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Nigerian-American, Oputa Enters Maryland State Delegate Race
• Says ''I am interested in revitalization, and providing good paying jobs to
members of my district''
Mr. Michael Oputa holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and a Masters
Degree in Labor Relations from the University of the District of Columbia.
.
He has lived in Prince George's County for over 25 years, and as an expert in housing
issues, he continues to provide free advice to community groups and families on loan
modification and Mortgage. He served in Gov. O'Malley Transition Team in housing,
where he distinguished himself by providing his expertise.
Mr. Oputa, born in Nigeria 50 years ago, is very articulate about his plans for the 24th
district in the state of Maryland. His plans for the district include job infusion, job training
as well as mortgage modification. He believes district 24 deserves a fresh start and a
new vision.
In this exclusive interview with African Examiner’s Managing Editor, Taiye Olayemi, Mr. Oputa
bears his mind on many issues confronting the 24th district and how he intends to
tackle them, if elected.
Excerpts:
Firstly, can you tell us what the role of a delegate is?
Answer: Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you. It is a privilege opportunity for
me to be of service to the state of Maryland, particularly the PG county, and especially
my district which is district 24. Delegate is a legislative body for the state of Maryland.
As a delegate, we have assigned obligations. As delegate I hope to be representing
district 24, I will also be representing Maryland at large and also America in General. As
a delegate our functions are to pass laws and enact regulations that will be of benefit to
entire people of this great state.
If elected, tell us what will be your agenda
Answer: Very good, we are in midst of economic crisis, and is bigger than what we
anticipated. A lot of people as we speak are losing their jobs, people are losing their
homes, and people are actually suffering. What we are doing now in the legislature
particularly, is not working and that is why am in this race. I am in this race to bring
stability to economic decline, to bring stability to the housing industry, to make people
have access to the modification process, because modification right now is not working,
as a result family will have to choose whether to buy food or to pay their mortgage. I am
also interested in revitalization of the community, providing good paying job to members
of the community. This is really my agenda. I think I have the expertise, and I am
equipped to bring these things to bear. I think we need in this county and in this state a
fresh start. I have a vision and I have a vision to do it.
What is the solution to education problem in this district, you see, we have
kids who don’t want to go school, what do you intend to do about this?
Answer: The question of education is very important, particularly in PG County. Well
educated children are the future of any community. What we have now which is ratio of
38-40 children to a teacher is not the way to go. It costs the state and the community
more when those kids have to drop out of school and get into trouble and go to jail. It is
cheaper to send people to Harvard University than to send them to jail. What I will do is
to insist on smaller class size, we will have to get a grip on our curriculum, we have to
intervene where we see students that are having problems with school, so that we can
counsel them and also get parents involved. I believe with smaller classroom, parents’
involvement, state involvement, Federal involvement, we will begin to get a grip on
education.
What about the issue of violence in the area, what would you do to bring it
down in this district.
Answer: Violence is directly related to lack of education. I believe that when children get
involved in crime, if community, as well as social services gets involved early, we can
begin to tackle the problem early. When a young person drop out of school early, we
can actually direct them to where they can get job skills, job training like electrician,
plumbing, when they have that, chances of them getting into trouble will be greatly
reduced. So I agree not everybody cannot go to college but most people can get
trained. When I am elected, I am going to provide job training so that kids can get job
and become tax paying members of the community. If this is done, community will
continue to yield, violence will go down, and we need to reduce amount of liquor stores
and check cashing places. In the district, we need to bring in revitalization, clean up
vacant building; this will make for better community. This is my agenda. I know what I’m
talking about, out of people who are running; I know how to train people. I have
produced more than a thousand GED. These young people have re integrated into the
community; they are now taxpaying member of the community.
What is your solution to issues of health care?
Answer: As you can see the PG Hospital has been in limbo. They have not been able to
find a buyer, If Mike Oputa is elected, I will find a solution it, First week in office, I will
introduce a bill to create medical school at Bowie state university, and PG Hospital as its
teaching hospital. We need a new vision in this county. There have been people there
for many years, they are vast people but we need a new vision. It will enhance Federal
Government ability in health care reforms. It will also play significant role in letting our
young people that are doing nothing to have role models. We are going to need x-ray
technicians, physical therapists, all kind of medical technicians, and this tie in with Job
training, education; it ties in with livable communities. And that is why I have a twelve
point program, where we need to get things started to create this kind of vision. And a
fresh start that is important for our community.
