5th November, 2010
Executive Chairman, Coker/Aguda Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Hon. Aliu Kazeem says Nigeria cannot afford another four years of rudderless administration of the PDP and they must be voted out. He speaks with P.M.NEWS on other salient issues.
How would you describe the state of the nation?
I believe we are not in the best of times in Nigeria at the moment, or what can one say of a country where bombs are exploding everywhere and kidnappers are on the loose. There has been utter chaos and lawlessness and the list of anomalies is endless. I still can’t see a ray of hope that will change the status quo and that is why more than ever, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, must be voted out of power in the 2011 general elections. The Nigerian nation can no longer afford another four years of the current leadership, which has failed to apply the country’s resources to improve on the living condition of the people. The political terrain is presently very unstable, and we are faced with so many problems.
What are your priorities presently, and do you think you have justified your mandate?
The present administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has done well, and my priority has been to work in tandem and also emulate what the state government is doing in my council area. The best thing one can do is to support and encourage the good job Fashola is doing and at Coker/Aguda, that is what we have been doing. I have tried to surpass what I did in my first term. We have been able to complement the efforts of the state governor in his quest to quickly bring the dividends of democracy to every home in Lagos and what we have done is to mobilize and complete many of the projects on ground, and so far, we have completed over 50 such projects. They include staff training and infrastructure revolution, provision of drainage system, rehabilitation and construction of schools. We have been able to rehabilitate 17 primary schools and also provided the pupils with school uniform, school bags and other materials and through our school support initiative with the single aim of ensuring our children have access to free and qualitative education. The primary health care centre in the council area has also been renovated and upgraded to meet modern standards. Government is an ongoing business and we shall not shirk our responsibilities.
How do you see the victory of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Ekiti State?
The ACN is a party of progressives and despite the landslide victory recorded during the governorship elections in 2007 by Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Peoples Democratic Party had stolen that mandate through massive rigging, violence and intimidation. It is a big victory for democracy and the Nigerian judiciary, but the biggest victory is for Fayemi who has shown perseverance and resilience and also placed his faith in the judiciary. I congratulate him for the hard-won victory and I also congratulate the people of Ekiti State for their patience. I want to congratulate our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this hard won victory because it was the grace of God and the doggedness and purposeful leadership of Asiwaju that made this victory possible.
Nigeria recently celebrated her 50th Independence anniversary. Is Nigeria worth celebrating?
Definitely yes. Nigeria is a very great and wonderful country, and its citizens are hard-working people. What is not worth celebrating is the government at the centre because so far they have no plans for the citizens. We need good leaders to take over the reins, people who are very much educated, dedicated and who truly love the country and its citizen. Nigeria’s freedom from the colonialists on October 1, 1960 was because our founding father were passionate about the country and fought tirelessly for its independence and I salute their tireless efforts. We have great heroes like Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Alvan Ikoku, Chief Moshood Abiola and Gani Fawehinmi among many others to pick one or two attributes from and actually emulate. It is not too late for us and an opportunity to right all the wrongs has presented itself with the coming 2011 general elections and we must get it right by voting for honest, trustworthy and reliable people. .
What would you say are the gains of democracy in the last ten years and what are you doing to see that the dividends of democracy get to the grassroots?
The gains of democracy in Nigeria differs from one area to another because of the government at the centre. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which touts itself as the largest party in Africa has been controlling the nation as it deems fit. I would say we are yet to feel the gains of democracy because the bulk of the nation’s wealth is being controlled by a few. In Lagos State, the state government has impacted so much on the lives of citizens, and the 57 local governments and local council development areas, have now brought great development to their area. The gains of democracy in Lagos are glaring for all to see. More than any list of achievements, the government in Lagos State, both state and local have been very attentive to the needs and the yearning of the people. We are passionately striving to fulfil and deliver the dividends of democracy through provision of enabling laws, construction, renewal and expansion of infrastructure across diverse sectors. At Coker/Aguda, we have identified with the Lagos State government’s 10-point agenda to bring about economic development, especially at the grassroots. We are committed to doing our best for the people through poverty alleviation and empowerment programmes and seminars and workshops on self sufficiency.
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