ONE incontrovertible fact is that rain is a blessing from God to humanity and a symbol of God’s love. It’s considered a positive and essential element for life on earth, providing water necessary for plants to grow and thrive, making it a gift from nature that sustains the ecosystem. The book of Acts 14:17 captures it quite succinctly; “He (God) has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
This is a general belief but sometimes, rain becomes a “curse” when it falls in excessive amounts, causing flooding, damaging property, displacing people, and essentially turning a beneficial natural phenomenon into a destructive force; this is particularly true when heavy rains occur in areas not prepared to handle large volumes of water.
The above was the situation during the 2024 raining season in some communities in Ekiti State, where heavy rainstorms destroyed houses and rendered many people homeless. Madam Modupe Ajayi Alufoge, a widow in her 80s and a native of Igbara-Odo Ekiti was one of the most affected. Alufoge, a roadside petty trader, woke up like every other person on this particular day, bubbling with life as she displayed her wares and attended to customers. Suddenly, the bright sun gave way to a low-hanging cloud and a sudden drop in temperature. The wind speed increased and fast-moving clouds gave nothing but a signal that rain was about to fall. Mama Arufoge, like other residents, packed her wares with the excitement that nature was about to smile on them. They were wrong. In a jiffy, the rain began slowly but within a short time, it increased in volume and released an unbearable flood. By the time the rain stopped, news filtered into the town that Madam Alufoge’s house had been damaged beyond rehabilitation.
Within a few minutes after the rain stopped, the house of the octogenarian had become like a Mecca sort of as scores of sympathisers had assembled to console her. According to the old woman, the more they consoled her, the more tears rolled down her cheeks.
She said, “From far and near, people came to console me but the more they tried to calm me down, the more my mind moved from hopelessness to nothingness. Yes, I believe in God and I knew he could do anything but as a human, I didn’t know what miracle would build me a house again. I was in this state of mind for days until Governor Abiodun Oyebanji showed up like a biblical messiah.”
As relayed by leaders in the community, Mama Alufoge has always been one of BAO’s well-wishers and anytime the governor’s convoy travels along Igbara Odo-Akure road, Alufoge and other traders would line up on the road to hail the governor, who in return would acknowledge their greetings and sometimes stop to have a conversation with them.
After the calamity that befell the old woman, she withdrew to her shell and churned her stand. Then one afternoon, as usual, the governor was coming from the Akure Airport en route Igabra-Odo, the traders again trooped out to cheer him on. He came down to appreciate them but he noticed mama was not there. Then the governor asked after Madam Alufoge and the other traders narrated mama’s ordeal to him. He inquired about mama’s house and he instantly headed for the house. Though dejected, mama could not hide her excitement when he saw BAO, as the governor is fondly called. She momentarily forgot her sorrow and embraced the governor. After exchanging pleasantries, mama narrated the story as tears rolled down her check. She also pointed out that she had refused to abandon the house. Rather, she moved her things to the only room that was not totally destroyed and had since been living there.
Moved by Mama Alufoge’s story, BAO instructed one of his aides to reach out to an engineer to do inspection of the house and thereafter build a three-bedroom bungalow for the widow under the Abiyamo Esther Oyebanji Foundation. The foundation, which is a personal initiative of Governor Oyebanji and his siblings is a non-governmental organisation established in honour of their late mother, the late Chief (Mrs) Esther Oyebanji.
Through the foundation, the family has so far intervened and donated three major projects for the benefit of humanity. Last year, the governor commissioned a state-of-the-art maternity ward built and donated by the foundation to Aramoko General Hospital and an ultra-modern multipurpose hall to First Baptist Church, Ikogosi Ekiti. The foundation has also made interventions on behalf of many indigent citizens and is presently working on two major projects in the state.
The handing over of a fully furnished three-bedroom bungalow to the Igbara-Odo Ekiti widow was another gesture of compassion and community support by the foundation, and especially the governor. Until Mama Alufoge’s life was lifted by BAO, the roadside petty trader was on the verge of becoming homeless and helpless.
Speaking while handing over the keys to the house at a brief ceremony, Governor Oyebanji who was represented by his wife, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, said the gesture underscores his commitment to improving the welfare of vulnerable residents across the state and ensuring that no one is left behind in his development agenda. The wife of the governor also made some personal donations to the widow, whom she described as lucky and blessed.
Describing the gesture as a symbol of compassion, solidarity, and the belief that no one should face the storms of life alone, the governor said that the house represents the care and support his administration has for the people of the state.
While congratulating Mama Alufoge for her new home, the governor said his government remains committed to creating a society where no one is left behind, particularly the vulnerable as well as ensuring that his mantra of shared prosperity goes round.
“I am deeply honoured to stand before you today, representing my husband, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, to commission a home built with love, compassion, and care for Mama Ajayi, a resilient, aged widow from Igbara Odo.
“Mama Ajayi, a roadside petty trader, faced the unimaginable when her old home was destroyed by a heavy rainstorm, leaving her vulnerable and on the verge of homelessness. But thanks to the compassionate leadership of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, this hardship has turned into a new chapter of hope.
“Today, I am proud to hand over this brand-new, fully furnished building to Mama Ajayi on behalf of the Abiyamo Esther Oyebanji Foundation. This is a symbol of compassion, solidarity, and the belief that no one should face the storms of life alone,” the First Lady stated.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Peju Babafemi; chairperson of Igbara Odo/ogotun LCDA, Mrs Bukola Olowolaju, and the Arajaka of Igbara Odo Ekiti, Oba Edward Jayeola, all lauded the governor’s benevolence, maintaining that the gesture stands as a testament to the governor’s dedication to improving the lives of Ekiti citizens.
In an emotion-laden response, Madam Alufoge expressed her gratitude to the governor for the life-changing gift, describing the gesture as a miracle.
Narrating her ordeal after her house became dilapidated due to the heavy rainstorm, Madam Alufoge lauded the governor’s humanitarian efforts, describing the gesture as a model of responsible governance. She said she is happy her tears have been wiped away and can now live again. “I am eternally thankful to BAO. My God will thank him,” she said.
Akingbolu sent this from Ado-Ekiti
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