By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The councilor representing Ward “D” and Majority Leader of Agboyi-Ketu Legislative Council, Bashiru Saheed, fondly called Elewedu, has been commended for his over 17 months of representation.
The Councilor has provided writing materials to school pupils, toolboxes to young artisans, organized skill acquisition training, and distributed food items and cash gifts, among others, to vulnerable people.
The former All Progressives Congress youth leader, Elewedu, was described as the most outstanding councilor among his contemporaries across Kosofe.
A resident, Alarape Aliu Abiodun, speaking with our correspondent during special conduct interviews on selected councilors, said the legislator’s representation over the past 17 months in office is quite different from that of his predecessors.
Alarape said, “Sincerely, his kind of representation is quite different from what we are familiar with from previous predecessors who are holding the office. Unfortunately, most people who live within the community hardly know who represents us. But since the emergence of Omogbolahan, I can tell you frankly that it is very rare to see someone who says they don’t know who represents them.
“Because one way or the other, he has been able to do some innovations, if I can recall them vividly. Immediately he emerged as a councilor, he shared writing materials for the public school within our ward.
He also said that the councilor trained the youths on “artisan” stuff from different fields. Fortunately, one of my brothers within the community—not a blood brother, but a brother within the community—was among those who were selected for the training.”
He further disclosed that the Councilor sponsored the National Population Commission’s free birth certificate registration for his constituents.
Alarape said people within their community, such as Erukan, Fadare, Adekanbi, and Adedeyin, were all matched to one of the leader houses, and people come from far different corners to register their wards who have given birth but have not done their registration. They all come to get their birth certificates.
According to him, one of his friends overseas saw the birth registration advertisements on the Internet and called him to assist him in the registration processes.
“My friend from abroad saw this, and they said there was no problem. They asked me for relevant information, which I gave them, so we’re able to do the registration for three children. For someone who is abroad, we just saw the advertisement online,” he said.
He added that there have been a series of life-changing impacts that the councilor has made within his short stay in office.
“I can continue to count a series of new things. Sincerely speaking, before his emergence, let me tell you, let me be frank, before his emergence, I was one of those who will say I knew him to be a leader, but when it came to public office, I used to think, Can this man do this?”Fortunately, he has done it beyond my imagination with the results I’ve seen so far,” Alarape submitted.
Another resident, a furniture maker named Mr. Sunday, said the councilor has been touching several lives beyond his political and religious affiliations and that he’s a pacesetter for other councilors in Agboyi Ketu.
In an earlier chat, Saheed appreciated the role of the media in deepening good governance.
However, the Agboyi Ketu administration, led by Mayor Dele Osinowo, is open to feedback and public management.