Accessibility and availability, key strengths of leadership — Sheriff A. Musa, Ado-Odo/Ota LG Chairman
In this interview with UTHMAN SALAMI, the Chairman of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, Mr. Sheriff Adewale Musa underscored the importance of a people-oriented leadership. Speaking on why political office holders must be closer to the people, he said his administration is prepared to show citizens that the Nigerian government can be trustworthy.
What will you describe as your greatest challenges since you assume office?
We are not unaware that we have chosen a challenging job to serve the good people of Ado-Odo/Ota as the Chairman of the Local Government. Our confidence to succeed stems from the fact that we know where the shoe pinches and we are determined to work with the people to resolve some of these challenges. Ado-Odo/Ota is the second most industrialised Local Government in Nigeria with three major Federal roads. Apparently, our roads need to be fixed and we can’t afford to give excuses to our people. Meanwhile, the Local Government isn’t as bouyant as we all believed. Before coming on board, I also believed there’s so much money to work with but now I realize we have to be think outside the box. This is why our administration has embarked on familiarisation visit to critical stakeholders in the Local Government to see how we can partner to address infrastructural deficit and other sundry issues staring us in the face. I am glad to announce to you that our efforts in this regards is begining to yield positive results. We were at Winners to see Bishop David Oyedepo. We have a commitment that Itele Road will be fixed and work has commenced. If not for the rains that has refused to subside, significant progress would have been made. Our constant engagement with FERMA and Julius Berger over Ota-Idiroko Road and Lagos-Otta-Abeokuta Road has also increased the speed of work on these roads. We are in talks with SHELL NIGERIA GAS. We have appreciated them for their intervention on Ilogbo-Ojuore Road. As we speak, they are working on Iyana Iyesi-Itori Road with a promise to still do more. For us, all roads are important to socio-economic development of the Local Government. This is why we are showing interest on all tiers of roads; whether it is Federal or State. We have a commitment to work on some Trunk C roads which are apparently primary responsibility of the Local Government as soon as the rain subsides.
What has your administration done for the people of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government so far?
So far, it has been three months of purposeful and people-oriented leadership. Aside from the desilting of drainages at Ojuore to ease traffic, we have also completed the projects of the previous administration. We will be commissioning some projects that were initiated by the last administration. Of course you know Government is continuum. You will agree with me that one of the key strengths of a Council Chairman is that he must be available always. They call us “Alaga Council.”
This means, we must be accessible and available. That is why you see quite a number of people waiting to see me and I will attend to them all. Also, the moment I get a hint that there is a challenge that requires our attention in any part of the Local Government; instead of sending any of our Directors or member of Staff, I usually go there by myself with the Directors to see things for myself. A lot of people are attributing this to the fact that I am young and vibrant and also passionate about making an impact. We run an open office, we are transparent and receptive to ideas. Upon assumption to office, I received a document tagged “CITIZENS CHARTER OF DEMANDS” from our people.
We are carefully attending to some of these demands and very soon, our strides will be more evident. Also, we have been to nothing less than ten companies since we resumed office, talking to captains of industries, engaging them and giving them a reason to believe in our government.
The responses have been encouraging and I can only assure our people that the best is yet to come. A lot of people have this notion that Government cannot be trusted. We are demystifying that myth. Anywhere we go to, I do tell them I don’t want money but I want them to partner with us so we can deliver the dividends of democracy to our people.
This is why you see SHELL NIGERIA GAS fixing Iyana Iyesi-Itori Road in partnership with us. Another company has shown commitment to fix Animashaun-Veepee Road in Ota. A lot is going on and I can only say, Ado-Odo/Ota will experience tremendous turn around during our time.
At the meeting of Zonal CDC I attended recently, I assured our Community Leaders that we will work with them to add value to our communities. The Graders of the Local Government will be put to work soon and its impact will be felt across the length and breadth of the LG. Our administration is open to collaboration with well meaning individuals and corporate organisations. Our “Ajose wa ni” mantra is a bond we intend to keep with our people. We are together in this and together we will achieve more.
