2018: Osun Community Threatens to Frustrate Lasun Yusuff’s Gubernatorial Ambition for Alleged Marginalization

————Stop Campaign Of Calumny, Says Yusuff

By Abdulrofiu Agboola

The people of Ifon, headquarters of Orolu Local Government Area of Osun State have threatened to frustrate the gubernatorial ambition of the Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Rt Hon Lasun Yusuff, for allegedly marginalizing the community and other communities that make up the local government in area.

The people of the town who chided Yusuff also declared their readiness to jeopardize the governorship and other future political ambitionsf of the deputy speaker.

But Yusuf dismissed the claim, warning the people behind the claim to stop campaign of calumny, saying he has tried his little way to ask people what they wanted in their areas and put same in the 2016 budget.

Hon Yusuf Lasun

The community had in a town hall meeting organized by the Ifon Youths Movement and well attended by the Olufon of Ifon Orolu kingdom, Oba Maruf Magbagbeola, traditional chiefs and prominent politicians in the local government, alleged Yusuf of his failure to contribute to the development of the town since his assumption of office.

Hon Yusuf represents Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

However, the people of the town lamented that Yusuf has neglected the entire Orolu Local Government Area in the scheme of things, alleging that all his constituency projects were largely concentrated on Ilobu, his home town and Osogbo, the state capital.

Specifically, the President of IYM, Mr Muftau Olanipekun said Hon Yusuff in January this year distributed tractors to three out of the four Local Government Areas in his constituency but neglected Orolu.

According to him, “Hon Yusuff has not been fair and just in the allocation and distribution of our collective wealth through various job placements as mandated by the Federal Character Commission, which recommends quota system.

“Recently, Hon Yusuff embarked on 15 construction projects as his constituency projects and he allocated nine to his home town; Ilobu, three to Erin Osun community, both in Irepodun Local Government Area and three to Olorunda Local Government, leaving Orolu local government area alone.”

He also alleged that the water project initiated by Yusuff did not extend to Orolu Local Government Area.

Expressing disdain for Hon Yusuff, Olanipekun appealed to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Yakub Dogara to prevail on the deputy speaker in the interest of peace in his (Yusuff) constituency.

While calling on the leadership of the House of Representatives to visit Yusuff’s constituency, Olanipekun admonished the deputy speaker to put Orolun Local Government in its right place in the sharing of dividends of democracy.

The Deputy Speaker, in a press statement issued and made available to CityMirrorNews in Abuja by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Wole Oladimeji said “It is the figment of those people imagination because I have tried in my little way to ask people what they wanted in their areas and put same in the 2016 budget.”

Yusuff further explained that “It is on record that there is ongoing construction of building of 32,classrooms in Ifon – Erin  high school, Ifon  Osun, 7- boreholes, both Motorised and hand pump

“It is a verifiable fact that there was presentation of chairs and lockers to St John primary school Ifon, 4. 500 KWA, transformer.

“Ongoing construction of road at Idire – Apiponroro – Ifon – Ilie ,  Awesin – Ifon Erin high school – Sabo Hausa junction road Ifon, Osogbo -Ilobu -ifon  Ilajue – Ogbomoso road.

“Finally, newly approved OJUTU Bridge, the bridge that connects Osogbo ,Ilobu, Erin, Ifon Ilajue, Ogbomoso through Ilorin to the North”

He said that what is happening now is being politically motivated by some political distractors who will not see anything good in what one is doing. ‎

“I have very good relationship with Ifon people therefore, nobody should try to create division and mistrust.

“Infrastructural provision of all the towns in my federal constituency ‎remains my responsibility and do everything within my power to leave a good legacy for the people.

“All the ongoing projects in my federal constituency are in the 2016 and they are well distributed across the constituency, therefore, it is not the responsibility of the Deputy Speaker to award contracts but to supervise”.

“That Deputy Speaker was not fair in the job placement, it should be noted that Rt Hon Lasun Yussuff  ‎is a lawmaker and not executive that saddled with the responsibility of employing people.

He however, appealed to people remain calm and focus, adding that it is not his intention to marginalise any community in his constituency because they all voted for him to represent them at the National Assembly.

“If there any complaints from any quarter, such complaints should be forwarded to the Deputy Speaker so that correction should be made in the 2017 budget instead of engaging in campaign of calumny”.