The speculated second term ambition of Senator Kola Balogun has received a boost as his constituents in Oyo South Senatorial District have declared their support for him, if he seeks to contest the 2023 elections.
The support followed the two-legged training on agricultural value chain in which 1,130 beneficiaries from the senatorial district were also empowered with N31million to start off their small-scale businesses in agricultural produce.
The latest agricultural training, the fourth of its kind within one year, was held in Ibadan and Igboora on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, covering the nine local government areas in the district.
As contained in a press release by Mr Dapo Falade, the Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to Senator Kola Balogun, the people of Oyo South Senatorial District, unanimously said the senator is the best thing to happen to them within the current political dispensation.
Speaking during the first leg of the programme in Ibadan, on Monday, the beneficiaries, including party leaders, local council chairmen, said the best way to appreciate Senator Balogun for all his efforts is to ensure that he returns to the Senate in 2023.
Chairman of Ibadan South-East Local Government Area, Adesina Sulaimon Adekunle, called for continuity for Senator Balogun who is a first timer in the National Assembly.
According to him, if the senator returns to the Senate, he would be in a better stead to facilitate more constituent projects, training and empowerment programmes that will be of greater benefit to the people of Oyo South Senatorial District.
“What we don’t know is that most of the first timers are not in a position to decide on issues affecting their constituents. Those who have been returned several times are mostly involved in decision-making.
“Senator Kola Balogun, even as a first timer, has demonstrated what he can do for us. We should vote for continuity so that he can facilitate more projects for us in our senatorial district,” he said.
Chairman of Ibadan South West, Moruff Balogun, also spoke in the same vein as he said the return of Senator Balogun to the Senate in 2023 would ensure improved welfare for his constituents.
Similarly, chairmen of Ibadan North-West, Ibadan North and Ido, Lukmon Adesina, Isiaka Fatokun and Ayuba Akinsola, respectively, declared that Senator Balogun has shown that he has the interest of his people at heart.
Two party leaders, Pa Tiamiyu Abidikugu (Ibadan) South-East and Pa Muili Yusuf (Ido), affirmed that Senator Balogun had, by virtue of his various projects, demonstrated that he is the best senator to ever come out of the district.
In the same vein, various party leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) affirmed their support for the senator during the second leg of the training programme, held, on Tuesday, at the Teachers’ Plaza, Igboora in Ibarapa Central Local Government Area.
The second leg was for the constituents in the three local government areas in Ibarapa Zone, consisting of Ibarapa East, Ibarapa Central and Ibarap North.
In his goodwill message, chairman of the Oyo State Water Corporation, Dr Bayo Adepoju, called for support Senator Balogun and noted his efforts at ensuring the return of agriculture as economic mainstay of, not only Oyo South Senatorial District, but also of the entire South-West.
A former commissioner in the state, Mrs Funmilayo Orisadeyi, said Senator Balogun deserves a second term for creating an enabling environment for agriculture to thrive in Ibarapaland through training and empowerment programmes.
The senatorial chairman, Olugbade Ojelabi, said Senator Balogun should go for a second term because he understands the role of Ibarapa Zone in agriculture and for being helpful in that regard.
Elder K. S. Olanrele (Great Leader, Ibarapa), said the senator has been facilitating peace and progress of the zone, assuring that he would be supported in 2023.
Iyaloja General, Chief Mrs Tina Ogundoyin, declared that the people of Ibarapaland did not choose wrongly by supporting and voting for Governor Seyi Makinde and Senator Balogun in the 2019 elections.
She assured that the people of the zone would give Balogun their votes in 2023, declaring: “I have never seen things like this before. Others have occupied the same seat before him, but we have never had a senator like Senator Kola Balogun.
“Senator Balogun is not giving us fish but teaching us how to fish. It is the governor that the constitution does not allow to go for more than two terms. A senator can go for as many terms as he wants.
“Senator Balogun, we are assuring you here in Ibarapaland that you always have our votes for as many times as you want to contest to be our senator in Oyo South Senatorial District.”
Giving the Vote of Thanks, chairman of Ibarapa Central Local Government Area, Adeoye Adedoyin, thanked Senator Balogun for what he is doing for the zone and also assured of the support of the people for him.
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