The 2023 presidential election in Oyo State was an anomaly. Massive support for the APC presidential flag bearer made way for lucky APC senators and federal Representatives to emerge.
With a sitting President, three Senators, and eight Federal representatives, one would expect a stellar performance from the majority. However, it is the PDP federal lawmakers who have shone brightly, dwarfing the Legislative roles and constituency impact performance of the other Oyo state Senators and colleagues. In a particular instance, a Senator allegedly tried to usurp a bill sponsored by the PDP representative from the Ibarapa Central/North federal constituency. This move was largely criticized by the federal Representative and the constituents who had followed the bill from its inception.
The assertion of the PDP Lawmakers’ exceptional performance will be objectively evaluated. The unscripted opinions of people in the constituencies will also be published.
This opinion piece is devoid of sentiments, as such major scrutiny will only be on the activities of the following PDP Federal legislators;
Hon.Abass Adigun Agboworin
Hon. Stanley Adedeji popularly known as Odidiomo
Hon. Bayo Adepoju popularly known as Ibarapa Kan
Hon. Shina Oyedeji popularly known as Oshine.
These legislators have undoubtedly delivered quality representation irrespective of the non-performance of the majority of their “colleagues and Seniors.” Aside from the late Hon. Olaide Musiliu Akinremi also known as Jagaban of Ibadan North federal constituency and Hon. Remi Oseni of Ido/Ibarapa East Federal constituency who has conspicuously impacted on the people, and should strongly consider cross-carpeting to the PDP, as a Yoruba adage says “ a rich man amongst a vast majority of poor people, is also poor” we can boldly say that the people of Oyo state know the party to deliver quality representation in the next election. In the case of the Late Hon. Akinremi Jagaban, one shouldn’t be surprised at his performance and closeness to the grassroots, as he was a well-known PDP at heart; no wonder the PDP felt his loss more than his party leaders and members; his constituents will have another opportunity to elect a worthy successor.
Indices For Evaluating A Lawmaker’s Performance
1. Legislative Activity
A. Bill sponsored
B. Committee participation
2. Representation And Engagement
3. Constituency Projects
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY
Federal lawmakers are the custodians of the state’s interest in National politics and laws. Sponsoring bills is a hallmark of an active representative; bills are usually either of National importance or constituency-related. While committee participation is largely lobbying, area of core competence and politics.
REPRESENTATION AND ENGAGEMENT
A major responsibility of a lawmaker is to be the mouthpiece of his constituent at the National assembly as well as engage with his constituents regularly. Engaging the constituents allows the lawmakers to gain first-hand knowledge of issues affecting the community; these issues influence the motions and bills at the National Assembly.
CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS
Engagement with the constituents is, however, expected to shape the type of constituency projects lobbied by the lawmakers.
The PDP lawmakers have been exceptional in sponsoring bills, moving motions, and committee functions. Hon. Stanley Adedeji Odidiomo who is the Chairman of the committee on Digital& information technology and also a member of 9 other committees has sponsored a bill and also moved on a motion on National Security in 2024.
Hon. Agboworin is the chairman of the House Committee on Narcotic Drugs, and a member of 12 other committees has sponsored two bills in 2024, a bill on Ibadan and another bill on Drug trafficking.
Hon. Bayo Adepoju’s conversion of Igboora Technical School to a technical university bill successfully passed at the National Assembly awaiting the presidential assent, a success usually exclusive to ranking lawmakers.
It is understood that the constituency project is designed to bring dividends of democracy to the grassroots in Nigeria, and it is facilitated by lawmakers. However, lawmakers have to lobby the leaders of the hallowed chamber to attract laudable developmental projects to their constituency.
In 2024, widely celebrated developmental projects were largely done by the PDP Federal representatives, while Hon. Remi Oseni of Ido/ibarapa East met his constituent’s expectations, being the light in the darkness of the non-performance of his party.
Hon. Abass Adigun Agboworin (2024 impact review)
The lawmaker representing Ibadan Northeast/Southeast at the federal house of representatives, Hon. Abass Adigun Agboworin, in the last 12 months prioritized the socio-economic empowerment of his constituency rather than just food for party members.
As early as March this year, Hon. Agboworin received commendation from Oyo state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde as well as praises from his constituents and people of Oyo state for empowering over 600 market traders and artisans with 1 million naira cash each. Governor Makinde, who attended the lawmaker’s empowerment program, affirmed that Agboworin is committed to delivering dividends of democracy to the people of the constituency.
Agboworin, in 2024, distributed educational materials to 80 primary and secondary school students within his constituency. Remedial classes for SS2 and SS3 students are ongoing in Hon. Agboworin’s constituency.
