By: Oluwatobi Aroyehun
The people of Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have promised to keep supporting the lawmaker representing the area in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Olushola Odetundun.
The promise of continued support came to the fore at the venue of an unprecedented large-scale empowerment programme organized by Odetundun where he distributed various tools, support items and financial support to his constituents.
The event, held at SDA Primary School in Omu-Aran, brought together residents from across the wards in the constituency as vocational equipment and cash grants worth several millions of naira were shared among over 350 beneficiaries.
The initiative also stirred renewed political conversations, with many attendees openly expressing support for his re-election bid in 2027.
In a goodwill message, the Chairman of Irepodun APC Elders, Prince Olarewaju Shuaib, spoke glowingly about the lawmaker’s performance.
“There are some play you watch and feel forced to see again because of how good and fascinating they are,” he said.
He added that Hon. Odetundun’s tenure fits that description, noting that constituents would want to “re-watch” in 2027 an expression widely understood as an endorsement of the lawmaker for a second term based on what he described as strong performance.
Also speaking, Major General Olayemi Lasisi Abidoye (Rtd) urged residents to reciprocate the lawmaker’s service with their votes in the next election. He emphasized that Irepodun has a tradition of unity and quality representation, and called for continued support to allow Odetundun to build on his achievements.
The empowerment programme focused on small business owners, farmers, and youths, with beneficiaries receiving a variety of items including 10 laptops for tech users, 11 deep freezers, 11 power generators, 10 grinding machines, 11 water pumps, 50 agricultural sprayers, as well as 11 hair dryers and 20 professional clippers.
Cash support was also distributed to over 350 individuals, alongside a notable ₦1 million donation each to the League of Imams, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and All Transport Unions in the local government area.
Delivering His welcome address, Hon. Odetundun, who chairs the House Committee on Business Innovation and Women Affairs, highlighted several constituency projects completed within his first three years in office.
These include boreholes in Oro, Omu-Aran, and Agbonda, the donation of computer sets to Okeya-Ipo High School and Ogbo Grammar School, as well as the construction of market shops in Arandun, among others.
He noted that his administration has remained focused on legislative duties alongside people-oriented interventions.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Odetundun said the initiative was his way of giving back to the people who entrusted him with their mandate. He acknowledged the economic challenges facing many households and explained that the programme was designed to ease some of that burden.
“This is about supporting our people in a practical way and these items are not meant to be sold but to be used to build something sustainable that can improve lives and support families,” he said.
He also noted that the programme is part of a broader and ongoing effort, revealing that similar initiatives had been carried out in the past, including ward-level empowerments and the donation of a security vehicle to strengthen local safety efforts.
According to him, what made this edition different was its scale, allowing more people to benefit and clearly see the impact.
Odetundun also praised and expressed appreciation to Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for his leadership and developmental strides in the state.
He also used the occasion to formally commended the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu, and his colleagues for their support, which he said has made his tenure in the House productive.
The lawmaker further acknowledged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the ward, local government, and state levels for their continued backing.
The event attracted prominent traditional rulers, including the Oloro of Oro, HRM Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye Titiloye Olufayo II, and the Olomu of Omu-Aran, HRM Oba Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti, who both participated in the presentation of cash to religious leaders.
Other dignitaries present included APC National Ex-Officio, Mrs. Opawoye Oluwatoyin, the Irepodun Local Government Chairman, Hon. Azeez Tinuola Yakubu, and others
The venue turned emotional as beneficiaries offered prayers for the lawmaker.
One beneficiary, who received a deep freezer and generator, expressed her gratitude, saying she had struggled for months to keep her drinks cold. She described the intervention as life-changing and added that supporters were not only backing him but also following him into 2027 and beyond.
Another beneficiary, who received a laptop, said the support would open new opportunities and improve productivity. He added, many politicians make promises and disappear, but described Hon. Odetundun as different, noting that he returned to Omu-Aran to show that their votes were not in vain and affirming his continued support.
Others who received equipment for small-scale businesses shared similar sentiments, noting that the items would help them become more self-reliant.
