Why I’m More Qualified To Represent Ikorodu Constituency II Come 2023

Kunle Adelabu

Mr Matti Olakunle Alliasau, a chartered accountant, administrator, teacher, senior council official and community leader per excellence, is among the few aspirants that have made their intentions to vie for the Ikorodu Constituency II seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly come 2023 General Elections, known.

The aspirant, who is contesting based on his exposure, resourcefulness, academic standing, antecedence in community and political arena and understanding of his environment, said that his early life sacrifices and engagements presents him as the most qualified person for the seat.

He spoke with THE IMPACT at his home in Ijede about his family background, education, community activities, political engagements, exposure and how he has been able to develop himself to what he is today.

He also revealed part of his life not known to many during the interview.

Matti said that he is in tune with the challenges in his rural Constituency II where he has not only been living but also has the exposure of the metropolitan life where he was brought up and also exposed to people in high class who tutored him on what life is all about.

”It is quite different to be exposed to the city life alone, but in our own case, we are not only exposed to the city life, we are also in tune with the grassroots as someone that was also raised in same area and has deep understanding of its challenges, realities and how to deal with them”, the aspirant said.

Background

He was born in Surulere but lost both parents in his tender age. While in primary 5, Kunle moved to Ijede in Ikorodu Division area of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, to be with his aged grandmother and was enrolled at the Anwar – Ul – Islam Primary School and later moved to Luwasa High School, Ijede, for his secondary education.

The aspirant’s paternal family is from Ebute Olowo compound in Ijede while his mother was from the Agbaje family of Shokun Royal family and Solumade – Ojikutu Royal family in Itundesan, also in Ijede.

He also has great connection with the Ikorodu and Igbogbo parts of the division.

Matti, who can be described as a self – made man, grew up not knowing his parents as they both died while he was at a tender age. While his father died when he was 2 years old, his mother passed away when he was at the age of 8.

According to him, this was a side of him that many, including his friend did not know while he was growing up because he did not want to be pitied, rather, he wanted to compete favourably with children that were provided with all that they needed and he did not just do that, but he did it in grand style as he proved himself and became a brilliant student in school.

“I lost my father at age two and mummy while I was just 8 years old. That was what made me come to Ikorodu and live with my grandma at Ijede.

“I did not know my father at all, but my brief moment with my mother made me realize that I am brilliant because she always buys me new shirts whenever I come first in class and that is what I have been doing to my own children”, he recalled.

“This is an aspect of me that I did not want people to know while I was growing up. I didn’t want people to know that I had lost my parents early in life because I didn’t want them to treat me with compassion.

“I grew up competing with people that have it all and I proved myself. Up till now, I don’t want people to relate with me or give me a position based on any sentiment but on the ground that I have the capacity to deliver and my antecedence in other positions of responsibilities that I had been given or initiated in the past has proven this”, Matti said.

Early Life Exposure To Mentors, People of Influence

The aspirant said that he moved to Ikorodu where he lived in Solomade and from there, he journeyed out of town to engage in Squash with the Crème de la crème in Lagos.

“I later moved to Solomade in Ikorodu where I am also connected and from my place in Solomade, I do go to the National Stadium, Surulere, Rowe Park, Sabo – Yaba and Teslim Baogun also in Surulere, where I learnt how to play Squash”, he said

“When I became a professional Squash player, I started going to Ikoyi Club, Apapa Club, Lagos Country Club, Eagle Club and Patrick Kosemi Squash Complex, Navy Town, Ojo, among other places to play with captains of industry and top executives”, Matti recalled.

“This allowed to mingle with people in the highest of society strata and these people taught us what life is all about and how to live a simple life style”, he added.

“While playing as a professional Squash player in all these clubs, I had the opportunity of relating with the Ibru brothers, Dr Rasaq Alimi (brother to the Kwara State Governor), Mr Ajayi, the Financial Director of AP then, among many others.

“These people mentored me and others about development and life generally”.

Matti, who is vying to be the preferred choice of the Ijede people for the Ikorodu Constituency II Assembly seat come 2023, told THE IMPACT that his sacrifices then and effort in developing himself prepared him for today’s opportunities.

