MURAINA, OJEDOKUN ABSENT AGAIN AT 2023 IBARAPA POLITICAL DEBATE… Asako Annual Magazine Launched; detailed with Political Candidates manifestos.

Candidates across political parties in the next general election today, Sunday 29th January, 2023 converged at the Aridunu Arena Hall, Igboora, the headquarters of Ibarapa Central to debate on their programs for Oyo South Senatorial District and Ibarapa Central & North federal and State Constituency if elected. Attendants at the debate program has in attendance, Party chieftains across PDP, APP, ACCORD, AA, LP, AAC and ADC; Farmers, Artisans, Market men, women, Students and several members of the constituency.
Candidates that honoured the well attended Debate program includes, Prince Wale Aderinto, the Senatorial Candidate for AA in Oyo South Senatorial District. Attendance for House of Representatives include Dr. Adebayo Adepoju of the PDP, Hon. Aliu Kewulere Mukaram of the APP, Eng.Dr. David Olusegun Okanlawon of Accord Party, Eng. Saheed Oladele of the Labour Party (who attended via zoom) and Adeseun Obey of ADC. The current member representing the Ibarapa Central and North at the upper chamber, Hon. Dr. Muraina Saubana was absent.

House of Assembly Candidates that honoured the debate program include Hon. Ogunsola Ismail of AAC and Hon. Alawode Peter of ADC. The current member representing the Ibarapa Central and North State Assembly and Candidate of PDP, Hon. P.G Ojedokun and Hon. Lawal Soliu of the APC were absent.

It will be recalled that the current occupants equally ignored the last political debate organized by Ibarapa Development Forum in 2019 and still won. According to an attendant who claimed anonymity : “the question of essence of ignoring political debate will definitely reflect in our next voting pattern, most of our candidates believed they are bigger than us, this coming election will proof to us”.

In his opening remarks on behalf of Asako Multimedia, Prince Tayo Akinyemi said: ”The Management of Asako Multimedia felt the deteriorating political system, especially in Ibarapa zone, as most of our representatives, once voted in, becomes an alien in discharging their statutory responsibility to masses who vigorously campaign and vote en mass for them. This manner has greatly discouraged most of our people, especially the commoners. We felt the pulse of majority of constituents and established the problem gap of poor interaction between the electorates before, during and after election process. It is on this note Asako Multimedia came up with this Political Debate tagged: “Ibarapa Candidates Debate”. This kind of program will return the mandate to the people who should be the major priority of elected office holders and not the vice versa.”
”Ibarapa is a unique region with intellectuals of fantastic and competitive charisma. We can no longer count numbers of Professors, Academic/ Medical Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Professionals and Orators doing wonderful in their various endeavors, for this alone, our political system should be re-hauled, we deserved a good representation as a first class citizens of Oyo State and Nigeria”.
“Our Candidates should eschew peace and shun violence in the coming elections. We should see ourselves as brothers, and not enemies; politics has come, and will surely go, let us embrace peace ahead of the terminal time. Whoever wins, should be magnanimous in victory and seek for the support of others in strength; this will surely move Ibarapa forward in our quest for development”.

We need to deliver our people from Poverty……….Wale Aderinto
The Senatorial Candidate of the AA, Prince Wale Aderinto has reiterated his plan to move Ibarapa people out of poverty. According to him: “Though, I don’t have the intention of vying for public office early before last year, though I am a member of Action Alliance before then and even part of the state executive, until recently when I looked into ways which politicians behaved after voting them in; it’s like we are rubbishing ourselves for them because they don’t have any tangible thing to deliver to the masses and after looking into my personal projects through my NGO named Wale Aderinto Welfare and Educational Foundation, which have been running for years and I see the need to help the needy and less privileged and I discovered that needs and demands from people is getting higher on daily basis and my resources could no longer meet these needs and requests. I looked at how I can contribute more”.
“People are really suffering because the environment does not support them, education does not support them, the economy does not support them, the security apparatus is too weak to ensure their safety in their daily movement. There is urgent need to correct all these abnormalities. We can no longer stand aloof; we should not look at it again as if “politics is a dirty game”. Or else, we will continue to lament that they are not doing well, they are treating us bad”.
“When I came to this point, I sat down and thought about what we can do by ourselves and that is why we are here”.
“In the history of our political system, Ibarapa was fortunate to produce Oyo South Senator in the year 1999 and that is Senator Peter Adeyemo from Eruwa but after then we have been unable to have such opportunity in Ibarapa. Why? This is because Oyo South Senatorial District have nine local governments with six of those local governments domicile in Ibadan and three in Ibarapa. The belief is that election is a game of numbers because those who have the strength will emerge. And so, we are being sidelined but what gives me comfort is that I am going to win this election in 2023. To the glory of God I have been living in Ibadan and have several investments there and I am no longer a stranger there; I’m more or less an indigene of Ibadan. I know how the game is being played there and that has been giving me an edge so far; I believe that with the current number of Ibadan indigenes backing my aspiration, I am going to emerge”.

