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On His New Experience At The LAGOS Assembly
Hon. Apata Samuel is one of the new lawmaker, at the Lagos House of Assembly representing Somolu Constituency. A few days back, he spoke to NIFE KAZEEM about his plans and experience in the house. Below are excerpts.
Why & how did you venture into Politics?
There are a lot of things that prompted me into politics. Firstly I wanted a platform where I can show my worth on how to help some people and I’ve been using my personal investment to do it all these past years and this has earned me the name Solution. I provide solution to problem’s, helping the needy especially those of us who come from very poor homes.
I know what it means to be poor, I know what people experience on the streets, that is why I came into Politics to enable me to do more for my people.
Talking about you providing solutions for your people, have you been doing politics before or you were a business man?
I was a Civil Servant, I retired due to an electoral law that says if you want to go into Politics you must retire and there was a circular from my Head of service then that those of us that are interested in politics should resign our appointment to meet up the electoral law, I resigned last April 16th.
In the past few months that you have been in office, what are the benefits so far that you have offered to your people?
They have been enjoying tremendous rewards. The first thing I did was start remedial for primary and secondary classes during the holidays, this will always get the young ones busy and keep them from joining bad gangs. We also offer Jamb classes. Apart from this, I did so many exercise books, I bought over one hundred G.C.E forms that I distributed ward by ward in my Local Governments, I also purchased forms for (JAMB) for over 50 students and as God would have it, those ones that did well, are now part of those that will be getting admission into the universities any moment from now.
I can see you have engaged yourself so well in Youth education. What are the many plans and empowerment program they should expect from you soon?
By the special grace of God in November, that is this month, we are having youth’s summit. I have invited professionals from U.I. University of Ibadan (Bank of Industry) C.A.C. people that will teach them how to make money with the use of phone’s digital analysis.
Any regret that you resigned as a civil servant?
No. I don’t have any regrets, of course if I haven’t resigned to join politics, I would have retired last year September, and I am so lucky to have come to the House of Assembly.
How can you describe politics of today in Nigeria?
Very fantastic. Just look at what is happening in River State, I believe its political fatherism but thank God that Lagos State is very peaceful with a Speaker who is generous and knows how to handle legislative matters and politics because I am very sure that kind of thing can not happen in Lagos State. There was a time when people were speculating about the leadership of the House of Assembly, Obasa used his political experience to put us together and everybody is on the right page with of Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.
What is your personal relationship with Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa the Speaker of the House?
Very cordial, he doesn’t discriminate no matter who you are or the party you are coming from. For instance, as an elderly person he still gives me my respect, even when we chat, he addresses me as sir. He has what is called humility.
What are the hopes of Nigerians with this present economic meltdown and what do you think will happen in the next general election?
By the special grace of God things are improving, look at the price of dollar to naira, it has droped and that is how it will be coming down gradually. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the right man for the job. He has been preparing for this over the years and he can’t fail. Come this time next year to take me on another interview then you will ask me if I was a philosopher to have predicted right. We Nigerians are always in a hurry for a miracle to happen. People who know about economy are praising him, trust me by next year we will be singing his praises. I know it is affecting all of us now, even we the lawmaker, the way people demand things from us has increased, because people think anytime we come to office, we go home with bags of money. Even the developed countries have undergone what we are going through now.
What is your own take on Atiku’s determination to remove President Bola Tinubu from office?
With the kind of plans Tinubu has for Nigerians, we will be the one to beg him to come and contest again. In one of his messages, he wants everyone to have a taste of politics, even some people believe by now he will be in Dubai enjoying but no! He is very much around with us finding solutions to our problems.
My assurance in him is 100% because Asiwaju is going to perform beyond expectation. By December, January, February when Dangote Refinery is working we will start seeing the difference, just yesterday I read that 100 CMG vehicles that are using gas are out, they launched that in Ogun State and from there transport fare will also come down.
Even our governor is working, as we speak now he is not in Nigerian, he traveled to negotiate for other investors to come to Nigeria.
They are going to start the new 4th Mainland Bridge by next year, so many like that, by the time those things start working then people will be saying Asiwaju don’t go please.
Lastly, tell us what your upbringing was like and school’s attended?
You can hear from my intonation I am an Ekiti man, I was born an bred in Ilawe-Ekiti (South-West Local Government of Ekiti State). I have been in Lagos for ages immediately after my secondary school days, I have been into politics since the time of Otedola, then I was following the (Progressives) Otedola was in (NRC) that time I was a teacher in Ladi-Lak School for many years, I went to Lagos State Polytechnic, Lagos State University for my Masters. I am a certified Chartered Accountant.
I went to Association of National Accountant of Nigeria, I resigned as a Deputy Director of Finance.
Losing my parents at a very tender age, taught me much about life. So don’t ever give an excuse that you can’t make it on your own without your parents. It only takes seriousness and you will make it in life. I thank God for all He has done. In the days of my primary election I faced a lot of criticisms, because Somolu comprises real Lagosians and Ijebus, they confronted me that I am not from Eko, that how could somebody from Ekiti come and take over their constituency. As God would have it, I won. It was only 30 delegates that voted and out of 30, I got 16, my closest rival got 13, another person got just 1 and about 6 others got zero.
