Constituents in Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North Local Government Areas of Oyo State converged at the Ayete New Town Hall on Thursday, December 21, 2023.
The town hall meeting, which started at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, had in attendance traditional rulers from the two local government areas in the constituency, political officeholders in the constituency, market men and women, artisans, both the old and the young in the constituency, over 100 registered associations, including students’ union bodies, as well as all relevant security agencies in Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North.
Addressing the mammoth of constituents on Thursday, the Asawo of Ayete, who was the host monarch, appreciated Hon. (Dr.) Adepoju for making not just his constituency proud but also the entire Oyo State.
The monarch expressed utmost joy in the lawmaker’s unparralled style of representation, which, according to him, has put all the communities in Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North on a development and growth pedestal.
The traditional ruler expressed that Hon. (Dr.) Adepoju might not understand in a hurry the singular honour of organising such an epoch-making meeting, which he described as never-before-seen, noting that the Deputy Chairman House Committee on Federal Character has distinguished himself among all federal representatives Oyo State has ever produced.
The Olu of Igboora, in his own remarks, expressed joy that Hon. Adepoju has set a pace that will be difficult for anyone who is not genuinely ready to serve to beat. The monarch said it would be almost impossible for any leader who listens to his or her people to fail. Admonishing present and aspiring leaders in the constituency to emulate the style of leadership that Hon. Adepoju has portrayed in the last six months of his representation, praying to the Almighty God to continue to give him wisdom and understanding to finish his legislative journey well.
The Onidere of Idere Land, in his own words, commended the people of the constituency for coming out en masse despite the short notice, attributing the massive turnout to the good representation of Hon. Adepoju.
The traditional ruler urged the constituents to utilise the importance of the gathering to address the most pressing issues so as to move the constituency forward.
The Elempe of Tapa also showered his praises; the monarch expressed that any leader who is not running away from his or her people truly wants genuine development. The traditional ruler said the meeting is an opportunity for the people to ask questions and make significant contributions to the various initiatives that the lawmaker is currently holding in the constituency and the ones that he is proposing.
The Asigangan of Igangan, in his appreciative words, thanked Hon. Adepoju for all he has been doing, noting that it takes anyone who is current and those who are not current to know that indeed there is a new sheriff in town. The traditional ruler said it is typical of politicians to detach themselves from their people after they might have achieved what they are looking for, adding that such is never the case with Hon. Adepoju. The monarch, however, urged the lawmaker never to fail to maintain the principle of fairness and equality in the various opportunities God is using him to bring to the constituency.
In his own speech, the Oyo State Commissioner for Trade, Investment, Industry and Cooperative, Hon. Ademola Obafemi Ojo, congratulated the people of Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North for electing Hon. Adepoju this year. The Balogun of Igboora and Babaloja of Ibarapa Land said the constituency had produced many House of Representatives members without having the opportunity to engage them one-on-one, as Hon. Adepoju has done through the first of its kind constituency town hall meeting in the two local government areas of Oyo State.
Hon. Ademola Ojo expressed optimism in Hon. Adepoju, saying that he has performed beyond expectations in the last six months despite the fact that he is a first-timer.
Hon. Ogunjimi, in his own words, thanked Hon. Adepoju for making the constituency proud at the national assembly.
“Adepoju, you are too good; you are brilliant, and I am proud of you. Anytime I watch you speak on the floor of the House, I wonder if it is not the same House we have been sending people to.
“We can see your efforts in addressing the problem of power in our constituency; God will bless you. You escalated the issue, as this matter has never received such a level of concern from all and sundry at the National Assembly.
“But I want to commend you that the investigation is necessary. We understand your concern, but don’t let the investigation take much of your time to address the power supply issue. We are seeing your efforts, and we can feel their impact already. Adepoju went to the Assembly; he became a leader. Adepoju went to the Assembly; he is representing us well. This is happening at a time when we have all lost hope. Thank you, thank you, thank you,” the elder statesman said.
Expressing her own words of appreciation to the people of Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North for electing Hon. Adepoju, the former state lawmaker and ex-commissioner of Oyo State, Hon. (Mrs.) Funmilayo Okikiolu Orisadeyi thanked Hon. Adepoju for making Oyo State proud, asking rhetorically if the lawmaker had been at the National Assembly prior to his election. She attributed Hon. Adepoju’s success so far to his ability to listen to words of advice before making decisions. Asking every political officeholder to emulate his style of leadership for the growth and development of not just Ibarapa Land but Nigeria as a whole.
While commending Hon. Adepoju, the former Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Majekodunmu Aborode, made a case for Igangan High School, which was converted to a federal school of science and technology in the community. The ex-commissioner expressed deep concern that ever since the conversion was done, the sum of N200 million was paid as a startup for a new school building, but ever since the money was paid, nothing has been done. The Ibarapa-born politician, however, urged the lawmaker to probe what he termed a dishonest act on the part of the stakeholders saddled with the responsibility of building the school.
The lawmaker representing the constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Ojedokun, also appreciated Hon. Adepoju for not reneging on his electoral promise of accessibility, commending the federal lawmaker for raising the bar of representation in the last six months.
In his key note address, Hon. (Dr.) Anthony Adebayo Adepoju expressed his deep appreciation to the good people of Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North for coming out en masse.
Addressing the constituents, the lawmaker said the town hall meeting would enable the people of the constituency to chart a new course for the future, promising that every one of their requests would be looked into collectively and see which ones were most feasible.
Speaking at the meeting, Hon. Adepoju highlighted his series of achievements in the last six months, which include but are not limited to federal government job opportunities, scholarship offers to students in the constituency, construction of a cold room to prevent waste of perishable foods, construction of three cassava processing factories in Igangan, Tapa and Igboora, a series of Motions and Bills, construction of a lawn tennis court, organising free holiday lesson to complement the efforts of their teachers in school, making huge donations to assist constituents seeking medical care services, provision of solar street lights, and many more.
The lawmaker expressed that he knows the weight of the first town hall meeting ever in the constituency, promising that all the questions and suggestions would be addressed with all fairness.
Hon. Adepoju also listed out his proposed projects in the constituency, from facilitating transformers to the constituency so that when the power project is completed, people can enjoy it, federal government scholarship scheme, which he said he is not the chairman from Oyo State. He said that through his influence by God’s grace, a lot of people will have the opportunity to do their MSc and PhD abroad. He also said he has a very good relationship with the minister of power, expressing optimism that power stations in Ibarapa will soon be completed.
Hon. Adepoju said he also targets 500 constituents to benefit from his health insurance programme in the next few months. According to him, the initiative will afford 500 people in Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North free medical care services.
Prominent among the requests constituents made from the lawmaker during the town hall meeting were subsidising the cost of ploughing farmland, making provision for grants for farmers, providing transformers in the communities, constructing bridges, building visible structures around various tourist sites in the constituency, facilitating grants for small-scale business owners in the constituency, fixing the problem of power issues in the region, ploughing roads leading to the various farm settlements in the constituency, and a host of others.