There has been a debate for and against Local Government autonomy. What is your take on this? Do you think Nigeria is ready?
The Local Government is the third tier of the executive. We have the federal, state, and local. And my few days in government have shown that if the local government has its autonomy, it will allow the local government to be creative. There are lots of areas that can be developed, but the law has not given the local government its real freedom. The local government, being the closest to the people, would have done so many things that are hanging on the neck of the state and federal. For me, if the local government is given autonomy, it would be better for the people. And like I always say, there are no state people neither do we have federal people; we are all local people because everything starts from the local government. So if the local government is given full autonomy, it will benefit the people of Nigeria.
You were previously working in a private sector, and you mentioned that what you met is different from your expectations. Since you are coming from a private sector that is profit-driven, what are you doing to make sure that the fund of Ado-Odo/Ota improves at the end of your tenure?
We will only be creative. What makes the private sector move is not only the fact that it is profit-driven, it is because of their creativity. The competition in the private sector is very high, therefore, we need to be more creative in order to improve the revenue of the council. The major thing about the private sector is that, what they want to do is for profit, but our own is for services. They make money to make profit while we make money to serve the people. But the similar thing is that money is involved. We would set and raise the bar so that our promises to the people will be achieved.
Recently, your party held primaries, and there was an issue of parallel congress. Next year, your party will be preparing for 2023 governorship and presidential election. Despite this internal crisis, do you think your party is ready to retain power in 2023?
To the best of my knowledge, there was no parallel congress anywhere. What do you call parallel congress? At every of the Congresses held so far in Ogun State, legitimate representatives of the Party were present and INEC representatives witnessed it all.
We only have one united APC in Ogun State. And since Nigeria is a free state, everyone has the right to gather and associate and do whatsoever they want to do but what I can tell you is that our Congresses were upheld and there was no appeal or counter proof that our congresses had issues.
What do you have to say about direct and indirect primaries?
In my opinion, I believe there are merits of direct and indirect primaries. For me, direct, indirect and consensus should be retained. Every unit of the federation has its own peculiarity. Apart from the fact that direct election is expensive, you have not considered the disaffection and acrimony that come after it. My major resentment for direct election is the encouragement of hooliganism that comes out of it. So direct, indirect or consensus should still be retained. How can you conduct an election in Borno or Kaduna State? I heard that five local governments have been occupied by bandits in Niger State. How can you conduct direct primaries in such an environment?
The Deputy Governor of Ogun state is from Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government. How will you describe your relationship with her?
She is the mother of the party in the local government, and she has been doing it exceptionally well. All we have been doing is done by her and other political leaders in the local government. You hardly hear any rancor in Ado-Odo/Ota. It has always been peaceful, and the credit goes to her and all other leaders of Ado-Odo/Ota APC. That is why the party is waxing stronger every day. We have a very good and robust relationship with her. She is always ready to offer advice when necessary. She has always been so supportive to the local government.
The general thought is that most people in the local government are aged people. Seeing that you are still young and also coming from a private sector into a public sector, how do you find it easy?
To the best of my knowledge, those who founded Nigeria were younger than us, and they were able to move Nigeria. For me, we have even added a private experience. The most important thing is to know your boundaries as an officer or a public office holder. If you respect others, they will also respect you. The seat we are sitting on is a seat that every other person must respect, but when you throw back the respect, you will earn more respect than you actually deserve.
No one is an island of knowledge. I have heard people say, “this Chairman doesn’t act like a Chairman.” I guess their belief is that I should nod with my head while they are greeting or shake an elderly person without bowing just because he works for me. I am sorry, I won’t do that. I will continue to have a blanket respect for everybody regardless of age, status or race. Some people call it “human relations”, I call it “iwa omoluabi.”