I WILL ENSURE OUR YOUTHS UNDERGO PROPER TRAINING BEFORE EMPOWERMENT…..Ibarapa Kan
The House of representative candidate under the umbrella of PDP, Dr. Adebayo Adepoju (Ibarapa Kan) has equally urged the constituents to vote him en mass in the next general election to change for better. The Candidate who got to the venue ahead of other aspirants before the official time, appreciated the Asako multimedia for organizing the debate and roled out his agenda majorly on Youth Development. According to him: “You see, nobody is an island of ideas, we can all contribute whatever it is that we can do to make our constituency a better place; there are things you know that I may not know vice versa, isn’t about age or how smart you’re, it’s about things like we rarely think about. When I say ideas, I mean things that are realistic, that we hope and want to bring to table and I believe by the special grace of God we will make a better change if given an opportunity to be there”.
“I am very optimistic that we’re going to win the election, it by the grace of God I become the candidate for Peoples democratic Party (PDP) so there’s nothing God can not do, we all believe in God and worship Him to make things happen for us, I’m very optimistic that we have better days ahead of us in Ibarapa Land and in Ibarapa Central/North Federal constituency we’re excited about what the future holds for us, we have no doubt in our mind that come February 26, 2023 we emerge has the winner and sworn-in later in June 2023”.

WE CAN NOT CONTINUE SUFFERING AND SMILLING BEHIND OUR PREVIOUS POLITICAL LEADERS…….. Kewulere
In his own position at the political debate, the candidate of AAP has urged the people of Ibarapa Central and North to re-define their positions in the coming elections and turn away from leaders who have always come with deceit. He challenged previous and present political occupants to come out with their facts on beneficiaries they have develop in the past years.
According to him: “I have never hold any position and people know me to be a community developer, an humble person who is enlighten, expose and my antecedent, my family background, those are the thing people will put into consideration”.
“I will develop our education, I want to ensure that we develop those tertiary institution we have in this federal constituency to develop in the size it will be beneficial to the entire community. Also let talk about the young graduate, we have lot of opportunity but when people get to that level they forget what they left behind at home. We have lot of graduate that turn to Okada rider just to put food on the table. So we will ensure that we facilitate most of our young graduate fix them up into ministries parasite that matter. Also we can facilitate others federal government settlement here which will provide job for our people. If we’re having more schools you can imagine the numbers of indigene that will get job through such institution”.

I BUILT 9 BOREHOLES, REPAIRED 20 AND GIVEN SCHORLASHIPS TO INDIGENT STUDENTS ACROSS IBARAPA WITH MY PERSONAL MONEY, IF VOTED, I WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIVES………Okanlawon
The Accord Party Candidate, Eng. Dr. Olusegun Okanlawon has rolled out his achievements as an Individual which should be the yardstick for the people of the constituents to come out en mass and vote him as the next House of Representatives Member in the coming general election.
According to him: “I built 9 boreholes, repaired 20 and given schorlaships to indigent students across ibarapa with my personal money, if voted, i will improve the quality of life. I can’t praise myself about the establishment of Olusegun Okanlawon Foundation (OOF) but I give glory to God almighty that gave me the grand power right from kid that I should choose humanity. You know we cannot building long-term vision on a short-term thinking. You can see all what the foundation has done in the past, it is feasible to the blind and audible to the deaf. It is not “saka manje” like our so called politicians, go and verify any project Olusegun Okanlawon Foundation (OOF) embark on I keep on monitoring it because the success is my happiness. They won’t check on their own because they facilitate project to fund their pocket. We’re passionate about the development of our region, OOF is very passionate”.

