Pastor Emmanuel Oluwole Alawode is a seasoned man of God, a passionate leader and politician. He is the present Caretaker Chairman, Ibadan South East Local Government area of Oyo State. In this recent interview with Olayinka Agboola broadcast live during the weekly Parrot Xtra Hour on Radio on Space 90.1fm in Ibadan, he shares his story to limelight, what he has in stock for his people and how the Governor of Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde has helped in achieving his plans. Olaitan Ige brings you the excerpts:
How did you start politics?
Politics has been a part of me since I was young. I started politics when I was in secondary school, I just discovered that I was being appointed into the same position in school, till I graduated. When I got to the Polytechnic, Ibadan where I had my advanced studies, the same thing happened as well, and ever since that time, God has been laying it in my heart that I’ll be part of the people he’s going to use for my generation. After my service year, I started working at First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and later on, reality started dawning on me that I had to leave. Then, in 2009, I left the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and dived into full time politics. I thank God it has been a fulfilling journey for me.
Can you paint the picture of how you were attacked some time back?
I give glory to God. You see, the life we live itself is a risk and I remember when I joined politics, people told me I was entering into my death but considering the fact that God journeyed with me, I was rest assured that all will be well. Having spent some years in politics, I decided to contest for this position I’m currently occupying in 2012. A set of people believed my popularity was a threat to them and indeed, it was – because if it wasn’t, my life wouldn’t be threatened. A gang of assassins came into my house that night pronouncing that my life had been paid for. I, my wife and my mother-in-law were in the house at that time. That night was not palatable because I ended up at the University College Hospital (UCH), with one of my legs broken. All things work together for the good of those that love God and I really want to thank God for preserving my life and I also want to appreciate my wife for standing by me that day. She had to fight those assassins, not minding what would happen to her. It was that move she made that God used to save me. I refused to die that night because God said it wasn’t my time to go.
How true is it that the current Local Government Caretaker Chairmen were illegally appointed?
Well, I don’t know what some people mean by saying ‘we’re seating here’ illegally because we were brought in by a duly elected governor. The governor has the right to bring in anyone into a position at any particular point. When the past government was there, he had all the right to bring in people he wanted in position and they were there for the number of years God said they would be using. So when the new government came in, that is Governor Seyi Makinde, he made sure that he didn’t rush into bringing people he’s going to regret their actions much later. Thank God he has been able to bring in people who are actually promoting the positive change his government desires. When they wanted to flush us out in January, instead of us to fight back, we had to make sure peace reigned because we have a governor who has always said that nobody’s life is worth any position. We made sure that we did not fight back; instead, the governor had to go to court. It was the court that guaranteed our being there now.
Are you planning to become the governor of Oyo State later in future?
Everything depends on God. If God says yes, who am I to say no? Whatever and wherever God leads me is where I will go.
What’s your concept of good governance?
Well, good governance is about wiping tears off the faces of the people you are governing. This can be done in various ways. You can go round your community and see the poorest of the poor and you’ll see that indeed, these people are suffering. It was very obvious when we came that a lot of people were suffering and struggling to make ends meet but because we have a governor who is very passionate about his people, things have changed. We thank God because he has made Himself known in this administration.
Can you describe what you met on ground when you resumed office as Chairman of IBSE LGA?
We met nothing. There was nothing even in the Chairman’s office, everything had been taken away. All the things that are there now were just brought in. I didn’t even meet the car meant to be used by the Local Government Chairman; it had been taken away by my predecessor.
Can you tell us the plans you now have for your people?
Well, we have plans for the youths, widows, brilliant students and all categories of people. Even before I came into office, I was using my allowance to get forms for students to further their education and we paid for their tuition throughout their stay in school. To the glory of God, all of them have graduated from school and it gives me joy to see them come around. That was done when I was nobody but now that God has given me the privilege to be something, I have made it a point of duty to include education in my plan for my people. We’re going to make sure that people who are not able to go to school do so, we will take care of them from their youth till they are grown and we’ve started already. Also, one of the things we want to do is to make sure that street urchins in my local government are given proper orientation so that they can become better people in future. Some of these boys do not have parents at all and those that have have been neglected by their parents. So our plan is to bring them back to sanity and we thank God that it is yielding results. We’ve been able to bring a few of them out from what they used to do. They’ve stopped smoking Indian hemp; some of them have been enrolled in vocational schools that will give them a better future.
What measures have you taken to secure your constituency?
We thank God for the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) we have in Mapo and Idi-Aro areas; they’ve been so wonderful and supportive. We talked and they’ve promised to work with us. The DCO of Oke-aro died in his quest to make sure that normalcy was restored in the community, may God take care of his family. Just last week, he was called that there was an armed robbery attack at a particular place in my local government but unfortunately, when he got there, he was shot by the hoodlums. As regards your question, we will look into the acquisition of houses that have not been occupied for a long period of time.
Can you tell us your plans for your people to make them safe from the Corona Virus pandemic?
Yes, the governor called us immediately the virus broke out and told us to help our people. That is why the issue has not escalated beyond this in Oyo State. We made sure that hand sanitizers were provided in the locality and we made available all other necessary items to be used. Governor Seyi Makinde also pushed us to do more, we just concluded a meeting in his house where we discussed on how we would help our people by giving them food and all other items of necessity. We’re trusting God that spiritually, God is going to help us and physically, that God will make all things available to us.
If given the chance to offer a specific advice to Governor Makinde, what will you tell him?
Well, I’ll encourage him to do more because he’s always passionate about his people. I even wonder when he sleeps. If you go to his house, you’ll see him constantly holding meetings, even till 12 midnight and the basis of his discussion is how his people will be satisfied. The more you’re able to convince the governor on what to do to make his people more comfortable; he doesn’t look back on it. He’s a people-oriented governor.
Do you have any specific message for the people your local government?
I want to tell my people not to be scared but that they should be vigilant. Once they can keep personal hygiene, better days are coming and may God in His infinite mercies deliver all those who have been victims of this novel coronavirus.
