Contrary to media reports, member of the House of Representatives representing Ondo West and Ondo East, Hon. Dr Abiola Makinde did not relocate to the US to abandon his legislative duties.
Alli Moshood Abiodun, SA media to Hon Makinde on Media & Publicity in a statement on Thursday attributed the reports about the lawmaker’s purported relocation to the US as the work of a faceless and propagandist group by the name “Ekimogun Roundtable”.
The statement noted that records of the attendance and pro-activeness of Hon. Makinde as a Federal legislator at the House of Representatives are easily obtainable on request, adding that his closeness with his constituents back home has never been called into question either.
“The performance of Hon Makinde both in his primary and oversight functions are all on social media and easily verifiable. He has constantly shuttled Abuja and Ondo almost every weekend in the past 6 months before the National Assembly recently went on recess,” the statement read.
The statement further read;
Among many other constituency activities, on January 22, alongside other leaders from his constituency paid a visit to Governor of Ondo state, His Excellency, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa. On February 16th, he opened up a community bridge for the use of his constituents. On February 21st, he personally supervised the distribution of Federal Government palliatives to his constituents. On March 4th, Hon Makinde alongside other leaders in Ondo West received Governor of Ondo state and publicly endorsed him. On March 18th, Hon. Makinde was seen supporting a local talent to grow in entertainment industry in his constituency. On March 27th, Hon Abiola Makinde paid an unscheduled visit to the Ondo City Children Park and Zoo currently under construction and due for commissioning soon.
On April 1st, the MHR unveiled “Ekiwood Movie Village” which, when completed, it will be the biggest movie village in Ondo state. On April 5, Hon Makinde was also seen distributing welfare packages to the aged in his constituency tagged “Let the Old Rejoice 2.0.” On April 8th, Hon Makinde was seen receiving Prof Damilola Olawuyi SAN, Chairperson of the United Nations Working group on Business and Human Rights,as part of his oversight function as Chairman House Committee on Human Rights.
Also on May 11th, Hon Makinde joined other well-wishers at the birthday of Pa Reuben Fasoranti in his Akure home. May 12th, he paid another visit to check on the progress of the Ondo City Children Park and Zoo. On May 15th, he attended Defense Space Administration Abuja Seminar 2024. On May 22, Fellowship of Adeyemi Federal University of Education was confered on Hon Makinde. May 30th, Hon Makinde was seen hosting Children’s day with children of his constituency, distributing books and educational materials to them.
And finally, just before the House went on recess, Hon. Makinde was a discussant at the YemiFash Online News Platform interactive session and dinner on June 2nd, 2024. All of which now begs the question of how Hon Makinde has relocated to the US as alleged by the group.
While contacting some of his constituents to react to the concocted falsehood by this group, Chief Johnson Akinlosotu,a traditional chief in Ondo said “All these groups are not known to the constituents, we have never heard of them and we do not know what they represent. We have not authorized them to speak on behalf of Ondo East and West Federal Constituency. Members of the public are assured that these allegations are for sinister or political motives. They have not carried out any progressive cause in this constituency at any point in time nor do they have any antecedents in the constituency. We are proud of the representation of Hon. (Dr) Abiola Peter Makinde PhD which has been the best form of representation in the history of this city”
Leader of the Student Union Government of Adeyemi, Comrade Okunade Ibrahim rubbished the group pushing these false narratives and said “where were they when Hon Makinde successfully pushed the bill to change the status of Adeyemi from a college of Education to a Federal University? Did they commend him anywhere? Where were they when Hon. Makinde annually distributed instructional materials to students in his constituency? Where were all these people when Hon Makinde also constructed a public library for Ondo students? Where were they to commend Hon. Makinde when he sponsored over 25 people for overseas abroad study in Uk, Sweden, Norway, Canada and many more? We are proud of our MHR in all ramifications.”
Chief Mrs Fayehun, Ondo West APC woman leader, when also contacted, said the publications were the handiwork of desperate politicians who started 2027 politics too early. She urged them to instead of attacking a working Member House of Representatives to accelerate their political chances, they should rather put in the hard work at grassroots level.
Comrade Kayode Folajogun, President of Ondo Ekimogun Youth Congress, a recognized youth body in Ondo Kingdom also said “As a youth body, we do not recognize Ekimogun Roundtable as well as its destructive allegations on the person of the MHR while masquerading it as advocacy for the good people of Ondo East and West. They are a group of disgruntled opposition whose formation is being sponsored solely to commence a political round of propaganda against Hon Makinde”
The above-mentioned people are who we know and interact with as constituents. Hon Abiola Makinde is the first Member House of Representatives in Ondo state to commence periodic Townhall meeting where he receives feedback from several interest groups across his constituency with another edition schedule to hold in weeks to come.
Members of the public are finally urged to discountenance the unfortunate political merry-go-rounding that is being embarked on. Hon Abiola Peter Makinde PhD is fully committed to the welfare of his constituents, his oversight functions and remains focused on pushing bills and motions that will accelerate the development of his Federal Constituency.
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