What program do you have for kids?
Answer: I will make sure I advocate for children in the community to make sure they
have quality education to be able to compete national and globally. I will ensure they
have the kind of tools they need to compete with other surrounding county. We have to
revitalize the community, if we can revitalize Silver Springs, it seems to me we can
revitalize the Seat Pleasant, We need to improve the environment and put in place the
kind of infrastructure we need to encourage kids to perform.
what is the he biggest challenge in the district, and will how you will solve it if
elected.
Answer: There are so many big problems, we need jobs, and we need also for people in
this district to cooperate and work together. I believe if all the various demographics in
the community work together, the immigrant community, the Asian community, the
Latinos community, if we all come together and understand that we are in this together,
and that basically our goal is the same , I Michael Oputa will fight for them. If they
support my candidacy, I will go to Annapolis and fight for all, and that is a promise.
Thank you for this interview
Mr Oputa’s agenda for district 24th are:
• Job Infusion
• Job training
• Halt foreclosure
• Mortgage Modification
• Improve Education
• Reduce property taxes
• Set Apprenticeship
• Revitalize infrastructure
• Entrepreneur Incubation
• Day care subsidy
Interview conducted by Taiye Olayemi, Man. Editor (The African Examiner online) with additional
reports from Oludare S. Fase, .Editor-In-Chief (The African Examiner online).
• Says ''I am interested in revitalization, and providing good paying jobs to
members of my district''
Mr. Michael Oputa holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and a Masters
Degree in Labor Relations from the University of the District of Columbia.
.
He has lived in Prince George's County for over 25 years, and as an expert in housing
issues, he continues to provide free advice to community groups and families on loan
modification and Mortgage. He served in Gov. O'Malley Transition Team in housing,
where he distinguished himself by providing his expertise.
Mr. Oputa, born in Nigeria 50 years ago, is very articulate about his plans for the 24th
district in the state of Maryland. His plans for the district include job infusion, job training
as well as mortgage modification. He believes district 24 deserves a fresh start and a
new vision.
In this exclusive interview with African Examiner’s Managing Editor, Taiye Olayemi, Mr. Oputa
bears his mind on many issues confronting the 24th district and how he intends to
tackle them, if elected.
Excerpts:
Firstly, can you tell us what the role of a delegate is?
Answer: Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you. It is a privilege opportunity for
me to be of service to the state of Maryland, particularly the PG county, and especially
my district which is district 24. Delegate is a legislative body for the state of Maryland.
As a delegate, we have assigned obligations. As delegate I hope to be representing
district 24, I will also be representing Maryland at large and also America in General. As
a delegate our functions are to pass laws and enact regulations that will be of benefit to
entire people of this great state.
If elected, tell us what will be your agenda
Answer: Very good, we are in midst of economic crisis, and is bigger than what we
anticipated. A lot of people as we speak are losing their jobs, people are losing their
homes, and people are actually suffering. What we are doing now in the legislature
particularly, is not working and that is why am in this race. I am in this race to bring
stability to economic decline, to bring stability to the housing industry, to make people
have access to the modification process, because modification right now is not working,
as a result family will have to choose whether to buy food or to pay their mortgage. I am
also interested in revitalization of the community, providing good paying job to members
of the community. This is really my agenda. I think I have the expertise, and I am
equipped to bring these things to bear. I think we need in this county and in this state a
fresh start. I have a vision and I have a vision to do it.
What is the solution to education problem in this district, you see, we have
kids who don’t want to go school, what do you intend to do about this?
Answer: The question of education is very important, particularly in PG County. Well
educated children are the future of any community. What we have now which is ratio of
38-40 children to a teacher is not the way to go. It costs the state and the community
more when those kids have to drop out of school and get into trouble and go to jail. It is
cheaper to send people to Harvard University than to send them to jail. What I will do is
to insist on smaller class size, we will have to get a grip on our curriculum, we have to
intervene where we see students that are having problems with school, so that we can
counsel them and also get parents involved. I believe with smaller classroom, parents’
involvement, state involvement, Federal involvement, we will begin to get a grip on
education.
What about the issue of violence in the area, what would you do to bring it
down in this district.
