DamilolaOyetti is a
chairmanship aspirant in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area on the platform of
All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with selected Journalists. He
opens up on various issues including the real reason he wants to be the next
chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area.
Sir, can we meet you
officially?
My name is
DamilolaOyetti. I am a professional in the ICT Industry with over 15 years of
professional work experience. I specialize in IT Support, Computer Repairs,
Network Engineering, Application and Software Development. Sometimes ago around
year 2000 /2001 I was part of a team of programmers that was deployed to create
a Database Solution for Ministry of Education to manage and keep records of
their employees and while doing soi was able to detect ghost workers from the
ministry. I have also been able to provide IT Support to several companies here
in Lagos on Software and Hardware related issues affecting employees of these
organization to perform their duties and responsibility effectively and
conveniently and these has made my clients repeat
customers over the years.
Why do you want to
join politics?
Yes, I join
politicsdue to the situation in the country today. As we all know that many
people hardly have access to basic amenities, lack of jobs has become order of
the day. Masses become hopeless while it seems like there is no future for our
children. So I cannot affordto continuecomplaining about Nigerian government
when I amnot participating in politics. Some of us decided to leave our comfort
zones in orderto use our expertise and technical know-how to make a difference.
If you are opportune
to become the chairmanof your local government today, what are those things you
think are wrong that you want to put right?
The way things are
done by most of our leaders, you will agree with me that alot needs to be corrected.
In this present time; leaders aresuppose to know their followers, but in
Nigeria I don’t think any leader know the people they govern. So as an IT
expert I will introduce a platform were we will collate the data of people
living within the local government area of IfakoIjaiye for instance i like to
know the number of Vulcanizers, Shoe cobblers or Mechanicsetc
withinIfako-Ijaiye LG.There will be constant programs for the youths to keep
them busy because they say an idle mind is the devils workshop. If the youths
in the society are abandoned, they will get involved in all manners of criminal
activities and this will become a security threat in our society.
How is your
relationship with the people of Ifako- Ijaiye?
I have a cordial
relationship with the good people of IfakoIjaiye. They know me and I know them well. We
interact every day by day so they see me as an exceptional among all other
contestants. Being close to them, makes me feel their pain and worries so this
has made me know what they want. Most of them feel insecure and uncomfortable
with the way things are done in the Country.The people wants an alternative. If
am being giving the opportunity and be elected into the Government, I will work
hard to fulfil my promises and also meet peoplesneeds.
How is your political
strength at the grassroots?
I am a grassroots politician.
I belong to the grassroots. Anything that is affecting me right now is
affecting the grassroots also.
Most of Nigerian
politicians today believe so much in antecedent, what can you say to this?
Well, sometimes in
2003 I contested for Lagos State House of Assembly at age of 26 on the platform
of Nigeria Advance Party (NAP). I was the youngest aspirant in Lagos State as
at that time. Although I didn’t win the election may be I was not fully
preparedor in the wrong party then. Aftermath I decided to stay away from
active politics to face my business till recently I decided to come back again.
But all these while I stay close to my people at the grassroots and interact
with them constantly to know what their problems are.
Every political
aspirant needs a godfather.do you have any?
Well in Nigeria
politics that is the way it is. You see situations where candidate are been
imposed against the wish of the people. That is one of the things I wishto
bring into Nigeria politics. When you allow godfather in your political system
you will agree with me that wrong people will continue to occupy the seat of
power and we will not have a strong political institution. I am
contesting because I have the support of my people thatdesire to havequality
leadership to represent them which I believe I possess.
Who Isyour role model
in politics?
Nelson Mandela. He
fought forwhat he believed in and when he eventually got it, he was so
passionate in liberating his people from leadership bondage. In Nigeria of
today hence, our leaders got what they wanted they forget about the people and
start to enrich themselves.
Since you don’t have
any godfather, what is your financial strength to achieve your ambition and the
chance of getting the party ticket?
In my own case is not
a do or die affair but I want to let people know that I can do it better if given
a chance. The point is mystrength lays on the youths. If I have the backing of
youths in my Local Government then I fear no one that has godfather. We all
know that as far as Nigeria politics is concerned money plays major role there
is no doubt about that. Well, I don’t have money like those Nigeria politicians
to buy votes but am sure Ican deliver.
Nigerian politicians
are known for promises they cannot fulfill how do you intend to avoid this
mistake when voted in?
Nigeria problem is a
very simple one that can easily be solved. My Government is not just for
friends and family rather is for people capable to do the job for the sake of
the masses. There are many youths out there that have the ability to solve
problems but are not giving a chance to show off what they are capable of. Why
our country continue to have same problem is that, proper structure is not
built. Today, the people are still crying for basic amenities in their
communities there is no infrastructure on ground. Since I was born 40 years ago
I don’t think that we have constant electricity in this country. As a nation we
cannot continue this way and believe that things willgetbetter.
What is that new thing
do you intend to bring into governance of Ifako- Ijaiye if elected?
I will ensure that I
bridge the gap between government and the great people of Ifako-Ijaiye. Don’t
forget that I am IT expert and I have been into the profession for over 15
years. Since then, I have work for many corporate organizations, government
agencies solving their problems. I will ensure that the people of Ifako
–Ijaiye; interact with me on daily basis. My people don’t need to come to my
office before they drop they complains, suggestions and
observations. My government is going to create a portal where all
issues will beaddressed and attended to accordingly. If you want to be part of
my government, you just login to council portal.It Is not necessary we must
know you in person before you can be able to have access to our financial
empowerment to kick off your business. There is no way you can defraud the
system and if you try it you will get arrested. So by the time you create this
kind of innovative idea for people most especially the youths, definitely they
will change for better.
