Arguably, Hakeem Olaogun Onikoyi Dickson, known by his teeming followers and enthusiasts remain a brilliant bride of the socio political and leadership space of Lagos state, and indeed the entire southwest.
Arguably, he is the finest political leader to have ever emerged from this part of the federal republic of Nigeria, this is because he delved into politics with the sole aim of unwavering public service and societal transformation that could only be likened to the spirit which made Midas possess the magic wand for excellence.
Arguably, Hakeem Olaogun Onikoyi Dickson, known by his teeming followers and enthusiasts remain a brilliant bride of the socio political and leadership space of Lagos state, and indeed the entire southwest.
Arguably, he is the finest political leader to have ever emerged from this part of the federal republic of Nigeria, this is because he delved into politics with the sole aim of unwavering public service and societal transformation that could only be likened to the spirit which made Midas possess the magic wand for excellence.
HOD came back to Nigeria in the early 90s, joined politics, even though he remains a revered professional accountant.
His unbearable and enviable records as the Executive Chairman of Surulere Local Govt during the reign of Tinubu as Lagos Gov; such that attracted not just local laurels, but also state, federal and organisational ones distinguished him as a leader so patriotic, passionate, public and service driven.
He ran a local govt administration which developed templates and models which formed the basis for the laudable initiatives at the state level.
His amazing grassroots dispensation had characteristics that operated a super standard governance.
And it was on his golden scorecard that his structure was warranted by foresight that created such systems as the Surulere Law Enforcement Corp (SLEC),a replica of state police which checked crime from the peak of 95% to the ebb of 15% , ensuring sanity;
scheme that kept the environment clean, etc.
In this exclusive chat with Timeswatch News Magazine/online, he discloses how he ran Surulere into a place to reckon with in the comity of Local Govts in Nigeria.
Excerpt:
ON WHY HE WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE:
As a bonafide son of Lagos with Lagos Island, Awori and royal identity /origin, I am a major stakeholder, and my interest is for us to have a free, functional and developed Lagos where the wealth will be transparently and effectively redistributed to positively impact the lives of all citizens and people of Lagos.
My major desire is to come in for this rescue agenda, as one who has done it for Surulere before.
WHY HE OPTED FOR ACCORD PARTY:
Accord is a peaceful political family without the kind of crisis you find in parties like APC and PDP, though I was in these parties at one point or the other.
IS HE ATTRACTIVE ENOUGH AS A CANDIDATE?
I am highly sellable.
I made it happen in Lagos as a super LGA helmsman, by initiating solid models which were adopted by the state authorities.
Ideas that made the creation of more local councils possible when I returned from Canada, and the idea became the additional Local Council Development Areas which have taken development deeper into the nooks and crannies of Lagos.
More, as council boss, I paid off all the debts that Surulere owed since inception and was able to generate up to 1.2 billion naira Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, the greatest ever in history.
I created road sanity by disallowing parking on busy roads and encouraged payment for parking at authorised places to generate revenues.
I proceeded to fix 3000 portholes on the federal road that causes embarrassment in my jurisdiction, this was at a time when the state placed embargo on fixing federal roads.
I can go on and on enumerating my distinctive exploits.
These are some of the things I have done with evidences and proofs.
Laurels also abound to show that my leadership trailed the blaze and set the trend.
I will replicate these and more as the governor of Lagos state.
WHAT EXCEPTIONAL FEATURES WILL GIVE HIS GOVT A HALLMARK:
I will create state police, county and senatorial police to truly maintain law and order, and protect lives and property without political and bureaucratic interferences.
The autonomy of the local govts will be a big essential for my govt, and this will accelerate development, foster fiscal discipline and leadership concentration.
No poor home or parents will suffer the shame of not being able to send their children to school there will be a beautiful scheme to mitigate that education or financial embarrassment.
The plans are numerous, I am being careful because these people keep stealing my ideas.
I thought of an international airport for Lagos and they ran to initiate it.
I have a 7-point agenda which will achieve the Lagos that all peoples can adore.
Part of my plans is to attract tourists through a robust tourism industry.
Foreigners must invest to experience our cultural fiesta which are presently down.
Leadership must be done well so that God can be happy with us again.
Lagosians should trust me and vote for me.
I assure them that apart from good leadership, nobody will cage them, because I will not be part of carrying files to one man who must say yes or no to whatever I must do as governor.
