The Friends Network, led by former Ogun State governorship aspirant, Prince Kayode Tejuoso, has taken its grassroots engagement and consultation campaign to the Ogun East Senatorial District, meeting with Community Development Councils (CDCs) in Odogbolu, Ijebu North-East, Ijebu East and Ijebu North.
The network comprises friends and supporters of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) and is focused on engaging community leaders, Community Development Councils (CDCs) and residents across Ogun State, while mobilising grassroots support for Yayi ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Other members of the delegation included Engr. Ayotunde Ayodeji , Hon Seye Bajomo, Hon. Ojoye Olasehinde, Alhaji Tijani Qozeem, Hon. Jolasun Yusuf ,Hon. Segun Idowu, Rafiu Idris Olamilekan and Mr. Babalola Gafar.
The engagements formed part of the network’s ongoing grassroots mobilisation and consultation programme, designed to interface directly with community leaders and residents on development challenges and priorities.
Speaking during the meetings on Wednesday , Tejuoso said meaningful development must begin with listening to people at the grassroots, stressing that the needs identified during the consultations would be documented and presented to Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.
“Development must begin with listening to the people at the grassroots. Our responsibility is not only to speak to communities but also to listen, document their needs and ensure that those concerns form part of the conversation about the future of Ogun State,” he said.
At the Odogbolu Zonal CDC, community leaders commended Senator Adeola for what they described as his interventions and interest in communities beyond his senatorial district.
The CDC also requested greater representation of Community Development Councils in government and promised to compile their priority needs and forward them to the Friends Network for presentation to Senator Adeola. The requests are expected to cover infrastructure and other areas of community development.
At the Ijebu North-East Zonal CDC in Erunwon, community leaders also commended Adeola for his interventions while drawing attention to the challenges confronting residents.
They particularly appealed for the construction of a bridge across the Eyin Osun River, saying the absence of a bridge had continued to pose danger to residents.
According to the community leaders, people reportedly lose their lives in the river, while the lack of a proper crossing also affects agricultural activities during the rainy season.
They explained that farmers often struggle to move their produce out of their communities, leading to spoilage and financial losses. They also listed electricity as another major concern, noting that some communities had been without power for between two and three years.
At the Ijebu East Zonal CDC in Ijebu-Ifẹ, the community leaders commended Adeola and expressed concern over what they described as the development challenges facing the area.
They called for greater inclusion of women from the communities in government and promised to compile their demands for onward submission through the Friends Network.
Similarly, the Ijebu North Zonal CDC presented a number of requests, including the rehabilitation of roads, provision of transformers and installation of solar-powered street lights. The community leaders said addressing the needs would improve economic activities and the welfare of residents.
The Chairman of the local government, Hon. Omobolaji Odunsanya, urged the Friends Network to have confidence in the communities, assuring that they would work towards ensuring victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
He said the community is “100 per cent” committed to supporting APC candidates across the ballot.
Odunsanya, however, noted that the communities still had pressing developmental needs, particularly electricity and rural road grading, which he said required attention to improve connectivity and economic activities.
Responding, Tejuoso said the Friends Network would continue to collate the demands presented by the various CDCs and forward them to Senator Adeola.
He also used the engagements to canvass support for Adeola, the APC candidate for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election, while urging the communities to participate actively in the democratic process and consider APC candidates across the ballot.
The network expressed appreciation to the CDC leadership and members in Odogbolu, Ijebu North-East, Ijebu East and Ijebu North for their reception and participation during the engagement.
