dedamola Aminu is a UK-based Nigerian representing the Lambeth Borough in Britain as a councillor. He is also the secretary of Nigerian councillors and members of parliament, as well as the president of the Association of Nigerian Academics in the UK. Aminu, who is in Nigeria on vacation makes a comparison between the councillorship position in the UK and Nigeria in this interview. He speaks with ADEOLA BALOGUN.
Is councillorship position in the UK the same as we have in Nigeria?
It is similar but far bigger, because as a councillor in a local authority in the UK, the position is more or less like that of a local government chairman in Nigeria. As a local councillor, we are responsible for education in our borough. We are responsible for the environment, street cleaning, housing and all sorts of things, because people elect us to represent them. We are the bosses of local authority workers and officials, because we have to deliver a manifesto, and we have to work towards achieving the goals. Our job is to make sure that all our policies and manifestoes are delivered. So, the officials are accountable to us and we are accountable to the electorate. Instead of local government, it is called a borough in Britain.
How does one become nominated or elected, particularly as a Nigerian?
Before you can be selected to be a candidate, you must be very active in your community, maybe attending meetings, being a school governor, being a member of a tenants/residents association or something like that. When it comes to election, you need to register as a member of a political party. So, being a member of such associations gives you the opportunity to put yourself forward for a councillorship post or a member of parliament. But in our case, the system is that when you put yourself forward, you will be interviewed and screened, then you are put on approved list. Then your name will go to all the wards in the borough. A member in the ward will then select from the pool of the approved list. After election, if the party wins, one becomes one of the councillors representing the borough. That is how the system works.
Can you describe the powers of a councillor in Britain?
A councillor has so much powers. He makes things happen for people. For example, many people may come to me with their problems on housing. I will have to find out why they have been living in very small apartments or why their house is in disrepair. And when I send my findings to the council, within 10 working days, they have to respond by stating the efforts they are making to rectify the problem. If I am not satisfied with their explanation, something will be done. The same thing goes for education. If some people are looking for school for their children but can’t get one, they can approach us as councillors to look into that, and we will make sure that something is done. So, there are a lot of things we do as councillors. We keep the purse, we manage the budget, but we don’t physically touch the money.
Must the councillor be a house owner in the borough?
No. But you must be living or working in the borough. Because if you don’t live or work there, you would not have the interest of the borough in mind.
And when did you start living in the UK?
I have been living in the UK for about 23 years. And in Lambeth borough, where I am now, I have been living there for about 12 years.
Why did you leave Nigeria?
I left Nigeria for the UK to further my education. I did my O’ level here, went to a teachers’ college and after that, I worked for about a year at Cocoa Research Institute, Ibadan where I played football before I left for Britain. I had it in mind that I would go back home after my studies, but as time went on, it was no longer possible and I became a part of the system. I obtained my BA in Business Studies at London Southbank University, did a diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing before doing my master’s in Marketing at Greenwich University, London. Later, I obtained a post graduate in education from Canterbury University. Now, Britain has become my home, because that is where I live with my family. I am a lecturer and a school governor there. I am also the secretary of all Nigerian councillors and members of parliament in Britain. I am the president of the Association of Nigerian Academics, the body that represents the people that work as teachers in schools over there.
Who is a school governor?
A school governor is like the parents-teachers association head here. The difference is that some are elected and they are the people responsible for the management of the school. The school head and his team are answerable to the school governor. Any money that is spent, the governor has to approve it, and he is aware of any project being carried out in the school.
You are a councillor, yet you are a lecturer. How do you joggle all that?
It is tough. People keep wondering how I manage to do all that I do. But I believe that God puts us in a position for a reason. And when He puts you there for a reason, He also gives you the energy to carry on. And if you believe in making a difference, it is about sacrifice. I scarcely spend enough time with my family, and most of all the things we do, we don’t get paid for them. My children go to the school where I am a school governor and a local authority official. And being there, I am able to see how the place is run and I am able to influence changes.
Is being a councillor a part time job over there?
Yes, it is part time. We get allowances, but it is not what one can live on. Most of us have jobs which we do full time. The only people doing full time are full cabinet members. But for me, I chose to be a deputy cabinet member so that it would not affect my job as a lecturer.
How does it feel being a Nigerian in the UK politics?
Being a Nigerian in the politics of the UK, I think to me, is an achievement. At the moment, we are about 32 Nigerian councillors and three members of parliament. I feel proud of my modest achievement, because this is my second term as well. That means the people have confidence in how I represent them.
After your education, you thought of coming back home. What has held you back?
Once you start having children over there, it is pretty difficult to go back home. Initially, I was the only one when I travelled, so I said I would come back home immediately I finished. Eventually, my wife came to join me and we started having children. Going back home became very difficult, because you would not want to disrupt their education.
You are a councillor as a lecturer. Are you aware of the calibre of people that function as councillors in Nigeria?
I know. And it is because we play money politics here. It is not about service. It is not about giving to the community. And it is a shame that people go into politics here solely because of money. We go into politics over there to make a difference, not because of money. Why would I expect somebody to give me N20, N50 for anything? I want you to provide the basic necessities of life, and if these are provided, people will not care what you do again. In my own ward, we fight for the people there. We encourage people to do business there because when they come to set up business, they create jobs. We make sure that the society is well run and people are comfortable.
You have been in Nigeria for about three days now, how would you assess the Lagos environment, for example?
To be honest, I think there is a significant change in Lagos, even though there is still a lot to be done. I come from Oyo State, and I must be honest to tell you that the opposite of what happens in Lagos is happening in Oyo State. I am a trainer in the UK. We engage in training people on governance, and I am sure a lot of people will benefit.
But in Nigeria, people will tell you that as a lecturer, you look too refined to be in politics.
You see, when people make policy about how much tax you pay, whether you have good roads or electricity, you have to pay. So, when you leave everything for people who have little or no knowledge to determine your destiny, you are not treating yourself fairly. That was what drove me into politics in the UK. As councillors, we set our local tax at the local level. These are the things we do as councillors. So, if you allow people who know nothing to do this, how does that help anybody? To change that, I believe people must wake up and reconsider their stance about politics in Nigeria.
How much interaction do you have with those that are in governance in Nigeria?
I do make the efforts. I mean, sometime ago, I got a letter from the mission in the UK to meet Governor Akala of Oyo State during my trip home. I took the letter to the secretariat and they told me the governor wanted to meet me. I went there but throughout, I couldn’t meet with him. They wasted my time. After I eventually met with the Chief of Staff and discussed areas in which we could be of help to the state, up till today, I have not heard anything from them. I don’t need anything from them. I am comfortable where I am, because I have my job. Over there, I am not rich, but I can take care of my family. Look at the state. It is a shame for a state that calls itself the pace setter. I am the secretary of Nigerian councillors in the UK, and I think I am willing to offer help in whatever area they want. It is a shame that we do great exploits in areas of education, health and so on in our adopted country but are unable to help our fatherland. It is really sad.
If you were in Nigeria, would you have been in politics?
Probably not. Though my mum’s brother was a politician and I was involved in being a polling agent or a party agent. When I travelled, I didn’t plan to go into politics in the UK. But I was forced to go into it by circumstances. I wanted to make a change as it affects my life. But if I had remained in Nigeria, I don’t think I would be in politics.
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