Answer: Violence is directly related to lack of education. I believe that when children get
involved in crime, if community, as well as social services gets involved early, we can
begin to tackle the problem early. When a young person drop out of school early, we
can actually direct them to where they can get job skills, job training like electrician,
plumbing, when they have that, chances of them getting into trouble will be greatly
reduced. So I agree not everybody cannot go to college but most people can get
trained. When I am elected, I am going to provide job training so that kids can get job
and become tax paying members of the community. If this is done, community will
continue to yield, violence will go down, and we need to reduce amount of liquor stores
and check cashing places. In the district, we need to bring in revitalization, clean up
vacant building; this will make for better community. This is my agenda. I know what I’m
talking about, out of people who are running; I know how to train people. I have
produced more than a thousand GED. These young people have re integrated into the
community; they are now taxpaying member of the community.
What is your solution to issues of health care?
Answer: As you can see the PG Hospital has been in limbo. They have not been able to
find a buyer, If Mike Oputa is elected, I will find a solution it, First week in office, I will
introduce a bill to create medical school at Bowie state university, and PG Hospital as its
teaching hospital. We need a new vision in this county. There have been people there
for many years, they are vast people but we need a new vision. It will enhance Federal
Government ability in health care reforms. It will also play significant role in letting our
young people that are doing nothing to have role models. We are going to need x-ray
technicians, physical therapists, all kind of medical technicians, and this tie in with Job
training, education; it ties in with livable communities. And that is why I have a twelve
point program, where we need to get things started to create this kind of vision. And a
fresh start that is important for our community.
What program do you have for kids?
Answer: I will make sure I advocate for children in the community to make sure they
have quality education to be able to compete national and globally. I will ensure they
have the kind of tools they need to compete with other surrounding county. We have to
revitalize the community, if we can revitalize Silver Springs, it seems to me we can
revitalize the Seat Pleasant, We need to improve the environment and put in place the
kind of infrastructure we need to encourage kids to perform.
what is the he biggest challenge in the district, and will how you will solve it if
elected.
Answer: There are so many big problems, we need jobs, and we need also for people in
this district to cooperate and work together. I believe if all the various demographics in
the community work together, the immigrant community, the Asian community, the
Latinos community, if we all come together and understand that we are in this together,
and that basically our goal is the same , I Michael Oputa will fight for them. If they
support my candidacy, I will go to Annapolis and fight for all, and that is a promise.
Thank you for this interview
Mr Oputa’s agenda for district 24th are:
• Job Infusion
• Job training
• Halt foreclosure
• Mortgage Modification
• Improve Education
• Reduce property taxes
• Set Apprenticeship
• Revitalize infrastructure
• Entrepreneur Incubation
• Day care subsidy
Interview conducted by Taiye Olayemi, Man. Editor (The African Examiner online) with additional
reports from Oludare S. Fase, .Editor-In-Chief (The African Examiner online).
| Mr. Michael Oputa, Candidate for Maryland State Delegate 24th District |
Comments
YOMI AKINNOLA, LANHAM, MARYLAND
MR. MICHAEL OPUTA IS WELL KNOWN TO ME AND MEMBERS OF MY CONGREGATION.
HE IS A DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUAL, HUMBLE, A MAN OF HIS WORDS AND A GOOD
FAMILY MAN.HE WAS IN OUR CHURCH YESTERDAY AND WE PRAYED FOR HIM. LET US
CONTINUE PRAYING FOR HIM AND MOBILISE PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR HIM. ALL OF US
CANNOT BE THERE BUT LET US SUPPORT THOSE WE KNOW TOO WELL LIKE MR.
MICHAEL OPUTA. WITH MY INTERACTION WITH HIM, HE CANNOT FAIL. HE IS EQUALLY
BLESSED WITH A SUPPORTIVE WIFE. MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS AND SUPPORT HIM.
YOMI AKINNOLA, LANHAM, MARYLAND
MR. MICHAEL OPUTA IS WELL KNOWN TO ME AND MEMBERS OF MY CONGREGATION.
HE IS A DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUAL, HUMBLE, A MAN OF HIS WORDS AND A GOOD
FAMILY MAN.HE WAS IN OUR CHURCH YESTERDAY AND WE PRAYED FOR HIM. LET US
CONTINUE PRAYING FOR HIM AND MOBILISE PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR HIM. ALL OF US
CANNOT BE THERE BUT LET US SUPPORT THOSE WE KNOW TOO WELL LIKE MR.
MICHAEL OPUTA. WITH MY INTERACTION WITH HIM, HE CANNOT FAIL. HE IS EQUALLY
BLESSED WITH A SUPPORTIVE WIFE. MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS AND SUPPORT HIM.