Hon. Olugbenga Akinwale Oshin, popularly called, ‘Omo Oshin’, is a former Member, Lagos State House of Assembly. He represented Ikorodu Constituency II in 2011, after he won a bye – election as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on December 12, 2010, following the death of Hon. Rotimi Sotomiwa who was then the incumbent representative of the constituency.
He hails from the Oluwo Okujumo and Oshinbokuren Royal family in Igbogbo and Oreshe Anifowoshe Royal family in Ijede, which makes him well rooted as indigene of the two Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) which are among the three LCDAs that made up the Ikorodu Constituency II.
His wide political network, having worked with many leaders in the constituency, Ikorodu Division and State at large, put him in a good stead for the coveted seat.
Oshin studied Local Government Administration at the National Centre for Economic Management and Administration (NCEMA) and obtained a Higher Diploma in Management at the University of Ibadan (UI) and studied Physical Education at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos. He was a former student of Oriwu College, Ikorodu, and St. Patrick Catholic School, Yaba.
He is the Managing Director, Grand G. Arena, Chief Executive Officer, Grand G Multi – Resources Limited and also Chief Executive Officer, Hutchinson Ventures and Farms. He was a Senior Personnel Officer, Oshodi/Isolo Local Government. He was a former staff of Nelco, Oshodi, Romo Nigeria Company Limited, Igbogbo and Prince Ade Aje Company.
He joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999 but left to joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.
Hon. Oshin was the Chairman, Electoral Committee, Ikosi Ejinrin Primary Election (2021), Secretary, Local Organising Committee (LOC), 2019 General elections, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Member, Screening Committee, Ikosi Ejinrin LCDA Councillorship/Chairmanship Aspirants, 2017, Member, APC Ikorodu Divisional Apex Body, Secretary, APC Apex body, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Special Assistant to the Chairman, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Jos, National Delegate, National Convention of Peoples Democratic (Party), 2011 and Member, Ad Hoc Committee, Lagos State Taxi Drivers & Owners Association.
He was also a Member, 6th Assembly, Lagos State House of Assembly, 2011, Candidate, Ikorodu Constituency II, Lagos State House of Assembly, 2007, Aspirant, Ikorodu Constituency II, 2002. He was also the LGA Financial Officer, 2001 – 2002.
Hon. Oshin, who joined Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) in 1997, was the party’s candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly the same year before it was dissolved alongside other political parties in 1997.
As a grassroots politician, Oshin, who was Member, First Legislative Council, Ikorodu Local Government, 1990 – 1993, was the Chairman, Street Naming Committee, Member, Education, Housing, and Finance Committee and Member, Ikorodu LG Transport Committee of the House.
He was also a Member of the Social Democratic Party which he joined in 1989.
As a social and community man, Hon. Oshin is the President, Dallas Club, Ikorodu, Chairman, Igbogbo Football Organisation, former Vice Chairman, Igbogbo Day Planning Committee and Chairman, Igbogbo Bombers Football Club.
In this interview with Kunle Adelabu, Founder/Reporter –in – Chief, THE IMPACT newspaper, he bears his mind on his short stay in the Lagos State House of Assembly, rotational arrangement in lkorodu Constituency ll, his chances of winning his party’s ticket and programmes if elected among other issues. Excerpts:
THE IMPACT: Good morning Sir. You were at a time, a Member, Lagos State House of Assembly for few months after surprisingly securing victory as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, through a bye – election. What was the experience like at that time?
Hon. Oshin: My brief experience at the Lagos State House of Assembly where I represented the Ikorodu Constituency II after winning a bye – election, was awesome. It was worthwhile. Then, coming from a less fancy party (PDP) in the Constituency and for me to have won the bye – election showed that we were popular then. Though, the tenure was short, it was a memorable one and it would go down in history that the opposition won an election in the division for the first time. It was a worthwhile feat and it gave me a lot of experience from people and those in government. It is the experience that places me above all other contestants now, because I am well prepared, having had further experience after being a Legislator at the Local Government level. The experience gives me a strong pedestal to perform and work assiduously for the development of Ikorodu Constituency II and the division as a whole.
THE IMPACT: How do you see your chances in the race for the Assembly seat vis-a-vis the meeting called by leaders in Ijede, where you and other aspirants were told to be prepared to step down for a consensus candidate?
Hon. Oshin: My chances are very bright. Number one, experience counts and out of the whole lot, even including the incumbent, I am the most experienced, so, I stand a better chance. More so, there are three main communities in the constituency which had gentlemanly agreement that the Assembly seat should be rotated and going by that, it does not favour the incumbent. With my experience and exposure in politics vis – a – vis my legislative duties which I am very well positioned in, I stand a better chance than others.
