By: Balogun Ibrahim

The talent of the man who becomes the House of Representative, Epe Constituency is of the essence. We don’t need a passive representative but an energetic and assertive one. Noheem Balogun is not only supremely qualified but uniquely qualified to engage in the art of representation. The young man has a mind of his own. He has expressly stated that under his representative, as the House of Representative for Epe federal constituency, nobody will monopolize initiative and decision on major policy issues. Again, the structure of the Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP) is more cohesive, more uniform in experience, and more single-mindedly accustomed to thinking in terms of the betterment of the society. The party is unlike the APC, which is constantly resisting innovation and bureaucratically conservative.

I acknowledge Balogun’s remarkable qualities, his coherent views, his cool, hard to ruffle temperament and his near faultless campaign organization. He has promised to create new jobs and lay a new foundation for growth and development of the constituency. He has promised to bring lights, jobs and good roads, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. He has also promised to transform our schools to meet the demands of a new age.  I have faith in him that he will perform as promised. Balogun is passionate about Epe division and that means a lot.  It will be appreciated everyone to vote for this great philanthropist. The Igbo and Hausa communities in the division, have also urged Igbos and Hausas to vote for PDP. “Conventional wisdom dictates that Igbo and Hausa should do the bidding of their hosts who have an PDP leader Abubakar Atiku, as presidential candidate, who must not be embarrassed. Besides, it is in Igbo and Hausa core and vital interest to massively vote for PDP House of Representative candidate, Balogun”

Indeed, Noheem Balogun was born in Epe to the family of Mr. Musiliu and Madam Taibat Balogun (both late), but of Oke-posu and Oke-balogun areas of Epe respectively. After his primary education, he proceeded to Epe Grammar School, Epe where he obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1981. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Cum Laude) degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.

Balogun also possesses a Master of Science degree in Computer Cyber Security from American Military University, Charles Town, West Virginia, USA. He is a Ph.D in view in Computer Information Security at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. He is also a certified Microsoft system Engineer and a Siebel Oracle developer. His career trajectory made him through various executive capacities as Communication Officer at Elder Dempster Co, Nigeria Limited; senior Cyber Security consultant at AT&T, USA, Senior Software Developer at IBM Corporation, USA. In fact, he held these responsibilities before venturing into private business. He is currently, President/CEO, Abifoley Co. Nigeria, Limited, Abbey ventures Limited and Abifoley systems, Atlanta Georgia, USA.

Balogun has the capacity and what is even take to lad us, we must not forget that APC has caused us so much pain and havoc. We have nothing to show for voting for them over the years. We need a division, Epe federal constituency that works because we live and work here. A lot developmental ongoing in the Epe division courtesy “Noheem Balogun” with his personal resources and promising that they are going to see more if elected into the House of Representative. He was nicknamed ‘Imole Dee’ after provision of light to the division after sixteen years of darkness in the division.

The Media Adviser to Hon. Noheem Balogun, Yomi Agabje disclosed that the man has helped his constituents in many ways, especially through provision of good jobs to his followers and others, without or irrespective of political affiliation and those be given jobs were doing wonderfully well in their respective place of works and “they are all dynamic and outstanding performers in their own right. Each is different from the other and each and they are excels in its own unique way. This means that Balogun is not orchestrating them into some limited uniformity but stands out of the way for them to lead as they believe. No major politician in Epe division has a track record as good as Balogun’s when it comes to supporting able people for office and securing jobs for the masses. Nowhere in APC members does this in Epe division, including present House of Representative, Mr. Wale Raji.

Sorry, for that little bit digression, Noheem Balogun political journey began with his office as a Youth leader in the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), he held the same capacity in National Advance Party (NAP) founded by the late political icon, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite. He was an active member of Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the failed democratic dispensation of the early 90s, currently, he is a staunch member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on whose platform he is seeking position of House of Representative at the National Assembly, lower chamber, to represent Epe federal constituency in the 2023 general elections.

Noheem Balogun, is a consummate philanthropist, which he has demonstrate to be a good leader through provision of social amenities for the people of Epe division that even surpassed the current occupier of the position he is seeking, he has provided over 100 solar streetlights to communities in the division, construction of drainages and culverts to the needed communities and drilling of drinkable boreholes for the communities with his personal resources and without bias and political party, even those commitment was born out of passions for the love he has for his communities and his constituency, Epe division, till date he still continue the good job.

He has promised to revitalize the fortune of cottage industries in Epe division, because all these industries had been moribund, including Plywood Industry, the Oodua industrial company and others, also the fisheries parastatal had been collapsed but promising to rejig them if elected into power, also in his manifesto, he vowed to provide portable water for all, rural electrification and sustainable power supply, including better life for women and rural ones. He also promised access to affordable housing and improved healthcare facilities and better standard of living of his constituency.

The scholarship and bursary award for the students that had been jettisoned for the years, especially for the indigent students, Noheem Balogun had hinted that he is going to revisit the issue, through provision of scholarship to brilliant and indigent students at all educational levels (applicable to both indigenes and residents of Epe division), availability of bursary award to all Epe indigenes in tertiary institutions and youth empowerment through creative, innovative method and acquisition skills, also economic prosperity through entrepreneurial development and wealth creation in order to increase job and business opportunities for the people.

