Hon. Jemili Akingbade
A two-term member of the Ogun State House of Assembly representing Imeko-Afon State Constituency, Hon. Jemili Akingbade may not return to the House to represent his people again by the next political dispensation despite having his party’s ticket already.
Hon Akingbade’s third term bid for the Ogun State House of Assembly to represent Imeko-Afon State Constituency is under serious threat and jeopardy as youths from his constituency are already complaining bitterly about the quality of his representation.
Youths and some elders in the constituency have vowed not to vote for him again as they alleged that the legislator is a mere bench warmer in the house whose tenure has not brought any return by way of state government’s presence to the constituency.
The youths of his constituency are also presently wroth with Hon. Akingbade who some alleged speaks atrocious English and so could not fairly represent them, claiming that that could be the reason why he has consistently failed to sponsor any bill or be vociferous in the house since his two consecutive terms.
Hon. Akingbade drew the ire of the youths recently when he was alleged to have shunned his constituents while being asked questions on his impact as a Legislator for the past seven years.
Hon. Akingbade who about a year ago cross carpeted from African Democratic Congress (ADC) to All Progressive Congress (APC) and now holds his third term ticket on the platform of APC was engaged by his constituents on a WhatsApp Platform tagged THE PATRIOTS OF IMEKO-AFON.
He was asked to explain his effort in bringing to the attention of the Governor the need to have a Commissioner from the Local Government and to highlight his contributions to his Constituency since he assumed office seven years ago.
The Legislator was recorded to have responded thus; “My brother dis issue is beyond mounting pressure on any GOV, I was in D government of ogd and I knw what I did in terms of employment across the ten wards, even wen I was caretaker chairman for eight months, my project is across the All wards dat nobody can beat my records, I didn’t mount any pressure on ogd, D eight years of GOV amosu DEY didn’t do anything for us believing dat Imeko Afon are opposition, always with GNI, I didn’t regret it becos dat is instruction of the HOLY QURAN, We must love our town, we suffer for eight years, I join the APC 19 MONTHS AGO, MR GOV already finish his appointment before I join them, I have challenge D gov time without number at parliamentary carcus meeting of only legislator nd mr GOV, on Imeko Afon Local Government conditions, if you know me well u will blvd dat I didn’t Afraid to tell Mr gov what is not ready to hear dat is why he said openly I always against him ND he did not support my aspirations I stand to be quoted, WE joined d APC so dat DEY wl stop referring to our LG as opposition not bcs of pockets, we need our local government to be developed, REMAIN BLSD”.
Members his Constituency who faulted his response vis-a-vis the grammatical blunder are now insinuating that this could be the reason why the two term legislator could not get the governor’s ears as he could not express himself properly.
“I wonder how the Governor will acknowledge any agitation from him if this is how best he can express himself”, an astute member and a spokesperson of the constituency noted.
They also queried how they ended up having a representative like Hon. Akingbade in the house despite the abundance of quality human resources in the Local Government.
“It is pretty sad. Imeko/Afon is endowed with more sophisticated and intelingetsia that can represent or champion our grievances better than this kind of unrepentant and intolerant personality. I am seriously dazed with surprise”, Adekunle Alaye, a constituent and member of the Patriots WhatsApp Platform lamented.
Hon. Akingbade, a former Commissioner in the Local Government Service Commission and former Transition Chairman of the Local Government was said to aggravated the matter in his response to the questions raised by members of his constituency as he was said to have described the youths as inconsequential to his electoral victory.
Hon. Akingbade who is also popularly referred to as “Kowe“, was alleged to have replied thus: “Youth are free to vote for the candidate of dia choice, I didn’t expect ur votes, nd note it very well u can’t stop me from winning D election, walahi AL QURAN LI AZEEM”.
Another issue also annoying the electorate of Hon Akingbade was that the two term Legislator exited the WhatsApp group immediately after dropping this damming comment, an act his constituents described as an insult and tantamount to walking out on them.
According to one of the Admins of the Group, Abel Babatunde, the Honourable’s outburst is very crude and not statesman like.
“It is a pity that Hon. Jemili left after dropping this message. While we cannot hold him back in exercising his exit right from the group, it is extremely important for us to state categorically that his outbursts is very crude, and not statesman like. We implore all youths and well meaning Patriots who may wish to aspire for leadership positions whether now or in the future not to follow such example.
Such attitude does not have a place in a modern society or even in a democracy.
A representative of the people must be ready to respond to meaningful queries from the people he is supposed to be representing. What Mr. Femi Shafa asked tonight is still within his democratic right as a citizen and has not in anyway disrespected Hon. Jemili.
I do hope people holding public positions will be more tolerant”, Abel noted.
Another member of the group with username “Da Brain” also expressed his disappointment at the Honourable’s dishonourable act towards the people he represents.
“U called someone a legislator, for 8 good years he can’t sponsor a single bill or move a motion at d floor of d house. U ask for achievements within d time frame, he was saying “when I was a commissioner 2 Abi 3 ni… yet, he is holding 3rd term ticket & boasting with Al-qurian that no one can stop him”, Da Brain remarked.
According to some of the members of the group, the best way to prove to Honourable Akingbade that the youths are not inconsequential is to massively vote him out in the next elections.
Honourable Jemili Akingbade is planning to represent the good people of Imeko-Afon in the Ogun State House of Assembly for the third time. He was a member of the PDP and served in Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s Administration.
He later decamped to ADC in 2018 and won his second term ticket. He is adjudged to be the greatest beneficiary of Prince Gboyega Nosiru Isiaka’s political weight in Imeko-Afon Local Government as it is largely believed that any political party GNI belongs to is where these Legislator will always pitch his tent at every election circle.
If the youths follow through with their threat of not voting for him in the next election, it may also be a source of threat to the electoral victory of the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who is seeking a second term in office.
