Soji Akanbi seeks return to Senate to represent Oyo South Senatorial District

Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi, who represented Oyo South Senatorial District in the Senate between 2015 and 2019, is seeking to return to upper chamber of the National Assembly having lost to Senator Kola Balogun in the 2019 general elections. 

Akanbi who contested the 2019 election under the flagship of African Democratic Congress (ADC), is seeking the ticket of the  All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the 2023 election to represent Oyo South Senatorial District again.

Akanbi while speaking in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital on Thursday, described his ambition as one that is not built on “mere promises” but one that guarantees the continuity and expansion of an already established track-record of performance.

While expressing gratitude to his thousands of supporters and political associates who have been encouraging him to throw his hat into the ring, Senator Akanbi noted that he considers the call on him to be a show of love but also proof that the people of Ibadan, Ido, Ibarapa and all local governments in Oyo South have made development their priority.

He said: “It gives me great joy and a sense of fulfillment that although I left the Senate in May 2019, the Almighty has helped me to sustain all my commitment to the development of Oyo South and the welfare of the good people of Ibadan, Ido, Ibarapa and all its towns and villages.

“Staying consistent with my belief that infrastructural development is a major driver of economic growth, my contribution to the Ibadan-Lagos railway project has been well documented and cannot be overemphasized. So are my efforts towards the revitalization of the Ibadan Airport. Today, both projects remain among the best things happening to the economy of Oyo state.

“I have also never ignored the need to directly impact the microeconomic needs of our people and that is why despite being out of office, we have continued to commit personal resources to ensuring that we constantly support our youths, market women, artisans and trade associations with grants, work tools and soft loans to boost their careers and businesses.  

“I believe that the prayers and encouragement of the masses, our dear pensioners and other senior citizens, as well as the teachers and civil servants with whom we have maintained a very cordial relationship have brought me this far and I am happy to heed the people’s call on me to officially return to my duty post in the Nigerian Senate.

“This is proof that indeed, the people of Oyo state still rank among the most politically sophisticated electorates in Nigeria. I do not take their vote of confidence for granted and that is why in the next couple of weeks we will embark on a tour of all local government areas and wards within our district as we have always done.

“On this next tour, we shall be engaging various stakeholders to further discuss how our ideas and strategic plans can be well utilized for the good of the people, most especially our hardworking vibrant youths. This is important because as I have continued to serve the good people of Oyo South Senatorial District, I am constantly faced with the reality that a lot more needs to be done and there has been a huge vacuum of quality representation which our people got used to during my first spell in the 8th Senate from 2015 to 2019.

“It is now important that they trust me and my team again with their mandate so that their constitutional authority will better enable us to do more for the development of our people.”