituency II, Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, has been working as a true representative of his people to the best of my knowledge. That is why I did not find it difficult to move his endorsement for another term during his empowerment programme recently, a move which was supported. In the case of Constituency I, although, the present occupant is performing but there are several contending interests that are showing faces. In my opinion, they should be allowed to go to the Congress peacefully for the determination of who to represent Constituency I. Solaja case is bit different because we have an arrangement in Constituency II which allows the three councils to take a shot of two terms each at the Assembly seat rotationally.
