For Hon. Temitope Adewale, having worked with former Lagos State governors, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babatunde Raji Fashola [SAN] at different points, has really preoared him for different political tasks ahead. The young dude with three Master’s degrees looks prepared for his elective position in Lagos State. Thus, his present constitutional assignment as member, Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ifako-Ijaiye is a task he has passion and some experience to carry-out. In this interview with, JAH, as he his fondly called, spoke extensively on the fact that not just the influence of his late father got him elected as a lawmaker, but also competence, having served two former Lagos State governors before now. Read on…
It seems you are quite prepared for your new task as lawmaker in Lagos State Assembly…
…I have been prepared for this a very long time ago, have served in the executive arm of the State for a while and have been friends with members of the Assembly since the 6th Assembly. So, basically I’m aware of the functions and proceedings of the House to an extent, though to be sincere its a learning process for me.
If you are to summarize some of the experiences you have gathered in the chambers in about three month, what are the things you will talk about?
First, you have to understand that the Assembly consists of 40 different distinguished personalities and we may share the same ideas or different opinions on issues. There is also a need to learn how to present your opinion, very I, which is some of the things am still learning here. The Constitution was a thing I thought I know very well, I got to know I still need to learn more about the interpretation very well. There are places that are simply put but more difficult to interprete or apply. I also got to know its not just about constitution, we have been given different kind of Law books to understudy, every MDA’s has different kind of laws, you must continue to learn and observe House rules when you want to make contributions on the floor, there are laws that guide everything.For the first time i witnessed a plenary in Yoruba dialect, it was fantastic, I love it but was not able to contribute as much because of my shortcoming in the language even though its my mother tongue. It’s a new terrain for me, totally different from the executive arm but am learning fast.
What are some of the things you have in stock in terms of representing your people and contributions on the floor of the Assembly?
The House is set up to be a watchdog of the executive arm, uphold the constitution of federal republic of Nigeria especially as it concern the State too. So, the House was basically created to make enabling laws for the people , so am there to make laws that will affect people of my Constituency directly and Lagos at large. It is also very important to state clearly that the House has no power to spend, the power belongs to the executive, we are to regulate and checkmate. We do not have the power some people expected from us, like constituency projects, no constituency allowance. However, we can lobby the executive to help do some projects in our Local Government that will affect our people directly. Like I said its a learning process even for our senior colleagues here, we all learn everyday, thats why we all give kudos to the Speaker, Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa, who God has deposed great wisdom to lead everybody. Personally, I thank him because he has really supported me greatly in carrying out my function here. There are times I wanted to make contributions but I will have to go to him and he will teach me how to go about it. There are times I wanted to talk and when you stand up you tend to forget what you want to say for a moment, the Speaker will be patient with you and guide you appropriately. some people believe first timer in the House may not be able to make contribution until after one year, but we have done Plenary five times and I have contributed four times in those period, have seconded motions. Same thing happens to other new members.
Do you already have bills that you wish to introduce in the interest of your people?
The work of the Assembly is to make laws or alter laws for the people, there are lots of bills pending that needs to be worked on and sponsored. Yes there are bills am planning on lots in the educational sector, environment and so on. But there are procedure to this thing, you need to make it known to members individually first, deliberate on it before presenting it.
Can you recount the experience of your first day at plenary?
Unfortunately, for me, that was the third year remembrance of the day my father passed away. I was a little bit emotional, the Speaker gave me the grace to speak on that day. i was the first new member to speak on the Floor of the Assembly. I wore black dress that day and made it known that it was my Dad’s remembrance day, so members took turns to great me and eulogized my Father. The contributions on the floor on that day was about youth and drugs. I spoke passionately about it because am still a youth, I stand for youths and my service will focus more on the youth.
How would you describe the relationship in the House since you resume as a member of the Lagos Assembly?
For me, I’m a very friendly person but at that, we have hierarchy, there are three-stars general, two-stars generals as we called them. But we the new members call ourselves the rookies, we relate very well on daily basis, we carry ourselves along. With the old members , I relate well with them but the respect has to be there, among all the 40 members I know am the most troublesome, I make sure I torment one of them most time, either by cracking jokes, disturbing them. There are few times have even pissed them off but I go back saying ”egbon, i was only kidding” so we will all joke about it but I will still do it again, so they already took me as I am because I will still do it again and run away. But the truth is, they have all been nice to me.
Tell us a little bit about your political career.
