Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, KEHINDE BAMIGBETAN, explains to Senior Correspondent, ISHAYA IBRAHIM, his exploits in the council and why he wants a seat at the House of Representatives.
Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), Kehinde Bamigbetan, fits into the profile of an activist, yet he is a consummate politician.
The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Bola Tinubu when he was Lagos State Governor is eyeing a seat at the House of Representatives, which, by many calculations, seems to favour him, given his popularity in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In grappling with the challenges in his council, Bamigbetan, a journalist, understood his limitation: insufficient funds to cope with the needs of his people. This was especially in consideration of many roads in his domain – federal and state –that were in a sorry state. Thus, in many occasions, he would have to rely on activism and advocacy in getting the attention of the relevant authorities to take up their responsibilities, and for that, he has earned the activism title of ‘Comrade’.
For instance, the NNPC Road was virtually impassable in 2008, owing to the heavy activities of petroleum tankers on the route, despite the many rehabilitation works done by the council. The damage was so severe that patches and rehabilitation could no longer suffice, and urgent reconstruction needed.
Bamigbetan thought of a number of options to have the problem solved, one of which was to either lead a protest which would bar commuters, and especially NNPC tankers, gaining access to the road which leads to NNPC fuel depot at Ejigbo, or alternatively appeal to the National Assembly for the federal government to intervene.
“We had the options; to use the Niger Delta option, block the whole road, create a national crisis and force the federal government to come in. The second was to use our member in the House of Representatives. May be because he is an elderly person, he said let us hide the first option.
“He then made the case at the National Assembly of how NNPC activities were destroying the environment. And the National Assembly passed a resolution that all access roads throughout the country to NNPC installations should be repaired. And that was what led to the repairing NNPC Road,” he said.
In 2008, there was also another tricky situation that required advocacy, and even activism, to actualise, and Bamigbetan came to the rescue. It was the almost non-existent road linking Agbado Ijaiye and Idimu.
Being flood-prone, the solution to the problem was obviously to build a bridge connecting the two communities, though the council had no such funds.
Bamigbetan explained how he got around the problem when the Lagos State government could not accommodate the project in its 2009 budget. He thought of a partnership arrangement which would see a private firm build the bridge and then toll it.
“We got a concessionaire from Ukraine who was to come and start work. We were at the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) stage when the Lekki Toll Plaza crisis started. It then occurred to us that if people in Lekki could complain of paying tolls, what would be the fate of this project in Ejigbo if the Ukrainian company started?
“We then said the best option was to go back to the government. So, we went to the government to make an appeal, considering that time had lapsed between when we started. And by the grace of God, His Excellency Mr. Babatunde Fashola decided that he would take up the project. Today, a project costing over N3 billion has been done there,” he said.
While seeking support for his council, he was also not asleep. In 2012, he took a loan of N220 million to construct four roads, of which he has already paid more than 95 per cent.
On why he seeks a seat at the House of Representatives, he said the current representative has been ineffectual.
“We started free programmes, free uniforms for primary schools, free meals for primary school pupils, enough chairs and desks, free drugs in the health sector, increased number of doctors for health centres, and more health centres. We will achieve more if we have an effective representative,” he said.
On the resolve of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to replace the APC in Lagos in next year’s election, Bamigbetan said it was an impossible shot.
“I am a political scientist by training. And my area of specialisation is ideology and strategy. As somebody who recognises material fact, you cannot ignore the intention of the dominant party, the party that has the federal government in its kitty, intending to take over Lagos State. It has a lot of resources at its disposal.
“But if you want to do some historical analysis, the federal government has always been there. The PDP has always vowed to take over Lagos since 1999. But they have not been able to achieve it. What has now happened within the PDP that gives the impression that they have acquired the capacity? I cannot see it,” he said.
He also took swipe at those accusing the APC leader, Bola Tinubu, of controlling the affairs of APC in the South West.
“Let us be honest with ourselves. Which politician has invested his time and brain in the formation of APC in the South West? If a man could dissolve a party that he struggled to build, you want him to now disappear in that new formation? I think it is just malice. If APC had collapsed, who will they be making jest of? Because it has worked, they are now saying Asiwaju is controlling the APC,” he said.