Hon. Tobun Abiodun is the lawmaker representing Epe Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly. He is also the Chairman, House Committee on Environment. In this interview, he speaks on his career and how he got the legislative ticket to the Lagos State House of Assembly.  He believes that Lagos State would be better,  if the next Governor comes from Epe.

Would you say you have represented your constituency well enough?
I leave that to my constituents to appraise my work. I would say that I am happy to have impacted positively on my constituency within the period under review. I have been able to cut across all spheres of life and ensured that the dividends of democracy are delivered to my people  equally.

I grew up in the community, I know what they need and I have been able to pursue it, thank God, we have attended to a large percentage of the people. I can beat my chest that I have done the little that I could do for them.

Epe has been without electricity for more than 14 years. Two years ago, you said, the problem would be addressed, what is the situation now?
Electricity problem in Epe in systemic. There are three major roads that to Epe. The first is through Ijebu-Ode, the second one comes from Ikorodu while the third is from Ajah axis. In all of these aforementioned area, Epe is probably the last point of contact. There is tendency for electricity to have  dropped before it gets to Epe.

We were to be given 33KVA step down transformer, but it is not adequate for the area. But what we have done is to take the bull by the horn. The first is to revive the old system and to install a new system. The most effective is the one on Ikorodu road. We have written a letter which was followed up  from PHCN to the DISCOS, and was submitted and approved by the federal government, in Abuja.

Some poles and wires were changed and electricity was restored. Unfortunately, it was inadequate to serve all the regions in Epe including Ikorodu, Imota, Agbowa and Epe. There have been several efforts to restore light in Epe but the major problem was the issue of land for the step down transformer. On that issue, a committee was set up to resolve the problem and I believe the issue will be resolved. The construction of the base station would start any moment from now and I believe we are moving towards the full construction of the project.

It has been said that Epe would produce the next Governor in the state, how have you been able to manage the crisis that have come with this?
I want to thank the leadership of the party who zoned the governorship to Lagos East Senatorial District with a special searchlight on Epe. Also, I want to thank the stalwarts of APC from other parts of the state for believing that we can do it because we have people who can lead the state to the next level.

Everyone is free to show interest, but I know that the best person that will emerge would take the state to the next level. We are ready to take up the opportunity and we will not allow it to slip us by as the best candidate would emerge.

Ikorodu used to be under an administrator from Epe, but, now we are the most backward in terms of infrastructural development and if we don’t have a Governor that can take Epe to the next level, it would be bad. If Epe is given a chance to produce the next governor, we would link the community to central Lagos and decongest it. If they give us the opportunity, Lagos would be better off. We will decentralize ministries so that they would not be concentrated in one place.

How best do you think we can tackle the issue of poverty in the country?
Poverty in Nigeria is endemic and I want to tell you, poverty would have been reduced drastically if the government had done what was expected of it. Government ought to provide an enabling environment, which the government at the centre has not been doing. The major cause of this is poor electricity supply that we are experiencing, if there is electricity, small businesses would grow and more people would be employed.