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Tag: Agege

  • ‘My purpose for being in politics’

    ‘My purpose for being in politics’

    Alhaji Abdulganiyu Kola Egunjobi is the Secretary, All Progressive Congress (APC) in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State. The politician in this interview, Egunjobi talked about his ambition to become a local government chairman among other sundry issues…

     

    Excerpts

    As a grassroots politician and a graduate of School of Hard Knocks (laughter) and that of Lagos State University, LASU, where I read Sociology. I equally have a diploma certificate in Purchasing & Supply Management from University of Lagos. I attended Iloro Grammar School and State Primary School, now Ife-Oluwa, both in Agege. You may wonder, which school is the School of Hard Knocks, well it is just an idiomatic expression suggesting that I have gained a lot of experience and valuable knowledge in life. I grew up at Isale-Oja, an environment that is filled with tension and violence in Agege area and where people across West African countries, Ghanaians, Nigeriens, Togolese etc live. Yet in the midst of violence and diversity, there is love and harmony. I speak English, Yoruba and Hausa fluently. Also, I don’t believe in working for people but working with them because that way am more efficient. I was once Business Development Manager at Emporium Communications, a medium sized media relations firm and currently a Social Media Manager consultant with Secom Nigeria Ltd among others.

     

    The progressive party as your party, APC prides itself lost some seats to PDP and the opposition in Lagos State House of Assembly and House of Representatives in the last general election for the first time in the 16 year history of democracy, is that not an indication that the party is losing ground in the state?

    In life you win some and you lose some. It also goes to show that in Lagos State and in APC, election is never do-or-die affair like it happens in PDP controlled states. It was an unfortunate incident that will never repeat itself because the outcomes of the election in those places where we lost didn’t reflect our popularity in every nook and cranny of Lagos State. APC is too formidable a party to lose election in Lagos State even across Southwest with our able leader in the person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

     

    There is fear in some quarters that due to the current bad economic situation, APC may lose election in the future?

    Personally I don’t share such view or fear. We all know this is a mono economy highly dependent on inflows from the sale of crude oil within a global economy in decline. Oil prices have fallen to their lowest level since 2003, at a time sinking below $28 a barrel. And this was because of a slowdown in economic growth in China and Europe among others. The effects of falling prices are being felt by economies around the world, particularly oil producing nations that rely on exports. There is crisis from Azerbaijan to Venezuela. Recently in Azerbaijan there was protest across the nation. The federal government is doing its best by diversifying, but the result will not be immediate.

     

    What is your view about godfatherism and imposition in party politics?

    Each time I listen to people’s opinion on the issue of imposition and godfatherism, I often laugh because it is quite a complex topic. It is not a straightforward issue as people tend to suggest in most of their discussions. Most times, they condemned it in its entirety, and failed to appreciate it, particularly when they are not the godsons or goddaughters. But the fact still remains that godfatherism has its origin in monolithic religion. It also depends on how you perceived godfathers because to me you can both be loyal to the people, that is the state, and your godfather, since what a reasonable godfather wants is the common good. Even where we patterned our democracy, after, the United States, there is godfatherism. As a student of history, I read that JF Kennedy as American president appointed his younger brother, a fresh law graduate, Robert Kennedy, the Attorney General of the United States. So what would you call that?

     

    Why did you venture into partisan politics and why do want to become the chairman of Agege Local Government?

    Politics is in my DNA. I joined partisan politics way back in secondary school and have been in the progressive party. I was the Assistant financial secretary of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP, in ‘Ward B1’ Gbogunleri/Isale zone, member of defunct UNCP, AD, ACN and currently APC, party secretary, Agege Local Government. My late elder brother, Sharafadeen Egunjobi of blessed memory, was once a councilor in Agege. Am of the conviction that I have all it takes to make Agege a better place, a commercial and social hub.

     

    You look stylish, what informed this?

    To me looking good is an everyday business. I don’t joke with the way I look. Appearance is the basis people formed their first impression of someone and I want them to have a great first impression of me. I believe that you can judge a book by its cover. While I was in secondary school, I and my late elder brother had a fashion school by the name, La frique Home of Embroidery.

  • Group donates gifts to Agege residents

    Officials of Annmom Foundation for Mothers’ Welfare (AFMW) have donated food items to residents of Agege in Lagos.

    Director of Media Publicity & Strategy Sunday Onyewonsa said the gesture became necessary because of the need to be one’s “brother’s keeper”.

    “The Yuletide is a period when men of goodwill show love to fellow men, especially the less privilege.

