30 REASONS WHY HON. TAOFEEK ABIMBOLA AJILESORO DESERVES A SECOND TERM: "SCORE CARD OF A PERFORMING REPRESENTATIVE."

30 REASONS WHY HON. TAOFEEK ABIMBOLA AJILESORO DESERVES A SECOND TERM: "SCORE CARD OF A PERFORMING REPRESENTATIVE."

PREAMBLE: 

In the history of Ife Federal Constituency there has never been a time when representation of Ife people was as open as it is now, neither was there any time that the people of Ife derived so much benefits from their representative as much as they have derived from Hon. Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro. 

The young man has changed the face of erstwhile secretive style of federal law makers in Ifeland to that of an active, all inclusive, practical, spread, sincere and open style of representation that is not restricted to a particular set of people. 

I will not go into the rhetoric of the pedigree and antecedents of the Ajilesoro family that spurred the Chiefs, Monarchs and indigenes of Ife federal constituency into insisting that the family must present one of their children to participate in politics which landed their youngest brother as the PDP candidate in the 2019 election. 

Also for the first time, there has been no margin as wide as that of Ajilesoro in the history of any political party in the constituency by any candidate like that of Abimbola Ajilesoro. 

He was not just a candidate of one political party but that of all political parties including APC and SDP all of who excused their leader and former leader of PDP in Ifeland to let them vote for a unified candidate. 

BREAKING THE RECORDS OF A FIRST TIMER:

(1) Dubai Trip for entrepreneurship: 

Shortly after his inauguration in June,  2019, Hon. Ajilesoro, an investment driven, business oriented and young entrepreneur embarked on self-employment drive for his constituents who are mostly of his age group out of the country by taking 86 of them to DUBAI on Capacity Building and Site Seeing of modern technology. 

The program benefitted quite a lot of people from all the four local government areas and the Area Office that make up the Ife federal constituency unlike before when just a clique of few politicians would just annex the honourable member and after milking him dry would be the first to start condemning him as a non-performer. 

(2) ABHORRENCE OF GODFATHERISM AND INCLUSIVITY OF ALL INTEGRAL PARTS:

His performance had invalidated the claims of some Ife political godfathers who called him a first timer, some of them had boasted that Ajilesoro was only out to test his popularity and if by mistake voted as a federal legislator they said that the young man won't even know which door to knock in Abuja. But knowing Ife people for whom they are, instead, they took their time to appraise the long records of the good deeds of the Ajilesoro family, ignored the distraction and voted overwhelmingly for the red-blooded young man.

(3) CONSTRUCTIONS OF PHYSICAL STRUCTURES:

In December 2020 alone, so many achievements were recorded, like the construction of an alternative road linking Ayelabowo-Awominure to ease gridlock along Ilode-Ifewara road. 

(4) In the same month, he constructed the Salvation Army, Kule Street, Modakeke Area Office.

(5) A long awaited dream of having electricity in their domain led to Hon. Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro to facilitate and buy a 500KVA transformer for the Iloromu/Aladanla community. The Federal Lawmaker representing Ife federal constituency Hon Ajilesoro  Taofeek Abimbola after donating the 500KVA transformer to supply electricity to the residents of ILOROMU QUArTERS also called the PHCN officials, paid for the installations and ensured that light returned to the community immediately. 

(6) During the electioneering campaigns, Bimbo Ajilesoro promised to encourage education being his priority, he promised to assist not just his community to contribute to the development of education but to also ensure that the government is assisted in providing enough enabling environment for learning for pupils across Ifeland so recently his team was seen, in the last two weeks touring schools in Ife federal constituency with heavy donation of teaching and learning materials. 

(7) Facilitating the renovation of Salvation Army Primary School, Oke-Amola, Modakeke and donation of a block of 3 classrooms by Hon. Abimbola Ajilesoro cannot be ignored. 

(8) As part of his legislative functions in the House of Representatives Hon. Ajilesoro was also reputed for the Facilitation of the implementation of the commencement of School Knowledge Center, which is ICT Center and E-learning Facilities in Oranmiyan Grammar School Ile-Ife. The school has since assumed the status of digitalized education, far away from the prolonged analogue system it used to be known for. 

(9) Still on education,  In this same year, hundreds of youths were sponsored on vocational training at Technical College, Ilode, Ile-Ife to learn one trade or another and most of them have been promised the needed tools upon completion of their training because Hon. Ajilesoro believes in self reliance and self employment rather than for our youths to be roaming the streets. 

