3rd Anniversary: The Sterling Achievements of Tunji-Ojo…..by Femi Salako
The primary objective of elected public officers is to provide to the electorate with the much needed dividends of democracy as they promised when seeking the mandate of the people.
Rep. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo came with just one purpose when he sought the mandate of the people. As a man considered a greenhorn in politics, all he had to give the people was a promissory note, one given with confidence and sincerity: he would put the interests of the people first.
The people in their wisdom accepted him, gave him the mandate and three years later, we are witnessing a beautiful story of good representation and great leadership.
To the utmost surprise of many, he has recorded achievements which are best described as unprecedented. His performance record is a joy to his people.
The illustrious son of Oke-Agbe Akoko is rewriting history by giving the people a new lease of life, one filled with boundless opportunities for social wealth creation.
Representing the Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Tunji-Ojo chairs the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
As a dynamic, youthful and extremely creative entrepreneur and development expert, he became the Chief Executive Officer of an indigenous ICT consulting company at just 24.
His emergence as the people’s choice more than three years ago was a demonstration of the people’s love for him.
For a Federal Constituency which previously had very little to show for its democratic gains, Rep Tunji-Ojo came with a blueprint, fueled by his passion to make a difference for himself and his community at large
Going by the normative understanding of what a well brought up and nurtured individual is in every sense, the Omoluabi, Tunji-Ojo comes loaded with qualities which endear him to many.
He has transformed the Federal Constituency for good, doing the unprecedented for the overall growth and development of the people.
Tunji-Ojo has written his name on the sands of time as an achiever who laid a solid foundation of excellence through the rebuilding mission of the current administration.
At the Green Chamber, he recorded his first major win as Chairman of First-time Lawmakers. He mobilised other first-timers and was on the frontline leading the campaign drive for the election of Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
As Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), BTO chaired the Committee that unearthed the can of worms and corruption that had bedeviled the NDDC and crippled development in the Niger Delta region in about two decades.
Domestically at his constituency, tangible achievements abound. He has made grants and financial assistance available to market traders in Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency.
There have also been more positive trends. Before 2019, all major roads in Akokoland, which are major routes for travelers going to Abuja, were in a deplorable state. The state of the roads almost halted economic activities in the area: it was difficult for farmers to transport their produce to the big markets in Ondo State and other parts of the country, leading to wastage.
To put an end to wastage and cause economic activities to thrive, BTO facilitated the construction of Owatumise road to Ugbe Akoko, Oyinmo road in Ikare Akoko, Akunnu-Ajowa road; Federal Technical road, Ikare: Uku/Akungba road to Civil Defence office; Inland Road At Ikare – Ugbe Akoko; Okeagbe Akoko Road; Odeiyare Road Ikare; Ase Akoko Road, Irun Akoko Road, and other ongoing road projects like the Agbo-Okela Road to Oscars road, Afin Akok, Ogbagi Akoko Road To Irun Akoko, Ogbagi Akoko Main Town Road, among many others.
He also vowed to create an environment for education to thrive in Akoko North East/North West. He has donated educational materials to all public secondary schools in his constituency and facilitated the construction of modern classrooms in public schools to make learning conducive.
BTO also recently gave scholarship to fatherless undergraduates from Ajowa, and he remains committed to the payment of indigent students’ school fees. For those yet to be admitted into any institution of learning, the quintessential lawmaker has so far obtained and distributed more than 1000 JAMB forms and enrolled hundreds of students in computer training.
About 6000 youth have been empowered with skills to become their own bosses, while a new skills acquisition center has been approved for Ogbagi Akoko.
BTO donated 500KV transformer to NTA Ilepa Ikare-Akoko as part of efforts to boost information and communication for the local constituents.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Nigeria in 2020 and led to a lockdown, BTO donated food items to all communities in his constituency.
There have also been broadly positive contributions to healthcare. Tunji-Ojo donated 14 ambulances to all the health centers in his constituency for quick response to health challenges. Beyond the ambulances, public hospitals in his constituency were also equipped with multimillion naira modern health equipment courtesy of BTO.
In his response to the spate of insecurity that has made Akoko highways a hotbed for bandits and kidnappers, BTO donated patrol vehicles to security operates to aid their prompt response to emergency and distress calls.
In all of this, the place of traditional institutions has not been neglected. BTO acknowledges the roles of traditional institutions in the development journey of any community and to appreciate their roles, he donated two 18-seater buses to the council of traditional rulers in each of the local government areas in his constituency.
Akoko is his home, and it is not surprising to see some of his legislative footprints in other parts of Akoko outside his constituency.
Through his legislative influence, BTO facilitated the rehabilitation of some roads in Akungba, the community hosting the Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA) in Akoko South East/South West Federal Constituency.
We have an endless list of the sterling achievements of Rep. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the people of Akoko North/East North West will no doubt take the greatest pleasure of having made the right choice three years ago, a choice they indicated that they will be willing to make again come 2023.
His victory at the Primary Election of the All Progressives Congress election is a pointer to what is to come. The primary election result saw him clinching the ticket with a perfect score. He gained the total votes of all the delegates while his opponent got none.
This victory makes it clear that the people know what they want and they are united in their collective decision to consolidate on their democratic wins by ensuring the continuity of the BTO-led representation.
Written by Femi Salako, Magazine Publisher
