In an exclusive interview with Barr. Moyosore Ogunlewe, he explained his plans for the people of his constituency and his reasons for going into politics.
May we meet you?
My name is Moyo Ogunlewe, I started my Primary education in
Chrisland School afterwards I went to Model College Igbogbo for my Secondary
School Certificate (SSCE) and NECO then enrolled for a diploma in Accounting in
University of Lagos. When I finished that, I also did a Business Administration degree in the same university. After that, I did my youth service in Kwara,
Pategi Local Government. I decided to further my education….to develop myself
by attending Buckingham University, Buckingham to study law and after that I
proceed to do my Masters in Law, Maritime Oil & Gas in the same University.
I then went to the Nigerian Law School to complete my Law degree.
What is your relationship with the former Minister of Works, Sen.
Adeseye Ogunlewe?
My relationship with the former Minister of Works (Sen.
Adeseye Ogunlewe) is that he happens to be my dad and somebody I have a lot of
respect for. He is my mentor and somebody I know that believe so much in
democracy. That is what Sen. Ogunlewe is.
Do you think your father’s success in politics might influence your success in politics as well?
Going into politics for me is about service as far as am
concerned and when you talk about if my father’s influence would help me in
politics…..yes why not? He is a grassrooter, he has started long long timeago
like 35 years on the block and there is no how his experience or influence will
not help me because he knows a lot of all this political gladiators where I
also find myself in. I go into politics and they say….are you Sen. Ogunlewe’s
Son? And I say yes and they say your dad has done well; we will help you and
accommodate you into the political system. My dad has contributed his quota and
there is no way his success in politics will not help in building mine.
You are arguably one of the youngest, vying for a position in the Lagos
State House of Assembly (LSHA), what do think about the saying that “experience
is the best teacher”?
As far as am concern experience is not about service, the
most important thing is knowing what you want to go and do there; when you know
that the job of a legislator is to make laws, sponsor bills. Speaking about
experience, then majority of legislators in Nigeria should be Lawyers and am
perfectly qualified (because am a layer) to be a legislator in Lagos State.
Experience to me….ok people that have been there; majority of the Lagos State
Legislators have never sponsored a single bill. I have one of them that is
contesting against me and for 12 good years, a single bill has not been
sponsored by him. I have asked a lot of questions, I have gone on TV, let him
tell the people of our constituency exactly what he has been able to achieve
within 12years….. and you tell me experience. Experience to me would not bring
change to our community and that thing that can bring change is serving your
people with dignity then Nigeria can be a better place for you and me.
There is a rumor that you have a personal grouse with Hon. Bayo
Oshinowo….
I don’t understand what you mean by personal grouse; maybe
you need to rephrase your question…
It was once said that you exchanged words with Hon. Bayo Oshinowo, what must have led to that?
I have never met the man before o. The only time I saw him
was at the polling booth. Emm…he is one of our fathers in the neighborhood but
my own is that he has not done anything and must be kicked-out of the place.
There is nothing like age in politics. The most important thing is for you to
know what to do there to bring desired change to your community and he has not
been able to do that. I am not going there to go and seat at the back fence. I
will sponsor bills that will bring change to my community and that’s why am
going for that office.
It has been said that a lot of youth has been sidelined in politics and
in governance……
Well to me I will blame all Nigerian youths because we have
an opportunity to be involved in the government but as I always say; we seat at
the back fence, we are used as political thugs, used as political machineries
and at the end of the day we are dumped. I would advise all Nigerian youth to
be more involved in politics. Politics is played everywhere. If in live in an
estate, politics is played there so be involved in it. We have a Nigeria of
today where our votes have started counting and I want to assure our youth that
we have a brighter future, we should all get directly involved in politics and
not allow ourselves to be used as political machineries.
You said the man in office, Hon. Bayo Osinowo has done nothing to merit
a 4th term in office, what do you intend to do differently from what
he has done?
