By John Odunjo
“For a single person to put forward millions of Naira to procure hospital equipment like this says a lot about the passion that he has for his constituency which raised and send him to represent them at the State Assembly”
The people of Okemesi Ekiti, led by the traditional ruler, the Owa Ooye of Okemesi Ekiti, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji, came to the General Hospital in the community in their numbers to be part of an effort by their colleague, Hon. Johnson Oyekola Bode-Adeoye (JOBA) to give back to society.
Bode-Adeoye had on the occasion officially handed over a multi-million naira equipped ambulance and medical equipment to the management of the General Hospital in his community and representatives of the Ekiti State Hospital Management Board to provide medical services for the benefits of mankind.
The community said that the lawmaker’s recent gesture was in response to the request to him four months earlier by the community to come to the aid of the hospital, being the only one in the Okemesi/Ido-Ile Local Council Development Area in the areas of its numerous needs.
Okemesi indigenes in attendance included former Attorney General of Ekiti State, Olawale Fapohunda SAN; the National President, Federation of Okemesi Improvement Union, Engr. Nathaniel Olaoye; FOIU Vice President, Chief Kayode Olagunju; FOIU former President, Alhaji Ajijola; Member, Local Government Service Commission, Segun Onaade; and LCDA Chairman, Hon Owolabi Ajibade.
The Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Adeoye Aribasoye, also led members of the legislative body to be part of the event in honour of their colleague.
The lawmakers in attendance included Jacob Awoniyi (Moba), Kareem Agunbiade (Ekiti West I), Tolulope Ige (Ekiti South West II), Iyabo Fakunle-Okiemien (Ilejemeje), Tunde Idowu (Ikere I) and Tunde Oke (Ikere II).
Others included Idowu Odebunmi (Oye II), Ademola Ojo (Ijero), Lateef Akanle (Ekiti East II) and Hakeem Jamiu (Irepodun/Ifelodun II) and as well the Chairman, House of Assembly Service Commission, Kayode Fasakin.
Oba Adedeji, who congratulated Okemesi sons and daughters for the development, said, “If we have to count our blessings one by one over the years on the throne, we have cause to thank God in all ramifications for the positive impacts, both physical and spiritual”.
The Owa Ooye urged other political office holders and well-meaning people of the town home and abroad to take a cue from JOBA and remember that “home is the best”.
FOIU National President, Engr. Olaoye, who hailed JOBA for the donation, enjoined all Okemesi indigenes to contribute their quota towards the development of the town.
The former Attorney-General, Fapohunda, said, “The donation indeed shows those who really love and have the genuine sympathy, love and interest of the people at heart. The donation of such magnitude has never been done certainly in recent time.
“For a single person to put forward millions of Naira to procure hospital equipment like this says a lot about the passion that he has for his constituency which raised and send him to represent them at the State Assembly”, Fapohunda said.
The Speaker, Aribasoye, who congratulated the monarchs and people of the LCDA, said that Johnson Oyekola Bode-Adeoye (JOBA) made personal sacrifice to make provision of the ambulance and other medical equipment for the hospital a reality.
The speaker said, “When he told me he wanted to donate a fully-equiped medical ambulance to this hospital, I ask him where he got the money because we are still less than six months in office as lawmakers. But I was surprised when he told me of the sacrifice he made in order to make life more bearable for his constituents”.
A fulfilled Hon. Bode-Adeoye who appreciated his constituents for reposing confidence in him, praised God for making it possible for him to fulfil the promise.
The lawmaker, who assured that he would not shirk in ensuring that he would at all times give back to put smiles on the faces of his constituents, said, “I will continue to continue contribute my quota by putting smiles on the people’s face through more developmental projects that add values”.
He thanked the community for their love and understanding and pledged his readiness to do more.
