An Exclusive Interview with ODUTAYO Abiodun Oluwole-Iwogbe, CEO Hagar Realty and Appraisal Services Ltd and President Odutayo-Iwogbe Foundation. In this interview session with Our Correspondent, Odutayo Oluwole Abiodun Iwogbe an House of Assembly Aspirant jostling to occupy Ijebu North State Constituency II (Ifelodun) in Ogun State bore his mind on salient issues as it affects his aspiration.

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Publisher: Kindly avail us your abridge personal profile

Iwogbe: My name is Odutayo Abiodun Oluwole popularly called omo Iwogbe in the political arena, born in Oru-Ijebu of political ward 7 in Ijebu North Local Government, Ogun State.

Born into the prestigious family of Otunba MBK Odutayo (The Otunba Layedugba of Oru-Ijebu Land); a retired Civil Servant who rose to a pinnacle of becoming a Director of the National Population Commission, an astute politician who was once the House of Assembly Candidate of Ijebu North-II under the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 1999 and Mrs Dorcas Odutayo a Retired Vice Principal.

I attended St Benedict Primary School, Onikolobo, Abeokuta and proceeded after coming out with flying colours to MayFlower Secondary School, Ikenne, bagged my Bachelor's Degree (Hons) in Computer Science from the great Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye. Having worked as an I.T expert at Mate Communications Ventures situated at Ikeja, I decided to establish my own business as a real estate and development business entrepreneur since year 2011 and to the glory of God we are moving forward.

Publisher: What brought you into politics and how did it all starts, knowing that you are doing well in your business endeavour?

Iwogbe: My own case is perhaps different because I didn't join politics, I was born into it because at one side my father had loved Politics despite being a civil servant then but I began active Politics in my community not too long ago. The desire to serve, to develop, to impact and to emancipate my Constituency, to speak for those whose voice are loud but not heard and those who are voiceless towards getting things done for their betterment, are the drives that gingered me into throwing my hat into the ring. 

Publisher: having seen different promotions of your ambition both online and offline, genuinely, what is the reason behind your aspiration?

Iwogbe: the reason is not far fetch, like I postulated above, the House of Assembly makes the occupier of the office have a closer relationship with the grassroot, it's an opportunity to be the voice and mouthpiece of the Constituents. Out of these comes the burning desire to be that voice, to ensure what is meant for my people gets to each and everyone irrespective of partisanship, to ensure even distribution of wealth, developmental and transformational projects that will open more doors for industrialization, self reliance, cultural values enhancement and  academic/educational advancement. 

Publisher: You run a foundation, did you establish this foundation because of your Political ambition?

Iwogbe: many people knows Odutayo-Iwogbe Foundation had been in existence long before I decided to begin my Political journey here in Oru-Awa-Ilaporu. What only made the foundation more pronounce especially on media is because I'm now in politics. We have been in the philanthropic act without media hyping but you know our people, immediately they heard of my ambition, every of our event now becomes present on the media courtesy of our supporters and I appreciate them for this. But in summary, Odutayo-Iwogbe Foundation had been in existence very long before now and we thank God for what God has used us to do in the lives of the people since we started, some of which are empowering of 100 small businesses in groups with 50,000 each per group; supported the Elders with a token of 5,000 per head; conducted free medical services and distribution of drugs; Dug a borehole at Ikansi, Oru; awarded scholarship to three TASCE and TASUED Students, even during the Covid-19 national lockdown, we thank God for the lives of families God used us for.

Publisher: if peradventure (God forbids) you did not secure the party ticket, will the foundation continue to exist and performs the philanthropy?

Iwogbe: like I said earlier, Odutayo Iwogbe Foundation had been in existence before my personal political ambition and by God's grace it will outlive it even if I win the election or otherwise. The foundation is birth out of passion to help others not too privileged, it's not that I have it all, but from time that I can remember, I have always desire to give back no matter how little, and of course if many of us do this, we all won't be in a state of penury and disadvantaged. 

Publisher: As regards the hallow chamber activities, we know the primary purpose of a Legislator i.e to make laws, oversight functions etc. How do you intend to also use the office to benefit your people, as in what more should they expect if you eventually win?

Iwogbe: I am passionate about being the "Voice". A voice that will be an advocator, negotiator, solicitor, lobbyist, mediator; a voice that will ensure the people benefits from the dividends of democracy in terms of self development and Constituency development. Permit me to furnish you with my mission, I'm keen to Lobby and Facilitate Developmental Projects & Support into the Constituency; to ensure Youth and Women Empowerment and aggressive lobby for youth employment; To sponsor Bills and Motions of immense benefits to the State and my Constituency in particular; Agricultural and Rural Development that will birth industrialization; Health Care Improvement; Special Assistance to Exceptional Students and motivational incentives to Teachers; Promotion of Cultural Values and Special care for the Custodian of Culture.

Publisher: Zoning is a cardinal part of any Political party, how does zoning favours your ambition in your Constituency?

