By Gbenga Sodeinde
Bukola Esther, a.k.a ‘Tonganran’ Omo BAO, remember her? . She is the young lady on whom fortune smiled during the last Workers’ Day celebration in Ekiti State. An angel had touched Bukola to ask Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanii (aka BAO) to be carried in her tricycle when the governor was walking along the road and hailed by the people in the spirit of May Day Celebration.
Without hesitation, the governor agreed and joined her on the tricycle to the admiration of the crowd of supporters and excited Ekiti people. She was later gifted a brand new tricycle known as KEKE NAPEP by the governor to appreciate her selfless effort.
Bukola who also disclosed that though she didn’t have interest in politics has now declared that, “I will join politics because of what Governor Oyebanji did for me, because I was known as Bukola ‘Tonganran’ before but now, people call me Bukola omo BAO”
In an interview with Heritagenewsng, Bukola, a 21-year-old young woman who dropped out of school in J.S.S 3 because of financial difficulties said since May 1, 2023 she met Governor Oyebanji, her life has changed drastically for the better.
She disclosed that what the governor did for her still seemed like a dream at the time she spoke with this reporter.
Despite being the last born in a family of four, she learned fashion designer after dropping out of school for lack of funds.
Bukola, who soon revealed she already had a daughter of 5, described how she started driving tricycles, saying it is the kind of jobs she enjoys since she isn’t willing to sell her body for money as most girls.
“Because I don’t want to flirt around after dropping out of school, l applied for training as a fashion designer but there was no money to buy equipment. I met a lady driving a tricycle and I asked her how I could join. This led me to get the tricycle and I was making payments by installments on a daily basis.
“When I first began learning how to drive a tricycle last year, I had a terrible accident after learning it for about a month. I thought I had known it all. That accident was extremely devastating for me. I couldn’t drive for three months, and when I was okay I couldn’t get anyone to give me a tricycle to drive. So I was at home for three months and within that period I cooked food to sell. However, I kept praying and believing God for help until a pastor revealed that God would send helpers to me.
“Later, I met someone who gave me a tricycle to drive on a daily basis, but another revelation came to me that yet, God was still planning to send another person to me who would help me. Because I was on this daily delivery, I tried to save money to acquire a hire purchase tricycle. However, it has always been impossible because of the problem of feeding and other responsibilities.
How she met Governor Oyebanji:
“It was on May 1, 2023 that I took a customer to Omisanjana and after I had dropped the passenger, I saw a crowd following a particular person, then I asked who the person was and I was told it was Governor BAO, then I became interested in him and wanted to catch a glimpse of him because I have liked the Governor for some time now but I have not had the opportunity to see him physically ever since I have been hearing about him.
“I became particularly interested in him because of the number of roads he has done in the state capital within the very short period he became the Governor, roads like Mathew, Oke-ila, Okebola and so on.
“These roads have been giving us problems but until recently when he rehabilitated the roads and every time we carry passengers and ply those roads, we are always happy, such that both drivers and passengers always pray for the governor and so I said one day I will see him physically and thank him for the good work he has been doing in Ekiti.
“Fortunately, on that day, I saw the Governor returning from Alasia and greeting people as he walked. Then I ran towards him, though the security men with him prevented me from getting close.
“However, I was determined that I would get close to him, so I was lucky to get close to him. Then I greeted him and told him that I would like to give him a ride on my tricycle. He agreed and he hopped onto my tricycle. I was extremely happy to have the governor on my tricycle.
“As we were moving, the Governor asked me, how much was left for me to balance up the payments of my tricycle? He asked me if I should purchase my own, and I replied yes. The Governor told me I had not been able to settle the hire purchase, which I am still paying on daily delivery. The Governor gave me N20,000 and promised to get me a new one the next day.
“He also collected my phone number. I didn’t believe it, and I couldn’t sleep that night. To my surprise the Governor called me the very next day to come to the government house in Ado Ekiti to pick a new tricycle!
“Right now, I wish somebody would wake me up, because I still feel as if I am dreaming. Right now I think I will join politics because of what Governor Oyebanji did for me. I was known as Bukola ‘Tonganran’ before but now people call me Bukola Omo BAO”
On her future plan, she said,
“I want to continue to do this job of tricycle driver and use the money to buy my fashion design equipment and open my own fashion shop. However, I won’t quit my tricycle driving job because I love it so much.”
What are people saying about the Governor:
“In fact, people talk about the Governor everywhere and they say he is an excellent man and a people’s governor and friend of the masses”
Appreciation:
“I want to thank God for sending a helper to me in Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji aka BAO., I appreciate Governor Oyebanji for this thoughtful gesture. I pray that he will succeed in his efforts to build Ekiti and take Ekiti to greater heights.
‘I want to also appreciate those who taught me how to drive a tricycle and the person that gave me the opportunity to drive his own tricycle before now.
“I want to specifically thank our chairman of the tricycle association in my branch, Mr. Akinlabi Takabi a.k.a Ifa. He didn’t request money for bookings from me but he just allowed me to start working. He said I am Omo Governor BAO, (Governor BAO’s daughter).
“I also want to use this opportunity to appreciate all the tricycle leaders in Ekiti state because of the way they treat all the women in the business, they use to treat us tenderly, and whenever they are collecting money for tickets, If they are collecting N500,00 from men they will collect only N200 or N300 from us, women”
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