As political activities gather momentum ahead of the next electoral cycle, stakeholders in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency are increasingly revisiting the performance records of past and present representatives. At the center of this conversation is former lawmaker, Kolawole Musbau Taiwo, whose short-lived tenure at the House of Representatives continues to sincerely shape current political debates despite the rabble rousers’ guild, “Ẹgbẹ́ tí yóò ṣubú.”
The entire Constituents know the truth, and Supporters of Taiwo agreed that his relatively brief period in office as a Constituency Representative, just under two years within a four-year mandate, left a significant impact that has proven difficult to replicate. HKT’s legacies “ó máa lù lé” as ‘dem’ know, but they do not want to tell the truth to others simply due to desperation to stampede the Constituency. They contend that his early exit created a big vacuum that subsequent political actors have struggled to fill, raising questions about continuity, effectiveness, and institutional memory in constituency representation, and people earnestly have asked every leader that has the good of the constituency at heart to keep conscience clear by working to produce the one that will deliver for posterity’s sake…Chikinah!
During his time in office, Taiwo is unarguably credited by all and sundry with executing a range of constituency-focused initiatives, a quarter of which could not be inched by the incumbent… So what are we talking and making noise about? These HKT enduring towering legacies of service , a benchmark included creditable and meaningful empowerment programmes, a health center, an ICT center, distribution of vehicles to beneficiaries, and allocation of plots of land alongside financial support aimed at encouraging housing development. Living witnesses still discuss how these interventions contributed to economic relief and grassroots development within the constituency.
Beyond material interventions, Hon Kolawole Taiwo is frequently seen through the prism of his personal lifestyle and leadership as an accessible and grounded politician. People are being urged to be bold to ask these detractors, “The incumbent dem, how many times have we seen our Constituency representative for the past four years?” The majority of the Constituents argue that HKT’s accessibility approach to public service fostered trust and closer engagement with constituents that will make him defeat these detractors in an open Primary, a factor they believe is critical in effective representation. Compare this to the group of diatribes that economizes the truth and plans nothing but to shortchange the good people of Ajeromi Ifelodun Federal constituency…abeg my people make una shine una eyes, na dem be dis, willfully misguided group.
In comparing political aspirants currently seeking to represent the constituency, emphasis should be on the importance of verifiable track records. “Abeg ask dem again,wetin dem don do for the first four years”. Constituents are wiser now; they maintain that electoral choices should be guided by demonstrable performance rather than rhetoric, urging constituents to critically assess the contributions of all contenders over the past few years.
Central to the people’s argument is the principle of continuity. They assert that allowing Taiwo to return to office would enable him to consolidate earlier efforts and complete initiatives that may have been disrupted. According to this perspective, such continuity could enhance policy consistency and deliver more sustained developmental outcomes.
The conversation around Taiwo’s candidacy also reflects broader concerns about accountability in public office. Observers note that calls for transparency and evidence-based evaluation of candidates are becoming more prominent among constituents and political standards, signaling a shift toward performance-driven politics.QED
While attempts may be made to reshape narratives or sway public opinion, the ultimate authority rests with the constituents. It is their democratic right to demand open, issue-based engagement and to critically weigh competing claims. At the heart of this process is a fundamental principle of democracy: the responsibility of the electorate to make informed choices grounded in verifiable records, proven leadership capacity, and a clear, practical vision for the constituency’s development.
As the political landscape in Ajeromi-Ifelodun continues to evolve, the question of who best represents the interests of the people remains obviously anchored on past performance, present credibility, and future promise… who do you think will keep his words…“HKT l’ó máa ṣe é.”
