By Daniel Olushola Michael
At the time when the zeal to serve and promote political participations that breaks barriers and engenders grassroot mobilisation for benefits of all, there was a young but amiable lady in person of Hon.Bolatito Oladega Balogun who shot the bullets of Politics in the ancient Lagos metropolitan councils of Alimosho Local government. She shares her motives and exploits with reporter of Globalreport magazine and online news medium recently. Now the excerpt:
As a young lady with more inspiring future before you why do you vie for politics at a tender age?
Thank you,I am a native of Akinogun in Alimosho Local government and my father and family are one of the popular families in the council,I looked around and see a need to represent my people at the time of politics of personal sacrifice to move the party forward which I think politicians still imbibe today. I give credit to my political leader then Chief Shafari Adaranijo first commissioner of Service commission, the man who introduced me to politics.
Right then, I knew I need to work well and better to prove to many who think political office was never a task for women to thrive in.
What are the challenges faced while contesting as councillor ?
At that time I have to stand firm to prove my worth to my community that I might be a woman but that I can delivers and do more than a Man would,to the best of my ability then,I really worked hard and proved my worth and all my legacies as councillor still stand today as testimonies of sagacity of an energetic lady in politics.
For instance,there is a school called Zion African School Alagbaa, at Agege, accidents always killed pupils while crossing the road daily, I had to promised my community during campaigns that I will proffer solutions to the incessant killings by accidents and I was fortunate to liase with government of the day and Iyana-Ipaja bridge was constructed,not only that I also initiated another school as Oki Primary School was initiated, the name was offered to honour the Bale of the community, thats why we use the name as Oki Primary school, that's opposite the Zion school then, Alimosho primary school was also built for the benefits of my people. In fulfilling part of my campaigns promises, Iyana-Ipaja market and the garage with many other markets were initiated and ensure it stands till today.
After this,Alimosho and Estate grammar school was initiated and built by my leadership then.
We heard of your relationship with the former Iyaloja general,Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji,can you relay a bit to us?
Fate smiles on me while administering several markets in the Alimosho local government areas,it was then Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, mother of our present President of Nigeria,His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu spotted my prowess in doing this, she invited me to do more especially on some previous malfunctioning markets , Alhaja ordered me to revisit those markets and ensure they rebound, my unique exploits which I can give its credit to God Almighty who always empowers me in initiating successful markets those days earned me a very close and cordial relationship with Mama Abibatu. While she remain Iyaloja general of Lagos state,I had to hand over several markets to her leadership as someone who treated me as her own biological daughter and I have enjoyed her motherly roles on me too.
Early Community and political roles
As a young girl with vision to add values to my community, I rode on to express my agility in my Alimosho Community,though my political leader who plays pivotal and active roles in my political career was Alhaji Adaranijo but I got my leadership certification from Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1979.
I had served as an ex-officio in the Ikeja Community Development Association (CDA) under the Chairmanship of Chief Williams. Our efforts then focused largely on founding and refurbishing retail markets in the newly founded Alimosho Local government.
While you talk about Schools initiatives, how many schools were you able to facilitate as a Councillor then?
It was through my initiative as Alimosho Councillor that Alimosho Primary School was established.
As I mentioned earlier,Oki and Alaguntan Primary schools were primarily facilitated by my servanthood as a councillor from the government then.
My educational development to Alimosho local government also included initiatives of State High School and Alimosho Grammar School all under the Alimosho Local Government.
Education Development
Through my undying resolve to serve my community at all cost,I was able to facilitate the biggest library to Alimosho local Government which is still standing as testimonials of my servanthood to the local government. Though some people are claiming its their doings but records are there to prove anyone wrong.
How were you appointed politically between your years of service?
Between 1980-83: I honorable Bolatito Oladega-Balogun as a First female councillor for Alimosho Constituency worked selflessly in enrichment and development community Projects, principally focused on women.
At this periods of time too,I was the Coordinator general Alimosho Local government, market women association. Also 2nd volunteer health workers of Alimosho Local government,member of Community leader under Chief Williams Ikeja Local government.
Member National Women council of Nigeria.
First Vice president Alimosho local government.
1987: At the official opening of Alimosho local government market at Iyana-Ipaja by His Excellency Mike Okhai Akhigbe, Military Governor of Lagos State,My humble self was appointed the 1st Iyaloja general of Alimosho Local government.
During this year 1987 too, I was appointed P.R.O/Organizing Secretary to Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji,the Iyaloja general, Nigeria Nation. It was then I delivered the then existing Thirteen (13) established and functional markets in Alimosho Local government to her. In addition,we initiated Thirty Six (36) markets under the local government council. In the process,I received an honorary title of 1st Iyalaje of Idimu Kingdom, for which am grateful.
As you can see all these retail markets have grown remarkably well and developed in infrastructures and numbers hitherto.
Now, the Six (6) Local Community Development Areas, LCDA'S Under the old Alimosho local Government has the following growing markets as we speaks:
1. Akowonjo LCDA Market
a- Alimosho Complex Market
b- Alimosho Apex Market
c- Olugbede Market
d- Shasha Market
e- Akowonjo Market
2. Mosan Okunola Markets
a- Oladega Market
b- Pako Market
c- Abesan Market
d- Mosan Market
e- Oja Bale
3. Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA Markets
a- Ipaja Market
b- Ayobo Market
c- Oja Baruwa Market
d- Pako Market
4. Egbe Area Markets
a- Egbe Market
b- Idimu Market
c- Olorunsogo Market
d- Agodo Market
e- Oja Oba Market
5. Oke-Odo Area Markets
a- Oke-odo Market
b- Aboru Market
c- Atapa Market
d- Katangowa Market
e- Katangowa Motor Spare parts market
f- Katangowa Iyaniwura Super Market
g- Katangowa Oja-Oko Market
6. Igando Ikotun Area Markets
a- Owode Igando Market
b- Igando lockup Shops
c- Oja Oba Market
d- Mope market,Ikotun.
Had there been any Community honours for all these your indelible contributions ?
Yes,there are many honorary chieftaincy titles given to me such as Iyalaje of Idimu and the last is the Fiwajoye of Ibereko,Badagry Lagos.
My Church titles include Iya-Ijo Of Omnipotent Church of Christ,though i had Muslim background but I encountered God when a man of God was able to raised my dead child to life mysteriously through prayers.
How do you advise young men aand Women in politics today?
I will tell them to be people focused,to engage in grassroot activities and projects that would outlived them in office,such are what people would continue to remember them for and not to be too greedy as are aware,political positions is turn by turn if any aspiring politician waits, it would soon be his turn.
How do you think government can honour you for all your Political and Community activities ?
Well, I wish the present day leadership should visits ancient activities of our days and honour us especially people like us when we can still admits those honours. It is good to honour leaders in their lifetime when they can still smell the flowers and not all these posthumous honours and awards to their children and awards these days. When people are honoured when they are alive their joy would be doubled as you can see,am hale and hearty at 78 years of age. Government should consult and reach out to us for counsels no matter how little and I would be glad to render such in promotions to economic and political development of my Community, Alimosho Local Government Areas and all our LCDA's.
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