Hon. Akeem Ademola Ige has remained a constant figure in Ibadan and Oyo State politics since he was appointed and later elected as the chairman of Ibadan South East Local government. The Team of Ibadan City ANNOUNCER had an EXCLUSIVE Interview session with the man with the popular IGE AGAIN slogan during the hottest 2003 political season in Ibadan and Oyo state. He took our team into the behind the scenes of how he got into Molete School of Politics, how he became the chosen godson of the Molete first lady of Power, Mrs Bose Adedibu and his power of relevance for the last 22 years in the corridor of Power, Politics, Culture and Traditional Institution in Ibadan and Oyo State.
IbCity ANNOUNCER: You do not need an introduction from us but we would appreciate if you can take our readers into the person of Hon. Akeem Ademola Ige….Ige Again?
Hon. IGE: My name is Hon. Akeem Ademola Ige, born several years ago to Alhaji and Alhaja Ige of Ibadanland, in Ibadan South West LG. I started my nursery education from the neighborhood, Odijo primary school, Odijo high school and Urban day grammar school, because Odijo high school was merged, during the free education by the late Bola Ige. From there, I went to government technical college, that’s where I started having keen interest in engineering. From there, I have technical certificate, WAEC technical, then, London institute college.
When I was in technical college, I joined union. I was the secretary of IDU Ibadan union. So, that’s where I started politics, because I was a student coordinator for campaign for governor Isiaka Adeleke of blessed memory. When I finished then, I came back to Ibadan and gained admission into polytechnic Ibadan, where I studied Electrical Engineering to earn Ordinary Diploma and Higher National Diploma, OND and HND respectively.
During my days at The Polytechnic Ibadan, I was involved in politics, I was the student representative for my department, faculty of engineering. I was so prominent, vocal and very bold. They saw the potential in me.
I joined politics fully after leaving The Polytechnic Ibadan, through Youth forum. There was a youth forum organized in my area called Youth Awareness Movement. I was a prominent member of that youth forum, and I started gaining popularity from there, amongst the youth in my community, and I engaged in social responsibilities like coaching, extra moral lessons for our youths in the area and the whole community noticed these in me.
There was a particular time a politician came to our area canvassing for votes, and the elderly people in my area told him that, if he wants them to vote for him, he’ll have to bring me into politics, they gave him that condition and that was how it started. Even my parents did not want me to join politics because of the fear that we don’t have money, and the politics that was reigning then was the politics of Molete. They were the ones in power. So, if you cannot go there, forget about doing politics.
IbCity ANNOUNCER: So, how did you do it?
Hon. IGE: Well, it’s God’s doing. I had a lot of people who supported me and loved me then. They took me to baba Adedibu’s house. The love was so massive, even from people I don’t know. Most times when they asked us to bring money for party issues, especially when we have many aspirants and they want to weed out, they will call me aside and give me money to pay mine.
There was a time they said the party chairman was coming from Abuja, that was Audu Ogbe, and they asked all aspirants to contribute 40 Thousand Naira each to entertain him, this was 2002, I didn’t have that kind of money. So, I kept dodging and lying that I’ll pay it soon. Then the day came, and Alhaja Bose Adedibu called me, she asked me where I was, I lied to her about my whereabouts. She asked if I’ve paid my dues, and I said I’ll bring it later that day, she was worried and called me again about 5 minutes later and asked where I was, I lied again, and she just asked me to come to the house to see her. I went to see her, and she gave me the money to pay. When I took the money to the accountant to pay, he sensed that the money was from baba’s cupboard because of the scent, and he went to tell baba. Baba asked him to bring the money, he smelled it and asked me if Alhaja gave me the money, I was shaking at that moment, I could not lie, so I answered yes sir. I thought that was the end of my political career until baba said to others that, this is a signal that I am the candidate of Alhaja, and if we don’t pick him, we won’t find it easy in this house. At that moment, everyone started congratulating me, that was how I became anointed candidate.
I had the opportunity to serve my local government as the caretaker chairman for seven months, that’s in 2003. Later, I contested and won as the executive chairman of that same local government. After 3 years, I contested again as chairman interim committee to oversee the election of those who will take over from us. I was also elected as the chairman of Ibadan Company Property Limited, the company that oversee the whole properties of the 11 local government in Ibadan, both Less Cities and Main Cities. After that, I was appointed by the late Governor Alao Akala as his senior Special Adviser On Youth, Sport and Social Development. In 2015, I contested again under Accord party, and won as the State Assembly Member that represents Ibadan South West Constituency, but I was even elected as the Minority Leader for the 8th Assembly. During the first term of Governor Seyi Makinde, I was appointed as his Special Adviser on Tourism and Culture. Now, I’m the Chairman of Local Government Staff Pension Board.
IbCity ANNOUNCER: You said baba Adedibu said you’re mama Adedibu’s candidate. What do you think you did specially to earn that right from mama?
A: What I noticed was that I was the youngest amongst all the aspirants then, and I was loved by all, because I carried all the youths along, I was in control of all the youth, and I have been pulling weights for them even before I aspired.
IbCity ANNOUNCER: While you were the Ibadan South East Local Government (Mapo) Chairman, What Were Your Priorities?
