2019 Fed House of Reps race: Oshodi-Isolo constituents drum support for former LG Chairman, Balogun
2019 Fed House of Reps race: Oshodi-Isolo constituents drum support for former LG Chairman, Balogun
By Felix Kuyinu
Hon. Afeez Balogun
The former Chairman, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, Hon. Afeez Balogun, has been showered appraisal for his contribution to the development of the area by the residents who have drummed support toward his pursuit of Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency 1 Representatives seat.
Balogun, a flag bearer of the All Progressive Congresy (APC) in the coming polls, received the commendations during a forum with community leaders in the council area held over the weekend.
The former council boss met with the community leaders under the aegis of Community Development Committee (CDC) – the umbrella body of all Community Development Associations (CDAs) to formally inform them of his political intention and to seek their support in the build up to his party’s coming primaries for the ticket of Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency 1.
Balogun said he was overwhelmed with the praises poured on him by the people of his constituency for what they termed a result of his record of outstanding performance, humility, accessibility, maturity and friendly disposition to all and sundry within the period he was the chairman of the Local Government, saying they had not found such in any other that has occupied the office since he vacated it.
The community leaders recalled that, apart from his landmark projects and compassionate disposition to all and sundry during his tenure as the chairman of the council area, Balogun strengthened and encouraged the activities of CDAs across the Local Government Area by building and supporting them in all areas.
The CDC team stated that part of the fine works of Balogun during his tenure as chairman cut across the introduction and institutionalization of a monthly imprest grant to the CDC to run its operations, provision and funding of the construction of a Community House, comprising a hall and offices for the CDC to the level it has remained since he left office seven years ago.
They also disclosed that Balogun stood out as the first Council Chairman in the State to compensate CDAs in the council area, when he released N3.8million to them for successful monitoring and supervising Local Government projects across the area under construction to completion.
Also, the community leaders, who pledged to give him all the necessary supports to ensure that he wins the 2019 election into the House of Representatives once he gets his party’s ticket, recalled that he was the first Council Chairman in the State to provide a CDC with an official car, stating that the provision of the vehicle made the apex body of all CDAs in the State, the Lagos State Community Development (Advisory) Council, to write and appeal to all other Council and LCDA Chairmen to provide official vehicles for their CDCs.
Women members of the council’s CDC also added their voice, noting that during the chairmanship tenure of Balogun members of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Nigeria, Oshodi-Isolo chapter, were always sponsored by him to their Annual National Convention in Abuja, which they claimed has stopped as they were not able to attend the Convention again since he left office.
The CDC members were unanimous in their opinion about Balogun, confident that he would not only make a good representative of Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency I provided he gets the APC ticket and wins the election, but would also restore and surpass the glory and joy of the Constituency’s past representations since the advent of party politics in 1999.
The aspirant, who was amazed at the encomiums poured on him, was emotionally overwhelmed and only managed as he struggled in between tears of joy to thank the leaders, promising to mobilise funds within a space of time, if elected to ensure the completion of the CDC Community House to a befitting status.
