Local Government Autonomy Is The Starting Point Of Accountability At Grassroots —– Dr. Duro Clement Dolapo
Dr. Duro Clement Dolapo is a Medical Doctor, Consultant Public Health Physician and the Managing Director of Leverage Consulting Limited ( a Health and and Social Development Consultancy Firm), spoke with Global Focus Magazine Publisher, Ayodele Ologunola on his ambitions and other national issues. Excerpt.
Can we meet you?
I am Duro Clement Dolapo. A Medical Doctor, Consultant Public Health Physician and Managing Director of Leverage Consulting Limited (a Health and Social Development Consultancy firm).
How do you find yourself in the water of politics?
My interest in politics developed during my postgraduate training in public health at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) from 2005 to 2009. I realized that, even good health system depends on political will and good governance. It appeared that our political leaders neither had the political will nor the knowledge and skills required of good governance.
The majority of the professionals that had skills and competences in their various fields were not participating in politics, but they only complained of poor government performance.
I then made up my mind that I would not join the group of complainants, but be an active participant in the politics of my country.
When I saw the exploits of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Government in Lagos State then, I decided to join the party and contested for Ondo State House of Assembly in 2011.
Some people say politics is a dirty game, how do you view it?
It depends on how you view it. Is politics dirty in all the countries of the world? Is it dirty to the same extent in all the countries? I believe that politics is made dirty or clean by the people that engage in it.
If politics, whether dirty or clean, determines the destiny of the people in a society. It is worth engaging in. You can decide to set standard for yourself and maintain your integrity while engaging in politics. It is the irresponsibility of a citizen not to either directly or indirectly get involved in the politics of his/her country and then complain of its political system.
Looking at Akoko South West constituency 2, a lot of challenges are being faced by the people, what are your plans for the constituency if you are elected to represent it in the Ondo State House of Assembly?
There are innovations to bring in. Those innovations will have positive impacts on the development of the constituency and Ondo State in general. Even by extension, on Nigeria.
Firstly, being in the State House of Assembly will give me the opportunity to sponsor bills that will greatly influence the governing systems in the State. Secondly, the position will give me opportunity to carry out constituency projects that will alleviate people’s suffering. Thirdly, the position will help create more attention of people for them to be easily sensitized and mobilized for capacity building, community participation and rural development.
In in the area of bill sponsorship, health, education and agriculture are my priority areas.
People often complain of not having enough doctors for health service delivery in many states in Nigeria. While it is true that many of our doctors have moved out of the country in search of greener pastures, we can still make the best use of the available doctors if only we explore the various management options. One major options is good and efficient collaboration between the State healthcare delivery system comprising of the State owned teaching hospital, specialist hospitals, general hospitals and primary health care (PHC) facilities on one hand and the federal teaching hospital or federal medical centre on the other hand.
In many states of the federation, the number of doctors in the federal teaching hospital or federal medical centre is higher than that of the state healthcare delivery system. What the State Government needs to do is to spend little extra money for the rural posting of the doctors at the federal teaching hospital or federal medical centre to all the nooks and crannies of the State.
Remember that the State serves as the catchment area for the federal teaching hospital or federal medical centre located in it.
In the area of education, many innovations in the top private schools (both primary and secondary) can be brought to our public schools using the local government as the unit of operation. Of course, this will only be possible if the State Government allows the local government system to work. It is worthy of note that there will not be development at the grassroots until the local government system is allowed to work in the country.
In the area of agriculture, there are low hanging fruits in farming and agribusinesses that could be explored to kick start development in the communities.
Do you think those that have been representing us before had done well?
What do you mean by “done well”? Using the words “done well” gives an impression of far above average performance. If this has been the case, our society would have been better than what it is currently.
If you are being elected into the house of assembly, what are the wrongs you want to re-write?
It appears that the attention of the legislatures has been diverted from their primary roles of making laws that will benefit the populace, serving as checks to the excesses of the executives and ensuring that the development projects are carried out accordingly through budget appropriation and monitoring.
The legislatures are now more interested in political party alignment and enriching themselves at the expense of the electorates, forgetting that they can be rich by lifting many people from poverty through good governance than making themselves rich at the expense of the people.
I will tell you that many people that are in government especially in Nigeria have neither the political philosophy nor intellectual capability required of good governance.
Many are just opportunists that find themselves in government through godfatherism. I think I have given a clue about what are to be re-written.
How prepared are you for this great task ahead of you?
I am well prepared. I have been preparing for this for over a decade. I have tried to refine my political philosophy, knowledge, skills and competencies in many areas required of good governance such as public administration, economy, law, public relation, rural development and so on.
What is motivating you to have intention to represent your people at Ondo State House of Assembly?
The need to be an active participant in the development of my community, state and country rather than be a complainant.
Can you tell us some of your manifesto?
I think I have explained these in the previous section where you asked of my plans for the constituency if elected into the State House of Assembly.
Would you support local government autonomy if it is brought to the floor of the house if you have been elected?
Yes. Local government autonomy is the starting point of accountability at the grassroots. The Local Governments cannot grow and develop to a viable system if they are not allowed to take responsibility at their own level. It is the responsibility of the State Government to build the capacity of the Local Governments and allow for a healthy competition among them. This will allow the local government system to eventually evolve to a viable one over a period of time.
Everyone has been calling for the restructuring of this country, how do you view it?
Restructuring is one of the alternatives presented by many Nigerians. The other alternatives are, maintaining the status quo and devise various mean to proffer solutions to our problems and separation.
It appears Nigeria’s problems have defiled all logics provided by maintaining the status quo.
I think restructuring will be a better alternative. Separation should be the last option.
How do you see the issue of insecurity in the country and what do you think government can do to curb it?
I doubt if the present system of government can solve the current security problems. The concept of homeland security is the solution, and this is foreign to us in Africa.
The homeland security allows every citizen to contribute to identifying, classifying and reporting security threats and eventually preventing and mitigating against insecurity through systems put in place by the government.
The present systems put in place to combat insecurity are far from this. We need a re- invention and restructuring may be a first step towards the re-invention. For example, the policing system needs to be decentralized.
What is the chances of your party SDP, to win the 2023 general elections?
The chances are higher than what we had before, and also vary with constituency.
Lastly, what is your words of advice for your party members?
The party members should be optimistic, accommodating to everybody, maintain unity and relentlessly work towards victory in the next election.