STATUS QUO IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN IBARAPA, WE NEED TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER NOW…………………SAHEED ADEYEMI OLADELE
Featured from U.S through Zoom.
The Labour Party Candidate for the Federal House of representatives attended the debate through zoom from his United State residence. According to him : “: I departed Nigeria for the United States in 2009. Having spent some years overseas, I have been privileged to see and experience both part of the world. I do not need to highlight the big gap between Nigeria and the industrialized nations with respect to economy, education, health care, human capital etc. Even though I live in the USA, I still have family in Nigeria and I feel the situation as much as anyone. This situation keeps me awake all the time. Then, I decide not continue folding my arms. I cannot continue to whine and clamor for change. I have to be the change myself. That’s how my aspiration was birthed and we have been reaching out, seeking support from the constituent since 2018”.
”For starter, there is lack of federal presence in my constituency. We have had 24 years of representation in green chamber without much to show for it. This is unacceptable status quo and need to change for the better now. We need to move in the direction the world is moving. We are in the digital revolution age and need to move rapidly in that direction. Also, I am a grassroot man. I don’t need to write an epistle on the impact of LGA in rural development. Governance and development has been taken away from LGA, which has put the councils in a perpetual abysmal state. This needs to change; return to full LGA autonomy is the what we need and it is one of our legislative priorities.”

I WILL MOVE MOTIONS TO BOOST IGR IN THE STATE………………Ogunsola Ismaeel
The young politician and Candidate of the Oyo State House of Assembly under the umbrella of AAC, Hon. Ogunsola Ismaeel, in his position at the debate assured the constituents that having discovered the meagre financial of Oyo State, he has the plan of moving business oriented motions that can boost the internally generated revenue of the State if elected as a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly. According to him: “My representation will not be business as usual, I shall be a representing representative”

I WILL PROVIDE FARM EQUIPMENTS FARMERS……………….Alawode Peter
In his own argument, the House of Assembly candidate for ADC, Hon. Alawode Peter felt emotional on youth representation in the political leadership. According to him: “We are tired of being cajoled of Youths been leaders of tomorrow, Youths tomorrow must come today, I will provide farm equipment to farmers if am elected”.

There was a short digression in the course of the debate where the second edition of the Asako Magazine was launched. While performing the review, the Managing Director of Asako Mutimedia, Prince Tayo Akinyemi said:
“I said and quoted late Sir Ahmadu Bello in the maiden edition of Asako Magazine:”if you do not blow your trumpet this days, no one will blow it for you as others may be busy blowing theirs”. This inspired us at Asako Multimedia Concepts exactly a year ago. We felt the overdue need for Ibarapa lacking a formidable media outlet compared to other regions within Oyo State. Although, several dreams had been dashed due to needed resources and encouragement by our political office holders that should have been the catalyst. It was on this note that we determined to concentrate our efforts on the strength, zeal, and commitment as a sacrifice to make possibility out of impossibility”.

“With giant stride, we launched “ASAKO RADIO/Tv”, and within a year, the online Radio Station won the EMA “Best online radio in Ibarapa”. By the grace of God and your supports, we planned to have a stable frequency before the first quarter of 2023. Asako online News blog has also been doing fantastic in our unbiased and balanced reportage. We have over the year showcased the beauty of Ibarapa, Oyo State and Nigeria through our online reportage; plans are on top gear to continue with our educative, cultural, community development, political and sporting programs in showcasing Ibarapa Heritage across the globe”.

“This second edition contains major records ranging from contentious histories, community matters, opinions and majorly politics. It is a historical tabloid necessary in every Archive as guide for upcoming generations”.
“Our programs has always been on sacrifice without sponsorship, we implore individuals and corporate bodies to partner with us through sponsorship of our programs, only this you can do to jointly move Ibarapa forward”.

“Our appreciation goes to our royal fathers: HRM, Oba Jimoh Titiloye (Olu of Igboora), Oba Kingsley Oyelami (Onidere of Idere), Oba Jamiu Badmus (Oluaso of Iberekodo), Oba Joshua Ojo (Babaaso of Iberekodo-Igbole), Oba Fasasi Jinad (Onisaganun of Saganun), Oba Samuel Adeleye (Onidofin of Idofin) and Pako Council of Chiefs for their royal supports in the last one year. We appreciate our fathers and Mothers for standing by us all the time : Chief Adewole Ojo, Chief (Dr) Amos Adepoju, Alhaja Ranti Adedigba, Olori Amudat Akinyemi, Alhaji & Alhaja Adesina (Aridunu Arena) and others numerous; we are so grateful”.

In his reaction while launching the Magazine, Oyo State Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Ademola Obafemi Ojo, appraised the concept of Asako Multimedia, and challenge them to do more in their subsequent programs. He condemn in totality, attitudes of some Aspirants for rejecting calls each time they are called for political debates. According to him : “this attitude is uncalled and demining, it’s becoming their usual attitude, no candidate is bigger than the constituent”