    “One of the cardinal objectives of the group is to care for poor mothers and children across the globe.

    “We chose Agege because of the poor. Earlier before Christmas, we were at Idi-Araba in Mushin to share food items, clothing, shoes and umbrellas to residents.

    “We intend taking our campaign to West Africa during the year. We are also working to help IDPs in the Northeast to complement the Federal Government’s efforts,” he said.

  • Agege stands still for ECWA at 40

    The ever-bustling Agege suburb of the Lagos metropolis stood still in awe as the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Agege recently rolled out the drums in glorious celebration of its 40th anniversary.
    The week-long event came into a crescendo on penultimate Saturday with a carnival-like launching of a N25 million development/investment fund.
    Dignitaries at the event were the legendary Evang. Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi (a.k.a. Ebenezer Obey) who single-handedly built and donated the church’s first auditorium on October 8, 1975 and gospel singer Tope Alabi.
    Alabi roared the whole church into frenzy with her evergreen numbers of infectious appeal.
    The Church Minister, Pastor Moses Ayando, listed ten other churches that had been “planted” by the church in its environs and assured that more will still come up under its expansion programme.
    They are ECWA Churches in Ipaja, Gowon Estate, Agbelekale, Alakuko, Sango, Ifo, Lafenwa, Akinde Youth Centre, Maidan and Iju.
    Very soon, he said, another one will be opened in Iyana Iyesi, Ota where, according to him, a member had already donated two plots of land for its building.
    In addition to planting of new churches, Pastor Ayando said that ECWA Agege operates a “small clinic” where routine blood pressure and sugar level checks are done free while it single-handedly runs the 30-minute Radio ELWA weekly programme on Bond FM Radio, Lagos every Saturday 8.00 pm.
    The chairman of the anniversary planning committee, Engr. S. B. Balogun, said that the celebrations provided an opportunity for the church to renew its spiritual vision and honour some of its founding ministers and members with awards.
    The awardees included Evangelist Obey who bagged the “visionary award”; the church’s first choir master, Evang. Emmanuel Oladotun; the first wedded couple in the church, Mr.& Mrs. Segun Adesanya and Rev. and Mrs. F.O. Oke for the church planting award.
    The Merit Award went to Pastor Ayando.
    Some of the founding members who also received awards were Elder D.M. Osajare, Pa and Mrs. A.O. Kodaolu, Mrs. M.A.Akinremi and Elder and Mrs. Shina Akinremi.
    Obey recalled his first encounter with ECWA Church at Challenge, Mushin where, he said, he was attracted by melodious gospel songs “while I was hiding from my Papa Ajao landlord over unpaid house rents”.
    He congratulated the Church for its achievements and urged its leadership and members to remain dedicated to serious evangelism which, he noted, was the bedrock of ECWA and Christianity.

  • REVEALED: Cause of fire at Ile-epo oja

    REVEALED: Cause of fire at Ile-epo oja

    The cause of the fire outbreak at Ile-epo oja, Abule Egba are of Lagos state that consumed many shops over the weekend has been discovered.
    The inferno which reportedly started at about 9pm was blamed on careless handling of generators.
    It was gathered that one of the shop owners put off the generator and carried it inside without allowing the heat to reduce and then kept a carton on it before leaving for home.
    Reports further claimed that the carton containing seasonings melted due to the hotness of the generator resulting in the fire that razed no fewer than four shops.
    Eyewitnesses reported that one of the miscreants (area boys) hanging around saw the fire and informed another shop owner, Segun who sells cassette at the other section of the building.
    Segun was said have notified the Agege fire station immediately who came but were unable to immediately put the fire under control.
    Thus, the Agege fire station contacted Alausa fire service station who eventually came to help.
    Owner of one of the affected shops, who sells cooking utensils and household items, was said to have brought in new goods on Friday before the fire incident of Saturday. Her shop was completely razed by the inferno.
    An old man whose shop was also razed said: “This is my only means of livelihood. I also send my two children to school from what I make here.”
    He also sells household wares and cooking utensils.
    It was discovered that many Northerners who trade nearby rushed to offer help as the fire stated. They broke into some shops as part of efforts to savage a few of the goods as they could.
    When The Nation arrived the scene, some men were seen tiding up the shops.
  • Underage boys terrorise Agege community

    Underage boys terrorise Agege community

    Imagine young boys and girls between ages of 10 and 14 waylaying you on the road and commanding  you to submit all your belongings!

    It can’t be true! Yes, it is and for real. A visit to Agege Local Government Area of Lagos will not only convince you but leave your mouth wide open.

