By Olubunmi Omoogun – Owo, the city endowed with great and influential personalities such as the politician and educationalist, His excellency, former civilian governor of old Ondo state Adekunle Ajasin and a first class king the
Olowo of Owo kingdom, Oba Olateru Olagbegi whose palace is arguably
the biggest in West Africa. Owo, today is clamouring for that political status it deserves.
As people of Ondo state anxiously await the Local Government elections
to happen sometime in December 2015 as pronounced by His excellency,
governor Olusegun Rahman Mimiko. One person that has garnered a wealth
of experience in Local government matters, administration and
procedures is Lawal Opeyemi Kehinde.
By virtue of his role as a former Local government Vice Chairman,
party chairman in the Local government and now Chairman, interim
committee of Owo Local government in Ondo State, Southwest Nigeria,
Lawal has traversed the whole Owo division and is sufficiently armed
himself with a posterior knowledge of the political landscape and
terrain of the ancient and historical city of Owo and how to take the
Owo city back to the great height it had enjoyed during the Action
Group (AG)/Chief Adekunle Ajasin era. And saw it even better by
bringing in new ideas of governance.
Lawal Opeyemi Kehinde is also widely acknowledged as an exceptional
grassroots campaigner and mobilizer and a man of deep religious faith.
His posture so far has ensured the creation of a credible template for
good governance and the commencement of people friendly programmes
even few weeks in office.
Being a democrat, his focus will be the strengthening of the Local
government area and seek to ensure that he positively impact as many
lives as possible. Beyond the Local government, he is a rising star in
the political firmament of Ondo state whose views have become
increasingly relevant in the state. He wants to deliver ‘life more
abundant’ to the common people as he possesses a vision and passion to
make the Local government work for all. He spoke to AfricanVoice’s
Olubunmi Omoogun on sundry issues:
AFV: Owo, in yoruba parlance incidentally means respectful, how
significant is this to the people of Owo as a great city?
Hon. Lawal: Owo is an ancient City and generally refers to as Land of
honour the People are generally hospitable and love Visitors Action
Group Party of our late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo was founded in Owo
and nothing politically the Western region does today without starting
from Owo. So Owo is a fantastic city with political history.
AFV: You are a son of a prominent Owo industrialist, in fact, a one
time doyen of cocoa industry in Ondo state and during his time he was known for his philanthropic gestures across board, was he involved in politics at his time?
Hon Lawal: My late father was a big time trader in Owo he traded Cocoa
and other commodities and equally traded in Ram, Goat and food stuffs.
He was indeed a follower of Pa Adekunle Ajasin and Pa Obafemi Awolowo,
he seriously believed in their ideologies but not necessarily a
Politician. He was disciplined and forthright.
AFV: You have been a strong political figure in Owo polity and you are not new to grassroot politics in your constituency. What are your thoughts on the forthcoming local government elections in Ondo state?
Hon Lawal: I think it will worth while if Our amiable governor can
conduct LG Election to usher in democratic norms and have
democratically elected Officers at the Local Govt level.
AFV: What are your plans for the people of Owo?
Hon. Lawal: I want to put Owo back to the centre of Politics in
western region and Nigeria at large I have intention of building a
befitting Town Hall in Oke Mapo as one there was built in d 1950s
before I was born. It will be nice to bring back the aesthetics of a
modern town hall. The Present Owo Town Hall was built same time as Oke
Mapo in Ibadan so its really old. I like to build a Public Cementary
for our People as its becoming out fashion and unhygienic for our
People to keep burying their People at home. I equally like to engage
in capacity building for our graduates unemployed so that they can do
something on their own instead of continuing to wait for white collar
Job that is no longer available.
AFV: What are your thoughts regarding the new government at the centre in Abuja?
Hon Lawal: We will keep praying for them to succeed because whatever
step they take will affect us one way or the other and they should
stop playing Politics but embrace good governance as they now should
belong to everybody and be fair to all. God guide their steps.
Never knew that Owo has no public cemetery in this century. Having one would be a great service to the town and its people. Same thing goes for modern town hall. The present ine should be modernised just like the Mapo Hall in Ibadan was renovated years back. I wish Alhaji Lawal best of luck in the forthcoming Local Government elections if he is contesting though.
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