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By Samuel Adegoke
Many politicians in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital are now in a race to build gates at main entrances of large communities in the city after realising the enormous impact of those built by a member of House of Representatives Hon. Adigun Abass (aka Agboworin) during attacks by criminals since COVID-19 partial lockdown started.
The lawmaker is representing Ibadan South East/ Ibadan North East Federal Constituency.
Agboworin had constructed gates for some major communities in his constituency before the partial restriction started late March. The gates, according to residents, helped a great deal in keeping criminals at bay in the ongoing partial lockdown in Oyo State
Residents of several communities have been keeping vigil to curb continuous attacks by criminals during the dusk to down curfew imposed by the state government.
The Vice Chairman, Police-Community Relations Committee for Felele-Olorunsogo Layout in Ibadan South-East Local Government, Mr Lukman Gbadamosi, said the gates which Agboworin built for the community have been providing a strong shield for residents against criminals during the curfew.
Realising the impact they have on the community, Gbadamosi said other politicians have been coming to ask where they can replicate the same to warm themselves into the hearts of residents.
He said: “Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin did a gate for us in Felele-Olorunsogo community. In fact, it is a magnificent gate. It has proved to be an eye opener of sort, something other politicians should emulate to create high-profile security for the communities in their constituencies. We are very grateful for what Hon Agboworin has done. The gate has raised the profile of Felele-Olorunsogo community a lot. When people pass through Iwo-Road to Felele and they see the gate, they say ‘this gate is very beautiful and modern.’ And it is indeed a modern gate, first of its kind in our area. Hon Agboworin, through this gate, has changed the status of Felele to a modern community. It is not the way people see Felele before that they are looking at it now. Things have changed through the lawmaker.
For this pioneering and innovative project, a lot of politicians have now approached us to tell us they also want to build and erect entrance gates for us. Hon Agboworin is a very good innovator. He initiated the entrance gate and now everybody is trying to copy it. We are very grateful to him. If you ask anybody in Felele, they will speak very highly of him. We were not expecting he would perform up to this magnitude. His performance is highly rated in Felele-Olorunsogo community.
“That gate is a ‘foundation gate’ for all other entrances and gates in and out of Felele-Olorunsogo community. There are about 15 exit and entrances into and out of Felele. So, by doing the foundation gate, he has opened ways for everybody to come to Felele and say Felele is now a changed community and is now beautiful. A lot of people are now coming back to live in Felele because they now know there is security in the community. About five other politicians are now trying to do other gates and they all want to copy Agboworin gate. They want to do gates at Scout Camp, one behind Ayefele Music House and other places.”
A youth leader in Kajola-Irede community at Academy Oju-Hospital Area of Ibadan South-East Local Government, Mr Abiodun Adebayo,
said the gates built by Agboworin in his community and Alake community are helping the security and profile of the two communities.
His words: “Immediately he was elected and sworn in, he came to the area and asked what the needs of the community were. The elders in the community told him we wanted gates to secure the areas and he came to do the gates for us. We are very happy that he did so and we are grateful to him.
“During this COVID-19 curfew, the gates have helped to improve security in our areas. Prior to COVID-19 outbreak, area boys were having free entry and free exit into the communities to disrupt the peace when they clash. But now, such boys and hoodlums generally shut them out of the areas.”