By Wasiu Owolewa
Four years ago, Hon. Olusola Steve Fatoba presented himself before the people of Ado/Irepodun-Ifelodun Federal Constituency with a promise of better and robust representation if elected to represent the constituency at the House of Representatives, National Assembly, Abuja. Naturally, a lot of people might not have taken him seriously as such promises could be easily dismissed as normal Nigerian politicians’ election campaign promises, to get votes from the electorates.
Today, the reality is that Hon. Olusola Fatoba has proven the naysayer wrong through his qualitative representation and commendable achievements in office. In four years, he has shown that he is a performer that means what he says and says what he means. With his outstanding performance, he has justified the confidence reposed in him by the good people of his constituency who voted massively for him to represent them at the National Assembly.
At the commissioning ceremony of the blocks of classrooms constructed at Igbemo Community Comprehensive High School, Igbemo – Ekiti, the then Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, now late, His Excellency Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi expressed his satisfaction with the performance of Hon. Fatoba. He told the audience that Hon. Fatoba has not disappointed former Governor Fayemi and neither has he disappointed him. He stated further – “ I am proud of him”.
Similarly, Erelu Bisi Fayemi – the former First Lady of Ekiti State, at the official opening of the Health Centre sponsored by Hon. Fatoba at Irewolede Estate, Ado – Ekiti, stated that she was delighted that the trust reposed in Hon. Fatoba by the people that voted for him was not in vain. She thanked Hon. Fatoba “for the good example he has set.”
In his own words, Hon. Hakeem Jamiu, the Deputy Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, whilst commissioning the blocks of classrooms sponsored by Hon. Fatoba at Awo Community Grammar School, Awo- Ekiti (his alma mater), Are/Afao Comprehensive High School and Ekiti Baptist High School, Igede – Ekiti, noted that needed infrastructures at our schools would have been more than adequate by now if the prior Representatives of Ado/Irepodun-Ifelodun Federal Constituency at the National Assembly since 1999 had acted like Hon. Fatoba.
The paramount ruler of Igbemo – Ekiti, His Royal Majesty Oba Adewumi Daramola describes Hon. Olusola Steve Fatoba as “ eni ire, eni iyi, iyi Owa”. A man of integrity who does not renege on his promises.
As observed by many in Ado/Irepodun-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, nay, Ekiti State, Hon. Fatoba has redefined what it is to be a great Representative at the National Assembly, Abuja. As a first term legislator who is not a Chairman of any visible committee in the House, the achievements of Hon. Fatoba in four years has surpassed the achievements of any member of the House of Representatives from Ekiti State since 1999.
More than ever before and due to the impressive performance of Hon. Fatoba, constituents of Ado/Irepodun-Ifelodun Federal Constituency now know that in addition to law-making and moving motions on the floor of the House, there are many other benefits that constituents can enjoy through their representatives at the National Assembly.
Indubitably, Hon. Olusola Steve Fatoba’s four years of service as a Member of House of Representatives has brought progress and development to Ado/Irepodun-Ifelodun Federal Constituency.
Below are some of the achievements of Hon. Fatoba Olusola Steve in the last four years;
BILLS:
1. Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 1904).
2. National Rice Production, Processing and Research Institute, Igbemo, Ekiti state (Establishment) Bill, 2022(HB. 1905).
3. Root Crops Production and Research Institute, Igede Ekiti, Ekiti State (Establishment) Bill 2022
Motions:
1. Urgent Need to Address the Impact of Recent Ravaging Flood Disaster in parts of Nigeria (Co-Sponsor)
2. Urgent Need to Investigate the unwarranted Extortion of Truck Operators and other Port users by the Law Enforcement Agents at Apapa Port to forestall a breakdown of Law and Order
3. Motion to Protect Telephone Subscribers from Exposure to Breach of Privacy and Fraud and Loss of Money
4. Need to Investigate Banks’ Lending Practices, Protect Borrowers from Exploitative Interest Rates and Promote Economic Development
5. Need to investigate the plan sales or privatization Niger Delta Power Holding Company
PROJECTS
Irepodun Ifelodun Local Government:
● Construction of fully equipped ICT Centre at Eyemote Comprehensive High School, Iyin Ekiti
● Construction of fully furnished Block of Classrooms at Igbemo Comprehensive High School
● Construction of fully furnished Block of Classrooms at Are/Afao Community Comp. High School
● Construction of fully furnished Block of Classrooms at Awo Community High School.
● Construction of Block of Classrooms at Muslim Nursery/Primary School, Awo-Ekiti(Ongoing).
