Pop By ‘Tunde Ogunmola
As Saturday, July 12th, 2025 date for the local government election in Lagos state draws near, one chairmanship aspirant that is poised to transform service for the residents of Mushin Local Government is Karaole Ishola Semiu popularly called KAMS.
Karaole Semiu, a household name and front runner for the chairmanship seat of Mushin Local Government under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is a vibrant, intelligent and experienced politician, and grassroots mobilizer with years of administrative experience in both public sector and private business.
With public service and political experience spanning over two decades, Karaole is a sure bet to attract integrated and sustainable development to Mushin LG. His wealth of experience in governance at both state and local levels will, no doubt come in handy for Mushin and its residents.
Karaole had his Primary and Secondary education at Nusar-ud-Deen Primary School, Ayantuga, Mushin and Ire Akari Grammar School, Okota, Isolo respectively. He graduated from Lagos State University (LASU) where he studied Business Administration, and also obtained MSc in Social Work from Ladoke Akintola University.
Karaole has been there, done that. His political trajectory started during the zero party system and later became member of Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN), Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and now a bona fide member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Karaole Ishola Semiu cut his political teeth as a councillor between 1999 and 2002; 2004 and 2007 during which he became the deputy leader of the Mushin legislative house. A one time special adviser on environment to Hon. Seye Oladejo when the latter was Executive Secretary of Mushin LG. Karaole Semiu moved up the political ladder to become special assistant on environment to former commissioner for environment, Dr. Muiz Adeyemi Banire (SAN). However, his laudable achievements in his environmental duties earned him a return to same ministry between 2011 and 2015 as special assistant on environment to Hon. Tunji Bello, erstwhile commissioner for environment. Currently, he’s the Special Adviser on Education to the outgoing Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Hon. Emmanuel Bamigboye.
Expressing his long-held desires to take Mushin community to an enviable heights, Karaole Semiu said, “my chairmanship ambition is not a do or die affair, it is a genuine desire to serve the good people of Mushin in a higher capacity. I was born and brought up in Mushin, I know every nook and cranny of Mushin, I know the needs and challenges Mushin is facing as a community. I have the capacity and experience to take Mushin to a greater heights.”
Every administration wants to be identified with its programmes and projects, thereby leading to a situation where projects started by previous administration are abandoned by the new government; whereas projects and good policies have the same goals and objectives of satisfying people’s interest and bringing dividends of democracy to the people. Fully armed with this understanding, Karaole Semiu, resolved not to abandon programmes and projects of the outgoing administration, he promises to build on them, because Mushin, according to him, is a work in progress and government is a continuum. He maintained that more grounds will be covered to move Mushin to greater heights as ideas, opportunities and good governance will be further explored.
He pledges to implement the constitutionally defined functions of local governments in Mushin LG as clearly enshrined in the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution. These functions include but not limited to, construction and maintenance of roads, streets, street lighting; drains, markets and other public highways, parks, garden, open spaces or public facilities; provision and maintenance of public conveniences, sewage and refuse disposal; provision and maintenance of health services, primary, adult and vocational education. Minor maintenance of state and federal roads, as well as sensitisation programmes are part of his policy document as entailed in civic and agency functions of local government.
Mushin LG, like other LGs and LCDAs in the state does not exist in a vacuum, it’s within Lagos state, a hub of exponential growth and development, hence the chairmanship hopeful stressed that he tailored his programme to align with the state’s socio-economic programme while not losing sight of the unique challenges, needs and pressing demands of residents of Mushin.
Karaole Ishola Semiu’s manifesto is generally encompassing and addresses peculiar needs, challenges and demands of residents of Mushin. Being Mushin born and bred, he knows where the shoe pinches and he’s raring to provide good leadership, administrative acumen and political will to govern Mushin.
A peep into his manifesto shows area it covers such as, economic empowerment, education, healthcare, security, safety, infrastructure development, youth empowerment, sports development, environmental sanitation and sustainability, community engagement, urban renewal, agric development, technology integration, among others.
Mushin being an urban local government, Karaole Semiu’s programme also entails leveraging E-governance for transparency, accountability, effectiveness and responsiveness to the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
As May 10th APC primaries approach, Karaole expressed hope and optimism for a fair and transparent process that allows the best and most experienced candidate to emerge, one that will ensure effective service delivery for Mushin Local Government, a trait he embodies.
