I’m committed to helping the poor-Dipo Okeyomi, Lagos APC chairmanship aspirant

Hon. Dipo Okeyomi is one of the aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the chairmanship position of Ojokoro local council

development area in Lagos State.  In this interview, he speaks on his chances in the coming election and need to eschew violence, among other issues. 

Excerpts: 

You are an aspirant for the post of the chairman of Ojokoro local government development area in the coming election in Lagos State.  What makes you think you are qualified and what are the chances that you can emerge as the winner? 

Let me say that the popularity I enjoy among the people of my area gives me hope.  I am very popular and well loved by all and sundry in Ojokoro local government development area.  The market women, students and residents generally have expressed their support for me.  The popularity is such that an oba in the local government has given me his support.  If a kabiyesi can stand by me, and the people have openly expressed support for me, what more do I need?  What other qualifications do I want.  I must say the support is based on my antecedent in the area.  For example, over the years, I have been giving scholarships to students for education within and outside the country.  I’d sponsored some to Dubai, South Africa and the United States of America.  Apart from this, I give financial support to the widows in the area.  I have been doing some other things and they are quite numerous that I cannot mention all.  I think, to confirm my popularity, just go around and speak with people and you will have an idea of what I am talking about.  The popularity cuts across the socio-political, ethnic, economic and religious strata of the society. 

You have obviously spent a lot of money helping all and sundry going by your account.  But the average man on the street believe that on getting to the office, your immediate task would be to recover all you have spent from the treasury.  What is your reaction to this?

Well, God has done a lot for me.  I come from a very humble background, and mine is the story of one who has risen from grace to grace.  In those days of humble beginning, what I told God was that if He could make me rich, I would thank Him endlessly; give and give and give to the needy, the less-privileged in the society, without seeking for a return.  I even made a vow to God that anytime I cease to give to the needy, God should take the wealth from me.  So, all that I do is not for any other thing, but God.  What I make in business, I can’t get in a political office.  How much does a local government have that one would want to take in view of the pressing issues of changing the lives of the people for the better.  Except for someone who wants to steal and I am not ready to steal.  I won’t do anything to tarnish my name or that of my father.  When I was leaving home, my father warned me against that and it has continued to be my guiding principle.  So, I am going there to serve and not steal.  Whatever help I give out, I do that for God and for humanity.  I am going to the office to use my connection within and outside the country to build Ojokoro and develop its economy. 

How would your activities in office positively affect the lives of the common people of Ojokoro?

One of my missions is to encourage and attract investments into the local government development area.  And, who else will benefit from the setting up of companies in this local government if not the common people? Those are the people who will work in the companies.  Through that and a few other things we plan, I will create job opportunities for our people and the economy will improve beyond what we currently have on ground. 

You are a security expert, having owned a security outfit.  What is your view about the state of insecurity and the clamour for state police or community policing in some quarters?

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been in the forefront of the campaign for state police since he was the governor of Lagos State, and I am in support of that because it makes the monitoring of the society easy.  With state police, those who are very conversant with the environment are those monitoring and ensuring the security of lives and property.  For example, militants or other criminals invading our areas in recent times would not have been able to do that if we have had had state police.  These invasions have been possible because the DPOs of some of these areas are either brought from one distant area or the other.  So, they don’t even know the terrain very well not to talk about knowing the people of the area.  I have a security company in Texas.  The mayor is in charge.  All the security companies are given free hand to operate.  They don’t allow people from other areas to come there to carry out the security activities of the area.  So, does it happen in other areas too.  If we allow state police to begin, then, most of our security problems will be solved.  We need to make use of the Community Development Associations and the Community Development Councils in this area too.  They are very crucial to the security of our immediate society.  

The issue of funding and fund mismanagement have always been on the lips of everyone when we talk about local government administration.  How do you plan to source fund and prevent corruption which is believed to be high at the local government level?

Corruption is epidemic in general.  It has affected almost everyone in Nigeria.  Except we are disciplined, nothing will change.  Thank God we have a president who is fighting corruption.  If we also imbibe that spirit, I think we will all be the better for it.  I have said it times without number that I am not going to office to steal because God has blessed me well enough.  I won’t tell you how I will tackle the problem when I get to the office, but I can assure you that I will stop corruption in my local government. 

Violence has become a common phenomenon during elections.  How well can this be eschewed, especially among youths who are used by top politicians?

Youths should not allow themselves to be used by politicians.  Politicians will take their children abroad and give guns and cutlasses to fight on their behalf.  That is wrong.  Anyone who allows himself to be used for thuggery does so at his own peril.  Such people, when are killed or maimed are the ultimate losers.  They lose out generally; they are not given any benefit, their families are also usually on their own.  That is why I always advise youths to eschew violence.  It does no good to anyone.  For example, after having been armed, those used to perpetrate violence will not return guns and other weapons to their masters.  Rather, after the election, they use the weapons to rob; they use the weapons to kidnap and carry out other crimes.  Some sense of maturity and civility will make life better for all, so we should embrace peace and vote without any violence.  Security agents should also rise up and face the challenges.  The government should equip them well, pay the security men well and take care of their welfare with all seriousness.  

What advice do you have for the people of your local government on the coming election?

I want to congratulate my people in Ojokoro that by the grace of God, the coming government in the local government will be their own.  I am not a saviour, but God is.  He has sent me to the people of the area to liberate them from poverty and by the grace of God, we shall get to the Promised Land together.  They should collect their voter’s card and be ready to fight the war which shall be fought with the legal use of our voter’s cards. 

Source: http://www.sharpedgenews.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=7584:i-m-committed-to-helping-the-poor-dipo-okeyomi-lagos-apc-chairmanship-aspirant&Itemid=686