…says I have no regret, I’m fulfilled
*we’ve done our best – Asiwaju
By Mike Adeyemi Ala’ato
It was indeed fanfare and eulogy penultimate week as the former National President of Ajegunle Progressive Development Union(APDU), Engr. Adeoti Adebayo Solomon bows out as the first citizen of the community after twelve(12) years of meritorious service to his father’s land.
His exit of service was brought to climax by the appointment of new executives who are to run the affairs of the community for the next four years during a joint season meeting of stakeholders which held at Alaje of Ajegunle’s palace on December, 26, 2023.
Speaking with our reporter in his country-home, the erstwhile National President described his tenure as a fulfilling one, saying he has no regret for a single period of 12 years that he was in the saddle of affairs in the community.
According to him, ‘reliving my post yesterday, I would say it is a glory to Almighty God. It is Him that was at the helms of affair, not Bayo’.
“I said that mainly because within that 12 years of pioneering the affairs of the community, I have gone through pains, joy, jokes and disappointments in every area. But our heads are still above the water.
“Our tenure has been so wonderful. In the last 12 years, Ajegunle has witnessed tremendous growth and development. At the inception of that administration, we met lots of things. But to the glory of God we started with developmental projects at different level, ” Adeoti said.
The ex President added that his administration followed to the latter the blueprints and all their gazette within the period , as empowerments were given to the less privileged ones in the community, alongside giving scholarship to indigent students and surface dressing of township road.
“Part of our feats is that we make sure we did empowerments for people that are less privileged, and we make also gave scholarships to indigent students in the community. We commenced the development of the internship road. We did the surface dressing of township road.
“We also embarked on the solar street light and solar boreholes to different section of the community. The job is still moving on. We started the issue of farm. We did the clearing of 100 hectares of land for the community and this goes a long way to create jobs, ” the ebullient former President affirmed.
Continuing, ‘ we also sentised able body in the community that sitting alone can’t work. Majority of them embarked on Cashew plantation which I was not even left out.
“I have my own Cashew farm that is above 27 hectares, and at least I am having a return from it every year. I want to believe that God has really lifted up the community for the period of that 12 years, which I believe it is just a starting point, ” the Civil Engineer stressed.
Answering questions if there was any time he regretted leading the community in such capacity, Adeoti said he had no regret at all, describing his tenure as a fulfilling one, attributing his leadership styles to his late father, Joshua Adeoti.
“To the glory of God Almighty. God has helped me. I am fulfilled. Because from the history, you will realized that there is no place that my father, late Joshua Adeoti was that would not bring development, even in the church of God.
“And that is why people find it difficult to just sideline me when there is any planing. It is hereditary, but people have choice. Even in the depth of crisis, people still believes in us. What God has done, honestly is superb,” he acknowledged.
Adeoti charged the new leadership of the community to be their normal self and be ready to commit their resources for the community.
“Our major message to the new executive is that they should be their normal self. They should concentrate on what that have in mind to do and also ready to commit their time and resources for the community. We are together in the service of the community and they won’t be left out.
” I also thank His Royal Highest, our Kabiyesi, (Oba) Yusuf Sanni Olorunisola and his chiefs for their supports. I also acknowledged all the community mothers. They have been so supportive. We equally thank all the sons and daughters of Ajegunle both at home and in the diaspora. We are grateful,” the Are Atayese of Ajegunle said.
In the same vein, the immediate past National Secretary of APDU, who also doubles as Asiwaju of Ajegunle, Alh. AbdulRaman AbdulSalam has said the former executives have done their best for the advancement of the community in the last 12 years, affirming they have good day with posterity.
Asiwaju started this while answering questions from our reporter in his Ajakare country home, recently.
He said; ‘ I think we are privileged enough in the first place to have been called to serve our father’s land. It is a rare honor and we are grateful for that.’
“No doubt about the fact that our administration has brought about developmental revolution in all facets of the community, though much still need to be done. But honestly we have done our best. It is visibly seen.
“In as much the fact that we cannot adjudge or evaluate ourselves, but the indices are there for people to see and evaluate us. I think what I can bodily say is that there is a paradigm shift from yesterday relatively to what we have today. The work is in continuum, and by the grace of Allah, we will all live to witness the Ajegunle of our dream,” the eloquent former National Secretary prayed.
Asiwaju however use the medium to pledged his unalloyed support for the newly appointed excos under the leadership of Ambassador ‘Jide Adewumi, saying the former executive are only relinquishing their duty officially, not hiatus their services to the community.
“I want to congratulate the new leadership of the community for this well deserved call to service. I want to assure them that we would not leave them alone. Our doors are widely open for them each time they need our expertise advise and we shall be there for them, ” the Are Akeweje of Labaka assured.
Meanwhile, a cross section of indigenes of Ajegunle in Oro-Agor districts of Kwara State have expressed their appreciation to the immediate past executives of the community, affirming the administration has heralded a facelift in the socio-economic fabrics of the area.