ADEWUMI ADEMIJU writes on the scorecard of the member representing Akoko South East/South West Federal Constituency of Ondo State, Hon Adegboyega Adefarati, which has earned him Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s praises

When Hon. Adegboyega Adefarati emerged as a candidate for the Akoko South East/South West Federal Constituency of Ondo State in 2023, the constituency was an area yearning for development in crucial facets of life. So, the phrase “dividends of democracy” became a campaign cliché then.

Three years down the line, the conversation in the 26 wards of Akoko South East/South West has shifted in terms of welfare, education, health and other development such as boreholes, solar power, distribution of exercise books and other crucial education supports for primary and secondary school students and empowerment for widows in terms of cash grants to augment their businesses.

Adefarati, a first-term federal lawmaker and son of late former Governor Adebayo Adefarati, has been described as a politician harnessing legislation to shape governance and representation. Elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he was appointed chairman, House Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity.

His legislative footprint started when he sponsored motions for the dualisation of the Akungba–Ikare road and the degradation of Okerigbo hilltwo death-traps that have claimed lives and cut off commerce in Akoko land. At the national level, he leveraged his committee chairmanship to facilitate federal jobs placements for youths through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), turning Abuja access to local employment slips.

Politically, he has been APC’s bridge-builder in Ondo North, drumming support for Governor Aiyedatiwa and President Bola Tinubu. After Aiyedatiwa’s 2024 gubernatorial victory, Adefarati called it “a clear demonstration of the confidence Ondo State citizens have in your ability to deliver” and urged stakeholders to “put politics aside and focus on advancing the interests of our state.”

During the campaigns, Adefarati promised “portable and drinkable water.” By mid-2024, he had facilitated 26 solar-powered boreholes, one for each ward in the constituency.

Towns like Akungba, Oba, Ikun, Oka Akoko, Epinmi, Isua, Ifira, Ipe, and Ipesi all got coverage. The intervention, he said, was “necessary to put smiles on the faces of the people” because water and healthcare are the “most essential needs of the agrarian community.” He extended the same to some institutions in the state.

A community leader in Oka Akoko, Chief Adekunle Salawu, who commended the lawmaker, said: “Former lawmakers representing the area failed to address the scarcity of water but Adefarati understands their immediate need.” On security, Adefarati’s approach is concrete. In Iwaro-Oka, he personally laid the foundation for a police area command office, with a second phase planned for officers’ residential quarters.

The lawmaker also donated a brand-new Toyota Hilux patrol van to the Akungba police station, which he said, is aimed “to enhance mobility and enable quicker response to security threats.” Speaking with leaders of the community who requested the area command, Adefarati said: “Security is a collective responsibility .As your representative, I will continue to prioritise security and ensure that police officers have the resources and support they need.”

Similarly, Adefarati’s interventions targeted at youths’ development cannot be overemphasized. They include bursary awards to 400 undergraduates across universities, polytechnics and schools of nursing; renovation of schools; distribution of books and provision of computers for digital skills.

During the 13th convocation of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), the lawmaker was conferred with the with an honourary doctorate degree in Political Science (DPC) citing his “contributions to public service and societal development.” Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who has on many occasions held up the lawmaker’s record as a proof that “political office holders can complement government developmental efforts by giving back to their constituents,” commended Adefaratii’s model and used it to set a standard for all political office holders.

Speaking at the lawmaker’s distribution of grants to artisans, fertilizers to farmers and exercise books to pupils in Akungba- Akoko, Aiyedatiwa declared: “When political office holders give back to their people, they help in a great deal in complementing the developmental efforts of the government.” He praised Adefarati for “dedication to addressing the needs of his constituency,” noting the grants will “stimulate local entrepreneurship, create jobs and improve livelihoods.”

“Let me commend our Hon. Adefarayi for this thoughtful initiative, which demonstrates a deep understanding of the needs of our community. It is a testament to the power of public service and the positive impact that dedicated leaders can have on the lives of their constituents,” Aiyedatiwa said, adding that “the initiatives aligns with our development agenda in the Sunshine State.”

In a broader charge to lawmakers on dividends of democracy, the governor said “empowering the people should be a collective effort to uplift communities and build a brighter future for children.”

At a separate meeting with the nine House of Representatives members from Ondo State, Aiyedatiwa urged them to see “development, peace and stability of Ondo as a collective responsibility.”

He assured them that his administration will “continue to prioritise the development of the state and welfare of the people over politics.” He also told lawmakers generally to “adhere to good governance and leadership principles to ensure the delivery of dividends of democracy in their various constituencies,” adding that political officeholders can “complement the efforts of the government for development by giving back to their people.”

The governor’s endorsement matters because it reframes the debate. He is telling lawmakers that complementing government means measurable inputs at the ward level, not just motions in Abuja.

Also for him, the lesson is political and administrative. Dividends of democracy must be seen. Some political stakeholders in the state, particularly a former deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Ali Olanusi who added to the voice of the governor on the assessment of Adefarati, praised the lawmaker for his commitment to the welfare of his people.

A former chairman of the APc in the state, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, on his part, said: “Adefarati has performed incredibly well within just two years.” The Akoko Youth Forum also described his commitment as “unweaving,” adding that “he has become a reference point for constituency service.”