Media Chat With Lawoya As He Declares for ‘OYHA 2023’ Race

Media Chats with Hon. Ismail Shuaib Jibola Lawoya popularly known as ‘Aluta Marshall’ as he declares for the race of Oyo-State House of Assembly, ‘OYHA 2023’.

Journalists: Please, can you tell us why your sudden resignation as an Aide to Hon. Shina peller?

Lawoya: I know Hon. Shina Peller about five to six years ago. We had a good working relationship. He is a benevolent leader and boss. We planned and rubbed minds together to achieve common goals, like the Peller Unity Cup, Ramadan Lecture, His full entrance into Politics, His declaration and among others. He believes in building people and wants us, his disciples to grow as he is growing. This is part of why I resigned to face my political career.

Journalists: Some people says it is because of your ambition to contest for ‘Kajola state Constituency in 2023’ …How true is this ?

Lawoya: Yes, saying I resigned because of my ambition to contest is not a big deal because I will need more attention and focus on the local government, meeting people and attending series of meetings in order not to put the local government at stake in getting their dividend, I step aside to give my ambition full attention.

Journalists: In your party, APC, it is always turn by turn ,so, do you think it is your turn right now or you just want to create an awareness for the future?

Lawoya: The era of turn by turn are fast fading away as the party are now engaging in party primaries at all level, even, as at the last two elections previously, our party has been engaging in party primary election unlike the consensus style we are used to, so, with this, I am very sure we are good to go. I was among the top contenders in the last one and with the level we pulled it to then, I am very certain that with God and the support of my people, now, we are getting it this time around. We are taking consultation as a key and making sure we engage all relevant stakeholders towards the actualization of our dream which is to build the Kajola that all of us will be proud of.

Journalists: Which leadership roles have you undertaken before that gives you impression that you can represent Kajola in the State Assembly?

Lawoya: Hmmmm, right from student unionism, I was opportuned to serve from local union to the Apex Students’ Union in Nigeria, National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS), and the largest Students’ Union Organ in the West Africa,WASU having gained much experience from active comradeship, I ventured into active partisan politics.
I have served as a Personal Assistant(PA) to the Chairman of Atisbo Local Government, As Chief of Staff, Kajola Local Government and Special Assistant(SA) on Political and Grassroots Matters. With these aforementioned leadership roles, I was able to learn, study and understand the basic needs and demand of the grassroots, local council administration and governance, human management, emotional intelligence and coordination which I know it will give me an edge to deliver if I am given the opportunity to serve.

Journalists: What do you think you can do differently from the current honourable representing the constituency?

Lawoya: Everything in life, especially, experience cannot be compared with anything, with grassroots experience I have in governance, I am highly confident and convinced that I will be able to do more than the current representative in terms of constituency project, human management, governance and others, as all relevant stakeholders will be consulted from time to time, to give the Constituency what they really need and want by putting round peg in a round hole. Also, as a youth, the youth will be meaningfully engaged.

Journalists: Lawoya dynasty, tell us more about this and the political impact you think it has in your Local Government and its environs?

Lawoya: ‘Lawoya Political Dynasty’ is what many people mistake as if it is my personal initiative, No, ‘Lawoya Political Dynasty’ has been existing even before I was born, just that God gave me the opportunity to blow the trumpet to the world. Lawoya dynasty has been supporting people to achieve their political goals from many years back, which we are still doing. Therefore, as a youth that I am, the dynasty has helped youth thinking and acting positively by sensitizing them on “Not Too Young To Rule”. Sensitizing them on effect of drugs and its abuse, encouraging education, preaching youth involvement in governance among others.

Journalists: As a young man, what should the youth expect from you if you win?

Lawoya: I believe our people have rights to expect dividends of democracy from their representatives and that a representative has the responsibility to deliver to their people regardless of their age, religion and political parties. Youth will be the central heart of my plans for the future. I will integrate them at all levels of developmental planning and, also,I will create enabling environment for young people to tap into economic pathways to drive sustainable development goals and create job opportunities. Youth want to share their knowledge and be taken seriously as the key partners, this is something I will gladly welcome. Doors of opportunities will be opened wide to bring out the best they have in them, for the development of our area and their personal progress.

Journalists: Your party is currently in opposition, in the state, do you think you can recapture the state in 2023?

Lawoya: By the special grace of God, our party, APC is taking over Oyo State as measures are being put in place to achieve that.

Journalists: If yes , what do you think your party and members need to do before 2023?

Lawoya: All what is required has been put in place by the party leaders and stakeholders and we are recording success in the process and by 2023, we will take over the administration of Oyo state by God’s grace.

Journalists: What other messages do you have for the people of Kajola?

Lawoya: I have a message of hope. Yes, I must be factual to talk to our people in a language all and sundry can easily understand. I believe we all agree that we have a problem. Kajola has a problem. It is not only Kajola that has a very serious problem, but our people have a very serious problem. Kajola problem is us. We’re her problem. The enmity, lack of corporation, and giving power to those who don’t deserve it are some of the problems hindering our progress. What you and I need during the time like this is to learn to forget our differences. We have to come together as Kajola, not as Okeho, Isemi, Imia, Ilua, Ilero and Ayetoro. We are not suffering because we are from Okeho. We are not making progress because we are from Ilero. We remain stagnant simply because we can’t see ourselves as one and brothers and sisters of the same area. We have a common enemy and the common enemy we have is a lack of progress and disunity. So, we need to unite on the basis of what we have in common.

Our neighboring local governments like Iseyin and others are leaving us behind developmentally. Their people don’t have two heads. They are not better than us. But they have unity, which happens to be the bedrock of their progress. We need to submerge our little petty differences and agree on one thing: That though one person came from Isemi, and another from Ayetoro does not mean we can’t stand together as one Kajola. Instead of airing our differences in public, we have to realize we’re all one family. Whatever issues we have, let’s argue it together behind closed doors. And then when we come out on the street, we should pose a common front, a united front.

The Kajola of today and tomorrow must be honored wholeheartedly to its cause of unity, unselfishness, and courageous people. We must build a society where virtuous and righteous men and women are all working together for its progress than the one we have presently.

I believe that creating a cohesive and vibrant community that unites both the young and the old is important to nurturing the growth of individuals. In unity lies our strength and this is what I am clamoring for and ready to foster.
This is my dream.

Journalists: Any other information?

Lawoya: I will like to use this medium to seek for the supports of everyone towards the actualization of this dream. Let’s do this together. Thank you all.