I was born into a Political family, my Father used to be a member of the Federal House of Representative, he his Dr Elijah Adewale fondly called JAH, he’s late now. So i grow up in environment where I got to know Political intrigues, have worked with the executive before now. I was former Senior Special Adviser to former Lagos State Governor and our National Leader in All Progressive Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he remains my hero, I contested for the post left by my Father when he died, I was on the verge of clinching the ticket but Asiwaju called be and said for the betterment of the Party because the Party decision is supreme, he will like me to start from the State Assembly, so stepped down. I also wanted to contest for Local Government Chairman but was still persuaded to drop it. Before coming to the House, have also worked with Former Lagos State Governor now Minister as SSA works and Infrastructure, SSA Budget Monitoring, SSA Physical Planning & Urban development and so on. So I have garnered so many experience overtime in the state politics.
How much are these experiences aiding you in your present assignment?
I have been very close to some member of the State Assembly learning the ropes even when I dont know I will be here today, it has continue like that and my ideas with the executive arm. Don’t also forget my my Father was a Lawmaker before he died even though it was at the Federal level and Mr Speaker has been there to support me as well.
Will it be right to say the influence of your late father assisted you to where you are today?
Like I always tell people, if my father were to be a late criminal, his name will haunt me, so if he now happens to be a good Politician why shouldn’t his name influence me? When I was working with Asiwaju, my Father has nothing to do with it, in fact he got to know that Jah was my father after he died, it was after his death that many people got to know he was my father. At some point we were in government together and people did not know, I was doing my job. Though during election, I find it more easier because my father was a good man, he laid foundation of performance in the area, everywhere I went to and I said my name is Temitope Adewale, they will ask ” are you Jah son” and I will reply yes and they will open door for me immediately, I rode on the influence of my father coupled with my own competence. When Asiwaju found out that Jah was my father, he was pained very well, even my leader, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who was like my Dad’s closest friend when he came to visit us for my Father’s death, when he saw me, he asked me if Asiwaju was coming there because he knew am one of aide to Asiwaju, I said I don’t Know. He now said what am I doing here, I told him Jah was my Father, he was surprised; he first asked my Mum if am joking, my Mum told him am her son he then picked his phone and called Asiwaju immediately to tell him. Asiwaju later saw me and was really upset that I didn’t tell him, he said on the scale of 1/10 you have worked for me to score 6 or 7 and if you have told me Jah was your Father it would have been 10/10, I would have treated you much better. Even Oba Akiolu was also surprised, because my Dad was close to him too, he only got to know he was my Father after his death. Because no one asked me who was my father I don’t think it was necessary, I was just performing my duty diligently.
What are your plans in politics and where do you see yourself in 10 years from now?
I have passion for politics, to serve my people but I have leaders who decides, in any capacity they want me am ready to give my service.
How much of your time is politics taking away from your family?
It has not been easy, I really have to thank my wife, some days am not home until 1am. There is a lot of responsibility on lawmaker especially when you are new member like me, you get to read so many law book on governance, meetings and so on. For example, am a member of Ad-hoc committee on Budget, there are lots of things we need to go through and monitor.
How are you coping considering constituents bombarding your phone with calls for support of all kinds?
I’m not coping at all, it has not been easy but because I always have interest of my people at heart, you must assist but some take it too very far. Why will your wife give birth and you ask me for money, do you think I can’t impregnate my wife too? The same person may still come for his brother that want to go to school the following week. Its important to continue to enlighten our people about all these things, some will not call you, they will just send bank accout to you rudely, if everybody is doing that how do the elected member want to survive it. Most times they overburden you on this request not that am complaining because I have passion for my people I keep doing my best. That is why some members after leaving office they got broke because they couldn’t save during their service. Again, these people asking you for help will be the ones saying the money they are giving the lawmakers is too much but they keep coming for help. What will benefit the generality of my constituents is paramount on my mind not individuality, but we must still try our best. I have graded like three roads in my Constituency, Boreholes sinking is in the process, I gave out 150 GCE forms to Students in the area, am also in the process of rehabilitating three Primary Health Care Centre and equip it with facilities. All these are done inside my salary, where do I get the money from, so am not coping at all. May be if we get Constituency Allowance, we can do better.
Tell us a little bit about your educational background.
I studied Estate Management in University of Lagos, I also got my Second degree Online in Project Management, I was also favored by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to go to Harvard to Study governance in 21st Century. I later went back to UNILAG for my Masters in Facility Management, am in the process of getting my 4th Msc in Public administration and also pursue my Ph.D. Am still craving to study law which I might start soonest, I was born into educational family, my father has 7 degrees, Masters and he was a Ph.D holder.
