An Accord Party chieftain, Hon. Tajudeen Ibiyemi, has urged residents of Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State to support the re-election of the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt Honourable Adewale Egbedun, citing his contributions to education, healthcare and infrastructure development.
Ibiyemi made the appeal while featuring on a news and current affairs programme “Bose n Nlo”, on City Mirror TV, Osogbo, He described Egbedun as a committed representative who had demonstrated concern for the welfare of his constituents despite being in his first term in office.
The Accord chieftain cited educational support for students, the renovation of Ato Bridge in Oyan community, the provision of transformers to communities and financial contributions towards the renovation of health centres as examples of Egbedun’s interventions.
According to him, the lawmaker’s accessibility and willingness to assist residents had earned him recognition among his constituents.
“Whenever you visit him for help, he will definitely put a smile on your face. He knows how to make peace reign in his community,” Ibiyemi said.
He added that Egbedun’s performance in his first term reflected a level of experience and commitment often associated with politicians who had held several public offices.
Ibiyemi also commended the lawmaker for his efforts to address infrastructure challenges in the area, particularly those relating to roads and bridges that have affected the movement of residents and other commuters.
He specifically mentioned the road project at Ila-Odo, which he said was being executed by the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke with Egbedun’s support.
“The road has been a major challenge for the people for years, but the governor, with the support of Egbedun, is addressing the situation. The construction of the bridge has made passable for the students,” he said.
Ibiyemi expressed optimism that continued cooperation between Adeleke and Egbedun would attract more development to Odo-Otin, urging residents to support the lawmaker’s bid for a second term.
Adeleke’s Support for Tinubu
On the political situation ahead of the forthcoming elections, Ibiyemi dismissed concerns that Adeleke’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid would affect the electoral prospects of other Accord Party candidates in Osun State.
He maintained that the governor’s support for Tinubu was limited to the presidential election and should not be interpreted as an abandonment of Accord candidates seeking other elective positions.
“There is no cause for alarm for other candidates contesting under the Accord Party. Adeleke is only supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, while other candidates under Accord are still being supported by the governor,” Ibiyemi said.
He argued that Adeleke’s appointment as coordinator of Tinubu’s campaign council would not alter his position regarding Accord candidates contesting for seats in the Senate, House of Representatives and other political offices.
“The appointment does not change anything. The governor’s support for Tinubu is for the presidential election alone. Other Accord candidates should continue their campaigns and seek the support of the electorate,” he added.
Ibiyemi also ruled out the possibility of political negotiations involving candidates from other parties, maintaining that political actors should focus on campaigning for candidates within their respective parties.
Reflecting on the previous governorship election in Osun State, Ibiyemi said he travelled abroad to recuperate after what he alleged were attacks during the election period.
He said he had been confident of Adeleke’s victory, explaining that his support for the governor was influenced partly by development projects he observed during a visit to Nigeria.
According to him, his assessment of Adeleke’s performance informed his decision to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Accord Party.
Ibiyemi expressed optimism that Adeleke’s administration would deliver further development during its second term, urging residents to support ongoing projects and initiatives aimed at improving their welfare.