The lawmaker relieved the Orita-Aperin market fire victims with a sum of N500,000.
In addition to his remarkable performance, the lawmaker facilitated the construction of a 1.6km kajola-Irede-Academy-Odinjo-Sodun road project. He has also constructed and completed the construction of several classrooms within his constituency.
Around October, the lawmaker lit up several areas in his constituency with over 1,100 solar-powered streetlights, including the drilling of motorized industrial boreholes for people of his constituency to have access to quality water.
Just a few weeks ago, Agboworin economically empowered fifty-five persons with disabilities through the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, each beneficiary went home with a deep freezer and cash of thirty thousand naira for business support.
Hon. Adedeji Stanley Olajide Odidi Omo (2024 impact review)
Hon. Adedeji Stanley Olajide Odidi-Omo, the Ibadan Northwest/Southwest federal lawmaker’s marvelous scorecard as a legislator in his first year was said to have surpassed the eight years of his immediate predecessor.
Hon. Stanley the House chairman on Digital and Information Technology in his second term as a lawmaker, has so far done so well for his constituency in many areas such as education, empowerment, youth engagement, community development, as well as ICT projects.
Construction and equipping of ICT Hub at Oke-Bola Comprehensive High School, Oke Bola, Ibadan.
Other ICT programs
a. Sponsoring 5 members of his constituents to training on the fundamentals of Data Protection/Data Processing organized by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
b. Digital Skills for 50 Artisans in Ibadan Northwest/Southwest Federal Constituency by NITDA. 2 weeks of training with the distribution of free laptops to participants.
c. Training of 40 constituents on Information Technology by National Space Research and Development Agency, Abuja.
d. Construction and equipping of ICT Hub at Oba Abass Aleshinloye Grammar School, Eleyele, Ibadan.
e. Training of 600 constituents on Data gathering, Data Analysis, and Data Protection in conjunction with the Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin-Kowa, and Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC)
Odidiomo has made provision of 200 Jamb Forms to candidates in Ibadan Northwest/Southwest Federal Constituency, with payment of School Fees of any indigent students.
He has constructed and furnished a block of 6 classrooms at Urban-Day Grammar School, Adeoyo, Ring Road. Odidiomo facilitated and renovated school buildings such as the renovation of Special Basic School, Adeoyo, and Ring Road, as well as the renovation of Sacred Heart Secondary School, Ode-Oolo, Inalende.
Part of Odidiomo constituency projects also includes the installation of 64 units of all-in-one Solar Street Lights at Jericho, Dugbe, Odo-Ona, Agbeni, and Anfani Layout, all in Ibadan Northwest/Southwest Federal Constituency. Construction of solar-powered borehole at Ogundipe Street, Liberty Road, Anfani Layout, Ring Road, Ibadan, as well as installed a borehole at Ajeigbe, Anfani, and Oke-Seeni
Residents Feedback From Ibadan Northwest/Southwest Federal Constituency
We thank God for the success he gave him over the street light he did for us; we appreciate it because when it is dark, all the lights come on, and everywhere becomes bright. -Mrs. Komolafe
We thank him because he said he would do a boreholes in the Environment, and he did it.- Mr. Oladiti
Our transformer used to give us issues, and we did not know how to go about it, but when we went to meet our honourable, he answered us he bought a new transformer for us, we did not expect it. – Mr. Seun
God remembered us in the environment as they dug this borehole for us, and we are happy, Thanks be to God and all those in power that came in remembered us for good. We say bravo to honor because others have come and gone and did not remember us. -Mrs. Adaraloye Abiodun.
Hon. (Dr.) Anthony Adebayo Adepoju (2024 impact review)
Hon. Adepoju’s completed projects and ones due for commissioning include the construction of Three Blocks of Classrooms at Oke-Odo NUD primary school V. Continuous end-of-the-term holiday coaching with the service of 33 experienced and qualified teachers. Construction of Sagaun-Onimangoro Road, Igboora.
Distribution of six electric transformers, a pragmatic move to address the epileptic power supply in Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North federal constituency.
Facilitation of five additional solar-powered Boreholes in the constituency’s Villages and Towns.
Hon. (Dr.) Anthony Adebayo Adepoju on September 9th, 2024, facilitated the construction of an additional five solar-powered boreholes in the constituency. Three of the five boreholes are located in villages, namely Kajola (Ayete), Igbo Nla (Igangan), and Lajeebon (Idere), while those of Tapa and Igboora communities are located at Oke Ayo and Isale Oba, respectively.