Hon. IGE: Meaningful empowerment for our youths, and that was what I can say is my major achievement. I employed nothing less than 385 youths and they are still in active service. Majority of these people have become Directors, Deputy Directors, Senior Officers and Executive Officers in their different fields, across all the 33 local government in Ibadan.
IbCity ANNOUNCER: As a former local government chairman, there’s this issue of local government autonomy, it has been debated for long. From your experience, how much power do you think local government chairmen have?
Hon. IGE: To me, the issue of autonomy cannot be used to rate performance. The way Governor Seyi Makinde handles administration, I have attended several projects commissioned done by local governments in Oyo state, Egbeda, Lagelu, even my own local government, so, local government is working.
Local governments have the power to make decisions on their own in Oyo state. The issue of autonomy has happened before and it affected some local government, even my own local government to the extent whereby they couldn’t pay the salary of teachers, because the sharing formula they are using from Abuja is the problem. The barometer they are using to share money from Abuja is totally wrong. Some local government in Oke Ogun were using land mass to collect huge allocation, whereby local government in Ibadan that has higher population and larger number of staffs were collecting meager allocation.
So, it has happened before, and we don’t want such to happen again.
IbCity ANNOUNCER: During your time in the Oyo State House of Assembly, many people were expecting you to go to Federal House Assembly afterwards, why didn’t you attempt?
Hon. IGE: Well, God’s plan supercede all plans. I believe it is in God’s plan for me; it will come through.
IbCity ANNOUNCER: The responsibility of being a legislator in the House Of Assembly, and the responsibility of being a local government chairman, what’s the difference?
Hon. IGE: There’s a lot of difference. As a local government chairman, you’re an executive on your own, you have the power to approve, employ, and do anything, but in the State House of Assembly, there’s nothing like that. You make law and do oversight functions, and you facilitate long term projects to your Constituency and state.
IbCity ANNOUNCER: You once spoke about including Yoruba culture in school’s curriculum, do you think the vision has been fully realized?
Hon. IGE: I am one of those people that moved several motions to resuscitate Yoruba culture and language back into our system. Then, we set aside a day in the week, where we must wear Yoruba attire, and the business of the day have to be in Yoruba.
Secondly, in our schools, I don’t know why it was removed from the curriculum, but we thank God that the Federal government has mandated that it should be included in the curriculum.
IbCity ANNOUNCER: Now, you’re chairman for Local Government Staff Pension Board. For the public who may not know, what does this board do?
Hon. IGE: what this board does basically is taking care of retirees, pensioners at primary schools and retired local government staff. I want to tell you that ever since I’ve been serving in Oyo state, either elected or appointed, this government is the most considerate and pensioners friendly government. I’ve been in government consistently for 22 years, and we’ve never had it so good like this. This government has been paying pensioners on or before the 25th of every month since day one. And this government has cleared a backlog of 25 billion naira out of 36 billion naira owed by the previous government.
IbCity ANNOUNCER: Pensioners are aging, and as they age, they face health challenges. Beyond their pension, are there health initiatives for them?
Hon. IGE: There are so many. We have enrolled all pensioners in Oyo state with OYSHIA, and it’s the government of Oyo state that is paying for their health insurance. There was even a time pensioners paid 4 thousand naira for health insurance, the governor asked that their money be refunded, and it was refunded.
When Federal Government removed fuel subsidy, the state started paying pensioners 25 thousand naira monthly, and every year, just as Civil Servants collect 13th month salary, pensioners also collect Christmas and New Year bonus.
IbCity ANNOUNCER: We have Senator Adedibu, Ambassador Arapaja and deputy governor Gbolarumi. These were prominent politicians then, flying under baba Adedibu when he was alive, but all these politicians now are playing under and with the present governor in Oyo state. What do you think is happening?
Hon. IGE: That’s baba Adedibu’s legacy. Adedibu owned PDP, he was one of the founding fathers of PDP in his time and he didn’t do another party till he died. He raised governor Ladoja, and Governor Akala under PDP.
IbCity ANNOUNCER: Can you recollect the struggle for power between late Adedibu and the now Olubadan. How is your relationship with the Olubadan Oba Ladoja?
Hon. IGE: If you’re in Ibadan, you will see my billboard across Ibadan congratulating the royal father. I am a member of the Olubadan installation committee. I’m Olubadan’s son. Not only that, but I also served under senator Ladoja, as a local government chairman, and I’m a son and I know he’s very proud me up till today.
When he was chosen as Olubadan, myself and his Excellency, Arapaja, went to his house before the coronation. He’s our father.
IbCity ANNOUNCER: Are you contesting in 2027?
Hon. IGE: Let’s leave everything for God to decide, he knows how he takes care of me. I’ve been consistently relevant in politics and governance for the past 22 years, God knows how to sort me out.
IbCity ANNOUNCER: Can you give us a clue, if you’re going to contest, which position will you contest for?
Hon. IGE: In 2027, we will all make it. My boss, Governor Seyi Makinde will also make it to Abuja, everyone in Oyo state will make it.
IbCity ANNOUNCER: There are rumours that the governor will be contesting for presidency in 2027, what do you think about that?
Hon. IGE: It’s my joy that my governor, my leader, my boss is going to Aso rock. That’s our prayer.
