My good people of Abeokuta North Local Government; I stand on the threshold of history today, Monday, the 18th day of November, 2024 to salute your courage, bold and wise decision to elect me and my other colleagues as your servant-leaders to pilot the affairs of our pace-setting local government, Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State into the new phase of its progressive evolution over the next few years.
Let me humbly begin by paying glowing tributes to you the voters for casting your votes for us and our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). We are on the threshold of history because you have spoken with your votes, and thus set us on this journey to be your servants. I thank you all for entrusting me and other elected representatives with this sacred mandate to serve you.
I assure you, we will not disappoint you for the confidence and trust which you have reposed in us through your massive votes cast for our party and all the candidates of the party, who stood for election into our local government.
I would like to first, express my profound gratitude to my esteemed leaders and executives of our great party in Ogun State, beginning from no other person than our apex leader, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, Governor of Ogun State, whose unwavering commitment to democratic and progressive ideals paved the way for the seamless emergence of the party’s candidates and standard bearers for the election, and ultimately, the landslide victory of the party in the election. I also pay glowing tributes to our party leaders and elders at the state level for their immense support. Our State Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi and the wonderful Executives, I salute you all! E see pupo!
Our party Executives and leaders of our party in Abeokuta North LGA under the able chairmanship of Alhaja Faidat Akintunde-Sarumi, well done for a good job! Alhaja Akintunde-Sarumi served as the Director-General/Chairperson of the APC Campaign Council for Abeokuta North Local Government; I give kudos to you and your entire team for the energetic and very engaging ward-to-ward campaign roadshows to communities across the 16 Wards in our local government.
My party leaders in Ward 1: Alhaji Isiaq Adesanya, Hon. Lukmon Femi Adiro, Dr. Ogungbe, Hon. Wole Ayorinde, Alhaji Garuba, Alhaji Semiu (Agbada) and my beloved mother, Dr. Abisola Sodipo-Clarke, thanks for your invaluable support. To my leaders across the Local Government: Hon. Kunle Adeshina, High Chief Bode Mustapha, Ambassador Sharafa Tunji Ishola (STI), Senator Lanre Tejuoso, Engr. Seni Ayorinde, Princess Ogunremi, Alhaji Ajao Bakai Okedara, Prince Tunde Tella, Hon. Taiwo Oludotun, Hon. Abeeb Ajayi, Hon. Adeyemi Adelani (Igwe), Alhaji Abdul-Rasak Tokunbo Legele, Hon. Ifekayode Akinbode, who also served on the Campaign Council as the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee, Hon. Ganiyu Ademuyiwa, Hon. Fatai Ajigbare and numerous others that time and space will fail me to individually mention their names, I am most grateful.
I am equally grateful to all our party faithful at the local government for the yeoman’s job. You are the foot soldiers and brave warriors on the battlefield; thanks for the incredible job of mobilising the voters. This victory is yours! Of course, I cannot express sufficiently with words how much indebted I am to the numerous associations and groups for their support and solidarity which made this victory possible. I say a big thank you to our Babalojas, Iyalojas, market men and women, youth organisations, artisans and craftsmen such as the National Automotive Technicians Association (NATA), carpenters, tailors, plumbers, POS operators, recharge card sellers, teachers and other professional groups too numerous to mention.
I am humbled and honoured by the trust you’ve placed in me. Our victory is not just a win for our party, but a testament to the power of unity, resilience, and determination. As we celebrate this momentous occasion, I want to assure you that our administration will be built on the principles of transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness. We’ll work tirelessly to address the pressing needs of our community, from improving infrastructure and healthcare to enhancing education and economic opportunities.
Our agenda is clear: to create a local government that is responsive to the needs of all citizens and residents in Abeokuta North Local Government, regardless of party affiliation or background. We’ll foster a culture of collaboration, engaging with stakeholders, community leaders, and residents to ensure that everyone has a voice in shaping our collective future.
