2024: How Sanwo-Olu, Adeola (Yayi) Provided Succour For Rural Dwellers

By Albert Asipa

The year 2024 has come and gone forever, what remains is to take stock on how it affected people's lives positively or negatively.

For all of us as members of the association of Ex- Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ASELGON), we also need to identify and acknowledge those who stood tall to make life meaningful for grassroots people in the year under review.

In doing this, two distinguished personalities prominently surfaced in persons of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Senator representing Ogun- West Senatorial District in the current 10th Assembly, Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation. 

The two leaders deserve accolades as they genuinely identified with the people at the grassroots through the provisions of infrastructure and Empowerment. 

I personally went on investigation of Sanwo Olu led administration in Lagos State when he openly declared that his state (Lagos) won't be among the defendants in the suit filed at the Supreme Court by the Federal Government over direct monthly allocation from the Federation Account to the local government councils across the country. 

By implication, he, as the state governor won't join his other 35 counterparts in the Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF) to counter the FG in the said suit. 

And he had his reason: that Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in his state have been enjoying the autonomy being fought over in the court over the years. 

This arose my curiosity and I beamed my searchlight on local government administration in Lagos State. I visited some local government councils without the knowledge of the Governor, I spoke with the Executive Chairmen and their Councillors, infact their responses amazed me a lot.

They took time to express their appreciation to Governor Sanwo Olu for his commitment to making sure that people at the grassroots are living in good condition by giving them allocation that could construct good roads, drainages and School's Classrooms.

My unsolicited tour took me to Agege Local Government, Orile Agege , Mosan/Okunola, Agbado Oke- Odo Local Council Development Areas where the commitment and concern of the governor for the rural dwellers were confirmed. 

In those local government councils visited, most of the streets are currently undergoing rehabilitation, an initiative said to be a statewide.

The most interesting take- away from Lagos State was the abolition of Caretaker Committee system of administration in the local government councils, which to me was a reflection of Mr. Governor as a thorough-bred democrat. 

Without being immodest, my general assessment is that Local Government Councils in Lagos State are breathing very well.

Just like the Lagos State helmsman has been up and doing in putting smiles on the faces of the people, especially at the grassroots level, Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola too has methodically  been addressing the yearnings of his constituents at Ogun-West Senatorial District. 

A critical stakeholder/constituent of the district and by virtue of my present position as the National President, Association of Ex Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ASELGON) with membership in thousands spread across the 774 local government areas in the country, I can authoritatively confirm without bias that Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola popularly called Yayi in 2024 alone moved over 10,000 people at the grassroots out of poverty. 

How do I come to this assertion? In order to get accurate assessment of Sen. Adeola and also how he was able to impact the lives of commoners, a small Committee was set up to assess the level of his empowerment programme. The report submitted by the committee was stunning. 

It was reported that the empowerment programme put in place by the lawmaker is a long term one with the beneficiaries having the potentials of staying afloat with the ability to feed well their respective members of families permanently with good management of what the lawmaker provided for them. 

Secondly, the report revealed that the Senator freely gave out "Korope buses, Tricycles, BAJAJ Motorcycles, Sewing and Vulcanizing Machines among others. What other testament does one want to describe YAYI as a kind- hearted man desirous of uplifting people out of poverty on a permanent basis? 

With seriousness and self determination on the part of the beneficiaries through daily contribution known as "Esusu" in our local parlance, they can, within one year realize another fund to increase the fleet of their means of livelihood as provided by Yayi.

While appreciating the lawmaker, the committee equally counseled him that to sustain his war against poverty as exemplified in his various empowerment activities in the year under review, he must ensure the possession of near accurate data base to checkmate the nefarious activities of some unscrupulous elements in the society, who may want to engage in multiple participation in his empowerment programmes without consideration for others. 

As an association of people with the grassroots orientation, these two leaders warmed themselves to our hearts by their 2024 scintillating grassroots attention and in addition to our celebrating them in whatever way possible, our association will also continue to partner with them as well as any of our political leaders exhibiting same trait of creating convivial environment for our people at the grassroots. 

Hon. Asipa is the National President, Association of Ex Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ASELGON).