By Ola Asubiojo
With barely four months remaining before the completion of the present administration within the local government system in Ekiti State and the forthcoming local government election scheduled for December, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government appears poised to set a remarkable reference point in grassroots governance, anchored on visible projects, human-centred interventions and strategic political engagement.
The submission was made by the Executive Chairman of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, Hon. Oluwatuyi Oluwagbenga, during an engaging interaction with political heavyweights and a vibrant cross-section of proactive youths from Igede and Awo-Ekiti, who encountered the chairman while inspecting some ongoing and completed projects across the two communities.
Among the projects highlighted were the antenatal medical centre on Aaye Street, solar-powered boreholes strategically located across Igede and Awo-Ekiti to promote access to clean and hygienic water and reduce the prevalence of waterborne diseases.
A structured empowerment programme that has benefited over 1,000 citizens in two phases,was the landmark remarkable
empowerment initiative, according to the chairman, focuses on providing productive equipment and money-making machines to citizens who possess the requisite skills and training but lack the financial capacity to establish or expand their businesses. It is an intervention designed not merely to distribute items, but to transform skills into sustainable livelihoods and give ordinary citizens a fighting chance within Nigeria’s challenging economic environment.
Education has equally received deliberate attention. Orphans, vulnerable children and less-privileged students within the local government have benefited from educational support, including payment of school fees and the provision of uniforms, school bags and other essential learning materials.
Another visible landmark is the remarkable renovation of the Traditional Council building, which had previously fallen into a deplorable state. Its transformation has restored dignity, comfort and functionality to a significant institution where royal fathers can now conveniently converge for their monthly deliberations.
In agriculture, the administration has also strengthened grassroots participation through the provision of quality agricultural products, improved seeds and livestock resources at affordable prices to citizens and staff.
The establishment of a piggery initiative further reflects the administration’s effort to showcase the agricultural potential and natural resources of the local government while encouraging citizens to embrace productive enterprise.
Beyond these interventions, attention has also been directed towards environmental and infrastructural challenges.
The dredging of community waterways and desilting of culverts and drainage channels within Igede and Awo-Ekiti have been undertaken to improve water flow, protect road infrastructure and reduce the destructive consequences of flooding during the rainy season.
The chairman’s political and administrative relationships have equally created room for strategic collaboration with influential stakeholders in the state, particularly his mentor and political guide, Governor Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO). This relationship, according to the chairman, has translated into tangible developmental attention for the local government.
A notable example is the construction of concrete slabs along roadside gutters from the First Baptist Church through Odo Uri and the Local Government Secretariat axis towards Awo-Ekiti, designed to facilitate proper drainage and protect the asphalt road network from the damaging effects of uncontrolled rainfall.
These interventions, collectively, present a picture of grassroots administration where governance is not measured solely by political rhetoric, but by the footprints of development that citizens can see, touch and experience.
Speaking on the forthcoming political season, Hon. Oluwatuyi expressed confidence that the people of Irepodun/Ifelodun would consolidate the administration’s achievements through continued support for the governing political structure at the local government level. He further expressed optimism about the party’s prospects in the forthcoming electoral contests, stressing that the administration’s record of service, mobilisation and human-centred engagement would speak loudly at the ballot box.
The youths and political stakeholders present responded positively, expressing confidence in the administration’s direction and reaffirming their determination to remain actively involved in the political process.
Ultimately, the emerging narrative from Irepodun/Ifelodun is one of service before slogans, impact before applause, and people before politics. As December approaches, the true political capital of any administration will not merely be its promises, but the memories of its footprints in the lives of the people.
For Irepodun/Ifelodun, the coming months therefore represent not only the closing chapter of an administration, but an opportunity to consolidate a legacy of inclusive governance, grassroots empowerment, infrastructural intervention, educational support, agricultural development and purposeful political leadership.
