Hon. Shina Abiola Peller is one of the Members of the 9th National Assembly. Before he took up politics full time he was the Chairman and chief executive officer of Aquila Group of Companies and Club Quilox.
Hon. Shina Abiola Peller is the son of late Professor Moshood Abiola Peller. He grew up in a Muslim home. He from Iseyin in Oyo State. He studied Chemical Engineering at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Nigeria, where he obtained his first degree in 2002. Subsequently, he obtained a Master’s degree in Business Management also from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology in 2013. He served in Abia State in 2003.
He is a member of the APC. He declared his intention to contest the Federal House of Representative seat on the APC’s platform, representing the Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola Federal Constituency in Oyo State on 5, October 2018.
He won the primary election and at Lseyin/Ltesiwaju/Kajola/Lwajowa Federal Constituency on the platform of 2019 general elections on 23 February 2019, and ever since, he’s been performing wonders, moving from one location to another within his constituency. He has become a toast of many in his constituency owing to his commitment and philanthropic gestures. You need no one to tell you that Hon. Shina Peller is loved by his people. Many of his friends are amazed at his quick transformation from being a night club impresario to a serious-minded high-profile politician. Since he won his election, his life has changed as he is crisscrossing the country politicking.
How he was able to quickly fit into his new political role, despite being a businessman, a disciplinarian, a conservative and no-nonsense man was the bases of his conversation with City People Assistant Editor/Head of City People Tv, SUNDAY ADIGUN, when they met at the final burial of his close pal, Hon. Akin Alabi’s father, in Ibadan. He also revealed how his popular business outfit, Quilox Club, is being run by the management ever since he took up his political mantle. Excerpts.
You seem to be very close to Hon. Akin Alabi’s family, how best can you describe the family?
The Alabis family is a very great family. It’s a family that I’m proud of, proud to associate with them. Akin is my very good friend, my brother, a friend turned brother. I always stand with him. He’s been there for his people. I can see the passion and commitment he has for the development of his constituency. It shows that his dad has really taught him well. His late dad is worth celebrating and that is why we are here today. We were there at the wake to pay our last respect to a great man. He’s the father of us all and I can say he’s my father as well. So, I wish him eternal rest. I pray to God to forgive him of all his sins and to grant him peace.
It’s barely a few months after you became one of the federal lawmakers, representing Iseyin, Kajola, Iwajowa federal constituency in Oyo State, and you conspicuous in your constituency, how easy was it for you to blend so quickly?
It’s simple. The fact remains that we are committed to the development of this country. Before, I used to be a business man, the moment I made up my mind to participate actively in politics, and also asked my people to vote for me, to give me their mandate, to represent them. If you look at my election, you will see that I won a landslide victory. It means that there is so much expectation from my people on me, and that explains why I’m restless. If people massively can vote for me like that, it shows that they expect so much from me. And when people expect so much from you, then if you are somebody who is a perfectionist like me, you won’t have any time to rest. That is why you always see me here and there. I’m there to make sure that I put in my best to be able to achieve what my people have voted me for.
People want to know how you’ve been running Quilox combined with politics. How were you able to juggle the two?
For everything in life there is always an advantage and disadvantage. For me, I focus more on the advantage. I don’t focus on the disadvantage. People might have different and individual reasons, probably they don’t want to lose their business and they would not be there for their people. I’m committed to help my people. I’ve committed my business to the hands of my management, and they’ve proved to me that they can hold forth.
Many people said and I quote, that”if you want the best from Quilox, let the boss, Shina Peller, be there” that you always make sure everything is in perfect condition. There have been several times you are even seen serving, attending to customers. How do you think your management could live up to the expectation of your customers in your absence?
Quilox is popping. You can go there by yourself and see what is going on there. The management is doing so well, and seriously, to tell you the fact, I have no regret entrusting it into their hands.
Who is really managing Quilox in your absent? Is it the management or your brother?
My brother is part of the management, but it’s not just only him. I have other capable hands and they are doing so very well to the best of my knowledge. Funny enough, they are even working towards expanding and opening another one in Abuja. If you don’t give people a free hand, if you don’t give people opportunity, you may not know what they are capable of doing.
What are the plans you have for your constituencies?
The plan I have for the development of my area is to create a model constituency that every other constituency in Nigeria will crave to emulate.