    Life in Agege community has not been the same for some months now, courtesy of the nefarious activities of the underage boys and girls.

    The boys and girls have formed themselves into groups snatching money, handsets, harassing people, attacking motor bikes, vehicles, even the passersby at secluded places.

    Addressing a stakeholders’ forum on security yesterday at the council secretariat, the council chairman, Hon Jubreel AbdulKareem, lamented the increasing rate at which the underage terrorise the community.

    The event had in attendance religious leaders, marketers, Neighbourhood Watchers, Policemen, members of Community Development Committees (CDC), youth organisations, among others.

    “Some of these boys and girls, AbdulKareem said, are not up to age of maturity when you look at them but what they are doing is more than what a matured person can do. They are under 18; 15 years, 16 years even 14 including those that are still in primary schools. So, when they are being apprehended, you wonder what the police are doing with these young children and whereas, what they are doing is beyond their level.”

    He gave the names of the groups they belong to and their signs as Federal boys – drawing tattoo guns on their bodies; Omi Oju boys with three marks on their faces, Awawa boys and girls with tattoo on their ankles and State boys  tattoo gun on their back.

    He urged parents to always monitor their children’s whereabouts and the friends they keep.

    AbdulKareem said: “Whoever has these signs should desist from it; we should warn our children before they are caught by the security. We cannot afford to allow these boys and girls make our community unlivable.

    “We have made some arrests but the security people look at them as underage, they release but they continued to wreak havoc on the community hiding under the pretence of being underaged.”

    Olu of Agege, Oba Kamilu Isiba called on the populace to be security conscious.

    Oba Isiba said everyone must assume a role of security officer by reporting people with suspicious characters or movement to the appropriate quarters.

    Divisional Police Officer, Isokoko Police Division Oliver Amaechi warned whoever is involved in criminal activities to desist because the law must take its course when caught.

    Amaechi enjoined people to always come up with good evidence when reporting people.

  • Group, police sensitize community on safety, security

    Group, police sensitize community on safety, security

    A non-governmental Organization, Justice for All (J4A), lastweek took its campaign on safety and security to Agege community in Lagos State.

    The event, fourth of its kind tagged Agege Safety Community Initiative (ACSI), is organized yearly to avail stakeholders the opportunity to interface on the improvement on the security and safety of the community.

    Government officials, security operatives, traditional leaders, civil society organization and residents were in attendance at the event to seek a common ground in proffering lasting solutions to the challenges plaguing the community.

    Speaking on the need for the community to work hand in gloves with the police, the Division Police Officer (DPO) of Isokoko, Amaechi Oliver urged the residents to support the police.

    “We urge you to help us perform better in our duties in ensuring safety of lives and properties. The people always have the fear to report suspects to the police thinking their identity would be disclosed and the accused may come back to haunt them.”

    The DPO assured the confidentiality of informants saying the police need the people to succeed in the quest to stemming the rate of criminal in the locale. “Police would not disclose your identity for helping us perform better”, he said.

    On a lighter mood, the Officer said: “You are supposed to respect the police more than the clergy. Police are more important than the clergy because they would be in charge to usher-in qualified humans into the heaven.

    He allayed the fear of the residents over the impression they have of the police, that they should “see the police as individuals who have signed up to protect them.”

    The five-year pilot programme supported by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DfID) kicked off in 2010 has yielded positive results according to the Programme Coordinator of j4all, Ms Ajibola Ijimakinwa.

    “This is the fourth edition of this event, we held the first meeting at the Agege Local Government; then the second one was held at the Oba Ologba Palace. The third meeting was held at Ayobo Motor Park and what we have realized is that people have been coming out to talk about issue within their environments”, she said.

    She also stated further that: “These are the issues we took back to the partnership and the various stakeholders that are involved to address. We have been able to talk about gender and domestic violence in the community and the reports that we got from the police station on the issues that involved violence rape increased within that month.

    “This showed there was a lot of impact of the sensitization we did on the people especially the women and children in reporting cases of gender based violence”

    Speaking on the challenges being faced three years down the line, she identified drug abuse related task as the main crux of the initiative.

    “It’s not been easy for one of the working groups dealing with drug related issues as the stakeholders have not been able to take drastic steps to tackle the menace. We have not really been able to get that buy-in to arrest the situation”, she revealed.

    Blessing Abere is one of the local consultants working with J4All in Agege LGA; she described the experience as far as eye opening. “The experience has been eye-opening in the sense that you find out that what you think are community problems and priorities are really not. It is when you get to go in deep, interact with them that you begin to know what their real concerns are.

