First of all, congratulations to you on your re-election and induction into the House of Representatives for a second term to represent the interests of the people of Ibadan North Federal Constituency at the National Assembly. It is no doubt that your emergency has been destined to bring back the better Ibadan North.
In retrospect to 2019: It will be recalled that the constituents who dedicated their legitimacy to you and voted in your favor to represent their interest at the Green Chamber of the National Assembly for four years term. This single act has been of help for you to be able to defeat the then incumbency of Hon. Abiodun Awoleye who represented the constituency between the year, 2011 to 2019.
Sir, have you ever asked yourself, “What has claimed you the massive support to have been able to defeat the incumbent which is so hard to have happened in this Ibadan North?” There is no other reason that you were given the chance to be more impactful, you are trusted to bring and facilitate more development to the constituency. Has this come to the light of the day?
Mr. Honourable, as it is known, it is so obvious that you are yet to deliver the expected mandate on which you were elected, which part of it is law-making, representation, and oversight functions of the Government and thereby looking after the interests of the people.
In the cause of the last four years in question, Ibadan North has been denied the above. Sir, no one could have believed any foresight that the elected Ibadan North does not make a voice, initiate bill, and passage of the law for four years at the Green Chamber and National Assembly at large.
Has you been re-given the mandate again, I make it a sensible reason to forward the below useful suggestions to you as a constituent and patriot citizen on behalf of the entire constitutes since “We cannot be mere consumers of good Governance, we must participate; we must be co-creators” has said by Rohini Nilekani.
- Law Making: This is your chief function as a legislator, you are expected to initiate bill(s) that will be passed into the constitution as a law that will facilitate and demand for eve developmental projects for the constituency and the entire country at large.
- Urban Renewal Projects: It is expected of you to lobby for Urban renewal projects that will help to promote the rehabilitation and preservation of buildings, and improvement of the local places, architectural centers, cultural centers, or historical interests.
- Education: What can we compel an educated society with? I guess nothing. So, in driving the constituency, the impact of education be it formal or informal must not be overlooked by you, Sir. Our people still need to be regularly educated on the Government process and functions, while the formal primary and secondary schools need not be put in exclusion as well. Most of our schools are not conducive to learning because of the bad state many of them are in. Imagine our promising leaders learning under the block of classrooms that were unroofed with a lack of chairs and desks. I believed this is not worth it. You will also need to help in giving education endorsement to indigents’ brilliant constituents at various tertiary institutions. Sir, do remember that “the foundation of every society is the education of its youth.”
- Health: The health services in the constituency needs urgent attention because most of the existing health centers are not well equipped with the needful facilities, and this has caused more harm than good. Some of these health centers need renovation and new ones are to be built as the need of it might be. Sir, the constituency needs to enjoy all the proposed programs planned for them, including Health welfare which matters.
- Youth Empowerment and Engagement: The young people of the constituency need to be properly empowered as the saying “an idle hand is the devil’s workshop.” So, our young people need to be empowered and trained in different means and aspects in terms of getting training in various vocational skills, enlightening them on leveraging the opportunities that lie in the digital space within some designated duration of time to get them engaged and be on their path of relevance and significance and as well as helping them to get established with basic practicing equipment for those that have the passion of venturing into businesses.
Sir, do well to help make use of your good office in the restoration of the glory of Ibadan North Skills Acquisition Centre, Yemetu Alaadorin, Ibadan. We look unto you, Sir. This Ibadan North Skills Acquisition Centre of Learning has produced a lot of great artisans in the society even beyond the constituency which is on a dead road with the way it was being run then. This same center has been of help to reduce social vices among young people and prepared them for a better society. Moreover, this same constituency has been blessed with “highly cerebral young individuals” who have contributed to the timely progress of the constituency in no small measure. This set of young people can be engaged in helping to carry out some of the constituency programs and projects since they know the nooks and crannies of it.
- Town Hall Meeting: The town hall meeting will serve as a place where you as a representative of the people will be able to meet the constituents to report your stewardship and serve as an avenue for the constituents to rub minds together with you, make their opinion known and give resolutions. This will bring in visible leadership, reinforce culture and values, receive important updates, and give constituents a sense of belonging which will help to foster and strengthen the representation.
- Constituency Office: There is a need for a well-accessible constituency office where the constituents can seek information and place observations.
In rounding off this piece, I urge you, Sir, to take a good advantage and look into all penned with a good mind which will be of help in no small measures for better representation this time around if they can all be taken into consideration and actions.
As a leader, kindly remember that in democracy, leaders are elected to lighten the burden for the people, and give freedom, choice, and equity to ensure good governance by not deceiving the citizens. Do well not to render them hopelessly and helplessly, Sir. You are helped by God in your tenure..Amen!
Once again, accept my congratulations on your re-election and induction as a member of the House of Representatives, Ibadan North Federal Constituency in the 10th Assembly.
Sir, please be a positive leading voice. Our voice should be your action!
Thank you.
I remain Folorunsho A. Apanpa. I am writing from Ward 4, Ibadan North Local Government.
If you will love to reach out to me, kindly contact
+2349157289279 or
folorunshoapanpa@gmail.com
Note: As of the time of writing this piece, I am neither owned by any affiliate political parties nor individuals, rather I am a patriot and a promising democrat.