How do you intend to
address the issue of poverty in your local government area?
Poverty alleviation
will be the most priority in my government.When people are hungry they will not
listen to you. It only when people are satisfied before they can think
normal.We are going to encourage every family in this council to allow their
children between the age of 18- 35 to acquire a skill so that the government
will empower them. By putting those policies in proper shape; in return the
government will also make more money from those beneficiaries because they
still pay their tax. Some council chairmen will be telling you that there is no
money in the council to initiate project, and I ask whatyou have done to
generate money to the council. Most of them only wait for oil money to come and
share. By the time the money comes and they havecollected it, they will go and
sleep waiting for the next one. With that style of governance you cannot
achieve anything ratherthan running a failed government.
How do you intend to
increase the Internal Generated Revenue of the Council without multiple
taxation?
That will be done in
so many ways. All through my life I have been an entrepreneur, I have never
been a salary earner. First thing I will do is to collate data of
all residences of Ifako-Ijaiye to known actual number of people that live here.
Likewise, we will know numbers of shops that operate within the council. This
era of I.T it is very difficult to impose people with multiple taxes. There
must be a proper documentation and record to make this possible. If you are
doing business within Ifako- Ijaiye territory you need to get your business,
home and property registered and it is only those that we have their records in
our propose Database that will benefit from the activities of my government.
As a politician, what
is your philosophy of life?
Liberate the people.
If people are living comfortably, you as their leader is secured. You can move
freely on the street without watching your back.
What are your plans to
creating more jobs for the people of Ifako?
We all know that oil
is drastically going down and this government in its wisdomis trying to
diversify the economy, which is the best way to revive our economy. So my
government is going to key in to that laudable idea of the federal government
at least touching all areas of our economy. We are going to
encourage those who are interested in agriculture, skill acquisition and
empowerment to train our indigenes in difference field such as tailoring,
hairdressing, I.T construction etc. I believe we can do a lot of things that
can create multiple jobs to my people which will definitely eradicate poverty
from the area.
Sir,what is that your
most difficult moment, that you will never want anybody to experience?
In my own case is
different because I think fast and very quick in arriving at my decisions.
Throughout my life I can call it a smooth journey and also rough journey.
Sometimes ago while I was atOAU I took a decision to go and acquire a skill.
Before then I was so popular moving with different friends, it came to a point
I discovered that I needed to do something new. So I took a decision to acquire
a skill in I.T, I told my father of what I intended to do; at first, he was so
mad at my decision but I try to convince him to know the benefits of my
decision. Both of us went to NIIT Education and Learning Centre to see what was
obtainable. On gettingthere; he fell in love with the program and he paid my tuition
fees to start. I was so serious with it to ensure that I know every secret in
that field. I was the firstperson that discovered ghost workers in Ministry
of Education in 2000(A Project sub contracted to NIIT which I was part of the
team that went to deploy the solution). With the exposure of that time, it
encouraged me to do more then I told myself that with this I can be able to
solve many problems confronting our society. So I have been a contributor or
product to every community I find myself. I encourage every youth to at least
have a skill, it is very important. Is not necessary in I.T but whatever you
have passion for. I value those that have skill than a graduate on the street because
they are solutions provider but graduate add to problems with too many theory
no action. It is time for us to start thinking outside the box to make life
meaningful to the people.
What do you have to
say about the President Buhari led government?
I know that recession
is in the country but I personally never feel it the way other people are
feeling it because I make myself so relevant in the society. I cannot because
of my status in the society deprive myself of doing what I can do to feed my
family. I don’t see anything wrong with government of PresidentBuhari. When he contested in 2003 I
supported for him because I see him as a very discipline person. Buhari is not
a type that will negotiate with people for something he believe in.
Are you satisfied with
his anti-corruption crusade?
The
anti-corruptionprogramme of this government is fantastic and lovely. The way it
is being operate is neither witch hunting anybody nor convicting people without
acting according to the law. We must show a kind of seriousness in some things
we do in our government. Looking at what is happening in the senate where they
are insisting that the custom boss must appear before them in uniform that
shows the kind of unserious mind that gathered themselves in the senate. Your
dressing alone will determine if you can do the job. My tenure
in the council I will also address that issue. How can one come to
work withAgbada? That shows that you are not ready for the job. If
you want to wear your Agbada, you can do that during your party or your private
activity.
What did you learn
from your father?
My father is a
disciplinarian, hardworking and an entrepreneur. I grew up under his watch, so
I learned every bit of my lifestyle from him; not that I am rich but I can say
I am contented with what I have now.
What is your advice to
the people of Ifako-Ijaiye and what should they expect from you if elected?
They should go for
genuine leader. Don’t allow them to deceive you with their Greek gift; you
should be aware that after they got what they are looking for you will not have
access to them again. Thank God people are aware that most of our leaders visit
them every four years when they are looking for support. My advice to the
people of Ifako-Ijaiye is that they should be calm,Damilola is coming and they
will never regret supporting me.
Well said my Hon.
ReplyDelete