The timing of the just concluded tour and political consultations embarked upon in the Oke-Ogun geo-political zone of the state, by the distinguished Senator Teslim Folarin, flagbearer and gubernatorial candidate of our great party, the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) Oyo State, could not have been more appropriate. With a basketful of gains, excitement and total turnaround, the tour could only be described indeed as a total success.
The tour which preceded the commencement of campaigns proper was embarked upon by leaders and stakeholders of the party to, among other things, showcase our candidates, have extensive consultations, far reaching grassroots engagements, furthering efforts on reconciliation, familiarization with party members as well as seeking royal and spiritual blessings all across the zone. The trip which started from Ibadan on Monday 26th September 2022 was led by our amiable father and leader, His Excellency Iyiola Oladokun Esq, the Chairman of the Oyo APC Elders’ Advisory Council and former deputy governor of Oyo State, with him are other prominent leaders of the party as well as the APC’s senatorial candidate for Oyo North Senatorial District, the Distinguished Senator Abdulfatai Buhari and the Distinguished Senator Teslim Folarin, the gubernatorial candidate and the incoming governor of Oyo State, come 2023 insha Allah. The team’s first point of call was Iwajowa and Kajola on Monday, through to Itesiwaju and Iseyin Local Governments on Tuesday, Atisbo and Saki-West on Wednesday, through to Saki-East and Oorelope on Thursday and then Olorunsogo and Irepo on the last day, Friday, when the team returned to Ibadan. Each stop with its own unique gain and flavour. The welcoming and friendly nature of Oke-Ogun people was put to full bare as the team was received at all stop-points with excitement and fanfare by youths, party members and community people.
Oke-Ogun is beautiful. The weather was friendly, clear cloud with wet rainy afternoons. Distinguished Senator Teslim Folarin was taken aback at the untapped vast natural resources scattered all over the zone, especially the rich landmass for agriculture, with green plantations that canopied the terrains in their kilometers at both sides of the road. He reiterated at various points of engagement with our people, his agenda for agricultural revolution starting from the raining season of next year. He was met with passionate yearnings for assistance and support by farmers and agripreneurs. Another issue that came to bare during interactions with our people was the challenge of Fulani herdsmen destroying crops and clashing with farmers. It was a major concern in all local governments visited. Lamentations were made on how the government of the day, after its inability to provide support, inputs and machines for farming, shows indifference while Fulani herdsmen destroy their farms and terrorize them with violent harassment and even deaths.
Respected traditional rulers in Oke-Ogun welcomed the team warmly and spoke on behalf of their subjects and itemized their needs which they would want the coming administration to look into once it begins work in May 2023. Senator Teslim Folarin was also briefed repeatedly on massive infrastructural deficit in the entire zone, majorly the completion of the Ikere Gorg dam which would help to expand economic frontiers for Oke-Ogun and generate electricity to the benefit of our people. Road construction was in the lip of everyone that spoke. Need for improvement of educational standards and well equipped, properly staffed, and working primary health care service across the zone far from social media hype experienced today in the state.
The consultation also got wide reception from religious leaders as the team met notable Imams, leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and traditional worshippers (Isese) across Local Governments. Members of CAN sought explanations on the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket and they were given satisfactory responses and assurances of inclusiveness in the scheme of things as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is known for his uncommon leadership traits without bigotry. The religious leaders iterated the need to run politics with fear of God and prioritizing the welfare of citizens. The traditional worshippers used the opportunity to re-present their agitation for a government approved public holiday to celebrate and in recognition of ISESE DAY, they also want considerable opportunities for their competent and qualified members in political appointments and opportunities in the civil service. One thing is common in all, everyone wanted inclusiveness and good governance as they all agreed in unison, that good governance is what has eloped Oyo for now. The religious leaders are optimistic that there will be a change of baton in Oyo come 2023 and they see TKF with the best of stars. They supported the ambition with prayers and divine optimism.
One big pleasant discovery about Senator Teslim Folarin is that he is a good listener. He listened patiently to lengthy and provoking submissions with the calmness of a dove. His wealth of experience has come to bare in his responses to knotty questions, he is soft spoken and speaks simply but with class and clarity. TESSY is a reservoir of the Yoruba wisdom and a silo for native intelligence. He is a mix of the high and the low. He has a big understanding of what Oyo is and he has prepared convincingly for the task ahead as he discussed solutions seamlessly with practicability, facts, scientific analysis and figures. He calmly accommodated unscheduled meetings especially with persons living with disabilities, women, students and even restless youths.
For the Distinguished Senator Fatai Buhari, the Oke-Ogun tour was more of a report card giving day. Everywhere the team went, they got pleasant testimonies of his undeniable efforts in delivering dividends of democracy to the people of his senatorial district. At palaces, mosques, churches, community halls, market squares, business plazas, students, widows, everywhere… FATAI BUHARI LEKAN SI was the hit song. We confirmed several ICT facilities, block of classrooms, solar lights, healthcare facilities, transformers, scholarships and job opportunities for indigent graduates. He was however enjoined by all, to conclude the good job he started on the Federal University to be situated in Oke-Ogun, so that his name could be written in gold in the history of the zone.
The Oke-Ogun tour was a huge success. It was an energizer and a morale booster for party members, a symbolic endorsement of APC by the electorates and our bush meat is highly nutritious, tastes like honey unlike the ones cage-raised in Ibadan.
God bless Oyo!
Adesola Yaqub (TASOOLO) is a former Caretaker Chairman of Oorelope Local Government, Igboho and can be reached via sholayaq@gmail.com.
