How Governor Dapo Abiodun Reconnected Ifo Constituency 2 To The State

By Comrade Timothy Odedina

A simple, impromptu survey on the streets of Akute and Alagbole can often reveal the most profound political truths. Yesterday, as I navigated the now-bustling roads of Ifo Constituency 2 in Ogun State, I posed a question to residents: “Who is Dapo Abiodun?” The answers were swift and uniform: “Our Governor.” This may seem like a basic fact, but the depth of recognition and the tone of appreciation in their voices spoke volumes. It was a stark contrast to the narrative of neglect that had defined this area for nearly two decades.

This encounter transported me back to the campaign trails of 2019. The rallying cry of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), was a painful but undeniable truth: for 16 years, spanning two previous administrations, the people of this constituency had watched as successive governments turned a blind eye to their infrastructural decay. The roads were a nightmare, a symbol of governmental abandonment. The question then was not just about who the governor was, but whether there was a government at all that felt their plight.

Today, the story has fundamentally changed. His Excellency, Prince (Omooba) Dapo Abiodun, CON, has not only constructed roads but has constructed trust. He has made the people of Ifo Local Government believe, once again, that they are an integral part of Ogun State. This is the very essence of leadership.

I recall the tense atmosphere towards the 2023 re-election campaign. The opposition, sensing an opportunity, waged a fierce and well-funded war of perception. They deployed vast resources, paying social media influencers to drag the governor’s name through the mud for close to two months. The campaign of calumny was so intense that it became a daily topic on radio stations across Lagos, Oyo, and Osun States.

“I was a guest on one of these stations in Abeokuta,” a community leader, Mr Adewale Hassan, told me. “It was frustrating to listen to callers from far and wide, who had never set foot in Ifo II, pontificate on issues they knew nothing about. They spoke from a place of ignorance, while we here were living with the tangible evidence of progress unfolding before our eyes. The governor was being judged not by those who benefit from his work, but by those paid to distort it.”

Yet, on election day, the people spoke with their votes. The infrastructure revolution became our party’s strongest campaigner. The APC did not just win; we won convincingly because the evidence on the ground was irrefutable.

The gratitude in the constituency is palpable because the neglect was profound. For 16 years after the administration of His Excellency, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, who notably recognised the area, the people of Ifo II were in a governmental wilderness.

“We felt orphaned,” recalled Mrs Funmilayo Adekoya, a market leader in Alagbole. “One administration allegedly said he was only aware that it was pigs we reared in this area, a demeaning statement that ignored the thousands of votes that consistently came from here. Another administration embarked on a punitive exercise, demolishing houses and constructing needless, uncompleted bridges that became white elephants, causing more harm than good and disrupting lives.”

Governor Abiodun’s approach has been the antithesis of this. His philosophy of inclusive and purposeful governance has spread the dividends of democracy to our doorstep. The list of projects is not just a menu of infrastructure but a lifeline to the community:

· The construction of the Denro-Ishashi Road.

·The commissioning of the Olusegun Osoba Road.

·The construction of the Toyin/Giwa Road.

·The transformation of the Akute-Alagbole Road.

·The strategic and phased construction of the Ijoko-Agbado Road, with the first phase (Ijoko to Abule) completed and the second phase (from the Akute end to Agbado) ongoing.

This progress is further amplified by landmark federal projects facilitated through effective representation. The New ICT Centre, a brainchild of our diligent Senator for Ogun Central, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, stands as a beacon of digital empowerment for our youth. Furthermore, the people of Isheri Olofin and its environs were filled with joy as the Federal Government commissioned a fully-equipped 20-Bed Renewed Hope Primary Healthcare Centre (RHPHC), a facility designed to provide quality and accessible healthcare to grassroots communities.

“We are filled with hope that the third and final phase of the Ijoko-Agbado road will be approved and constructed before the end of this administration,” Hon. Fola Salami, the dedicated Assembly Member representing Ifo II, stated. “Beyond the roads, the Governor has constructed and renovated schools, ensuring our children learn in a conducive environment. We also have legacy projects facilitated through the Ogun Central senatorial district Senator, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, that will be commissioned soon, which will further enhance the socio-economic landscape of our constituency.”

Hon. Salami’s point is crucial. It highlights a government working in synergy—the Executive and the Legislature—for the common good of the people.

In conclusion, the story of Ifo Constituency 2 is a microcosm of the Ogun State story under Prince Dapo Abiodun. It is a story of reconnection, of rebuilding, and most importantly, of respect. Thank you, Omooba Dapo Abiodun, for your understanding, your support, and for showing us how purposeful, focused, and inclusive leadership truly works. You have not only built roads; you have built a legacy of belief in the promise of democracy.

The entire Ifo II State Constituency appreciates you, and we urge you to continue this transformative work until every nook and cranny of our constituency feels the impactful touch of your ISEYA mantra.