(10) Still on vocational education and establishments, He also extended his hands of support to ensure the Fashion Designing Training for over twenty youths, both males and females with donation of sewing machines to individual participants as also part of his electoral promises and activities for the year. 

(11) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SMEDAN/NDE, AJILESORO FOUNDATION EMPOWERS 1000 CONSTITUENTS 

Honourable Ajilesoro Taofeek Abimbola alongside National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) again empowered 1000 women in his constituency as part of his delivery of the dividends of democracy to his people.

(12) LAWMAKER MOBILIZES YOUTH FOR ENTERPRENEURAL TRAININGS AND MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT IN AGRICULTURE

Hon. Ajilesoro also mobilized fifty (50) youths to the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization [NCAM],  llorin for an intensive Training and Manpower Development In Agriculture, which was designed for youths under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. He catered for all their needs for the training as part of his efforts aimed at stamping out poverty among his peers in Ifeland. The training which commences not long ago centred on improving youths involvement and active participation in entrepreneurship in diverse fields of agriculture and boosting overall output of agric produce also in support of the federal government's initiatives on diversification of the nation's economy into agriculture. 

(13) As we write, the ongoing Primary Health Centre at Famia Ward 04 is 100% completed, it is located in Ife North Local Government which the people of the community said could be regarded as a measure of his sensitivity to the welfare and health challenges of the people in the constituency. The Health Centre also has a standard Staff Quarter built beside it.

(14) The provision of essential drugs is no longer a problem in the area, notwithstanding that the project has become functional and the people of Famia community are already appreciating Ajilesoro, even ahead of February 25 general election with a view to ensuring that he returns to the green chamber of the National Assembly to do more for them.

 

(15) Also on health. Not long ago Ajilesoro after visiting patients at the OAUTHC at the outpatient department observed that those on emergency outnumbered the available facilities and that the staff strength was not adequate for the population of people in need because of lack of space, there and then he ordered the construction of an edifice for quick and prompt response to the needs of the patient who are on emergency called "Accident and Emergency Building for both Male and Female Medical Wards" which he also donated to the popular Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC). 

(16) The project was scheduled to be completed in six months as assured by the professionals. When the new structure donated by Ajilesoro Foundation to the hospital officially is a success story in ifeland today, it is already a landmark event and not just because of its immense size and scope in serving more than 100 Thousand patients a year in the rapidly growing Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile Ife. Also, it was noteworthy to let you know that the new main hospital Accident & Emergency Building, Male / Female Medical Wards, includes 50 single-patient rooms with private bathrooms, and features the same-handed room design. 

(17) In addition, standardized sink locations are designed to enhance hand-hygiene compliance and contribute to the overall emphasis on improving patient safety throughout the facilities. In essence he donated a standard structure to the institution and not a mushroom donation.

(18) TAKING CARE OF AKODI AGED MEN AND WOMEN ACROSS IFELAND.

Ever before venturing into politics, it is on record that Abimbola Ajilesoro always toured community settlements popularly called AKODI in Ife where mostly elderly women and men whose children have traversed the world for their daily bread. The major reasons why he always toured the Akodi has always been to ensure the prompt settlement of medical bills for many who truly needed help, and building and renovation of many ancient Akodis in Ile Ife where few of the projects executed, facilitated or influenced by Hon. Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro for the benefit of the good people of Ife federal constituency. Since he was elected into office, he has not stopped doing this, rather, he was said to have been increasing the number of beneficiaries. 

(19) PALLIATIVES TO PENSIONERS AND OTHERS DURING LOCKDOWN: 

During the October 1st Independence of Nigeria, in 2020 many pensioners were assisted with #5 million to ameliorate their sufferings occasioned by the non-payment of their entitlement by the APC led Osun State government over a long period of time after they had meritoriously served the state with all their lives. Though, it has been a practice of the Ajilesoro Foundation to assist the less privileged but Hon. Abimbola Ajilesoro added a feather to the title of his generation of philanthropists by graciously undertaking the burden of putting smiles on the faces of the aged retirees. 

(20) Also on the same October 1st 2020, over one thousand (1,000) petty traders were empowered with #20,000 each to boost their business and Ajilesoro also gave them a new lease of life. 

(21) The year winding up also featured over five million (N5m) cash and material donations as COVID-19 relief to Ife Development Board, IDB for Ife community during the troubled era of COVID-19 knockdown when the dreadful virus was ravaging everywhere and movements of people were restricted. Ajilesoro provided food for his people, continuously and judiciously. 

(22) Hon. Ajilesoro, in appreciation of the supports given to him and for believing in his promises during the campaigns again made some donations of some exotic cars which he gave to some selected leaders and personalities within the four local government areas and the area office, these are community and political personalities who deserve some boosts in status, in that project he gave out over twenty exotic cars. 

