Senatorial Hopeful Says District Deserves Verifiable Evidence of Representation_By Francis AdewumThe Social Democratic Party, SDP, Senatorial Candidate for Ekiti North Senatorial District, Otunba Dr. Olugbenga Peter Obafemi, has challenged the incumbent Senator representing the district, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, to publicly render an account of constituency projects attracted to Ekiti North since 2023.
In a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, Dr. Obafemi said the people of Ido/Osi, Ikole, Oye, Moba, and Ilejemeje Local Government Areas are demanding verifiable evidence of federal presence and interventions in the district.“For over two years now, our people have been asking one simple question: What has Ekiti North gained? Where are the roads, the schools, the hospitals, the empowerment programmes, and the federal presence that were promised? Ekiti North cannot continue to be a senatorial district in name only,” Dr. Obafemi said.
The SDP candidate, a technocrat and community leader, noted that the mandate of a Senator goes beyond legislative duties in Abuja to include effective representation and attraction of developmental projects to the constituency.He lamented that the realities on ground in Ekiti North do not reflect the expectations of the people.
According to him, farmers in Moba and Ido/Osi are still grappling with lack of storage facilities and access to federal agricultural interventions, while graduates in Ikole and Oye remain unemployed due to absence of skills and job creation programmes. He further stated that General Hospitals across the five local government areas are ill-equipped, forcing residents to seek medical care in Ado-Ekiti and Akure, while road infrastructure linking communities in Ilejemeje and Oye remain in deplorable condition.“Character assassination and empty promises will not fix our roads. Insults will not equip our hospitals.
What our people need is action, not excuses,” he said.Dr. Obafemi urged Senator Fasuyi to, in keeping with the Omoluabi ethos of accountability, publish a comprehensive list of constituency projects, federal appointments, and interventions facilitated for Ekiti North since assumption of office.“Let us debate records, not rumors. Let us talk about projects, not personalities. If there are projects, let the people see them. If there are none, let us be honest so that Ekiti North can make an informed choice in 2027,” he challenged.The SDP candidate pledged that his representation, if elected, would be guided by the tripod of Legislation, Representation, and Oversight.
He promised to sponsor bills that protect farmers and promote agribusiness, attract federal institutions and industries to the district, and ensure diligent oversight of budgetary allocations meant for Ekiti North.Dr. Obafemi also called on traditional rulers, political stakeholders, civil society organisations, and the media to intensify demands for accountability from elected representatives, stressing that democracy thrives when leaders are answerable to the people.
“My heart bleeds for Ekiti North. Our unity, our future, and our children are at stake. We cannot afford another four years of silence. The time to demand accountability is now,” he concluded.Senator Cyril Fasuyi of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was elected to represent Ekiti North Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly in 2023.
