By Afeez Bello
Ibadan North Local Government Area solely makes up the Ibadan North federal constituency in Oyo state, which is domiciled in the Southwestern geopolitical enclave of Nigeria. The LGA is headquartered in the Bodija district of Ibadan.
The Federal Constituency is bordered by the Akinyele-Lagelu, Egbeda-Ona Ara, Ibadan Northwest-Southwest, Ibadan Northeast-Southeast, and Ido-Ibarapa Federal Constituency(ies).
Ibadan North Federal Constituency is an urban centre. It is made up of several districts and streets, such as Bodija, Ashi, Ashi Village, Bashorun, Agodi, Oyelade Crescent, Ladoke Akintola Street, Ire Akari, Bola – St Stephen, Inalende Road, Aladorin, Adeoyo, Oke Apon, Oje, Isale Afa Area, Sabo, Oyo Road, and Sango, among several others. The estimated population of Ibadan North LGA is around one million inhabitants or more, and the vast majority of the area’s dwellers are members of the Yoruba ethnic group. The Yoruba, English, Pidgin and Hausa languages are commonly spoken in the LGA, while Christianity and Islam are the commonly practised religions. The traditional religion also existed in the federal constituency. The Federal Constituency comprises two Constituencies – Ibadan North Constituency 1 and 2. Notable landmarks in Ibadan North LGA include the University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital, woodwork, and traditional medicine.
Meanwhile, the astonishing, interesting and vast history of Ibadan North, which is mostly entrenched in Ibadan North Constituency I & II, is a major factor that calls for quality and adequate representation in the Federal House of Representatives since the inception of the Fourth Republic, but the political culture and tradition in the area has been a major factor that inhibits such representation until the emergence of the late Prince Musiliu Olaide Akinremi Jagaban and other progressive representatives.
Since after the demise of Akinremi Jagaban, it has called for immediate attention to rescue the federal constituency from substandard representation, which had been a bane of the constituency prior to Akinremi’s emergence.
When we are talking of efficient, quality and pro-people representation, which Ibadan North Federal Constituency deserves through competency, experience, capability, a prominent background such as social and political and the like, we are chanting no other name other than that of the political bigwig and aircraft engineer and accomplished businessman in the country, Honourable Wale Olatunji, popularly known as Murphy.
Murphy is the charismatic leader that Ibadan North Federal Constituency deserves. He is bestowed with vast political experiences and social capital which qualify him to represent the constituents of Ibadan North Federal Constituency.
Aside from his political and social experiences, Murphy is the most competent. He is intellectually resourceful, physically gallant and legislatively loaded. Of course, he can never be a bench warmer in the lawmaking house due to the fact that he is very intelligent, brilliant, articulate, dynamic and wise in nature.
The influence of Murphy in the federal House of Representatives cannot and should not be underestimated due to the fact that, if elected, he will propose so many bills that will change the lives of the people in the federal constituency and Oyo State positively, and he will bring about socioeconomic developments (developmental legislation) to Ibadan North Federal Constituency and beyond.
Moreover, the influential leverage and professional and political prowess of Wale Olatunji Murphy will bring about facilitation of so many developmental and substantial projects to his constituency and Oyo State at large.
Also, it is worthy of note that Murphy is the first and the best among the candidates that want to slug it out in the coming bye-election on Saturday, which Ibadan North Federal Constituency deserves. However, the constituents and respected voters should take cognisance of this in order to elect the best for the Federal Constituency. We cannot afford to lose a vital and eminent representation in the Federal House of Representatives. Let us come out en masse and vote for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC on Saturday. So, help us, God.
(To be continued…)