Also, his fostering unity in diversity through inclusion, equity and justice in his manifesto will promote unity among the youths that usually engaging in cultism activities, and his social support for the vulnerable will reduce and abate advanced beggars in the communities and among the youths and olds engaging in begging activity, he also promised improved mother and child medicare, which our mothers,sin grandmother and great grandmother will have access to medical attention, and provide drugs and prescription of drugs to them all. Also, access to startup loans and various credit facilities for traders and fishers in the division, as we are all known as custodian of fishes (Epe e’leja).

To this ends, Epe indigenes need to be very cautious, especially the electorates to look at the best candidates among those contesting for the position of authority in their respective position seeking for, so as not to vote for  bad contestants, which is going to steer their post of authority for the next four years. We should look at their antecedents, what they have for us in their manifestos, what are they done for us, those in saddle right now? What have we gained from them, let’s juxtapose those things before going out en masse to vote for them.

They say, once bitten, twice shy, don’t let them becloud our reasoning with their sugarcoated campaign promises, whenever they are campaigning, they will be promising heaven on the earth, once they assumed that position of authority, nobody there near them with their security apparatus, so let’s vote wise, and vote for a pragmatic change, energetic and competent person for the House of Representative, Epe federal constituency in person of Hon. Noheem Balogun, which has the capacity and will to take Epe indigenes to the promise land.

Ibrahim, a journalist and a media consultant, writes in from No, 17, Ajanasi Street, Oke-Posu, off Ajagannabe road, Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria

Can be reached via:- balogunibrahim1777@gmail.com, or 08060799328

The contention over the role of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the wave of infrastructural transformation being witnessed in Lagos State in the last two decades may now be put to rest.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, set the record straight, saying Tinubu was the brain behind the development master plan being implemented by successive administrations in Lagos, which has elevated governance in the State. This, Sanwo-Olu said, is a fact that could not be denied by anyone who worked closely with the former Lagos Governor from 1999 to 2007.

Sanwo-Olu was the special guest at Your View, a broadly watched show on Television Continental (TVC), where he spoke about his Government’s achievements, his re-election, family values and relationship with the APC presidential candidate.

Lagos is widely believed to be the model for good governance, infrastructure renewal and innovation. The State recently made history as the first sub-national entity in Africa to complete modern intra-city rail infrastructure without federal budgetary allocation – feat widely applauded.

Sanwo-Olu said Tinubu could not be deprived of the credit for the reforms that set the direction for the infrastructural programmes delivered by his successors to transform Lagos to one of the biggest economies in Africa. The Governor, who said his working relationship with Tinubu began in 2002, emphasised that he was a living witness to development of Lagos State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (LASEEDS) under the leadership of Tinubu.

The LASEEDS document, Sanwo-Olu said, was harmonised with a 10-point agenda document and became the precursor to the Lagos State Development Master Plan (LSDP) that originated from the Lagos Economic Summit (Ehingbeti) initiated by the Tinubu administration.

He said: “With all sense of humility, I joined the Tinubu government over 20 years ago. I was General Manager in my bank before I joined Tinubu in November 2002. From the very first day of my appointment, I was in Tinubu’s cabinet and I saw things first hand. I am a living witness to the development vision put forward by Tinubu. It’s not something we should be blabbing about; it’s a fact we all know. Under the leadership of Tinubu, we set up documents called LASEEDS and SEEDS, which are economic development blueprints for Lagos. We also had what we called a 10-point agenda, which laid the foundation for revenue generation drive, transportation reform and public infrastructure renewal.

“LASEEDS and SEEDS documents were working blueprint for transformation in Lagos. We set up the Ehingbeti Economic Summit to run year on year, where we collate inputs from the private sector and put them in flesh of public documents and generate a working paper we could implement. I was the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, so I was part of those that developed the documents. Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), for example, did not just come out of the space; Tinubu set up LAMATA with the World Bank in 2002. I was part of the first set of personnel that worked in LAMATA, which is one of the best transportation agencies in the world.

“That’s how the blueprint was developed and we had a 20-year development plan for it, which former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola improved on. He expunged some items and replaced them based on the realities of the period. Former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode did similar thing. Our Government is doing same, because there is continuity. We’re able to see the challenges of previous governments and we decided on those things we can take quickly. Tinubu deserves the credit because he is the one that was able to bake the first retinue of very intelligent people that worked with him to develop implementable blueprint.”

Sanwo-Olu dismissed the speculation in certain quarters that Tinubu had been running Lagos by proxy, noting that the former Governor had since moved to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the last six years where he had been contributing his quota to national development and building the ruling party.

The Governor, however, said Tinubu’s experience in governance qualified him as the right person from whom advice is sought regularly for direction.

“Tinubu is a father and a man that I respect personally. I cannot take that away. Critics always want to say anything, but are we keeping our eyes on the ball? Yes. Are we doing the things Lagosians want us to do? Yes,” the Governor said.

On why Lagosians should trust him with another mandate in the coming general election, Sanwo-Olu said: “One of the strongest points of a leader is for people to underrate you. You don’t have to be in people’s faces to get your tasks done. All you have to do is to roll up your sleeves and get the job done. Check out my background, integrity is what I live by. As a treasurer in a bank, my word is always my bond. If I give commitments, I keep to those commitments.

“It is not about me alone. It is about our future and the legacy we should be leaving behind. We have kept faith with all the things we said we would do under the THEMES agenda. With all sense of responsibility, we have performed and earned people’s trust. Let’s join hands and be on this train together. We can imagine what’s coming in another four years.”