    “For instance, before the partnership was able to narrow down the areas to work with, we did a survey within the specified areas to find out what the community issues were. We were able to find out through the survey that issues like gender based violence; defilement of young children; domestic violence; youth involvement in crime and lastly the issues of drug abuse were on the increase.

    “Drugs abuse is a very peculiar issue because drugs are sold there. It is however tougher for us to crack down the perpetrators because most of the people who transact business there do not reside in the area. They come during the day, transact their business and go. So also, most of the end udders don’t reside here, so it’s like a clearing house. As a result, it’s been difficult to pinpoint people we can reach out to”, she concluded.

    A member of the youth working group, Owodina Yakub also spoke on the activities of the initiative in Agege. “We try as much as we can as youths to solve the problems of our mates.”

    As regards unemployment which is the main source of criminal acts, Owoduni said: “We have been able to change the orientation of our youth from running after white collar jobs that are not available through acquisition of skills. They have realized that they cannot really get the job they are looking for because of the level of unemployment and very limited available space. They have decided to acquire skills through which they can get their means of livelihood.”

    He however identified source for fund to start up business through skills they have acquired as a major challenge. “After learning the vocation, they face the problem of how to source for funds to get themselves established.”

    The event is expected to go a long way in making Agege community violence-free as all hands are on deck to that effect.

  • Subsidy protest: How the dismissed DPO shot Daramola – Witnesses

    Subsidy protest: How the dismissed DPO shot Daramola – Witnesses

    A Lagos High Court, Ikeja, has been told that the dismissed Divisional Police Officer, Pen Cinema Police Station, Agege, Segun Fabunmi , shot at Adedamola Daramola and some fuel subsidy protesters on January 9, 2012 at Yaya Abatan in Ogba.

    At the resumed trial of the DPO on Tuesday, two prosecution witnesses, Adekunle Alabi and Alimi Abubakar accused Fabunmi of allegedly shooting at some fuel subsidy protesters.

    The witnesses made the allegation while testifying before the court presided by Justice Olabisi Akinlade.

    Led in evidence by Mrs. Olabisi Ogungbesan, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Lagos State, Abubakar told the court how the incident happened.

    The witness recalled that himself and some other persons were reading newspapers at Yaya Abatan Junction, Agege, when the policemen arrived in two patrol vehicles.

    Abubakar said that when the team which was led by the defendant arrived at about 8am, one of the officers started shooting in the air and towards the ground to scare people away.

    He said that Fabunmi, seeing this, moved to the officer and snatched the gun from him.

    The witness alleged that the defendant started shooting at the people, including the deceased at the junction.

    He said: “I can’t tell how many times he fired but I was hit by a bullet on my leg.

    “Daramola was standing by my side and the bullet also injured him. He ran towards Abeokuta Street while I ran into a nearby mosque.”

    Abubakar also claimed that from his hiding place in the mosque, he saw Fabunmi chasing Daramola and some other persons towards Abeokuta Street.

    The witness, however, admitted that he did not see the DPO shooting Daramola because he was in hiding.

  • ICT centres for pry schools

    Aphilanthropist, Engr Bolaji Ajimotokan, has donated Information Technology Centres (ICT) to two primary schools in the Agege suburb of Lagos. They are Olusanya Primary School and Irepodun Primary School Agege.

    Some days later, he led a team of youths to a neighbourhood football competition where winners went home with mouth-watering prizes.

    He established a foundation in September 2012,Ajimotokan Foundation, that has since been engaged in community projects. He promised to improve the living standard of Agege residents with programmes for youths where they will be taught skills in photography; videography; soap making and film editing.

    Besides,he plans to conduct free breast and cervical cancer screening for women in his local government area this year.

    Ajimotokan, who said he will be contending for a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly in the next Lagos State elections, said his actions were borne out of the situation he met in Agege in 2010 when he came back to the country.

    “I am an Agege son. I was born and brought up in the area and know what life is here. That is why the youth of this axis are my greatest assets and I will do all I can to uplift them and make them believe they can have a better life by assisting them in applying for visa lotteries, like I have been doing in the past. That is why I they need a representative in the House of Assembly”, he said.

    Other past programmes he carried out include: distribution of educational materials to primary school pupils, hosting a children’s party during the yuletide season; having a jumbo market where more than 500 cripples, less privileged and blind in the suburb were given rice and other food stuff as well as a financial empowerment and poverty alleviation largesse to some residents of Agege.