Political office holders at all levels across the country, elected or appointed, have been admonished to always strive to bequeath enduring legacies after leaving office.
Senator Kola Balogun gave the admonition while speaking at a Town Hall meeting organised by the Felele Olorunsogo Central Development Association (FOCEDA), Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday.
The senator, representing Oyo South Senatorial District, advised political office holders to always remember that they were holding their offices in trust for the people.
He said they should, as such, not betray the trust the reposed in them, but rather seek to promote the interest of the greatest number of people at all times.
The executives and other members of FOCEDA had earlier thanked him for his intervention in tarring the Felele Rab Road linking Challenge, up to FOCEDA Town Hall at Michael Falode Street, Felele.
They also appreciated him for his financial support for the building of the association’s town hall, noting that he has kept to his words in contributing to the development of Felele Community.
Senator Balogun said youths are the owners of the various offices held in trust by political office holders.
“The mandate given to whoever is elected to serve is not for his or her personal interest, but for the interest of the people and the community.
“Our elected political office holders should know that they were elected to represent the people. They should remember that they were given the positions to keep in trust,” he said.
Responding to the appreciations expressed by the people of Felele Community, as represented by FOCEDA, Senator Balogun said: “The genuine expression of appreciations from all and sundry is a source of motivation for me to do more.
“What I did is the people’s entitlements. As a matter of fact, I do feel that I have not done enough. I will continue to be a part of this community.
“Either in the Senate or not, my relationship with you endures. My coming here to attend this today is not going to be the last.
“I will always be a member of this community. Whatever I can do, I will continue to do with the limits of my means.
“We should all strive at all times to leave an enduring and lasting legacy while we serve. If I am no longer a senator, I can be something else.
“Losing political office could be a way to test my faith in God. But a second term ticket or no ticket, I will never desert God. I will continue to serve humanity and by so doing, serve God almighty.”
Earlier, FOCEDA executives and members had tabled some demands before the senator, with the hope that he will help them to pass the demands to candidate of the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the forthcoming governorship election
Senator Teslim Folarin.
Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of FOCEDA, Mr Korede Asuni, said: “Distinguished Senator Kola Balogun, we appreciate your kind interventions in the development of our community.
“You are a senator whose positive impacts we are all feeling in our community. We thank you for the reconstruction of the Felele Rab Road linking Challenge and up to FOCEDA Town Hall here at Michael Falode Street.
“Some of our youths in the community are also beneficiaries of your empowerment programmes across Oyo South Senatorial District.
“But, like Oliver Twist, we will continue to ask for more. We know that you have just about two months to the completion of your tenure in the Senate, but you, sir, you can still do more for us.
“While you may not be able to do some of these things, it is our hope that you will help us to pass our demands to candidate of the APC in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, Senator Teslim Folarin.”
Also speaking, one of the elders in Felele Community, Abayomi Owoeye, expressed the appreciation of the community to Senator Balogun for the Felele Rab Road.
“Many before you came here and made several promises and failed. But you, Senator Balogun, are a man of your words. You lived up to your word by helping us to reconstruct the Felele Rab Road,” he said.
Elder Owoeye also reminded Senator Balogun of one other promised he made and prayed that he will find fulfilment in whatever his heart desired.
He described FOCEDA as the umbrella body of all youths organisations in the community, noting that it dictates the political direction the community would go
“The meeting we are holding here is special. Any political meeting outside the town hall is not recognised is not recognised in this community.
FOCEDA is the umbrella body of youths in Felele. It speaks on the direction to go. FOCEDA is for progress and development
It represents the community,” Owoeye added.
Also speaking at the meeting, FOCEDA Youth Leader, Sumbo Olayiwola, assured that the association will work with any candidate Senator Balogun would present for the next round of election.
He said this was based on the senator’s close relationship with the association, noting that Felele Community is a beneficiary of his interventions in the senatorial district.
Olayiwola itemised problems of the community to include lack of manpower and personnel to tackle insecurity, lack of access to potable water and erratic power supply.
In response to some of the demands of the association, Senator Balogun announced a cash donation for the completion of its town hall and also, on Thursday, presented a mini bus to help in policing the community.
Prominent community leaders present at at the meeting included the APC chairman, Ibadan South-East Local Government Area, Abioye Ashanike; Iyalode of Felele Community, Chief (Mrs) Iyabo Coker Olowu; Mrs Fadeke Ariori; Pastor Daniel and Adekola Adeleke.
Also present were Chief Mrs Adijat Babalola; Elder David Adeyemi; Ambassador Adebogun; Alhaji Lukuman Gbadamosi; Alhaji Ademola Adeniran; Soji Adegbite; Femi Odukoya; Dr Sola Adekoya and APC House of Assembly candidate, (Ibadan South-East Constituency 2), Wariths Adegoke, among several others.
