The Senator-Elect, Oyo South Senatorial District, Barrister Sharafadeen Alli, who is a Mogaji and the Maye Olubadan of Ibadanland has urged his fellow Mogajis to follow the direction of the political pendulum in Nigeria and in Oyo State by voting Senator Teslim Folarin and the APC at the March 11 Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections.
Alli, who was declared the winner of the Oyo South Senatorial District electoral contest by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) noted that this is the only way to guarantee an unfettered access to dividends of democracy at all levels of government.
The newly elected Senator made the assertion while addressing a gathering of all Mogajis from Ibadan North, Ibadan North East, Ibadan South East, Ibadan South West and Ibadan North West Local Governments.
His words: “Thank you very much for your contributions; in votes, in prayers, in drawing my attention to things I needed to attend to, on the day of my election. I had informed you that I belong to the APC and invited you here to celebrate our victory and discuss about ‘Tessy’. I’m apologizing for his unavoidably absence at this meeting.
“He desires to be here, but he’s constrained to be in Abuja right now. He is one of us, he’s the Asaaju Ile Ibadan and Mogaji Ile Baale of Oja Igbo. His politics has been mostly in Oyo Central Senatorial District in the recent past, that’s why many of us have not been opportune to interact with him.
“Teslim is a good person, a trustworthy character and a man of his words. This vote is an Ibadan vote and Teslim is from Ibadan with a good pedigree.
“Very recently, you were at a meeting where your presence was not recognized and promises made that were not kept, Teslim is not like that. He recognizes people and appreciates those who contribute to his cause.
“There are several advantages in voting Teslim Folarin as the Governor of Oyo State. You were aware of the fact that no government constructed more roads than the government of Gov. Ajimobi. This achievement was not based on the F.A.A.C allocation alone. It was by taking advantage of intervention funds available to Gov. Ajimobi as an APC governor on the same platform as the President. Teslim already have the same advantage. Gov. Ajimobi knew Abuja and how to source for those intervention funds. Teslim knows Abuja better than Gov. Ajimobi. He knows the ‘politics’ of Abuja like the back of his hand. Oyo State will benefit a lot to have Teslim Folarin as her Governor.
“Let me give you another illustration: Teslim Folarin facilitated the establishment of a 100-bed ‘Mother and Child’ hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State. There are only seven of its type in the whole of Nigeria which means it can only be given to those that ‘belong’. The hospital, Teslim facilitated to Ibadan is the only one of its type in the entire South West.
“What’s more, after the construction of the hospital, the people who constructed it saw a dilapidated school nearby and not impressed by the state of the school, constructed ninety-six classrooms to the school, installed a generator, borehole, constructed a road, street lights, and many more benefits to the school.
“Indeed, we cannot begin to talk about the benefits that will accrue to Oyo State when we have Teslim as Governor.
“Furthermore, all three Senators in Oyo State are on the platform of the APC, the same platform of the President-Elect, Federal Republic of Nigeria and the platform Tessy is contesting on. So, I am appealing to you, my colleagues, the Ibadan Mogajis, vote Teslim Folarin and the APC on March 11. Vote all our State House of Assembly candidates too. Besides, we are the authorities in our households, let us use our mandate appropriately for Tessy and the APC towards the March 11 polls.
“As you are aware, I am the Akogun of Ibadan land and the Maye Balogun of Ibadan land. Teslim Folarin is the Asaaju Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senior Chief Akinade Fijabi is the Ikolaba of Ibadanland. Alhaji (Dr.) Isiaka Kolawole is a Mogaji, so also is Chief Sina Alabi. There are many trustworthy men of high calibre and pedigree in our party, l challenge any other party that has the same or higher pedigree and caliber to show-case it. APC is unique.
“So, as we have shown, we are part of you. You are the closest to the people and you understand what we mean when we say the present administration in the State has killed local government administration. It is the same laws that Gov. Ladoja operated with, that Gov. Akala used, that Gov. Ajimobi implemented and local governments strive during their tenure, the present administration got there and turned everything upside down, saying he gave them N10M monthly payment and they couldn’t account for it. Meanwhile, both the Government and the local Councils knew why they couldn’t account for it.
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will preside over the most unprecedented time of development in our Country. You were aware that he brought Enron (a power generation Company) to the Country when he was Governor of Lagos State, but it was not allowed to function. Imagine, if we have had independent power generation since then, would we be having the power supply challenges we are having today?
Tinubu assured us there won’t be strikes in our Universities anymore and that he would remove subsidies and put the funds on education, health and economy. Fuel prices may initially go up, but it will be for a while, then it will drop again like the price of mobile phones and SIM cards.
“Tessy is well read and educated with a degree from University of Ibadan and a Diploma from Harvard University. He is a through-bred Ibadan son on both sides of lineage. He knows the intrigues of Abuja very well and he has all the Senators in Oyo State and the President of Nigeria on his platform.
Vote for him and the APC on March 11, 2023.
“A lot of benefits Oyo State urgently needs will be brought home with ease”.
APC stalwarts who were in Senator-Elect, Barr Sharafadeen Alli entourage included Prince Niran Adeyoju, Alh. Omilabu Ghandi, Hon. Demola Omotoso, Alh. Kunle Ishola, Alh. Sina Alabi and Alh. Bada.
Others were Alh. Asimiyu Adesola Adepoju Ariori, Mogaji Ariori and the President, Association of Mogajis.
The President, Association of Mogajis encouraged those who didn’t follow Alli’s lead in the first election to do so this time, now that it is obvious where the wind is blowing.