(23) With the agitations by the people of Modakeke and Ifetedo who complained of lack of adequate SUVs for their Monarch-In- Council to move in a convoy to meetings of Kings and Obas in the State, Hon. Ajilesoro instantly donated one each Luxury 2007 Honda Odyssey Vans to the Palace of Ogunsua of Modakeke and the Palace of Ifetedo which has since eased the movements of their Obas and Chiefs in and outside of their domains for their various activities.

 

LEGISLATIVE PERFORMANCE/SPONSORED BILLS BY AJILESORO IN THE GREEN CHAMBER. 

The passing legislative year did not just pass away without adequate contributions from Hon Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro, he has to his records, the sponsorship of some bills in the house which include:

(24) He sponsored the Bill to support the ~ Establishment of Decontamination Centres across the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

(25) In view of the stark reality of the deplorable and depreciating conditions of the country's Primary Health Care Delivery which has become non-existent everywhere in the country, it was Hon. Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro that moved the Motion in the green Chamber which facilitated the urgent rehabilitation, new construction and reconstruction, where it never existed before, of all Primary Health Care Centres/Facilities across the length and breadth of the country. By the time the motion was accented to, the federal government instructed that the Primary Health Centres be established in all the Wards across the country and we have 332 of such in all the wards in Osun state so that health care delivery would be closer to the local/rural communities who need it most. With Hon. Abimbola Ajilesoro's singular decision, all the state governors in Nigeria today have all been boasting and campaigning of workable primary health care facilities in all wards in their states today.

(26) Also in his wisdom on the indiscriminate dumping of goods and services anywhere on our major roads which has become a menace to the free flow of traffic everywhere in the country Hon. Ajilesoro also sponsored the Bill on the Establishment of Industrial Park in Ife South Local Government which has become a role model for many states in the South West Zone, in fact, many state governments are adopting the idea today. 

(27) As a regular visitor to Ife South before he went into politics, Hon. Ajilesoro was not unfamiliar with the perpetual state of darkness and lack of electricity in Ife South which he promised the people of the local government during electioneering campaigns, it was Hon. Ajikesoro also sponsored the Motion for the restoration of Restoration of Electricity to the entire communities of Ife South Local Government which has been abandoned for close to 15 years in conjunction with the serving Senator Francis Fadahunsi, though, the immediate past government of APC in Osun State delayed the implementation of the project but with their exit Hon. Ajilesoro has begun the process of ensuring that it becomes functional soon.

(28) It will also be recalled that there was almost bi-annual fire incidence which always took place at Odo-Ogbe, Oja Tuntun Market in ile-ife which was definitely beyond the power of the state government to compensate all the victims, it was the same Hon. Ajilesoro who moved the motion that reported the incessant fire incidence that happened in the market in the green chamber thereby bringing it up to those who had compassion to assist the victims and also to create enough facilities to fight fire incidence in the market. 

(29)Hon. Ajilesoro again in fulfilling his electoral promises also made possible the provision of motorized Borehole water system in Abewela area in ife Central Local Government. 

(30) It will be recalled also that Hon. Ajilesoro also facilitated modern Plastic Chairs and Tables of up to 300 pairs to selected Primary and Secondary schools in all the five local government areas in the federal constituency that are too numerous to be mentioned like Origbo Anglican Grammar School, Moro, in Ife North Local government, etc.

CONCLUSION: All the above records of performance by a first time elected Hon. Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro is an indication of the possibility of turning legislative business to an avenue to make what appeared in the past impossible by the young, erudite and determined House of Representatives member who has decided to erase the dichotomy and causes of mistrust among the people of the four local government areas in Ife federal constituency and the Area Office and he is working that talk. 

Dividends of Democracy has never been evenly distributed among the local government areas and the Modakeke Area Office the way Hon. Ajilesoro is presently doing it and it will be wise if the entire people of Ifeland can reciprocate this good gesture by their son with more and more opportunities to allow him to grow in the green chamber so that he will be able to get his feet and bring in more dividends of democracy to the constituency to them, preferably a federal institution that will boost the economy of both the constituency and the state in general. 

We wish Hon. Ajilesoro a successful completion of his tenure with more opportunities to continue to serve his people more than how he is presently doing in future either in the same capacity or at a higher level but right now, the onus is on all of us in Ifeland TO GIVE AJILESORO ANOTHER CHANCE IN APPRECIATION OF WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US

Abayomi Ojo-Segun,

Ife North Local Government,