By Thalis Apalowo
There has been some insinuations in some quarters that the glowing performance and unprecedented successes recorded by Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo in Akoko North East/ North West Federal Constituency in less than two years is attached to his position as the Chairman, House Committee on NDDC.
While such talks are not strange or unexpected, but it should be noted that such conclusions are not only wrong, but very far from the reality.
It has been generally agreed by many that clinching such position as a first term member in the house is a great feat for the energetic lawmaker. It is, also not disputable that under two (2) years, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has reconnected his people to good representation like they have never experienced.
In his office, the role of his two secretaries have been limited to receiving correspondence. BTO himself moves from one office to the other to lobby for new projects with several letters of request being moved along by me.
Without doubt, Rep Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has established himself as a very intelligent lobbyist who is very good in facilitating ’round peg in a round hole’ projects for his constituency and even beyond.
Some of these projects are aimed at reducing the hardship of the people, enhancing economic prosperity and securing the lives and properties of the constituents. Expectedly, the projects have so far proven to be effective and this is evident in the testimonies of the beneficiaries.
ROAD PROJECTS
NDDC Projects are solely meant to be spread across the nine (9) Niger Delta States in the country. With Ondo State being a member of the nine Niger Delta States, the projects are always spread across districts, federal constituencies and local governments in the state.
Akoko, being part of the state, is expected to enjoy some of these projects like other parts of the state.
Unfortunately, in the past, many of these projects were either abandoned or halfway and the representative of the areas affected are expected to follow up to ensure the projects are completed.
Many of the NDDC road projects in Akoko were made possible because Rep. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo lodged complaints as a representative of his people and not a function of his position as the house committee chairman.
The roads, which were spread to reconnect many parts of Akoko, were not diverted as claimed and the completion was ensured because of the activities of Hon. BTO
Over 90% of other projects influenced to the constituency are not from NDDC.
Such projects include:
a. The construction of one block of 6 Classrooms at Eye oke high school, Oyin Akoko.
b. The construction of two blocks of 6 Classrooms at Okeagbe High School, Okeagbe Akoko.
c. Provision of 2 ambulances, 4 motorcycles, 52 Generators and multimillion naira worth of medical equipments to basic health centers in the Federal Constituency.
d. 500KVA Transformer for Ilepa Community, Ikare Akoko.
e. Free Medical/Surgical Outreach with over 20,000 beneficiaries.
f. Free JAMB forms for 1000 students in the Constituency.
g. Rural economic summit and facilitation of grants to Market women in the Constituency.
h. Security Summit for traditional rulers and security operatives with facilitation of four patrol vehicles to police officers.
i. Repair of boreholes, Quiz competition among others.
All the above listed projects and many others that were not listed are the good result for a representative who was diligent and dedicated to his duties.
If he wasn’t the house committee chairman, he would still have done the above and under two years in office as well.
T’omo eni ba dara, k’a wi.
Apalowo is Legislative Aide to Hon. Bumming Tunji Ojo