● Construction of fully furnished Block of Classrooms at Ekiti Baptist High School, Igede – Ekiti
● Construction of fully furnished block of Classrooms at Science School, Iyin Ekiti
● Completion of Town Hall at Igede – Ekiti
● Construction of fully equipped ICT Centre at Eyemote Comp. High School, Iyin – Ekiti
● Disbursement of money for empowerment programme
● Supply of instruction materials and uniforms at Eyemote High School, Iyin – Ekiti
● Supply of instruction materials and uniforms at Ekiti Baptist High School, Igede – Ekiti
● Supply of instruction materials and uniforms at Awo Community High School, Awo – Ekiti
● Provision of tables, chairs, Computers and generator at Omodewa Nursery and Primary School, Iworoko Ekiti
Ado – Ekiti Local Government:
● Construction of fully equipped Erelu Bisi Fayemi Health Centre at Adekunle Fajuyi (Irewolede) Estate, Ado – Ekiti
● Construction of fully equipped ICT Centre at Christ’s School, Ado – Ekiti
● Construction of fully equipped ICT Centre at Ado Community High School, Ado – Ekiti
● Construction of fully equipped ICT Centre at All Souls Anglican Grammar School, Ado – Ekiti
● Construction of fully furnished 6 Classrooms at Ado Grammar School, Ado – Ekiti
● Construction of fully furnished Block of Classrooms at AUD Comprehensive High School, Ado – Ekiti
● Installation of Solar Street lights at Bisi Egbeyemi Market, Ado – Ekiti
● Installation of Solar Street lights from Fayose Junction Adebayo to Oke-Ila junction, Ado – Ekiti
● Installation of Solar Street lights at Ereguru, Ado – Ekiti
● Installation of Solar street lights along Mathew/Asamo Odo-Ado, Ado-Ekiti
● Installation of Solar Street lights at Egbewa community in Ado-Ekiti
● Installation of solar streetlights at post office/Oja Oba Market in Ado-Ekiti
● Installation of solar streetlights at Irewolede estate, Ado-Ekiti.
● Installation of solar streetlights at Ijigbo round-about/Ojido/Odo-Ado, Ado-Ekiti.
● Installation of solar streetlights at Iropora in Irepodun-Ifelodun local government
● Construction and Asphalting of 800 meters Road at Isinla Community, Textile Area, Ado-Ekiti
● Thirty (30) beneficiaries of cash donation (empowerment programme).
● Provision of solar powered Borehole at Olorunsogo Community, Ado – Ekiti
● Provision of Borehole at Odo-Ekiti
● Provision of table, chairs and laboratory equipment at Ola Oluwa Muslim Grammar school, Ado – Ekiti
● Provision of generator and instruction materials at Ado Community High School
● Provision of instruction materials and uniforms at Christ’s School Ado – Ekiti
● Provision of instruction materials and uniforms at All Souls Anglican Grammar, School Ado – Ekiti
● Provision of instruction materials and uniforms at St Stephen Anglican School, Okesha, Ado – Ekiti
● Intervened in getting the transformer at Olorunsogo Community energized.
● Renovation of NURTW office at Ado-Ekiti
● Donations of Cancer screening machine and Two Anaesthesia machines to EKSUTH
● Donation of 50KVA Diesel generator to Ewi’s palace in Ado-Ekiti.
Other benefits enjoyed by members of our constituency in both Ado and Irepodun-Ifelodun Local Government Areas are:
● Sponsorship of JAMB tutorial classes for applicants
● Thirty (30) beneficiaries of COVID-19 NIRSAL loan totalling Twelve million naira (₦12,000,000)
● Ten (10) beneficiaries of 2nd COVID-19 NIRSAL palliative/ loan totalling Six Million naira (₦6,000,000.00)
● One hundred (100) beneficiaries of N-Power programme
● Two hundred and thirty six (236) beneficiaries of empowerment programme
● Fourteen (14) beneficiaries of Agro training – ₦50,000.00 each
● One hundred and sixty (160) beneficiaries of survival fund – ₦30,000.00 each
● One hundred and fifty (150)beneficiaries of Artisans/Market women fund – ₦20,000.00 each
● Recruitment of Two (2) N-Power Independent Monitors
● One hundred and one (101) beneficiaries of N-Power programme
● Sponsored and distributed COVID-19 palliative
● Donation of fifty (50) Hair-clippers to Barbers’ Association
● Procurement and distribution of twenty (20) vulcanizing machines to selected vulcanisers.
● Supply of sixty (60) chemical spraying equipment
● Supply of wheelchairs for the physically challenged people
● Secured federal jobs / employment for constituents at: NSITF (1), NSCDC (2), NDLEA (2), Correctional Services (3), Police (2), Airforce (1), Ministry of Labor (2), National Population Commission (1)
● Sponsored twenty (20) people for handcraft Training
● Eleven (11) beneficiaries of Business support grant totalling Nine hundred thousand naira (₦900,000.00)
● Distribution of farming equipment to farmers
● Facilitated trainings and empowerment for farmers
● Provided hand sanitizers, nose masks, food items during COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
● Provided financial support to constituents during COVID-19 lockdown.
● Made donations(Fund/Materials) for community development across the Constituency
● Facilitated supply of relief materials worth millions of naira from National Emergency Management Agency for victims of flood and other natural disasters.
● Empowerment for constituents with motorcycles, Sewing machines, Generators, Deep Freezers, grinding machines, etc. and cash donation to some selected members of the constituency.
With the above mentioned achievements of Hon. Fatoba within a space of four years, there is optimism of more better days ahead in his second term which will kick start on June 11, 2023.