Prioritise grassroots impact, Abiodun’s aide urges office holders

The Senior Special Assistant to Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, Kehinde Bello

The Senior Special Assistant to Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, Kehinde Bello, has urged political office holders to deepen democracy at the grassroots by investing in programmes that directly improve the well-being of their constituents.

Bello, according to a statement released on Sunday, made the call while delivering the keynote address at a one-day optical medical outreach organised for more than 2,000 residents of Ijebu East, Ijebu North and Ogun Waterside Local Government Areas of Ogun State.

The outreach, tagged “Jigi Bello: Restoring Sights, Renewing Hope and Transforming Lives through Accessible Eye Care,” was held at the Ijebu Imusin Muslim Community Events Centre.

The OGEPA boss said, “This initiative, which provides free eye examinations and corrective glasses, is part of my contribution towards strengthening democracy and improving the quality of life of residents in my federal constituency.

“This programme is aimed at restoring hope, improving the quality of life of our people and promoting human dignity. It is also a reminder that access to quality healthcare should not be a privilege reserved for a few, but an opportunity available to everyone.

“The outreach brings essential eye care services closer to the people and provides opportunities for early detection of eye problems, professional advice, appropriate treatment and referral where necessary.”

The governor’s aide, who pledged to bear the cost of referrals arising from the exercise, urged other political office holders to initiate similar programmes capable of addressing the immediate needs of their constituents.

He added, “Political leadership should go beyond occupying public offices to delivering tangible benefits that improve the lives of the people at the grassroots. As office holders, we must always strive to use our positions to make a difference in people’s lives and add value to our growing democracy.”

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Speaking at the event, the Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area, Dr Kehinde Oluwadare, commended Bello for organising the outreach, noting that it would benefit residents of the three local government areas covered by the exercise.

Oluwadare urged Bello to sustain the initiative, describing it as a valuable intervention that could improve the well-being of residents and strengthen the fortunes of the political party in the area.

Similarly, the Moyegeso of Itele in Ijebu East Local Government Area, Oba Mufutau Kasali, who also benefited from the outreach, called on political office holders and well-meaning individuals to support their communities through humanitarian and medical intervention programmes.

The traditional ruler said such initiatives would provide relief to residents and help address some of the challenges confronting underserved communities.

Two beneficiaries, Mrs Arinola Adesanya and Pa Sanni Babatunde, expressed satisfaction with the exercise and thanked Bello for making the services available to them.

They said the eye examinations and glasses provided would significantly improve their vision and make their daily activities easier.