Toyin Fayinka is a grassroots politician to the core. Very popular on the streets of Mushin, he was a Councillor and Secretary to the Local Government before being appointed Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Transport.
In this interview with thegazellenews.com‘s crew, he speaks on his aspiration to win the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to represent Mushin Federal Constituency II in the House of Representatives and how hings his hopes on his popularity in his constituency.
What informed your decision to go into politics?
It started over 30 year ago; I was working with National Bank of Nigeria. Each time I close from work, I stay around in my community to play. So, some elders in my community muted the idea, saying you this lovely boy, so respectful and responsible, we need someone like you to represent us, it was like a joke then.
I could remember Mr Shofela at Adeolu street very well. He was working at Lever Brothers, of blessed memory now. But before then, I used to go to political meetings, PPP unregistered, People’s Front unregistered, SDP etc.
I started making the moves to contest as a councilor, but the circumstances then could not allow election to hold, because it was during the military regime. Eventually, in 1996 my desire to contest came to fruition.
Thus, what informed my decision to be in partisan politics was the motivation I got from the people. Iyabo Adegbowo is still alive, Sylvester Abraham aka Gadhafi is still around, Mr, Shoetan, of blessed memory. These people unanimously lured me into it. But prior to that time I have always been in politics, but not fully partisan. Therefore, people’s invitation, motivation and encouragement brought me into politics.
What are your visions for going into politics?
Honestly, politics to some people is a vocation, and to some it’s a profession, which ever it is, the bottom line is you must make a remarkable mark. Let it be known that you have done your bit, that you leave a legacy that is worth talking about. So, either ways, there are advantages and disadvantages.
My vision is to see a workable arrangement in an egalitarian society, to see what Yoruba called ‘Omooluabi’ in anyone that is holding forth for a larger society. You don’t wait until you have the whole world in your pocket before you make your mark. You start from the scratch. I was once a secretary of Resident Association, later Secretary of my local Community Development Asssiciton (CDA) and then Secretary of the Community Development Committee (CDC).
Will you say that your interaction and engagement with the people is the reason for your popularity among the grassroots people?
Popularity is relative; people will attest to the fact that one is popular or otherwise, but if the feedback is positive enough, I give thanks to God I am always liked by my people.
Honestly, there is nothing bad in you getting the best of comfort in life, but the best comfort in life is perseverance and fulfilment. If you have N20 billion in your account, if you are not contented, you can’t have comfort, if you have N1 million in your account if you are contented you will be glowing.
My ability to adapt to the situation I found myself, to see my immediate environment as the best, to see the cloth I put on at any particular point in time as the best ever, any car I drive as the best in the world, the food I eat at home by my wife as the best food ever, anything I buy outside with my money is the best ever. That I sit with you in a canteen, where you have 10,000 meats to yourself and I have just 100 meats to myself, I am not inferior to you. I am able to adapt and comforted with what Yoruba will call ‘Iteloru’ which means fulfilment, that’s why I can sit and mingle with anybody at any time where ever I am.
I always like to remember yesterday before I think of tomorrow. My today was made from yesterday, so I look back and see what future will form base on what I had yesterday so that I will be able to plan ahead of tomorrow
You are running for a sit in the House of Reps, why not Assembly or Senate?
Like I said earlier, I am a kind of person who is meticulous in calculation. I started as councilor, and some people asked that question too. I have been planning to be councilor in late 80s, I still have some of my forms, both registered and unregistered. By that time you will write to the leaders in your community, your CDAs, declaring your intention and highlights your plans on a letterhead. Then some people were asking, why not chairmanship? I said a journey of 1000 miles starts with a step. Thank God I was able to be councilor that prepared me, I have tried to be Chairman, it didn’t work out, subsequently, I was appointed Secretary to the Local Government. I think I have had enough in the local government. It is all about service anyway. Holding any position in life has a time.
I was an aspirant in the last election, 2019, on the day of primary, the leadership of the party led by my referred leader, Senator Ganiu Olanrewaju Solomon called and said I should step down for Honourable Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla (BYA) and I did.
Now I am only actualizing the plans I have, which still subsists and is fresh. Going to the House of Reps has never put me at lower level with any other person and that is my desire.
You are competing against an incumbent, what chances do you think you have against other aspirants?
