Hon. James Agboola appointment as the Sole Administrator of Orile Agege Local Council Development Area still appears like a mirage to many in the community, he remains the unpopular name expected to take over from the immediate past Executive Secretary of the LCDA. Surprisingly, he has spent the last 43 years of his life in Papa Ashafa area of Orile Agege even before the creation of LCDA by erstwhile Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In fact, most residents still startle at how a laundry man could be giving such appointment.
Hon. Agboola put his emergence into perspective, “My appointment is beyond anyone's imagination, it is basically God at work. I believe Governor Ambode considered those who knows the nooks and crannies of the community and understands the peoples' chemistry. I do not keep a loud profile. Up till this moment, many people still call me to confirm if I am the James Agboola announced by the governor. I have been in active Agege politics for over two decades. But I am more in the administrative section of our party.
He had primary education at Mount Zion African Church, Alaagba before proceeding to Lagos Technical College, ST. Fibers College, Teachers College and later Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, After my primary school education, I could not further due to financial challenges, I started primary school at age 10. I stayed at home for some years before I went to secondary school, it was very challenging. I went to teachers college, but immediately I secured admission, they stopped automatic employment for teachers, that limited my chance of teaching after graduating from teachers college. I started visiting Abeokuta searching for greener pasture, unfortunately things were not rosy over there. I decided to come back to Lagos and finally engaged in teaching. I later got a job in the defunct Nigeria Textile Mill, Agege with a determination to work for just 5 years. On my 5th year, I tabled my resignation letter, it was not entertained by my boss because of my diligence to work. We dragged for a while before it was accepted and approved. Then, I joined my brother's business centre outfit situated at Capitol road as a supervisor. We had series of businesses such as computer business centre, laundry service & estate agent. It was there that I developed interest in Laundry service business. I have been doing the business for over two decades in Agege. Also, I joined politics along the line.
Hon. Agboola is one of the diehard fans of Lagos Assembly Speaker, Hon. Mudashir Obasa, he refers to him as his political mentor. With the primary assignment to make people feel the impact of the government, pay and reduce liabilities, conduct free, fair and credible election and to increase revenue to supplement government allocation, the soft spoken Ekiti born grassroot politician has been able to convince his proprietor to allow him and his co-sole administrators carry out pocket of projects in their respective council. “Personally I joined politics to address the obvious inequalities between political office holders and the governed. This has been what I usually advocate in the party. As a member of Hon. Obasa's team, I can assure you that we have strived to ensure people feel the impact of democracy in our community.
Now, the staff of the council, head of institutions and I have been mopping up strategies to tackle environmental issues, insecurity and empowerment. In due time, you will see outcome of our progressive plans in Orile-Agege.
We understand Papa, Agbotikuyo, Dopemu and Kolawole amongst other areas have worst environmental challenges, we will work towards developing these areas with assistance of our governor. We invited the commissioner for Environment Dr. Babatunde Adejare for inspection during last sanitation, we went round the streets of Igbayilola, Ijaye, Alhaja Sifawu and others, some of the drainages were blocked with refuse and we have made arrangement to evacuate those drainages.
