Unlike Ward 'A', Ward 'G' Not A Poverty Camp, Ejigbadero Tells Jelili

For quite a time now, the politics in Alimosho has been one that has called for attention from both far and near, as residents have been arousing for power decentralization, quality representation, fair treatment of party faithful, and freedom of association among party members.

 

For close to 3 decades, the leadership structure in Alimosho has been one-sided and unfair. The poor leadership structure which has been painfully endured for years has recently become a serious bone of contention between the electorate and their leaders. According to Alimosho residents, their electoral power has been seized by some voracious leaders who have skillfully replaced those rights with poverty to retain their loyalty. Party members are basking in abject poverty while their leaders have been buying properties and cars, living in affluence and extravagance.

During a chit-chat with Alhaji Abiodun Ejigbadero, one of the Conveners of Alimosho Liberation Movement,

the group fronting the agitation for good governance and leadership in Alimosho, he clarified some issues going around town.

 

Clear Views: As the convener of this movement, what are you truly fighting for?

Ejigbadero: We are asking for good governance, accountability, quality representation, and absolute freedom of association for party members. We want to have a system where it is okay to recognize members as APC members and not one where members would be asked who they follow and to which faction they belong. What operates in Alimosho is that there are coalitions and you would be rigorously scrutinized before gaining attention from some people with whom we claim to be in the same political party. Why should it matter that I was seen with HE, Adejoke Orelope or that I was seen visiting Rt. Hon. Obasa or other notable party leaders? If you do it here, you are immediately indexed as a betrayer. We need that trash to end. We cannot continue to be suspicious of the opposition party and still do the same with card-carrying members of the same APC.

Clear Views: We heard that you are agitating because you want to become the next Council Chairman. How true is this?

Ejigbadero: I have also heard that rumor, but I intentionally ignored it, as responding to such issues will only dignify both the architect and his worthless opinion. For the records, from the Councillorship to the Senatorial seats, which are the least and the highest as far as the Constituency is concerned, including all other political seats in between, I am, currently not aspiring for any neither have I pledged any form of support to anyone. This is strictly, an agitation for decentralization of power and I do not see how it looks like a campaign to anyone. There are people with ambitions but those yearnings are towards the 2023 elections, and I do not see any sense in starting a fight over 2023 ambition from now - we are still in 2020. What is the assurance that we would all be alive by then? We are fighting for the present ills and unless they are addressed, 2023 may just be a joke.

Clear Views: Sir, we heard that your ward has been sidelined by the current Council executives .

Ejigbadero: The Chairman began his dirty politics by boycotting the Ward G Chairman, Ayodele Orodele from all party activities, leaving him in total darkness.

It was not only funny but highly disappointing that a Council Chairman could deny party executives of their rights, simply because they come from my ward. Jelili should remember that whether I support him or not, I am still a bonafide member of the APC. So, he does not have any cause or right to treat my followers or ward members like refugees or the opposition. We all have equal rights and value, as far as the party is concerned. To say the least, Hon. Jelili has openly exhibited a very poor sense and attitude of bad party man. It is, no doubt, a sign of bad leadership. Sidelining the ward excos in political activities and recognitions is tantamount to sidelining the entire ward.

Clear Views: Is it true that your ward executives were denied their monthly salary?

Ejigbadero: Did you just call that peanut, salary? It may astound you that the so-called Chairman pays his executives of the wards. ₦2,500 monthly which he still owes the executives for several months. Imagine such barbarity – you are paying a family man N2,500 and you still have the guts to owe him. ₦2,500 is way below what Jelili’s kids spend in school on snacks weekly. He never negotiates and never fails in providing them, yet he could delay paying that meager amount to family men and housewives. Jelili lacks conscience and empathy for fellow humans. It is evident that Jelili had no plans of paying the excos in Alimosho their monthly due of ₦2,500 but reluctantly did, perhaps, so he could win them back, as he is fully aware that he has failed in his leadership.

Clear Views: As a party leader, what are the plans in resolving this to ensure the party executives do not suffer from the effect of the ongoing protest?

Ejigbadero: Unfortunately, they are already suffering from it because of the weak minds at the helms of affairs. Like I said earlier, Ward G had been boycotted and thrown in the dark concerning party affairs. Before now, the Council Chairman used to send the executives’ salaries to them through the ward Chairman, but recently, he sent it to another leader in the ward, where the leader was instructed to give only to those still supporting Jelili. When a party executive goes for his or her salary of ₦2,500, he or she would be asked whether he or she is for Jelili or Ejigbadero. He would be paid only if he is for Jelili and if the other way round, he would not be paid.

What I do not understand is, does Jelili think he is doing them a favor by paying them ₦2,500 monthly? Or perhaps, he has forgotten he is not giving them from his purse. Well, it is not his funds. He needs to be reminded that he is living on public funds and that he would account for every penny he spends when the time comes. He pays them ₦2,500 and he is feeling like a god who has done something that nobody has ever done. He knows and I would like to remind him again that I can take up paying my ward excos twice the peanut he is paying them. He also knows that ward G is the backbone of his administration, both in terms of funding and electoral strength. The Chairman is from Ward A, one of the most wretched wards in the Local Government. I am from Ward G and he knows that the margin is wide and clear. We do not nurse deprivation in Ward G. We build people.

Clear Views: What is the current state of the struggle?

Ejigbadero: This cause is not a competition where we share views and opinions with them. It is an agitation and our primary demand is simple. The so-called Apex Leader should stick to his district, Egbe-Idimu, and allow leaders from the other five districts to manage the affairs of their respective Councils. The current state remains that we are still on our stand as they have not been able to show us the constitutionality of that role. And since it is unconstitutional, we would like to do that which is constitutional.

Clear Views: What advice do you have for your followers?

Ejigbadero: If anybody needs to be educated, I would say it is the Chairman and his supporters. Our supporters have gone through the hell prepared by and they are back. They have nothing to fear again. As for Jelili, he needs to be reminded that he is coming back to live among the same people he treats badly today, unless if like his Boss, who is planning to abscond from Alimosho when things go wrong, Jelili has no hiding place because unlike his Boss, he is a constitutionally recognized office holder and will be traced whenever his attention is required. And whether he likes it or not, he would be summoned for accountability. He should learn from the ongoing that his Boss would abandon when the real investigation commences. He was invited to the House and instructed to come along with his Boss but for fear of his sins, the Boss refused to honour the invitation. Jelili also needs to be reminded that campaign for reelection will soon begin and he would have to come and face members of the ward he is sidelining today. Jelili should desist from his evil attempt to divide Ward G because of₦2,500. If he finds it difficult to pay all Ward G excos, he should write a letter to us, notifying us that he would no longer be able to pay their salaries and I will take it upon myself to pay them.

Finally, I want to advise his followers to support him with sense because they are only being remembered now that he needs their support and would, once again, be forgotten the moment he is relieved.

Alimosho Liberation Movement

Sòrò Sókè.