Hon. Akin Alabi, a representative of Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal Constituency and Chairman of Betting Company NairaBet, faces criticism from the Oyo Must Be Good Socio-political Group regarding his campaign strategy for a Third Term in office. The group’s coordinator, Oyebamiji Sikiru, emphasized that Alabi should focus on his achievements rather than emphasizing his ranking in the National Assembly.
The controversy surrounds Alabi’s stance on the reconstruction of the Paara Bridge, a project long overdue but abandoned due to local government inefficiencies. While acknowledging Alabi’s efforts in facilitating the bridge’s reconstruction, OMBG criticized his assertion that ranking members bring more benefits than newcomers.
“It is commendable that Hon. Alabi has facilitated the reconstruction of the bridge for his constituents,” Oyebamiji said. “However, we take issue with his misleading comment about the importance of ranking members. This trivial argument is an attempt to gain unfair support for his third-term campaign.”
OMBG argued that lawmakers must earn their rank through good work, not deceitful demands. Oyebamiji noted that Alabi’s first term was unimpressive, and his re-election was largely due to President Bola Tinubu’s political wave. The group highlighted the accomplishments of other first-term lawmakers, such as Hon. Remi Oseni and Hon. Adebayo Adepoju, who have outperformed Alabi in their short time in office.
Oyebamiji stated that success in the National Assembly is not solely about ranking but about versatility, articulation, and bipartisan efforts in pursuing national development. “For instance, Hon. Oseni has demonstrated exceptional performance in Ido/Ibarapa Federal Constituency, while Hon. Adepoju recently facilitated the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in Igboora,” Oyebamiji remarked. “In contrast, Hon. Alabi’s ‘ranking member campaigner’ image falls short, particularly considering his delayed presentation of a bill for Ona-Ara.”
The group urged Alabi to stop using his ‘ranking member’ antics to garner support unfairly. Oyebamiji concluded that it is embarrassing for a two-term lawmaker to rely on such tactics instead of his past achievements. “Rather than banking on ranking, Hon. Alabi should focus on delivering tangible benefits to his constituents,” Oyebamiji emphasized. “We encourage him to prioritize the needs of his people and demonstrate genuine commitment to their welfare.”
By emphasizing achievement over ranking, OMBG aims to promote accountable leadership and transparent representation in Oyo State.
Efforts to reach Honourable Akin Alabi for his reaction proved abortive. Despite multiple attempts, he didn’t respond to calls made to him through WhatsApp. In one instance, he picked up but seemed to have mistakenly answered, as the call dropped immediately after some background noise was heard. Subsequent calls went unanswered, and messages sent to him remained responseless.
