The essence of Local Government as the closest government to the people cannot be over emphasized, but, the paucity of fund and other exigencies had almost eroded this level of government its role in the discharge of its duties to the people at the grassroot. In this interview with SOLA JACOBS, the Executive Secretary, Ede South Local Government, Hon. Johnson Ajagbe Ojo reeled out his achievements within the five month of his appointment, even in the face of paucity of fund. Excerpts.
OSDF: What has been the experience within your short time in office.
Ajagbe:-At my inception in office, the experience had been both challenging and interesting. I met a local government without electricity as the council secretariat light had been disconnected by the IBEDC because of the huge debt; so I have to pay, so as to have our light restored. Also, I met an empty treasury, hence, we have to look at the way to generate fund for the running of the local government.
Besides that, I declared nine months of environmental sanitation, because I found out that our people had relapsed from the cleanliness of our communities; I then made it compulsory for staff members to embark on environmental sanitation every Wednesday of the week.
Also, my administration has done Wired Perimeter Fencing of the illegal dumping site that is directly opposite Seventh Day Adventist Grammar School. As part of our effort to provide potable water for our citizen, my administration has rehabilitated six boreholes which have not been functioning for years in areas like, Moricas in Alajue ward, Kusi compound in Kuye ward, Onidodo compound in Babasanta ward, YTD Agbangudu in Jagunjagun ward and two in Agate ward, one in Asawo and Babanla square respectively.
In the area of road, the council has graded some major roads in Surulere Estate and Country home, length and breadth of Akankan roads, roads in Obada area, Wakajaye Zone 3 and 4 roads, Fiwasaye community road, Olose road, off Loogun road and Polytechnic second gate road, all in Ede.
On security, as part of our activities to ensure the safety of the citizenry from miscreants’ frequent attack, a bus-stop at Alajue which serves as hideout for the criminals was demolished.
OSDF: How do you intend to generate fund for the running of the local government considering the poor economic situation in the country?
Ajagbe:- The local government had repaired agricultural tractors in the local government which we rent out to farmers, and through this means we do generate fund. Furthermore, this administration had embarked on construction of 500 seaters ultra modern hall for rentage for social events which can also fetched us money and it will cost us nothing less than N5 million. It will be completed latest by January, 2018. So, we are exploring our resources to keep providing dividends of democracy for our citizenry.
OSDF: What is the chance of your party, All Progressive Congress (APC) in the forthcoming local government election in the state, taking into cognizance the fact that the party lost in the Osun West Senatorial election recently?
Ajagbe:- First, I want to debunk the insinuation that the APC have no clout in Ede as a party. What happened in the last senatorial election was as a result of the sympathy our people have for our late brother Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who was a member of APC.
Secondly, the candidate the APC presented is not from Ede where the large chunk of the votes in the senatorial district comes from. Now that we will have local government election and all parties will present their candidate, which will be Ede citizens, such scenario could not repeat itself. The truth is that the dividends of democracy that our party had provided is unrivaled, as no party in the history had provided such for our people.
Besides, the creation additional four local governments in Ede by Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration has spurred our people to support and appreciate our party, APC the more. We will repeat the feat of 2007 election, Ede people will vote enmass for APC because of the achievement of our party.
Finally, I appreciate the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Aregbesola for the confidence he repose in me, and appointed me as the Executive Secretary of Ede South Local Government. Moreso, I am grateful to the people of my constituency. Twice, I have served them as their representative in the state assembly before my appointment as Executive Secretary, this is a rare priviledge.
I equally appreciated other members of the local government caretaker management committee and the council staffers, especially my council manager, Barrister Oyebade.
Our call is to serve our people, and as a team, we are committed to do more for the benefit and the development of our council and state at large.
