Yesterday the 5th of April 2024,the Ward 5 of Ibadan North LG,unarguably the largest Ward with both the largest number of polling units and the largest number of registered voters in a LG noted for delivering the highest number of votes for our Principal His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde in consecutive elections, hosted the wife of the Deputy Governor; Her Excellency Chief( Mrs) Ajibike Lawal, the youthful,ebullient and dynamic Chairmanship candidate Hon Seun Olufade and his running mate and Vice Chairmanship candidate Hon Akeem Ayoade within the metropolis.His Excellency Chief Bayo Lawal; the Deputy Governor of the state also passed through the gathering on his way to a prior commitment.
In a strategic,issue based Ward campaign to the zones of the large ward, leading lights of the ward; the Commissioner for Women Affairs & Social Inclusion ;Hon( Mrs) Toyin Balogun,member representing constituency 1 of the local government;HonComforter Olajide,Hon Tunde Olaniyan( Akoro),the Councillorship candidate Mr Ahmed and other notable leaders Chief Mrs Kasumu,Hon Suara and Hon Gbede( in absentia) led a teeming crowd of leaders from both within and outside Ward 5 and other party faithful to play host to the Chairmanship candidate Hon Seun Olufade,his Vice Chairman candidate Mr Ayoade Adewale Akeem and a slew of other notable leaders from other wards of the LG viz:
1.Leader Ismaila Ashipa
2.Hon Waheed Biiro( Executive Chairman)
3.Hon Seun Adelore( Party Chairman)
4.Hon Babajide Gabriel: Honorable representing Ibadan North Constituency 2
5.Hon Seun Onifade : Chairmanship candidate
6.Ayoade Adewale Akeem : Vice Chairmanship candidate
7.Hon Dada Awoleye : Chairman Hospital Management Board
8.Prince : DG Olufade Campaign
10.Hon Oladipo Adedeji : LG Youth Leader
11.Alhaja Tawa Warrior
12.Alhaji Olasupo : Former Education Secretary
13.Alhaji Anibaba: former LG Party Chairman
14.Alhaja Latifa Latifu: former LG Women Leader
15.Alhaji Yahya Adetunji
16.Iya Ishola
17l.Iya Ife
and other notable leaders in the LG too numerous to mention.
The strategic session which deployed a unique “Needs Based” approach to identify the specific needs & deficits infrastructural and otherwise in the ward to enable the candidate develop customised solutions to these identified needs even before he assumes office kicked off with an engagement with critical stakeholders like different faith demographics,artisans group representatives,female groups among others.
The stakeholders keyed into the session, appreciating the tremendous value added by both the Commissioner and the member HOA in their comments.
They also spoke with candour requesting for more infrastructural developments and particularly,more empowerment programs which would enhance the ability of citizens to fulfil personal obligations
The Honorable Commissioner in her response observed that the Incoming Chairman Hon Olufade had been taking notes while the stakeholders expressed the infrastructural and social welfare deficits within the ward.
She observed that prior to now,a need for empowerment programs had been identified by her ministry and several Programs are Works In Progress at the moment.
She also congratulated the ward for being a beneficiary of graciousness extended to the ward by His Excellency who appointed the present Commissioner for Women Affairs & Social Inclusion whose portfolio includes responsibility for facilitating empowerment programs from Ibadan North in general and Ward 5 in particular.
She explained further that at least 5 different Social Welfare Interventions and empowerment programs are presently under consideration by His Excellency which once green lighted will be activated for the benefit of not just Ward 5 and Ibadan North LG but also, the entirety of Oyo State citizens in the 33 LGs of the state.
She averred further that both the Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates are credible,responsible and will be accountable to the populace.She stated further that both candidates are in the mould of our Principal, Governor Seyi Makinde who we all know regards his high office as a public trust held in the interest of the people to which he has been creditably accountable to.
Some of the stakeholders testified in their comments during the feedback session, affirming that the 2 leading lights from the ward have been performing their duties creditably and applauding them for meeting the needs of the demographic and adding value to the quality of lives lived by citizens of the ward.
Extrapolating from this,the Honorable Commissioner assured the citizens of Ward 5 that these 2 candidates; the Chairman and Councillor,just like their Commissioner & member of the House of Assembly are also products of the Governor Seyi Makinde School of Accountable & Responsible Public Service.
She assured the teeming crowd that the candidates will perform beyond expectation and enjoined the ward to vote resoundingly for both PDP candidates as is the usual practice of Ward 5.
She explained further that because of our proven consecutive track record of excellent performance at successive polls,expectations were very high from Ibadan North in general and Ward 5 in particular and so, we must not let the bar down,so that we can sustain the confidence of the executive in the Ward/LG and thus justify the attraction of even more development and appointments to Ibadan North/Ward 5
Other speakers toed a similar vein with Her Excellency Chief( Mrs) Ajibike Lawal; wife of the Deputy Governor giving a motherly advice to citizens of the Ward to vote resoundingly for all PDP candidates so they can also complement the good work that His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde and the 2 leading lights of the ward are doing by cascading development to the grassroots.
The Incoming Chairman in his inspirational comments gave a commitment to citizens of the ward to toe the laudable footsteps of Governor Seyi Makinde by cascading development to all nooks and crannies of the local government in a fair,just and equitable manner.
He also promised to run a LG structure which will be both accessible and responsive to constituents.
Hon Olufade thereafter introduced the Councillorship candidate of the ward Mr Hammed to all and sundry,intimating the crowd that their Councillorship candidate will be the face of the ward in his government and working together hands in glove,they both will ensure that development and progress will be cascaded to all the zones of Ward 5 in a just manner.
The campaign train which started from Ikolaba zone,traversed all other zones through Oluwo to terminate at Akingbola/Inukoko zone with the Incoming Chairman Hon Olufade,Honorable Commissioner Mrs Toyin Balogun and the Councillorship candidate Hon Hammed distributing different souvenirs including branded fans, school bags and notebooks to passersby while canvassing votes for all PDP candidates in the forthcoming elections to a definitively positive and excited response by the constituents
