[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n Nigeria politics today, it’s rare, if not difficult, to see elected public officials who have decided, through diligence to do things positively different. For many of our politicians, the central narrative of public office is easy to summarise. Very often, it has become hard to see a typical Nigerian politician answer these base line questions: why am I in public office? Is it for public good or for personal aggrandizement?
That’s one of the reasons why many of our elected officials when they leave office, there is nothing to show they impacted in the lives of the people. They squander public trust while in office, they pursued simple, personal things, all with zeal while approaching critical matters of governance, either half-heartedly or completely unattended to.
“The true worth of a man is in the way he treats people who are absolutely in need. If you care about people in need, you are actually making a contribution to the development of the nation. We need to give life back to the people; democracy is important in governance. We need to see how we can use the available resources for everybody; create opportunities for all and care, especially for those who are truly in need. The gap between the rich and the poor should be bridged. Those of us blessed with material resources need to share with others. We must strike a balance with our resources.” This is the Philosophy of our principal, Hon Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu according to “ABUNDANCE TEAM”.
“ABUNDANCE TEAM” has practically described Hon Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu, their principal as a good leader, with the character of humility, passion for service, respect, fairness, accountability and a model others can follow. Hon Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu is a quintessential leader and gentleman. He is the embodiment of cerebral articulation, the essence of unparalleled philanthropy, the epitome of intellection and breathtaking simplicity, the personification of undiluted humanness, the perfect example of leadership symbolism, the paragon of idealism, the soul of humanity, the heart of warrior, and a perfect gentleman.
Indeed, some leaders are born, some achieve leadership, and some have leadership thrust upon them, while only very few have all three embedded in them. Hon Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu is one of those very few good men; a true philanthropist, an accomplished Politician and a man of valour. In the gallery of great leaders and great men, he is without doubt,a rare masterpiece. Hon Idimogu is elegant and unblemished in the magisterial lithe and athleticism of folkloric Kings and heroes, with unfettered, excellent diction and oratory; his brilliant smile like sparkling sun radiating from crystal clear eyes and he cuts the dapper, debonair figure and personality of the complete man he has truly metamorphosed into for many years.
In this interview with the Grassroots Publishers, ABUNDANCE TEAM” discussed extensively why Hon Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu will be re-elected as honourable member representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly.As a matter of fact, Idimogu is a star, a beautiful bride that should be the selling point of APC government in Lagos State especially when one considers that he is the only Igbo man (though married to firebrand Yoruba woman- Roseline Idimogu) in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Excerpts:
What is “ABUNDANCE TEAM” all about?
“ABUNDANCE TEAM” is a name culled from our principal’s nick name, Hon. Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu. The team is made up of people of integrity, men and women of great valour, vibrant youths who have made mark in their various areas of careers. We have Medical Doctor, Lawyers, Entrepreneurs and so many others. We came together to form this team because we believe in our Principal, his ideology, and antecedents.Hon. Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu is a vibrant man who started his political career from the grassroots; who is solidly rooted and grounded and he has successfully served in various capacities.He is a grassroots mobilizer, philanthropist, and a man of integrity.
Why the choice of your principal, Hon. Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu?
Hon. Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu is a grassroots politician , A very loyal fellow who has been given several opportunities to serve the people in the past. He has always delivered in any assignment he was given to carry out.This is due to his proactiveness and hard work. So, I must tell you confidently that ABUNDANCE TEAM is already out to make sure that our Principal continues his good work come 2019 for the grassroots to enjoy the dividends of democracy and that is why we are creating the awareness for the good people of Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II to re-elect him as the Lagos State House of Assembly Member because our people still need a vibrant voice and a quality representative.
What can you say are his achievements so far as Honourable member representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II?
I have just focused on him, not necessarily because he is the best in the State or from another planet but because within the last three years of his stewardship, Idimogu was able to define his boundaries, set out his goals, and respond with speed, diligence and clarity of purpose and also the essentials of governance. That is to say that governance is a human enterprise. In this regard, Idimogu has shown unparalled strength that neatly fits into the weakness that his predecessors in Oshodi/Isolo Constituency ll had shown while in the same office.It doesn’t require argument that Hon Idimogu has a good story to tell. It is a story that perhaps surpasses everything else since politicians have been occupying the seat in his constituency.
Idimogu, having won in a keenly contested elections in 2015 without controversy, swung into action to redeem all his campaign promises. Firstly, he organised free and compulsory computer program for the students in his constituency which no fewer than 400 students benefitted from. Seeing the level of poverty among the youths, he empowerd over 20 indigent youths in his constituency. It is really a measure of the pragmatic step that Idimogu’s administration has used to add value to the lives of the downtrodden. In order to tune down the number of unemployed youths, he gave over 30 unemployed youths job in Lagos State.
Recently, the people of Ilamuse Estate were thrown into perennial power outage occasioned by faulty Transformer for over 6months which crippled economic activities of the area, having known the economic importance of electricity, however, he quickly donated a brand new 500KVA Transformer to the community.
Hon Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu, the Igbo political apex leader in Lagos State had attracted so many roads in his constituency within 3 years of his representation among which are:- 1. Nwachukwu Drive, off palace way, okota, which is under construction now, 2. Olusesi Street, Ifoshi Road, from Iyana-Ejigbo to Oriniowo last bus stop, which has been awarded and the contractor is yet to start work. 3. Egbe/Idimu road (after bridge to Jakande Gate-Both side) 4. Egbe road (from NNPC to Egbe bridge-both side) 5. Coker bus stop/Lafenwa/Moshalashi Street. 6. Peter Agha/Allimi Bada. 7. Pedestrian Bridge at Ladipo/Toyota yet to commence work by the contractor, Baale Shekoni Street, Chivita Avenue is not left out, which is the major cause of gridlock at Canoe/Kudirat Adenikan Street, was also given a facelift. Even some of Idimogu’s most rapid critics agreed that he has given the constituency a massive face-lift in terms of representation.