“These are what helped and present me for today’s opportunities to serve the people. These and many more are what prepared me for representation and to be the preferred candidate for the seat”, he affirmed.

Educational Background

After his primary and secondary education, both in Surulere and Ijede respectively, Matti, popularly called ‘Ally’, gained admission into the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Yaba, Lagos, where he studied Business Administration between 1997 and 1999 and bagged Ordinary National Diploma (OND).

He proceeded to the prestigious Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, where he obtained Bachelors of Science (BSC) in Accountancy between 1999 and 2003.

Between 2009 and 2011, Matti also bagged Masters of Science (MSC) in Business Management.

He is a member, Institute of Strategic Management; Qualified Accountant (CNA) and Student – Member, Certified information systems Auditors ( CISA).

He has many other certificates in Administration and Management.

Community Engagements

Another area that Matti has made remarkable contributions is his involvement in community developments and engagements.

He was the President (third), Ijede Students’ Union (ISU) between 1998 and 2000; Foundation Assistant Secretary, Ijede Development Foundation (IDF) 2013 – 2017 and General Secretary , IDF, 2017 till date.

Olakunle Matti donated a borehole water project for the use of residents of Ojuyemoro/Oju Ogun community in Ijede which is still functioning till date.

He founded the Greenlight Concept which was designed to provide tutorial classes, nurtures and encourages young people to study and pass their WAEC, GCE and JAMB in Ijede.

“We used the platform to also give career talks to students and young people”, he added.

The aspirant is also the immediate past President, Development Platform (DP), a platform which membership cut across the Ikorodu Division.

Political Activities

“My political engagements are very interesting aspect of my life. It actually started in my University days when I was involved in the Union and association activities on campus. I was also involved in conventional political activities in the society as well”, he said.

Matti, while on campus, was the former Auditor, Accounting Students’ Association, Lagos State University, (ASA – LASU), General Secretary, Faculty of Management Science, LASU.

He was also the General Secretary, National Union of Local Government Employees of Nigeria (NULGE), Ikorodu Local Government between 2011 and 2014.

He was also the Chairman, Audit Committee, LASUSU.

In primary and secondary schools, Matti was the Assistant Senior Prefect Boy, Luwasa High School, Ijede, and Library Prefect in his primary school days.

Sharing his conventional political experience with THE IMPACT, Matti said:

“I started with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as a voter but became very active in politics in 1996, when the struggle for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s Governorship ambition started.

“I was also part of the struggle that galvanised support for Hon. Saheed Adefarasin Hassan during his second term election as the representative of the Ikorodu Constituency II in 1999″.

The aspirant, who said that he was a member of the AUF under the leadership of late Alhaji Munir Ajisebutu under whom he learnt the arts and science of politics, also added that he was the Director, Publicity, Omoluabi Group and a member of Justice Forum (JF).

In the conventional political engagements, Olakunle Matti was Secretary, State Special Committee, Ijede Ward D1 (Alliance for Democracy) 2001.

He was also the Congress Chairman, LGA, Action Congress (AC) deployed to Imota LCDA in 2010; Member, 5 – Man Committee from Ikorodu LGA that conducted the House of Representatives and House of Assembly primaries at the party’s State Secretariat, ACME, Ogba, Ikeja.

Work Experience

During his service to the country as a Corper between 2004/05, Olakunle Matti served as a teacher in Bokkos LG, Plateau State.

He also worked as a Tutor (Financial Accounting) at Stars International College, Eyita, Ikorodu, between 2005 and 2006 after which he joined Medview Airline, Ikeja, as Chief Finance Officer (CFO) between 2006 and 2008.

He got into the service of the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission in 2008 and his first council of call was the Ikorodu Local Government where he worked as acting 2nd Signatory and later Principal Accountant between 2008 and 2017.

He was later posted to Ikorodu North LCDA and served in the capacity of Internal Auditor and Assistant Chief Accountant between February 2017 and March 2021.

Matti was posted to Iru Victoria Island LCDA in March 2021 as the Internal Auditor and now Chief Accountant.

Awards & Honours

Gold Medal, NIPOGA Games in Kaduna for YABATECH

Promising Youth for Leadership Award, Starlight Light Magazine, Ijede, 2014.