In an interview with Kosofe Post, one of the aspirants of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for Kosofe Constituency 2, Engr. Moshood Seriki, explained why they wanted the constituency ticket shifted to Agboyi Ketu.
Why did you decide to enter the Kosofe Constituency 2 House of Assembly race?
I have lived in Kosofe for 43 years, and I realized that there is a lot to be done when it comes to infrastructural development.
I believe that being the sons of the soil, we can join hands together to put things in place because, since the creation of the local government, we have had different legislation promising one thing or the other, but I have never seen anyone that has brought meaningful development apart from the House of Rep. Mr. Rotimi Agunsoye.
He has been doing some empowerment for some women, youths and market women, but the other meaningful things have not been done for the past 22 years we have been in democracy.
We haven’t seen a meaningful project per se, and the House of Representatives cannot do the work alone. Looking at the Kosofe House of Assembly, we haven’t seen much, but we have been seeing roads that are dilapidated for several decades, and people have been complaining.
However, looking at Lagos as a whole, you will see some areas that development has actually touched, like Shomolu. For example, virtually all the roads have been done by the local government and definitely with the input of the House of Assembly representative.
So I realised that by bringing in my little expertise, I might be able to make some changes where people can feel the dividends of democracy.
If given your party ticket and when elected, what should your constituents expect from you?
Like I said earlier, the road plays an important infrastructure role in terms of expanding and opening so many business activities in my constituency.
Some of our roads here need to be rehabilitated; some need to be constructed. We also have problems with water. If elected, I will facilitate the construction of boreholes at strategic places in Kosofe.
Although we have the national issue of unemployment, if elected, I will provide them with different empowerment programs that will enable them to become employers.
These are the areas where I will go so that people will know that we are in a position to serve them.
Kosofe Constituency 2 has been experiencing recurring gang war clashes. How can it be nipped in the bud?
On the issue of security, we are facing challenges of insecurity in the constituency and that is one of the issues I will place priority on when elected as their representative in the Lagos Assembly.
We are presently facing the issue of cult clashes over the years, which we have not been able to resolve, but I will nip it in the bud with the help of the security agencies in the state.
Since the return to democracy in 1999, the Agboyi Ketu Link bridge has been four years of electioneering promises without the bridge’s construction till date. Why is that so?
If elected, I will facilitate the construction of the Agboyi Link Bridge because I have heard that the baale of Agboyi Ketu alleged that the project was not done due to the Canoe business owners.
Agboyi has been there for a long time, and when you are referring to Ketu, what comes to mind is Agboyi because it is a place that links Ketu to other areas.
Why do you think Agboyi Ketu Lcda should be considered for the Assembly ticket?
In Kosofe Constituency 2, we have Agboyi Ketu LCDA and Isheri LCDA, and I think the time has come for the House of Assembly candidate to come from Agboyi Ketu. This is because Isheri has been enjoying it for a very long time, and the incumbent is from Isheri.
Agboyi had only used it for a term, and that was when the late Tunde Braimoh died in the process before the completion of his tenure. He didn’t spend a year and a half before death took him away from us.
So this is an opportunity for us to take it back to Agboyi Ketu so we can have a fair share of it.
I want the Kosofe House of Assembly Constituency 1 to be zoned to Agboyi Ketu so that we can feel the impacts and have a sense of belonging as well.
We have been clamoring for this, but the incumbent is also planning to return, and it won’t be fair if a particularly LCDA is neglected because, presently, the House of Representatives and House of Assembly are from the same zone.
How far have you gone with your consultation?
We have been trying to meet our leaders so we can have a fair share of this democracy, and that is why I am here to vie for the position.