NO GOING BACK: IGBEMO DECLARES JAMIU NON-NEGOTIABLE FOR CONTINUITY
Igbemo Ekiti a political landscape often defined by fleeting loyalties, the atmosphere in Igbemo Ekiti this past Sunday transcended mere partisan gathering; it was a homecoming of heroes. The Ijabo clan, the ancestral bedrock of Rt. Hon. Hakeem Jamiu, formally issued a thunderous endorsement for his re election to the Ekiti State House of Assembly, transforming a family engagement into a definitive mandate for the Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency II seat.
The endorsement does not merely reflect a desire for continuity; it is a coronation based on a decade of “impact-centric” governance that stakeholders claim has outperformed even the executive tenures of past regional leaders.
A Record That Defies Precedent While many lawmakers find their voices only on the floor of the House, Jamiu’s legacy is etched into the very geography of the constituency. During the engagement, community leaders reeled out a dossier of achievements that positioned Jamiu as a “legislator with the executive touch.”
The Bridge Builder of Igbemo: Speakers recalled with vivid detail the dark period between 2014 and 2018 when Igbemo was effectively an island, cut off from Afao Ekiti due to collapsed bridges. Where the previous state administration saw an impasse, Jamiu saw a mission. Before even taking his seat in the Assembly, he leveraged his goodwill with FERMA and the Fayemi administration to facilitate the construction of six critical bridges, restoring the economic arteries of the constituency.
Restoring the Light: After nine grueling months of total blackout, it was Jamiu’s relentless diplomacy with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) that finally returned power to Igbemo, Orun, Afao, Araromi Obo, Are, and Iworoko.
The Architect of Autonomy: Alongside Hon. Ayodeji Odu, Jamiu was instrumental in the creation and eventual resuscitation of the Ifedara LCDA. By ensuring the headquarters remained in Igbemo and establishing the Area Education Office, he has effectively decentralized governance for his people.
Human Capital: Beyond Bricks and Mortar
The endorsement was punctuated by emotional testimonies from beneficiaries of Jamiu’s “Empowerment Pipeline.” His reach extends into the highest echelons of national security and civil service, having facilitated placements for constituents in:
The Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), Army, Air Force, and Police.
The National Television Authority (NTA) and Correctional Services.
State and Local Government Civil Service Commissions.
Furthermore, his commitment to tradition saw the successful upgrading of the Onigbemo and three other traditional rulers to Grade A status, elevating the cultural prestige of the entire constituency.
The “Igbemo Agenda”: A Unity Above Party Lines
In a rare show of cross party synergy, Mrs. Toyin Obafemi, a PDP woman leader, joined APC stalwarts like Mr. Sunday Afuye and Otunba Jide Bello (who addressed the crowd from his base in the United States) to declare that Jamiu’s third term is not a “party project,” but an “Igbemo Project.”
“What Hakeem Jamiu has achieved is more than what a former two term governor from a neighboring town did for us,” one speaker noted. “To lose his seniority and influence in the House now would be a self inflicted wound to our communal progress.”
Mr. Sunday Afuye emphasized the strategic necessity of the re-election, noting that with Igbemo holding the highest voting population, the town must retain its legislative influence, especially after recent shifts in local political rotations.
A Vision for the Future: Ojaja Smart City and Beyond
The engagement also looked toward the horizon. Olori Olubunmi, CEO of Ojaja Smart City and sibling to the Right Honorable, reminded the youth and artisans present that the dividends of Jamiu’s leadership are tangible. She opened the doors to job opportunities at the ongoing Ojaja Smart City and Mini City projects, urging the constituency to seize the economic momentum Jamiu has generated.
The Candidate’s Gratitude
Responding to the overwhelming show of love, Rt. Hon. Jamiu the longest serving Deputy Speaker in Ekiti history was visibly moved. He thanked his kinsmen for the “back-to-back” mandates that allowed him to serve as Acting Speaker during the transition following the late Rt. Hon. Funminiyi Afuye.
He touched on his work with the EndSARS Commission of Enquiry, which resulted in cash compensations for Igbemo citizens brutalized in 2015, proving that his representation is as much about justice as it is about infrastructure.
The Verdict
As the convener and Chairman of the Ijabo Youth Assembly, Mr. Kareem Ismaila, closed the session, the message was clear: The “charity” that started at home in the Ijabo clan has now become a roaring fire of support across all quarters Odo Igbemo, Iro, and Orun.
For Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency II, the choice is no longer about a candidate; it is about protecting a legacy of transformation.
Published by: ISAPOL CONSULTANCY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION FIRM.