I believe in a 4th tier of government where people
will be closer to the government. If you notice, the Local Govt. is near but
far away from the people. To me, I will sponsor a bill called the “WADA”. It’s
a framework that would develop the 4th tier of government in an
easier way where the stakeholders within the community will be involved in
govt. and what I mean by that is for example if you have an estate where there
is a public school, the people within the estate should be directors in the
school so that their children can also attend the school. Now, when you go to
Ogudu, Ifako-Gbagada, Anthony….the schools we have within the estates are not
properly managed and the reason is that majority of the students that attend
those schools come from outside of the estate and it affects the quality of
education in those schools. If you go to Hon. Bayo Osinowo’s house; in front of
his house….am not saying this to tarnish his image….you may go and inspect it
yourself; the school in front of his house has only one toilet for male &
female what kind of governance is that? The “WADA” framework would inculcate
the well to do people within the community into the system….the same thing will
be done in the area of health. We have two primary healthcare centers (PHC) and
it is only one that is functioning and even the one that is functioning is
really not worthy of a healthcare facility. So what I intend to do is ensure
that the well-to-do people live within the community are made a stakeholder in
either the PHC or the Schools. I am a benefit of such arrangement; when I was
at model college, Igbogbo late Engr. Alade was one of the board of directors of
the school, Fmr. Perm. Sec. Lands, Sen. Ogunlewe was a member board of
directors, fmr. Head of Service Alh. Rotinwa was also a member and so on. My
family, Engr. Alade’s Children…. Ronke, Dammy, Alh. Rotinwa’s daughter,
Bukky…..all of us went to that school and that was how the school developed so
much such that every other person that cannot afford that much also benefitted
from the development. When I was at Model College Igbogbo, the school was one
of the best competing with Atlantic Halls (A private School) when we have
Bournvita Brain Match and all. So the problem is that the well to do people has
taken all their children to private schools because they are not part of the
system of the public schools. That is one the things I’m going to propose;
bringing the rich in our community to be directly involved in our public
institutions like schools and hospitals. They will not want low quality of
education for their kids so they will make sure the schools are up to standard
where people that cannot afford so much can also benefit.
What is your perspective on politicians using thugs as a way of showing
their political might?
I have said it before that… emn politicians that use thugs
are not good politicians and I will always refer to them as thugs and people
that want something bad for this country. Majority of them will send their
children abroad and leave we Nigerian youths to waste away. If majority of us,
at least 95% are being called thugs then the remaining 5% of us are also thugs
as far as am concerned. So what I will tell the Nigerian youths is that, let us
get involved in the system so we can change things for the better. They
(elderlies) have had their own turn; it is time for us to take over. Get
involved in politics, get involved in the development of your country, get
involved in the development of the people and get involved in making things
right. For those that use thugs as their political machineries, I have said it
before and I will say it again….one day, what you are building will come back
to you. “He that live in a glass house, should not throw stones.”
Security is an integral part of governance especially in Lagos where we
have over 15million people, what is your take on state police as way of
improving our security system?
If we start using state police there will be a lot of
compromise when it comes to politics. However some people say state police is
good but at the moment I will score the Nigerian police 40%. We still need to
do a lot of sensitization; making sure well trained then we can now talk of
state police. The issue of state police now as far as am concerned is a wrong
idea….let the FG handle the police and do not forget that the governor of state
remains the Chief Security Officer of the state so whoever is deployed to the
state should fall under the control of the state governor. I think we should
maintain the status quo while we equip and properly train our police.
Barr. Moyo Ogunlewe, you are contesting under the platform of the PDP,
Lagos state has been in the opposition for 16years now that they have won at
the central, don’t you think Lagosians may not want to be in the opposition?
Look, my brother, Lagos has always been in the opposition in
case you don’t know. Lagos is the commercial hub of the country, Lagos is Lagos
and it will continue to be. If you are in the opposition does not mean Lagos
would not move. Lagos is Lagos and Lagos will forever move. Now we clamoring
for change, if the PDP has been in power for 16years at the federal level and
ACN now APC has also been in power for 16 years in Lagos, let there be change
at both level so there will be something to compare with. Meanwhile, being in
the opposition does not stop your allocation from the federal govt. it is the
state government that usually eat into the local government fund.
You are contesting against a seasoned politician, what are chances of
winning in the next elections?
As far as am concerned he is not a seasoned politician, he
is only fortunate to be in power and for me Nigeria of today should not
accommodate such people in power. Somebody that has been in power for 12years
and cannot tell the people one thing he has been able to do, not even a single
project commissioned. For me such person is not a seasoned politician; only
favored by some political gladiators in party maybe for something personal but
in terms of good governance, he is simply not the right person. He is a compensated
politician.
You are a young, handsome, educated politician please tell us your
marital status?
Well am getting married very soon. Very much engaged
What is your hope about the forth-coming elections?
My hope remains my hope. JK we know, JK we trust. Kosofe
Eyo, Moyo Nio. We are going to win this battle, we are going to defeat them; we
are going to beat them. Am not just running my mouth but I can tell you that in
this forth coming elections, victory will be for the PDP.
