Dr Oshin Olanrewaju, Chairman, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ikorodu Local Government, has said that the opposition party is ready to confront the ruling All Progressives Party (APC), in the forthcoming council elections in Lagos State.
In an interview with Kunle Adelabu, Publisher/Reporter – in – Chief, THE IMPACT newspaper, at the PDP Secretariat in Ikorodu, the Igbogbo – born opposition leader who was elected into office in 2021, said that never again will his party boycott any election.
He also bore his mind on his party’s activities, readiness for the forthcoming council elections, likely candidate of his party for the Ikorodu LG Chairmanship position, newly constituted LASIEC, performances of the six councils in Ikorodu division under the APC among others. Excerpts:
THE IMPACT: Since the last general elections, PDP and other opposition parties seemed to have evaporated, especially in Ikorodu, and people are wondering if the opposition parties still exist. What can you say about this?
Dr Oshin: Not for once have we been silenced as an opposition party. We were active before and during the last general elections, and still remain active thereafter till now. We have different programmes that we are executing every three months for our people. We do empower those that are less privileges. We have our contestants supporting widows and other engagements. This means we have been active and we will not abandon our position as an opposition party and active engagement in the grassroots.
THE IMPACT: But why have we not been seeing the PDP candidates in their large numbers campaigning all over the town. Nothing is being heard about your party, except from Awesu who aspired for the House of Representatives under your party in the last general elections, and now aspiring for the Chairmanship position….. (Cuts in)
Dr Oshin: PDP is an organized party with pogrammes which are well planned. We know how we play our games at every given period. We have more than 10 contestants for the Ikorodu LGA Chairmanship position alone, but we felt that we cannot be competing unnecessarily. Awesu is all over the town because we already know that he is our candidate. So, we are galvanisng support for him. And we are also telling others what to do. That is why he is the only face that you are seeing all over the place.
THE IMPACT: Let look at the forthcoming LG elections, is the PDP going to participate in the elections? If yes, is your party going to participate in the 20 LGAs or in the 57 LGAs and LCDAs?
Dr Oshin: Gone are the days when our party would be sidelined or boycott an election. If it is announced today that there are 1000 councils to be contested for, we are ready to contest. We are not going to leave anything untouched. Even if the electoral body announced that there is position for street sweepers, we are going to contest for it. We are contesting in the 20 LGs and 37 LCDAs, and also going to contest for the Chairmanship and Councillorship positions.
THE IMPACT: What should people be expecting from you in the forthcoming council elections, and what is your perception about the newly constituted LASIEC body?
Dr Oshin: Thank you so much. We have been waiting for this for a long time but this administration (Sanwo – Olu’s administration) is doing as if the local government elections is going to be contested by their party alone. It is barely six months to an election and we don’t have the guidelines or timetable for it. According to law, there must be notification of an election six months to any election. They seem not to know what to do. They don’t understand what government is about and only fortunate to be in power. As an opposition party, we are doing what we are supposed to do and we are contesting to win this time around. The electorate should expect good outing from my party in Ikorodu. We are not going to allow them do it as business as usual. We are not only going to contest but also going all out to win.
THE IMPACT: Lets look at the council administration under the APC in the last seven years going to eight years, four of the six Council Chairmen will not be returning, while the other two serving first term are eligible to recontest. How are you going to rate their performances as an opposition figure?
Dr Oshin: A lot of people have been examining their performances and most times, these Chairmen usually appraised themselves to have done very well, but the crucial fact is that there is no Chairman that is performing in Ikorodu. They said that they are doing roads, but the roads that they are doing are just for their own satisfaction alone. There are still lots of roads in Ikorodu, calling for their attentions. In Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, we still have Bayeku road which is not motorable and other access roads that ought to have been fixed to ease traffic. They are only using and taking advantage of the roads being facilitated by the lkorodu House of Representative member (Rep. Babajimi Benson). They are not functioning at all, and I dare anyone of them to challenge me. I leave in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, and I am well known to Daini and I can say that he and others are not doing anything…..(cuts in).
THE IMPACT: But he has built an ultra – modern secretariat, legislative chamber, ultra – modern market….(cuts in).
Dr Oshin: Those are for himself and just business for him. How many residents are benefitting from that? How many of those projects touched their lives? He built those because of his own interest and benefits. They have to do things properly and let it be projects that would benefit the generality of the masses and not just about what we benefit them alone.
THE IMPACT: After the last general elections, we have seen massive movement of people from your party to the ruling party. Now that the LG elections are coming, how do you…(cuts in).
Dr Oshin: I have been in this party for good 20 years, and I have families that have benefited from the party, and it will remain forever. Those that left are not relevant to our party. They are none functioning members who cannot withstand the pressure of being opposition party members. They are not up to 1% of our party membership. Those that left only went back to where they came from. We actually chased them away from our party, including those that are officers.
THE impact: What is your message to the Ikorodu people?
Dr Oshin: I will tell them not to relent. Truly, they may have lost confidence in the system since they usually write the election results, especially during the council elections, but we must always discharge our responsibilities and do our part. I will also want the ruling party of today to know that the opposition party is still fully on ground and that we are participating in the coming elections and chase them away.
