..Lawmaker Promises Solar Street Lights, Appoints Three Aides from Ito.
The lawmaker representing Ogun Waterside State Constituency, Hon. Lawal Samusideen Adekunle, popularly known as Lawee, has extended his grassroots engagement to Ito, a riverine community in Oni Ward 2, with a promise to promote inclusive governance and ensure that residents, irrespective of ethnic or linguistic background, have a sense of belonging in the affairs of Ogun Waterside.
Lawee, who is seeking another term in the Ogun State House of Assembly, made the commitment when he visited the community as part of his ongoing engagement with residents and stakeholders across the constituency ahead of the 2027 elections.
The visit brought together residents of the community, including Ijebu- and Ijaw-speaking people, as well as traditional and community stakeholders, with the lawmaker using the occasion to listen to their concerns and present his vision for a more inclusive and participatory Ogun Waterside.
He was accompanied by the Councillor representing Oni Ward, Alhaji Tajudeen Adeeko, popularly known as Skelly; the Ward Chairman, Hon. Lukman Akorede Diadi; and other APC leaders and stakeholders from the ward.
Addressing the residents, Lawee said effective representation must go beyond political office, stressing that leadership should be measured by the ability to identify with the people, listen to their needs and provide practical interventions capable of improving their quality of life.
He assured the residents that his vision for Ogun Waterside was one in which every community would be recognised, heard and given the opportunity to participate meaningfully in governance and development.
A major focus of his message was the need to strengthen the relationship between government and the Ijaw-speaking residents of the riverine community.
Lawee urged members of the Ijaw community not to see themselves as non-indigenes or outsiders, assuring them that their contributions and participation were vital to the growth and prosperity of Ogun Waterside.
According to him, the diversity of the constituency should be regarded as a strength rather than a barrier, noting that residents who have contributed to the social and economic development of the area deserve equal recognition and opportunities.
“You are not outsiders. You are part and parcel of Ogun Waterside. Your contributions, your presence and your participation are important to the development of this constituency,” he told the residents.
Demonstrating his commitment to addressing some of the immediate needs of the community, the lawmaker announced the provision of solar-powered street lights for the area.
The initiative, he explained, was aimed at improving visibility and security within the community while complementing efforts to provide basic infrastructure to residents of the riverine settlement.
In another move aimed at promoting political inclusion, Lawee announced the appointment of one Personal Assistant and two Special Assistants from the community, saying the appointments would provide the residents with greater representation and strengthen their participation in governance.
The announcement was greeted with excitement by the residents, who expressed appreciation for what they described as gestures capable of deepening their sense of belonging within the political and administrative structure of the constituency.
The community members also pledged their support for the APC candidates in the forthcoming elections, while urging political leaders to sustain regular engagement with the riverine communities and ensure that their peculiar needs receive adequate attention.
The residents equally commended the serving councillor, Hon. Lukman Akorede Diadi, who is a resident of the community, for his accessibility and efforts to represent their interests.
They, however, appealed for greater political inclusion, particularly increased representation beyond the councillorship level, saying such representation would enable the community to have a stronger voice in decisions affecting its development.
The appeal highlighted the residents’ desire for sustained government presence in the riverine community, particularly in areas such as infrastructure, security, political representation and access to opportunities.
Responding, Lawee assured the people that their concerns had been heard, promising to continue to prioritise issues that directly affect the wellbeing and development of communities across Ogun Waterside.
He said his engagement with Ito was part of a broader commitment to taking governance closer to the grassroots and ensuring that no community was excluded from the development agenda of the constituency.
The lawmaker maintained that leadership should not be confined to the urban centres, stressing that riverine and rural communities also deserve attention, infrastructure and equitable representation.
The engagement ended on a positive note, with residents expressing optimism about a stronger relationship between their community and political leadership, while reiterating their readiness to participate actively in the democratic process.
The Ito engagement, according to observers, further underscores the importance of grassroots consultation in building an inclusive political structure, particularly in a diverse constituency such as Ogun Waterside.
For Lawee, the message remains anchored on continuity, inclusiveness and development, with a pledge to ensure that every community has a voice and every resident feels a sense of belonging in the collective pursuit of a better Ogun Waterside.
LAWEE 2027: CONTINUITY FOR PROGRESS
Think OGHA 2027. Think Lawee. Ogun Waterside First.