THE IMPACT: What is your view on the rotational arrangement and the insistence by the incumbent to contest for the third term and his claim that he has the constitutional rights to do so irrespective of the popular clamour that it is the turn of Ijede, going by the rotational agreement?
Hon. Oshin: He is like a traitor to the communities involved because he benefited from the rotational arrangement. I could remember then, in 2015, the Ijede community stood their ground that it was the turn of Imota and they stood by him despite protests from some quarters and he won. In his second term, there wasn’t any opposition from any community. The only opposition that came was from Imota which was resolved within a short time. Coming from that background, it is expected that such a beneficiary should be truthful and respectful towards such an arrangement that favoured him. His insistence to contest amounts to an act of betrayal to the community that stood by him and supported him from the inception till date. I expected him to have reciprocated that gesture by supporting the candidate that emerges from ljede and not by acting otherwise.
THE IMPACT: What are your agenda if elected as representative of your people and lawmaker of the state?
Hon. Oshin: I want to be a catalyst for the emancipation of the youths, women, the aged and the downtrodden. I want to give adequate and good representation to my constituency. I have been tested and trusted and all and sundry can attest to this fact. I am well familiar with all other aspirants and l am sure that my experience stands me out among them. I am a political leader in the State and I maintain a very cordial relationship with other leaders, but I know where I graduated from politically.
The main job of a legislator is to make laws, sponsor bills and do oversight functions, which I am prepared to do. Apart from these, I will ensure that I create a synergy with the councils by putting in place a special team to work directly with the local governments. Through this, my progarmmes and projects will be easily executed. I actually had an experience when I was in the House of Assembly. I wanted to do two culverts and when l moved to the site to commence work, the council came and stopped me from working. When I demanded reasons for their action, I wasn’t giving any but l later realised that I ought to have made contact with the council before starting the project. The synergy will make us come together and share ideas on projects.
I want to bring governance down to the grassroots by working closely with the ward executives who are going to be my liaison officers in various wards. They will bring projects and issues concerning the welfare and needs of the people, particularly the issue on employment, to my attention. The ward chairmen will ensure that lists concerning these get to me for implementation. Through them, I will know the needs in various wards. I will work in conjunction with Ward Chairmen, excos and LCDA Chairmen in implementing these projects emanating from wards.
I will also support constituents in each of our communities in Ikorodu Constituency ll, in the area of their businesses. For instance, people are predominantly fishermen in Ijede and if you go there now, the fishing activities are at the lowest ebb. If I am elected, I will take it as a duty to assist them and make the fishing business return to its peak. I will do this through the necessary Ministry to ensure that they are supported to make their businesses grow. Come to Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA too, the surrounding communities are known for fishing. I will work in collaboration with the Ministry involved to create a bigger fishing market here for people to come and patronised them from different parts of the state.
I often tell people that I want to create millionaires. It’s possible and doable. I have an investment which is on and l plan to raise millionaires on quarterly basis from whatever that comes out of the investment. It could be bi – annual or once a year. That is one effectively way to contribute to the development of the communities in Ikorodu Constituency II.
In terms of job creation which is very important, all that I need to do is to interface with Ministries to get job opportunities for our people. I will also engage youths in sports and other activities to make them useful to their communities. Job creation will be top priority to me. For those who are artisans or skilled in one trade or the other and in need of equipment for their trades, we will provide necessary implements for them to grow their businesses.
I will embark on developmental projects by collaborating and interacting with the Ministries of Local Government, Rural and others just like JB (Rep. Babajimi Benson) is doing and you can see that he is getting necessary attention from people. That is the way to go and the essence of being in government.
I also have programmes for the aged and special people in the constituency.
THE IMPACT: What are your messages to co – aspirants and the electorate?
Hon. Oshin: To the electorate, I want to urge them to go all out to register for their PVC because that is their power to determine who governs them and without that, one cannot be involved in governance and such people don’t have the right to criticize the government. They should go out to get their PVC and at the appropriate time, vote for our party, APC which has been at the centre, states and local governments, for more dividends of democracy.
As for the co-aspirants, we are colleagues, friends and brothers, so, whichever way the pendulum swings, we will still remain in the party, build it together and take it to greater heights. We must ensure that we retain the seat for the party. That is the only way that we can all achieve together.
I can be followed and reached via my social media handles: Facebook- Olugbenga Oshin, Instagram – hongbengaoshin, Twitter- hon_oshin (dormant for some time). I thank you all for the support and l appeal for more.
