As part of activities marking the take-off of his gubernatorial ambition for the Pacesetter State on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy Party (AD) in the forthcoming 2019 General Elections, Engr Oyedele Hakeem Alao, popularly known and referred to as (OHA), flagged off a familiarization tour of the State starting with a visit to Eruwa, the headquarters of the Ibarapa East Local Government Area of the State.
At Eruwa, while speaking to a teeming crowd of supporters, Engr Alao intimated that he is in the race for the governorship position in the State in order to restore the lost glory of the State, especially in the critical areas of the economy, education, health services, industrialization and youth empowerment and sports development. He emphasized his readiness to industrialize the State with the establishment of agro-based industries in the three senatorial districts of the State.
He also laments the deplorable conditions of the roads especially the Ibadan-Eruwa road, which he said has become a death-trap in its present state due to the neglect it has suffered with the previous administrations in the State, most especially in the last 16 years.
Recognizing the importance and contributions of the Ibarapa region to the economy of the State in agricultural produce; he, therefore, promised to embark on the urgent rehabilitation of the road if voted into power come 2019.
After Eruwa, the familiarization train moved to Ogbomoso where the guber hopeful paid a courtesy visit to a prominent and notable chieftain of Alliance for Democracy in the state, Prince Debo Gbadebo. The AD leader welcomed the governorship aspirant, Engr Alao and his entourage enthusiastically and wished him good luck in his bid to become the next governor of the State in the 2019 polls.
The governorship aspirant promised that he would do everything in his capacity not to disappoint the AD leader. The train then moved to the AD Party office in the town where characteristically, Engr Alao was treated to a rousing welcome with a tumultuous crowd of party supporters and OHA Support Group. After the introductions of dignitaries, Engr Alao addressed the crowd, intimating them with his gospel of total redemption of the State and restoration of its lost glory in all facets of the economy and well-being of both the indigenes and residents of the State. He, once again, identified and condemned the deplorable and horrible condition of the Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso road, promising rehabilitation as soon as he is voted into power.
A prominent feature of the Engr Alao familiarisation tour of the State is his vehement and vociferous reiteration of his strong and committed belief in the ethos of democratic ideals, practices and programmes of one of the founding fathers of Nigeria and the most prominent political leader and visionary of the first Republic in the person of the late sage, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo. He harped on the pertinent issue of free and qualitative education programme of the Action Group in the 60s and that of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the 70’s/80s, a programme which afforded him the opportunity to acquire western education freely then and which has enabled him to become an accomplished technocrat as a Civil and Structural Engineer that he is today. It is for this reason that he considers the provision of free and qualitative primary and secondary education, together with affordable tertiary education without compromising standard and quality as one of cardinal programmes he will embark upon when he is voted into power.
The governorship aspirant entourage then moved to the ancient town of Oyo, where as usual, he was heralded with ecstatic welcome by a large crowd of his supporters. The gathering which held at his Contact Office in the town was electrifying with lots of singing and dancing. It was quite obvious that the people were happy to see the governorship aspirant with his promises of better living conditions for them and their children. There were questions and expectations from the people and the aspirant did not disappoint them with his responses to their different concerns. He, then, charged them to spread the good news of better tomorrow to the grassroots, reminding them that it is a collective enterprise. He also warned them to be wary of moneybag politicians who will approach them with money to buy their conscience and the future of their children with a token.
The familiarisation tour then moved to the Oke Ogun axis of the State with the first port of call at Iseyin. The reception accorded the governorship aspirant was no different to the ones he had received in Eruwa, Ogbomoso and Oyo. He was given a rousing welcome by enthusiastic OHA supporters in Iseyin with singing and dancing with an infusion of party slogans and responses despite the avoidable delay experienced along the way. After the introduction of party executives and other notable members of the entourage, there were addresses from the local party executives focusing on their concerns and expectations. Engr Alao then intimated them with his gospel of redemption of all facets of life in the Pacesetter State. He also enjoined them to work assiduously for the realization of the Redemption mandate, assuring them that they will all be beneficiaries of good governance and dividends of democracy reminiscent of the Awolowo years.
Consequent upon the deplorable condition of the Ibadan-Iseyin road, the guber hopeful entourage encountered several hiccups on its journey to Iseyin. The journey, which ordinarily should take less than an hour, took almost three hours; and as a result, delayed the arrival of the entourage in Iseyin to the chagrin of his enthusiastic supporters. The delay dampened the spirits of the supporters and were almost losing hope by the time it eventually arrived. For this reason, activities had to be hastened so as to make the second leg of the journey to Saki in good time. After the usual round of introductions and addresses, the entourage proceeded to Saki, another notable town in the Oke Ogun axis of the State.
The road to Saki is not different. It is replete with potholes in different stages of abandonment and dilapidation. The motoring experience was neither smooth nor welcoming. Oftentimes, the drivers had to reduce speed drastically in order to navigate deep gullies which had become natural speed breakers on the asphalted road. Once again, the journey lasted longer than it should take and as a result, the guber aspirant’s entourage arrived in Saki in the dead of the night.
When the entourage got to the venue of the meeting, it was a combination of a rude shock and a pleasant surprise to meet a crowd of enthusiastic OHA supporters still waiting patiently for the incoming governor, though with bated breath. The governorship aspirant was equally elated and surprised at the demonstration of strong dedication and commitment of his supporters towards the OHA movement in the Saki West Local Government Area of the State. He spoke glowingly of their strong determination to change the course of history in the Pacesetter State come 2019 through the institution and installation of progressive peoples’ government in the State. He promised to reward their dedication by ensuring good governance and delivery of dividends of democracy to the neglected food basket of the State through the provision of infrastructures, agro-based industries, youth development, employment, free and qualitative primary and secondary education and free, efficient and affordable healthcare system.
The train then moved to Igboho the following day with the same mission of propagating the gospel of redemption of the State from moribund economy, comatose social infrastructures and human despair. At Igboho, the same experience of enthusiastic supporters beaming with smiles of a new hope for the fulfillment of their dreams and aspirations was recorded. Throng of supporters came from distant places to listen to the “messiah” who is without any form of guile or deception in the person of Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao. The sincerity of the governorship aspirant in achieving the socially-impacting programmes he has set for himself was infectious and it resonated with the teeming supporters.
After covering the three prominent towns of Oke Ogun, the train moved back to Iseyin where the aspirant had a brief meeting with a notable politician in the town in person of Chief Adelere. He was warmly welcome at the modest home of the political strongman of Iseyin. After the jaw-jaw, the entourage embarked on its return journey to Ibadan.
The final round of the familiarization tour took the train of the guber hopeful to three local government areas of Ido, Akinyele and Oluyole with the good news of fresh hope in the administration of the Pacesetter State come 2019.
In an attempt to deliver his redemption messages to the mass audience, the governorship aspirant had a series of media engagements with him being hosted on a number of radio and television programmes in Ibadan. He was a guest on Lagbo Oselu on Naija FM, Political Circuit on Fresh FM, and Apere Oro on Impact Business Radio (IBR), Gbagede on Raypower FM. He was also a guest on a popular Saturday morning television programme ‘Contri People’ on Muri International (MITV).
For his contributions to the development of his society and humanity, he was given an award for excellence by the National Union of Journalists, Radio Nigeria Chapel, Ibadan, an award he reluctantly accepted because of his characteristic low profile disposition and conduct.
The two-week long series of activities were rounded off with the attendance of the Muslim Political Awareness Front (MUPAF) programme held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan where he was a Special Guest of Honour.
Reported by: Collins Oyedokun
