ADELEGBE’S TOUCH WITH HIS CONSTITUENTS

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ADELEGBE’S TOUCH WITH HIS CONSTITUENTS

By Wale Akingbade

“He who ministers, let him remain in his ministering, or he that teaches, let him be in teaching,… Romans 12:4-10”

Yoruba believes that counting your successes or achievements or numbers of your good deeds to people publicly will only be tantamount to ostensibly bragadocio. In yoruba parlance, we call it “ìrègún”.

Similarly, a popular Yoruba proverb says “aríse laríkà, aríkà sì ni baba ìrègún”. The literary meaning of this proverbial phrase is: what you do, is what you can refer to or count and what you refer to or count is the father of ostentation or show off.

This is on the recent statement credited to my Lord, Rt. Rev. Stephen Fagbemi the Diocesan Bishop of the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, Imola Owo, that the lawmaker representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Hon. (Dr.) Timehin Adelegbe is not accessible to his people.

The Bishop, according to what The Hope Newspaper described as disappointing about the attitude of Adelegbe to most of his constituents. The cleric stated this at the St Andrews Imola Owo during the memorial service held recently in honour of former governor of Ondo state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN. The memorial service was also attended by the lawmaker himself and other.

The Bishop alleged that Hon. Adelegbe has become inaccessible to the constituents since becoming the lawmaker over 5years ago.

Although, the lawmaker has refuted the unholy comment as a wicked rumour and white lies as he’s not far from his people, as reported in a media fireworks from Adelegbe’s media team.

Seeing the statement in the media got me mist feeling, very shocked and laughable. It would have been ignored, that in no distant time, it will fizzle out, but due to the revered reference and sanctimonious sacredness attached the bishop regarding the unfortunate statement at a public function of that nature, which could send a wrong signal to uninformed ones.

I got opinionated to conclude that my lord perhaps could be given a wrong information or painted another perception of the lawmaker by his political enemies just to rile up the emotions of the constituents against Adelegbe.

Not only that, those who are familiar with Hon. (Dr.) Timehin Adelegbe, which in recent time I use to call him double chief, the Otunba of Okeluse and the Bobagunwa of Ijebu Owo kingdom, would ask the Bishop that before someone could be honoured with chieftiancy titles in church, mosque or within the society, he or she must have been so connnected with the people attesting to his or her goodness and personality.

With utmost respect to the pulpit, let me take my lord a memory lane that before Adelegbe came into politics, he has been a multimillionaire, my beloved late Akeredolu attested to this when he was alive. As a career man in the banking industry, he rose through the ladder to a regional manager of a commercial bank. Just like an ordinand rises to the post of a bishop in priesthoodship. It’s a function of hard work, being good to people and the grace of God.

I worked closely with the lawmaker for many years, confidently I can tell anybody about his personality and attributes. Hon. Adelegbe picks calls not minding the caller whether known or unknown.

If you call him and doesn’t pick at that moment, he may be in a crucial meeting but trust him, he will call back as soon as he sees the missed calls.

And again, his legacy projects both completed and ongoing that ittered everywhere in. Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, were thoroughly consulted by traditional rulers, the residents and relevant community stakeholders. I think, these are the constituents which will not deny their accessibility to the lawmaker.

It is not a gainsaying that the House of Reps member has demonstrated not only leadership but the capacity and competence in representing the interests and the well-being of his people since he became a member of the National Assembly.

Hon. Adelegbe invests much commitment towards impacting meaningfully to the development of Owo/Ose. There are many sustainable empowerment programmes and projects that will even outlive the lawmaker himself.

Recently, Hon. Adelegbe was described by his constituents as an enigma whose uncommon achievements in unique and novel in the annal of history in Owo/Ose Federal Constituency in the past 5years ago when compared to the dark days of old.

One can boldly say that no House of Reps member surpasses his record as per performance. All the years spent at the green chamber has been behives of activities which the people he represents are direct beneficaries.

The numerous multi-million naira projects that are visible to the blind and audible to the deaf led to my proverbial clause “arìse laríkà, aríkà baba ìrègún”.

If Adelegbe is not known or accessible to his constituents, he wouldn’t have embarked on some of the projects he did within one year of assumption into office.

For the record, Hon. (Dr.) Timehin Adelegbe facilitated the distribution of cash gift programme to over 400 party leaders, youth leaders, women leaders in Owo/Ose Federal Constituency to mark his 100 days in office.

He empowered 2,440 members of the federal constituency in various valuable materials for sustainable development drive.

He distributed food items as palliative to constituents in mitigating the effect of COVID 19 pandemic.

He facilitated the repair of 250 bore-holes through lobby with the Akeredolu led government in Owo/Ose.

He also facilitated an Entrepreneurship Training Programme for more than 200 women in various small scale businesses in Ifon and Owo.

Rural Electrification project at Upenmen, Elegbeka and other communities in Owo and Ose local government areas

Also facilitated the reconstruction of Molege junction-Ute Road through lobby of the Akeredolu led government.

As a member of the appropriation committee in the House, he used his good office to facilitate the rehabilitation of Sobe/Ijagba/Arimogija/Ute/Okeluse Federal Roads in Ose Local Government

Built a well equipped skill acquisition centres at Ireakari Comprehensive High School, Idoani & Adeyeri Grammar School Iyere Owo.