Iwogbe: I must appreciate this awesome question. Zoning is a guideline to streamline the influx of aspirants, though it is not obviously stated in our party constitution but it is a gentleman agreement pattern and modus operandi of our party. Having established this, permit me to take you back on a short historical pattern; Hon Joseph Adegbesan, my respected leader and political mentor occupied that office earlier, he is from Awa-Ijebu of Ward 7, then the incumbent House of Assembly member, Hon Dare Kadiri from Ago Iwoye took over and right now, it is the turn of Ward 7, Oru Awa Ilaporu. Most fortunately for us, Awa had occupied the seat before through Hon Joseph Adegbesan, apparently giving we in Oru-Ijebu the open avenue to present the candidate. Needful is to say that our Constituency is majorly divided between we in Oru-Awa-Ilaporu and the good people of Ago-Iwoye, and naturally, it is rotational brotherly affairs. Hence, if any one perhaps decided to compete from Ago Iwoye, such a person is not wrong because the person definitely knows, he or she is only promoting the party's nomenclature.

Publisher: If the amendment of Electoral Bill favours direct primary, with you coming out of Oru/Awa/Ilaporu, a ward out of five wards; do you see yourself winning, if direct Primary is applied or even the indirect?

Iwogbe: no one in life is sure of anything except God, but with God, our people who are our backbone i.e our indefatigable leaders, our excos, our supporters and lovers, nothing will be difficult to achieve. We are working towards it and God be our help, we shall get the ticket and even win the election. 

Publisher: Many after wining, abandoned their party, in the guise of being busy, and only come back when they see election coming near, what is going to be your mode of operations?

Iwogbe: to be honest, such act is condemnable. If the Legislator is the voice, how will such hear the yearnings of the people when he or she distances him or herself. We won't toe this path, I'm a grassroot person and will not hide under any form not to be with our people except if truly I have an assignment that involves the reason in which I was elected.

Publisher: What are your plans for youth and women if elected, especially knowing you belong to that Youth Constituency?

Iwogbe: Like I said earlier, even before assumption of office, via my foundation we have consistently been giving back, I have mentioned some of our activities and wouldn't want to bore our readers. However if I get elected, it can only get better, especially on job creation through vocational trainings, financial empowerment and bringing Government closer to the people. There are many financial empowerment that do normally go on at the State which many of our people are disenfranchised. We will keep our youths off the streets, lobby aggressively for job opportunities both within and without government. Our fathers and elders are not left out, we will engage them, agriculture will be improved on, businesses will be assisted to mention but a few, in all, God be our help. 

Publisher: No doubt it is obvious, Gov Dapo Abiodun will be running for a Second term in office, how will you rate his performance especially limiting it to the Constituency you wish to represent? 

Iwogbe: Very fantastic question! Let me start this way, even if Gov Dapo Abiodun MFR says he won't contest, Ogun State people will force him too..We have not have it this good in Ogun State where every local government can pinpoint to State projects in their locality. However in Ifelodun Constituency as you asked me to limit it to, we have a good share of dividends of democracy courtesy of Gov Dapo Abiodun MFR. From Oru, we are blessed and favoued to produce the highest ranking State appointee, in my Father and inestimable Leader, Mr Tokunbo Talabi, the Secretary to the State Government; we can see our  road from refugee junction to link Ibadan express way via Awa. You can see the Yellow roof classrooms, our refurbished and equipped Primary Health Center. In Ago Iwoye, the Primary Health Center has been facelifted and equipped, igan road has been reconstructed, Late Sen Jibril Mattins Kuye road and the very most important is the good news that Ago Iwoye via OOU road to Ilisan will be holistically reconstructed after years of abandonment, this road is actually a priority to all of us in that two local governments, it will ease a lot of tedious activities especially as regards trade and commerce. So to me, it's a must for Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR to contest and will win overwhelmingly. And I even ask, do we even have opposition parties in Ogun State that can contest against him? (Laughs). The Governor has taken the needs of the people as priority in Security, Education, Industry, Housing, Agricultural, Health etc. and delivering these services without gainsaying.

Publisher: in the event that you did not clinch your party's ticket (God forbids), what will be your next move or reaction?

Iwogbe: in terms of reactions, no one has ever been excited when they have a setback, so also we will feel if such setback befall us, but we pray we shall have a success story at the end of it all. Mainwhile, peradventure it does, we go no where, we shall support the party, we shall continue to promote the party and we shall abide by the Constitutional guidelines of the party. I'm a party man to the core, if it's not yet time now, definitely, ours will come at God's appointed time but we are optimistic and hopeful that our time is now. 

Publisher: Apart from work, charity and politics, how do you relax, what are your hobbies? 

Iwogbe: (Laughs) to be sincere I do take my time to relax, body no be wood. I spend time with my family, I travel sometimes and I love going to the beach to catch fun and cool off. 

Publisher: Any last word for your Constituents and readers?

Iwogbe: I want to plead with our Leaders, my Fathers and Mothers, politicians of high repute, our supporters and even would-be supporters to please help me achieve this dream of mine. Without them, the dream is nothing but a piece of shadow. It's their support that can take all of us to the state of liberty, development and unprecedented representation. I also plead with them to get their PVCs, that's the only way they can vote us and support us. I can assure them, we won't disappoint them, we will keep all our promises and pledges. May God bless them and keep all of us safe (Amen).