In a move to bridge the infrastructural deficit in the constituency’s academic environment, around August, the lawmaker began the construction of Six Blocks of Classrooms at Ayete Grammar School, Ayete. The school building project, facilitated by the federal lawmaker, was the second of its kind between July and August of the year 2024.
More to his effort, Hon. Adepoju facilitated the Complete Renovation of the Magistrate Court Igboora.
Empowerment Opportunities:
a. Empowering hundreds of constituents in the federal constituency with modern-day digital skills.
b. 4-day skill acquisition and empowerment program for hundreds of constituents. The initiative was monitored and evaluated by the Centre for Management Development (CDM). Each participant at the event received the sum of fifty thousand naira (N50,000) each.
c. Distributed bags of fertilizers to farmers in the constituency.
d. Ibarapakan Foundation, with the collaboration of Edu4UPro Limited, Nigeria, in collaboration with TPSeal Education, United Kingdom, presented a fully funded online international study program at a reputable University in Malaysia (INTI International University Malaysia) for brilliant students of Ibarapa North and Central constituency.
e. Awarded a fully funded scholarship to two constituents to study doctoral degrees and MSc courses.
Residents Feedback From Ibarapa North/Central Federal Constituency
There was no water here at Igbo-nla, but since Honorable Adepoju became our representative, he has helped us with boreholes, and we now have good water; we are grateful.
We are thankful to Honorable Adebayo Adepoju for representing us at Ibarapa North Central Constituency; he has done a lot; he is a good person, and he is humble. The one that amazed me most is the fact that he gives employment opportunities to people from Central to Igangan; if you ask anyone, they will tell you it’s all thanks to Honourable Anthony; he has done quite a lot for us at Ibarapa North Constituency.
My name is Rachel Akintaru from Idare. Doctor Adebayo Adepoju (Ibarapa Kan) is doing well for us all at Idere and the whole of Ibarapa; we all see his impact. May the lord continue to help him. He gave us gifts during the festive period.
Hon. Shina Oyedeji’s (2024 impact review)
For Itesiwaju/Iseyin/Iwajowa/Kajola, the lawmaker, in the last 12 months, has been able to engage the youths in his constituency with various skills and empowerment.
Hon. Oyedeji facilitated Film and video editing training for youths and the distribution of 80 laptops for the youths of his constituency. The lawmaker, in his effort to reduce unemployment in his constituency, also gave start-up capital to over 400 youths and women in the constituency and about 50 business registrations for youth entrepreneurship.
Hon. Oyedeji has also secured in the police force for several youths in his constituency, in the recently completed police recruitment as well as at the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA).
In the area of education, the lawmaker is currently sponsoring about 42 students with a full scholarship at SAF Polytechnic, Iseyin. Hon. Oyedeji distributed over 15000 exercise books and Mathematical sets to students in the federal constituency. He has also constructed 6 blocks of classrooms.
The lawmaker’s impact in his largely agrarian constituency is widely appreciated. He has continually subsidized Tractors at reduced rates to farmers in his constituency and distributed fertilizers to 700 farmers. Today, the maize production in the constituency is the highest in Oyo state. The lawmaker continues his massive grading of farm settlement roads within his constituency.
The lawmaker also reached out to artisans, such as Tailors, Mechanics, and Hairdressers, with the provision of major working tools. Some of his other constituency projects include repairing moribund motorized boreholes in Itesiwaju and Kajola local government area and the erection of a new borehole in Kajola local government
The lawmaker has installed 300 solar lights with a special focus on farm settlements.
Residents Feedback From Itesiwaju/Iseyin/Iwajowa/Kajola Federal Constituency
Adekunle Sunday Olatunji, Kajola Ward 5, Oshine is trying his best, only doing little he can do. We are in the same ward, though I didn’t have a physical view of his projects, but I watched on social media that he distributed fertilizers for farmers as well as installed solar-powered lights in villages.
In his reaction, Obatoki Abiodun from Iwajowa local government also affirmed Hon. Oyedeji, as a good representative, said the lawmaker had performed optimally when it comes to empowerment, food distribution, and other beneficial projects for the constituents but needed to focus more on job and employment for the youths.
Summary
In summary, the residents of Oyo state are poised for quality representation; as such, the PDP lawmakers must continue to deliver across the board and beyond expectations. It is a well-known fact, saying that ‘you don’t change a winning team’, so the PDP should strongly consider retaining the federal lawmakers in their current capacity or offer them a bigger role in the event of political consideration. The interest and welfare of the people of Oyo state must take precedence over other sentiments. Oyo state has witnessed unprecedented progress largely through the effort of the Seyi Makinde administration. Quality federal representation is the last piece of the puzzle for the Oyo state of our dreams.
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