Supply of health care facilities and equipments to Okeluse Health centre.

Construction of 6 Classroom blocks in Okeluse in Ose LGA. He constructed a 750 capacity town halls town hall in Ifon, Idogun, Okeluse,

As if that not enough, in the series two of his mega empowerment programmes, he donated 10 Toyota Sienna buses to member of his federal constituency.

Distribution of 50 sewing machines to fashion designers across Owo/Ose

Distribution of 30 Deep Freezers to women across all wards.

Distribution of 40 pieces of 3KVA generating sets to members of his constituency.

Distribution of 50 Hair Driers with stands to fashion designers in Owo/Ose.

Distribution of 50 Clippers to Barbers.

Distribution of 30 Orthopedic Wheel Chairs and grails to the physically challenged persons.

Distribution of 60 Grinding Machines to the women in Owo/Ose constituency.

Furthermore, if we are to count, it will be tantamount to bragging and show off of the numerous programmes and projects of the legislator. I could recall at a programme, some members of the constituency were arguing whether Adelegbe wanted to contest for bigger position but another group among them said, that has been his lifestyle, giving back to the people.

The group noted that doing good to humanity doesn’t require involvement in politics. The group argued further that supposing those who represented the federal constituency did what Adelegbe was doing then, the story would have been changed.

My lord, Bishop Fagbemi should be reminded that evidences are incontrovertible, regardless of destructive antics by the Adelegbe’s major political enemies.

The popular Ogbese bridge that connects Ondo state to Edo state, which has remained impassable for road users for me many years, through the effort and commitment of Hon. Adelegbe in reviving the bridge, it’s almost completed and the people of that rural community are very very happy seeing this happening.

Hon. Adelegbe embarked on the construction of a gigantic Hall of Fame at Olowo Palace.

He has completed the construction of a modern hall with large capacity at Ojomo Palace.

Also he has renovated both classrooms and offices at Emure Ile Community School, the teachers and pupils couldn’t hold their joy when it was commissioned.

The fact speaks for itself, it is what you do, that you will count. That is not ostentatious, Hon. Adelegbe donated two 33 KVA transformers for Upenmen and Ujelu in Idasen, Owo.

In all the communities in Owo, very close to my lord Bishop, Adelegbe has an on-going construction projects of modern day town halls in Isuada, Ipele, Ijagba, Imoru, Ikaro and others.

We can not but mention, the perimeter fencing of the new Oniyere’s palace in Iyere, Owo.

In Uso Grammar School, the lawmaker built a befitting science laboratory and donated a sum of N2m on the day it was commissioned.

Since 2022 to year 2024, it was full of activities and community engagements, Hon. Adelegbe began the grading of rural community linked roads across the 23 wards in Owo/Ose Federal Constituency.

He also commenced the installation of solar-powered lights in Upenmen and Idasen, Owo.

As a family member in Anglican communion and of the body of Christ, Hon. Timehin Adelegbe was appointed the patron of Christian Association of Nigerian, CAN, Ifon chapter in the year 2022 under the chairmanship of Ven. Ebenezer Aladegbami, the current Dean of St. Andrew’s Cathedral Church, the seat of the Bishop Fagbemi.

The appointment was done in recognition of his love and support for the Christian family. Hon. Adelegbe donated the sum of N100,000 to the Association along with a set of startimes TV that he equally donated to the St. Paul’s Anglican church mission house, Ifon.

Around December 2024, CAN Okeluse zone presented an award of excellence to the Adelegbe in recognition of his visionary leadership, positive political influence, community development and empowerment programmes.

The award ceremony was well attended by a good number of highly respected clergies from Anglican communion in Owo and Ose as well as community leaders, among other important dignitaries from various Churches in Okeluse and other nearby communities.

Just recently last year December, Hon. Adelegbe embarked on another mega empower, marking the 7th edition of his empowerment programmes where over N1bn worth of valuables were distributed to the people by the Deputy Governor, Dr Adelami and even the governor of Ondo state Hon. Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa was present at Owo stadium. Students, artisans, market women and many different groups went home with items such as cocoa seedlings, knapsprayers, tricycles, motorcycles, hair dryers, laptops, cash grants, pumping machines, generators, deep freezers, among others.

My lord Bishop Fagbemi may not adequately informed of the numerous projects initiated by the Bobagunwa of Ijebu kingdom, having completed and his timely released N300m to bring all contractors back to sites again for the quick delivery of the ongoing projects. No politician in his category would spent that huge amount of money for the benefit of the people if not in touch with his people.

Summarily, I will conclude that Hon. Adelegbe has been instituted by God to represent Owo/Ose Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, and his leadership style and the quality of his representation can only be adjudged by the people not just one or set of individuals maliciously conspiring in bringing down the good reputation of his/her fellow human beings.

The constant campaign of calumny thrown at Adelegbe will only make him more stronger and even make him more endearing to his constituents because of the strong confidence repose in him.

As a baptized member of Anglican communion, I hold some reservations and high respect for men of God and will not be overwhelmed by vexation emotions to abuse such office.

But I take my admonition from the book of Romans 12 vs 4 – 10, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.