Hon.Idimogu, it must be said, is a man of high taste. He doesn’t settle for second best. Visit the two Boreholes that he facilitated in Ejigbo and Isolo respectively, you will be forced to give him a “Thumbs up”. Before now, the aforementioned areas where the boreholes are sited were in desperate need of portable water before the intervention of the Honourable. It is his passion even before he was elected to give education a facelift. In the light of this, he bought and distributed Jamb/GCE Forms to students in his constituency to alleviate the burden on the parents. However, Indigent students are not left out in his magnanimity, he gave full scholarship to students at the tertiary level in his constituency and host of others.
In spite of all these achievements, Idimogu has not deviated from his ideology to make his constituency a better place to live, rather he brought confidence back to governance by closing the gap between the elite and the downtrodden.That is why he beats his chest that he is delivering dividends of democracy in every nook and cranny of his constituency. But he needs to make the general public see these ground breaking achievements, at least for the doubting Thomases to access.
Hon.Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu,has left a landmark which no one can beat for now. When the land crisis in Ilamose resurfaced in 2015, he lives among them, he was everywhere, he was entering houses he shouldn’t have entered, prostrated before people he ought not and stood before a rampaging bulldozer. His personal property was not involved, yet he stood for his people, used diplomacy, court and force when and how it was necessary until normalcy returned. This is what we call effective representation.
Some of the shuttle vehicles we see today from Ajao Estate to Iyana Ejigbo are possible through his Empowerment Scheme, the uncountable number of people under his scholarship, the stomach infrastructure he organises as a matter of monthly routine.He bought and distributed Rice and Ram to Muslim brothers and sisters for them to savour the festival in euphoria.
If you drive past his house every morning, you will see hundreds of people in his gate, definitely some of them will get their problem solved and because he cannot meet everyone’s demand, some will go home disappointed but the disappointed still go home happy because at least they have spoken to a listening ear. They have come close to their representative and have hope.We have seen Hon.Idimogu in action, he is always there for his people ,he has met with various government agencies like LASTMA, LAND USE TRIBUNAL, PHYSICAL PLANNING, KAI etc to personally intervene and got result on issues he was convinced that his constituent was being maltreated. He has visited churches and mosque donating money to help raise building in God’s name.
What makes you think that your Principal will be Re-elected?
Thank you very much. You know our Principal, Hon.Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu is a grassroots man, a political mobilizer and loved by everybody both young and old. We have earlier talked more on his achievements in the past and present.He is one man who does not wait for even a minute to implement his plans to produce positive results for any assignment given to him. If you witnessed all his consultation meetings and campaigns at the local government and wards ,both youths and aged cherished him and they were all calling on him to continue the good work.We therefore state categorically that it will be a great disservice to the good people of Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II if we fail to vote for this grassroots man; pillar of the masses because Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II needs a grassroots representative and a vibrant voice.
What can you say about other aspirants and what do you have to tell the electorate?
Well, anybody is free to contest for any position of his or her interest. As an action man, our principal is ever ready to go for the contest at primary level and hopefully at the election proper and we also enjoin other aspirants to come on board for the contest and whoever emerges winner at the primary level according to the people’s choice should go ahead with the election proper. The electorate should also not be afraid to support a man who is ready to make a stand with them; who has the interest of the grassroots at heart. I know that other aspirants are afraid of our Principal, Hon.Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu because he is a grassroots man and mobilizer.
Are you assuring our people that Hon.Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu is battle ready to defeat any opponent?
(Laughs) We know what we have; we know our principal’s antecedents. The “ABUNDANCE TEAM Agenda” is not in war with anybody. The upcoming election is just a race not war but we strongly believe that the masses are much awake and exposed now. It is no longer going to be business as usual. The masses will decide.
There is a debate if not Hon. JUDE IDIMOGU, Then Who?
I want to put some words across over the on going debate whether Hon Jude Idimogu member representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly deserve second term or not. politically speaking, there is nothing wrong with such debate, but it loses its taste when germaine issues are reduced or motivated by tribal or ethnic sentiments/reasons.
For many years, it has been the policy of APC even right from their ACN years to give second term ticket to the incumbent that got the job done. In my opinion, the question of whether APC will give him ticket should not arise, instead it should be whether he can win the election proper if given the ticket? That is whether he is saleable or not? This question, we all know the answer. YES!He is a saleable candidate which a progressive party like APC needs. I am not exaggerating, he is on ground. He has worked, at least he is with his constituents 24/7, sun or rain. Unlike what was applicable in the past whereby our representative disappears into Ikeja GRA once elected only to come back to share expired Thai rice and unwholesome vegetable oil to a few when another election draws near.
How ready is your Principal financially as you know that election in Nigeria these days is money?
Well, my Principal is fully ready to finance all his campaign and we want to assure you that the electorate are wiser now. So if any aspirant is thinking or planning of buying the electorate over, he or she is making a mistake because we need a voice and not a concur member and you know that our Principal, Hon.Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu does not fall in that category.
What is your message to the good people of Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II?
People should know that we need proactive continuity at this time and should not be bought over with money as it has always played out in every election period. They should look out for the most popular and grounded candidate who has been giving us voice in the House of Assembly; a man that will always open his gate to the masses and not a representative we cannot reach.
By: Grassroots Publishers