That is for the people of Mushin Federal Constituency II to decide. You as journalists, should go out and feel the pulse of the people on the streets. One of the things that give me joy is I like to make my hay while the sun shines. My chance is as bright as modern star.
Our party has said we are going for primary. I want to call on other aspirants to let’s test our popularity, you will see the person the people really want.
Beyond that, my candidature will make the election an easy run for APC, because the non-partisan people, the non-politicians, I’m well known to them, we have had course to interact one way or the other, we have benefited from each other across length and breath of this constituency. So, getting it done for APC will be seamless.
I am not saying this because I am contesting, I am pushing it to you as journalists, please go out and make your findings, and if you find anything contrary to I’ve said here, come back and say it to the whole world that I have lied to you.
I am saying this as a sense of responsibility. I am responsible to my people, I am known to them, they love me, and that they want me is no more a news. There is no gain saying the fact that they want Toyin Fayinka to represent them.
There are some who believe that the incumbent having had experience of two previous terms should be allowed to continue.
I don’t always like to talk about that, so that people will not see me as running down anybody. The incumbent has a right to contest just like me. If the incumbent before he got into had not left, would he had gotten twenty years experience? Somebody was on that seat before he came onboard. If that person is coming up with a sentiment of the more the merrier, would he have been able to contest and spend 12 years at the State Assembly, and eight years at the House of Representatives? Twenty unbroken years.
If it is me, I would have been the one to invite the younger ones to come and contest, though that does not mean I’m going to leave the street completely. I would be a consultant or adviser or any other advisory role. I have been in politics for more than three decades, I have held different offices since then. People should go out and ask questions about when I held several offices, what were the results of me being in those offices then.
Do you have any legislative experience?
Very good question. I have legislative experience. I was a councilor between 2004 and 2007, I became Leader of the council Legislative Arm, and subsequently I became Chairman, Conference of All Council Leaders in Lagos state.
And to the glory of God, the Legislative Arm of Mushin Local Government under my leadership, passed 12 bye-laws.
As the representative of Mushin Federal Constituency ll, what are the new things you are bringing on board for the people?
I want to change some things, I want to bring on board a new workable system. I want to be accessible, I want to change the narrative to ‘I want to do this thing for you’, not “I’m not going to do anything for anybody”. I want to do what people asked me to do for them. I will come back home and ask them what their needs are. Ward G1 needs might be different to that of Ward G2. I will work and plan on the needs of the people. There will be regular interaction and communication with the people.
I want to delegate responsibilities too, making provisions for people in groups to cater for people in need; this group will be headed by responsible people. The heads too will feel important. And if the provisions provided are being mismanaged, I won’t be the one to be blamed but the people in charge.
What are your chances at the APC primary?
By the grace of almighty God my chances are like modern stars. I am a grass rooter, and I give thanks to God. I challenge my rivals to let us walk around Mushin Federal Constituency II without using security escort. I challenge them to choose anywhere, any area of their choice, let us walk around and see who’s the most popular. I am a polish street guy. A real grassroots man!
Being a street guy, is that why you are made Special Adviser on Transport?
Well, I don’t have control over that, Mr. Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu, out of his magnanimity, choose to appoint me and give me portfolio, I didn’t lobby for any particular portfolio.
However, while we were being considered for appointment, we sent our profiles to his office, so, what informed his decision to make me SA Transport is best known to him. Well I thank God, I adapt easily.
I was once a sachet water hawker at Ipodo market Ikeja, and then I was living at 15 Atinuke Olabanji Street, no 15. The number might have been changed, where Fela of blessed memory was living before he got his shrine built. When I came to Mushin, I lived at no 251, Agege Motor Road, I was a bus conductor at a time, here I am, I’m a grass rooter, I know where the shoe pinches. I know how to address the poor even though I don’t have money.
What is your message to the people?
My message to the people is, this time around they should go out and participate in the electoral process, we have good opportunity now. Let us have our PVC ready, our voter’s card is our power. If any of your representative is not doing well, you have the opportunity to vote that person out.
Please go around Mushin and ask about me. If I could do it conveniently for more than ten years, I’m asking I want to do it again, give me a trial. And please I need your prayers as I am accessible to my people.