Therefore, in fulfillment of my campaign promise to hit the ground running from the set-go of our coming into office, I hereby declare ISE YA, and to underscore this avowed commitment, I announce the immediate launch and implementation of our “Elderly Care’’ initiative (Eto Ilera ati Itoju Awon Agba). This Elderly Care initiative is a support to our senior citizens by providing them dedicated healthcare services and monthly stipends. On the Election Day, my resolve to pursue this initiative was further strengthened when I saw an elderly woman -Mrs. Janet Akamo, probably in her late 90s who came out to vote with her walking stick. I exchanged pleasantries with her briefly and she said something profound “ti to ri ara wa ati t’ori awon omo wa ni mo wa di’bo” (I came out to vote because of my children, grandchildren and myself). For me, our senior citizens deserve to also enjoy the dividends of democracy indeed. We are therefore instituting a process to provide subsidised meals and transportation assistance for medical appointments. The initiative will also facilitate socialisation for the senior citizens through recreational activities. By launching the Elderly Care initiative, our new administration has demonstrated its avowed commitment to supporting the well-being and dignity of seniors, as well as people across all strata in the local government.
In the same vein, as we set to hit the ground running I will humbly use this opportunity to announce the appointments of the following persons: (1). Mr Ibrahim Adeniyi Okedara as Chief of Staff; (2). Oluwakayode Ajibola – Head of Media and Deputy /Deputy Chief of Staff; (3). Mr. Idris Beita Special Assistant on Inter-Ethnic Relations; and (4). Mr Solomon Akibo as Special Assistant on Works, Mr. Sunday Afolabi, Special Asst., Agriculture, Project Coordinator, Elder Care Initiative, Temitope Akiode, Consultant Housing Development and New Town Planning, Hassan Olawale Kabir. Consultant Environment & Sanitation Management, Akindele Morufudeen Olajumoke
These immediate aides will help kick-start the implementation of our developmental agenda for the transformation of the local government in line with the “ISE YA’’ development blueprint of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, the Governor of Ogun State. In the coming days, by the grace of God, more credible people would be sought and announced to join our team.
Let me at this juncture assure all and sundry that this administration is committed to ensuring equitable distribution of the dividend of democracy and progressive developmental programmes, environmental protection and improvement policies and the development of effective and sustainable primary educational programmes across the 16 wards in the local government. We will also ensure competitive deployment of policies that amplify the uniqueness of the four (4) zones that constitute Abeokuta North, with a view to leveraging the comparative advantage of each zone. As our commitment to food sufficiency and food security, agriculture will receive top priority and become a mainstay. In addition to encouraging family farming, we will strengthen our farm settlements and agricultural production as one of the ways to create wealth for our people and ensure we can feed our people and banish hunger amongst us. Farming shall be alluring and rewarding for our teeming youth population.
As a strong believer in people and humanity; sacrifice, compassion and empathy will be the hallmark of our administration. As the Holy Books teach us, our actions while in office will be guided by a sense of responsibility and accountability to a higher power, to steep our commitment to the well-being of all people as we see it in the Holy Bible in Ephesians Chapter 6 Verse 7 (NIV), which says, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.” The Holy Quran further buttresses this fundamental principle where Allah said, “Wa aḥsinu kamā aḥsana Allāhu ilayka” (And do good as Allah has done good to you”; “and… those who give preference to others over themselves,.” – Quran 28:77 and 59:9. These verses indeed remind us that serving others is a fundamental aspect of our faith and humanity.
To our opponents, the election is over; I extend an olive branch, inviting you to join us in building a better Abeokuta North for all. Together, we can achieve greatness and make our local government a model of excellence not only in Ogun State, but in Nigeria.
In conclusion, I call on all and sundry let us embark on this journey together with hope, optimism, and a shared commitment to serving our community. Thank you, and may God bless Abeokuta North Local Government.
Hon. Olanrewaju Oyegbola-Sodipo
Chairman, Abeokuta North Local Government
November 18, 2024.