It was a celebration galore as residents, parents and community leaders in Ibadan S/ East local government area showered encomiums on /the Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Culture and Tourism, Hon. Akeem Ademola Ige for his philanthropic gesture.
Hon. Ige had recently commissioned some boreholes he refurbished at Owode Academy, Odo-Oba and Oke-Irorun, Eyin Grammar to cushion the effect of scarcity of water being experienced by residents of these communities in this dry season.
Not only that, he also donated some food items and other household materials to some less privileged centres including Omoyeni Home for the Blind, Aperin Oniyere, Ibadan and Dorcas Adunola Oyediji Motherless Babies Home, Olubadan Estate, Ibadan, gave financial assistance to some patients at Odinjo Health Centres and equally paid for this year 2022 (WAEC) fee of some secondary school students respectively.
All these which was done as part of activities to mark the 53rd birthday he recently celebrated has attracted positive reactions from the public, parents, community and religious leaders inclusive who described him as a politician with a Midas touch that deserves the support of all and sundry at any point in time.
Known for his philanthropic nature, this current gesture is one of many succours of Hon. Ademola Ige to members of his immediate community and beyond to ensure that others do have a sense of belonging and provide succour for the vulnerable.
Residents who described Hon. Ademola Ige as a core grassroots politician that knows when shoe pinches, promised to always support him on his political aspirations.
Speaking on behalf of the communities, the Chairman of Community Development Council (CDC), Ibadan/Ibarapa zone, Alh. Abdulfatai Oloyede said, Hon. Ademola Ige has never disconnected himself from the people ever since he was council Chairman.
According to him, “this Ige that I know has not changed from the way he used to be. He has always been assisting various community projects by providing new or maintaining existing community projects whether he was in or out of office. There was never a time he was called upon for assistance towards any community projects that he declined.
Though, our association is not apolitical, I can tell you that Ademola Akeem Ige is the kind of politician that deserves our collective support to realize his political ambition. I will therefore volunteer to canvass and mobilize all over 200 registered community development councils comprising landlords and landladies under the association in the Ib. S. East and Ib.N. East Fed. the constituency for him if his party, PDP can give him a ticket to contest for the House of Rep election Abuja come 2023 by God’s grace.” Alhaji Oloyede submitted.
Also speaking in the same vein, the immediate past Chairman of Parents and Teachers Association in Oyo State, Comrade Moshood Abayomi Toki lauded Hon. Ige for sponsoring the WAEC fee of some secondary school students this year 2022, stressing that he has always been rendering assistance for indigent students to pursue their educational careers.
Some members of his entourage became very emotional and couldn’t hold back the tears as the ex-lawmaker handed over the food items, cash and other household materials to the vulnerable children at Omoyeni Home for the Blind, Orita Aperin and Motherless Babies Home in Olubadan Estate, Ibadan.
This gesture prompted some of his friends and close aides who accompanied him on the visit to also give cash donations to these centres to complement what Hon. Akeem Ige donated. They include the Gbonka Iyalode of Ibadan, Chief (Mrs) Bolupe Aramide, from England, the Coordinator Ige Again in Germany, Mr Oriyomi Wasiu, the CEO TAM Oil, Alhaji Tajudeen Muideen Ayobami, Mrs Akinwale who donated on behalf of a Non-Governmental Organization, BOLDAN foundation, Cosmolin foundation in Germany among others.
While appreciating the gesture, the Headmistress Omoyeni Home for the Blind, Mrs Adeleke Adebisi Adenike and the Manager Dorcas Oyediji Motherless Babies Home, Mr Wale Omisore commended the Hon. Akeem Ige’s humility and love for humanity, adding that his gesture would go a long way in bringing relief to the downtrodden children.
In his remarks, Hon. Ige said he decided to do all these things to appreciate God for the absolute grace and blessings he has been receiving and also called on other well-meaning individuals to use the resources that God has given them to bless other people by extending the hand of fellowship because it is in giving that “we are receiving from God.”
Hon. Ige used the occasion to express his profound gratitude to the Gov of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the PDP, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, PDP South West Women Leader, Yelelua Modinat Bose Adedibu, Imam Abdulwahab Ismail Canada and Hon. Abiola Shakirudeen Mayor New York City for the early morning prayers and well wishes offered to him on his birthday.
He equally extended his appreciation to the Muslim and Christian clerics led by the Chief Imam of Omituntun Central mosque, Alh. Abdulmojeed Olanase, Chief Imam of Arapaja mosque, Sheik Musibau Arapaja, Pastor Peter Babatunde and Deaconess Oyetunji and others who presided over the interdenominational prayers organized for his birthday and other well-wishers among Hon. Abiodun Ekolo, Engr. Sulaimon Adesina world’s best and others contributed morally and financially to all the activities lined up for his birthday.
