… The need for him to represent Alimosho further
Honourable Olufemi Adebanjo aka “Eyes Open” is a member of the 8th assembly of the National Assembly representing Alimosho Federal Constituency. Although he may not have sponsored any bill, he has been vocal especially in pursuance of the improvement of lives and reducing unemployment among his constituents at the hallowed green chamber.
‘Eyes Open’ as he is fondly called by associates and supporters, had gone to the NASS as a first timer. Out of loyalty to party politics, he fell out with the ruling caucus by supporting the Gbajabiamila speakership project which boomeranged on him and the rest in the same boat. To make his case worse, as a first timer he is not entitled to some of the fringe benefits in the hallowed chamber which include chairmanship of her numerous committee. Furthermore, it is agreeable that his predecessor, Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola, aka Yayi, the senator representing Lagos west senatorial district presently, may have been luckier in serving his people under the PDP federal administration when the revenue of the country was buoyant and government officials and lawmakers were exposed to certain benefits.
For Hon. Adebanjo’s tenure the reverse has become the case as the economy nose-dived into recession few months in office. The prudent nature of President Mohammadu Buhari has also shrieked some of the largess of members of the National Assembly coupled with the crash of the revenue of the nation at a time when the cost of living has soared beyond the sky. This has become one of the challenges Hon. Adebanjo had to bear as the cost of representing Alimosho.
On the other hand, it has become very clearly obvious that the Alimosho Federal Constituency is grossly shortchanged with her population of about eight million which surges on a daily basis as it is proven that seventy per cent of daily influx into Lagos ends in Alimosho and her environs. With its population equaling or surpassing those of some states, yet it has only one representative at the hallowed green chamber. It is agreeable that what Hon. Adebanjo gets as constituency project or in any form will mean a drop in the ocean.
Adebanjo has also been a victim of circumstance, as a few of his constituency workers who were to help in driving delivery of the dividend of democracy to Alimosho constituents were however greedy and shallow in their dealings which also affected his gestures to his constituency. He had on several occasions been weighed down by the tasks ahead of him even while giving his best, yet it remains insignificant. His constituency projects which cut across huge lists of several personal problems of his constituents include payments of house rent, school fees, hospital bills, burial and even childcare are immeasurable.
Hence, in the interest of Alimosho, it is time for the constituents to brace up the fight for the good representation of Alimosho at the National Assembly by the creation of at least two more constituencies which will obviously mean equity to what she gets when compared with other constituencies nationwide. Also, the course that Hon. Adebanjo has already charted should be taken into hence there is hitherto urgent need to allow him to push further the burden of representing Alimosho to an appreciable state. For the few serious aspirants, it thence means that Ryes Open be allowed to stabilise his position at the green chamber instead of bringing Alimosho down by presenting another first timer.
It is therefore expedient at this time for a consensus candidate in the person of Honourable Olufemi Adebanjo aka Eyes Open to return to the green chamber. With the experience acquired so far, it is expected that he should be able to play the NASS politics to make sure that Alimosho gets her full entitlements.
