Ambode, LASIEC working to make LG poll credible — Idris

MR Segun Idris, who seeks to govern Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, in this interview says the delay in conducting local government election in Lagos State, is in the interest of the state. Idris is confident that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, would conduct a credible exercise given its preparedness.

How do you feel that the local government election is taking this long to hold in spite of public expectation?

As a chairmanship aspirant in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area , I have been on ground to make sure that the needed information regarding the election gets to the people. We are all aware that the party is making a lot effort to create awareness and give all parties a level playing field which is critical to the successful conduct of the exercise.

We are all aware that the party is making a lot effort to create awareness and give all parties a level playing field which is critical to the successful conduct of the exercise.

Because of the nature of politics in Nigeria, you find so many people reading interpretations to most political exercises like we currently have in Lagos as regards the local government election.

But the truth is that in order to give Lagosians a free and fair exercise, the state government, I believe, is taking its time to put every necessary ingredient of a successful election in place. As an aspirant, it feels good that the Lagos State government is working to make sure that every one is carried along. I will tell say authoritatively that the House of Assembly in its supervisory capacity is doing its best to make sure that the election is successful.

So, people should relax and expect the best from the government. Already, they are working on the LASIEC law to make sure that the agency is supported to supervise a credible electoral process. The governor is committed, that, he has done by sending the names of LASIEC commissioners.

Are you saying that your party members are not agitated over the delay ?

Even though we are expecting the election to hold any time, we will appreciate an election that is held when all necessary things are put in place.

That is what I have been telling my supporters at the grassroots and they are fully in support of what the government is doing.

So, we are not worried because we know that LASIEC and the state government are working for a credible exercise. All we need do is to support them to succeed. Without our support, the success of the poll will be relative that is why it is incumbent on everyone across party boundaries to support LASIEC in giving us a commendable exercise.

The government is a responsive government and is aware of the feeling of the people, but they are making sure that the election is credible that is why the House is working on it. We have been telling our supporters that it is better to have a credible election than to have an election which its aftermath will be subject to much litigation. Among us, mobilisation and sensitization are taking place.

A section of the public has called on LASIEC to create more wards ahead of the election, do you think the calls are really necessary at this time and do you think the state needs more wards?

The state does even need more wards alone, it needs more local governments. It is known that the population of Lagos is growing everyday and it is important that government comes closer to this ever growing population.

How can that be achieved? It is only by creating more wards, more lo0cal governments so that these people can feel the impact of governance. The primary essence of local government is for government to be closer to the people.

If local government is far from the grassroots, whatever the state of federal government is doing, will not connect properly with the people.

If more wards are created, more developmental project will go to that area because the councillors will agitate for the development of those areas.

The truth is that we need to expand and wards are created government will have further presence in those places. I believe that if the government can look at it from that angle, it will be better for the process.

Increase in population

So, increase in population demands increase in the number of local governments. That is why we are also clamouring for a special status for Lagos State, to be able to govern its growing population better.

Considering the prevailing economic challenges in the country which has negatively impacted on service delivery, do you have plans of making Amuwo Odofin self sufficient in order to reduce dependence on federal allocations?

There are so many ways that the local government can be self sufficient apart from collecting rates and that was captured in my blue print for Amuwo Odofin.

Amuwo Odofin hosts so many people of ideas who have contributed in making the local government distinct in Lagos. So, I capitalised on the strategic nature of the local government when preparing my blue print, which will make Amuwo a reference point in Lagos and Nigeria.

We also have one of the largest markets in Africa which is the Trade Fair Complex and we have plans to make it contributory to what comes into the local government.

We have arable land in the local government which can be used for commercial farming. Having carried out a proper study of the possible areas of developing the council, I came up with a feasible blue print which I hope to implement when elected. And it is my hope that my dreams for Amuwo Odofin will come true.