By Tinuola George
Comrade Joshua Ifeoluwa Ige
The Councilorship aspirant from Oluyeye Ward D1 in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Comrade Joshua Ifeoluwa Ige, said the interventions of incumbent chairman Honourable Oloyede Almaroof (Kendoo) for Oshodi people haven’t been all inclusive, this predicated why he is contesting as a councilor so he could change the status quo if elected.
Newsconnect reports that Joshua made this assertion in an interview with this medium at the flag off campaign of Young Progressive Party (YPP) in Oshodi on the 7th of June 2025.
“3 years ago when he got to office, he didn’t do anything, he started doing a rushing projects. 6 months or a year to the end of his tenure, he is using the project to campaign for his reelection.
“This is one of the things that pushed me to contest. I sat down and I saw a possibility of me doing better. Enough of condemning them, if you cannot come out to contest or support, it is not right to condemn when people are messing up part of our resources.
“Enough of the complain, so I said let me come out and contest. I have discovered there is enough resources in Oshodi that are available for the people of Oshodi but these resources have been cornered by some individuals who call themselves party members, party leaders.
“Recently, certain palliatives that were supposed to be distributed for the entire community in celebration of Eid Mubarak of Oshodi as a whole was shared majorly around party leaders, and party members.
“I got to know about it because I went to do certain things at the local government. Meaning that if I did not go there, I would not know about it. Series of things have been happening that we will not know about it because we are not part of the ruling party.
“They will post it on their platform that come and get so so and so things, we are not part of their platform, so we can’t hear about it. That’s one of the reason I said enough of this complaining, let me be part of the system, let me be the change I have been talking about.
“I want to be closer to the people. A councilor is the smallest unit in a political office. I want to be available at the grassroot level. I want to show that there are resources within the purview of councilors that can better the lives of people beyond what we are seeing .
“I want to prove that a councilor can do better than the current local government chairman with the little resources that is given. We want to bring governance to the street, we don’t want it to end at local government. We want people to have access to their councilors. Of course people would come and bring their personal problems, but we would have a way of attending to that. We want a quick response from the councilors and Local government Chairman, and that’s what we want to bring.
“One of the reasons politicians leave the environment after they get elected is that they feel they are not safe. It is only a thief that steals your money and run from where he stole. If you didn’t steal, why are you panicking? When people in the grassroots have benefitted from your intervention, they will be the ones to protect you when there are clandestine moves to harm you.
“People will protect your interest when you are in service to them. We at YPP who are Obidents want to be readily available at the local level to prove that politicians are not criminals, politians are not thieves, they are people like us. Some politicians just decided to be the thief.
“I don’t expect people to believe my words, I want them to believe my records. That’s why I tell people go and verify about me. Go and ask people who have done businesses with me. How can someone that can’t be trusted in the family with decisions making, lead and make decisions for the public.
“I want our people not to consider the fear that is being placed on ground, they should consider if they do not come out now to vote and protect their votes, they have four years to regret their actions”. He said.