Salami Ibraheem Oladeji (a.k.a. Dikko) is the son of the immediate past Accountant-General of Oyo State, Alhaji Salami Liadi Olagoke. Dikko, as he is fondly called, was born to the family of Ayedara Salami in Ayuku Village, in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State. He started his education career at Virtue Alliance Children School, Sanyo, Ibadan and thereafter proceeded to Loyola College, Ibadan for his Junior Secondary School education then to Wesley College of Science, Elekuro and Ariyo International College Ibadan for his Senior Secondary Certificate. Upon completion of his secondary school education, he went to American University in Cairo, Egypt at the Faculty of Computer and Information Technology Division to obtain ICDL Certification Preparation (4.5CEU). He thereafter returned to Nigeria and proceeded to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (Lautech).
Upon completion his study at Lautech, He further proceeded to Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur (IUKL) Malaysia to obtain Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons) and presently at the professional level with the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN).
While studying in Malaysia, Dikko Salami was elected President of International Students Association (an association that comprises 63 countries until formulated to 98 countries under his administration). He was also elected as the Vice President Students Representative Council (a council that includes the Malaysians and international counterparts). He was also elected President of Accounting Club (Faculty of Business & Accounting). It is worth of note that Dikko Salami was the first black President of International Students Association (ISA), the position he successfully held until he returned to Nigeria to fully participate in active politics.
Dikko Salami has received many awards and certificates of appreciation and participation both at home and abroad which include; The Best International President of the year by the ISA executives 2016/2017; Man of the Year by the Sudanese Students Society; The Outspoken International Speaker of the year by the Somalian Students Society; President’s Award in recognition of his assiduous style of Leadership in Human Rights, Social Justice and Universal Fight for Freedom by the Nigerian Student Executives; Outstanding Leader of the year by the Eritrean Students Society; Most Popular by the Nigerian Students Society; Excellence in Leadership Award for being the most influential leader and International Student of the Year by Egyptian Student Executives; Face of Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur by the Pakistani Students Society; Supportive Leader of the year by the Bangladeshi Students Society; Best Student of the year 2014; Selfless Service Award by ISA 2014; Youth Leadership Merit Award by Oluyole Youth Council; Award of Excellence by Olunde United Football Club and Meritorious Award and Value by Nigerian Man O’ War among others.
In this interview with Parrot Xtra Magazine, Dikko Salami explains why he has returned home to actively involve in partisan politics and his mission to contest for House of Representatives election in 2019 general elections. OYEDAPO OYEWOLE brings in the excerpts. Enjoy:
What is your view about the not too young to rule Bill that has been passed by the National Assembly?
I think the not too young to rule bill passed by the National Assembly is a very good one since it targeted the young ones. I know that in politics, we need all these vibrant youths to actually participate in politics. We are not saying those old people should not continue in politics but they should at least give the young ones space to play their own roles and chance to run for various political offices. The elderly ones should be playing advisory roles for the young ones on how things should be done. That bill is a very good one and I think the youth should embrace this development by coming out enmasse to participate in politics for the betterment of the society.
Would you say this is what motivated you to participate in politics?
That is a very nice question. You see politics for me is more like a passion. I think it’s something that I’m born with. When I traveled abroad to study, I was able to see the reason why we need to improve on many things in this country and to assist the downtrodden people around us. We need to improve on the infrastructural facilities in this country. When I joined politics abroad as a student, I was able to rule over 98 countries as the President of International Students Association (ISA) and that has given me the opportunity and an insight into joining politics at home. When I was the President of these countries, I was also opportune to be the first black President of that association. It also gave me the opportunity to be the best President ever. That was what motivated me to decide that if truly I wanted to impact on the lives of the people, the best thing for me to do is to involve in politics to let them know that the young people also have an idea on how to make things right. So if I can be given the opportunity to do it I can do it right.
Having been involved in politics oversea, how would you compare the politics over there to the one here in Nigeria?
I think there is a clear difference between politics oversea and politics in Nigeria and also don’t forget that when I was ruling as students’ President oversea, it was just an association though it has a lot of countries that were involved. To play politics oversea they will actually look at a lot of things before you would be allowed to participate. Number one, they will look at your biography and educational background. Also what are your ideas? What are the visions and missions you have also important. But here in Nigeria, you have to be involved at the grassroots. Poverty in the side of our country has prevented people from being exposed to a lot of things. For somebody like us, you have to educate the people, you have to involve and mingle with them. You have to know their suffering and render some assistance before you can be acceptable to them. Your educational background may not matter to them while doing all these. So that is the different between politics oversea and here in Nigeria.
Why are you eyeing Federal House of Representatives and not House of Assembly?
You see in my own local government, Oluyole Local Government, we have 10 wards and it is zoning. The leaders will ask you that five wards should take State House of Assembly and the other five should take Federal House of Representatives. However, in my own zone I have not yet declared that I am going for a certain position, it is whatever that was zoned to my zone that I will actually vie for but I think the Federal House of Representatives is coming to my zone and that is exactly what I will contest for.
Can you briefly mention some of the things you have in mind for the people if you eventually get the ticket?
I have many things in my programme ranging from education, youth and women empowerment, infrastructural development, street light projects as well as health care delivery, security and so on.
