SENATOR KOLA BALOGUN FELICITATES OLU OF IGBOORA AT INSTALLATION

The Senator representing Oyo South District in the 9th national Assembly, Dr Mohammed Kola Balogun has congratulated the OLU of Igboora on his installation and receipt of staff of Office from the Oyo State Government on Saturday 31th July, 2021.

According to Senator Kola Balogun's special Adviser on Media, the revered traditional ruler, Oba Jimoh Olajide Titiloye of the Asoorolu Ruling House ascended the throne last year but the official installation ceremony was put on hold due to the pandemic. 

"I congratulate our amiable and visionary traditional Ruler of the Igboora Kingdom and the entire people of the land on this great feat. Oba Jimoh Olajide Titiloye has demonstrated great leadership and love for his people since he ascended the throne last year and I join the great people of Igboora to felicitate on this auspicious occasion" Senator Kola Balogun stated.

We pray the reign of Kabiyesi shall birth more development, transformation and greater peace of Igboora and the whole of Ibarapa land too.

Signed

Rotimi Johnson -Ojasope

SENATOR BALOGUN @ 65YEARS; GRACE PROGRESSION OF A PUBLIC COACH

Senator Mohammed Ademola Kola Balogun was born on Friday 27th July, 1956 to the Aliiwo ruling family of Ibadan NorthEast in Oyo State. The Distinguished Senator Kola Balogun is the second Senator among his siblings as his elder brother (High Chief Moshood Olalekan Balogun) was a Senator in the 5th National Assembly. A day like this is a good one to itemise how God has been gracious and merciful to this Servant of God in public service, a namesake of a Prophet.

I like to describe a Coach as someone who impacts knowledge through practical demonstrations and activities. So Mohammed Kola Balogun has done enough to justify being referred to as public Coach. I have been in partisan politics for a while and I have the understanding of the good, the bad and the ugly because of how I have journeyed in the political terrain for over two decades. Senator Kola Balogun appeals to me as a servant of God, elected to serve God in the public sphere, not as clergyman. He has demonstrated this in the last two years and I think it's noteworthy. 

Grace progression because the grace keeps increasing; responsibilities are thrusted at him and he has consistently shown both capacity and competence in service. I don't want to delve into how he became national party executive about 30yrs ago but would look at governance and his sterling leadership qualities. I believe Nigerians deserve the kind of leaders they get but sometimes, by mercy, God makes few divinely orchestrated emergence of leaders happen. Mohammed Kola Balogun is a man that has learnt to submit to the will of God once he perceives that's the flow of his Maker.

As Commissioner for Commerce and later for Works, Dr. Kola Balogun became the "go to" Commissioner in the then Governor Alao Akala's administration. The surprising thing was the fact that he came on his elder brother's nomination for the post and his dedication and loyalty to the Governor and the state soon distinguished him among his peers. 

Interestingly, there are two Kola Baloguns in Oyo State politics and I never really knew who was who until this quintessential gentleman became the candidate of the PDP for Oyo South senatorial District around late October 2018 and I met this man for the first time in the first week of November. Like many party faithfuls, I felt it would be difficult to sell this former opposition party Governorship aspirant, so I requested for his profile. I was thrilled and felt the public most be aware of the prospect of getting him elected. Like how he became the Commissioner, he became elected despite all contrary permutations from oppositions and scheming from enemies within the party.

THE GIANTS' KILLER: Just like in Psalms 136 that the Mercy of the Lord was ascribed to do all things, I can see how the Grace of God has availed for Mohammed Kola Balogun in his strides in public service. As a member of the campaign team, I knew of the constraints; financially, after journeying from APC to ADC as Governorship aspirant with all the heavy spending before landing in PDP, the limited human resources, because majority of the PDP members just reluctantly accepted him because he's the Leader's preferred candidate and the shortness of the time to the election. With these constraints, he had to contest against incumbent Senator and incumbent two terms governor, who was even a Senator in same district. So, you can't blame those who never saw him as a major contender in the race. However, the Grace of God worked against his opponents because they made more error of decisions and same grace worked for him as he kept doing the right things which produced quantum of positive results as we gravitate towards the elections. 

As a purposeful servant of God, Kola Balogun knew and acknowledged the Grace of God all through the race. As a Christian, I know the spiritual import of acknowledging the hand of God and proclaiming same at every opportunity. At first, I became confused and concluded that it's a political sloganeering because he was always swift to attribute any success to the Grace of God and when people called him Senator, he always answered (at all times, not most times) with "By the Grace of God". I only needed to flow with the grace of God and see where it would land us. The Grace of God landed us at the National Assembly with an unprecedented victory with uncontestable margin. Yes, the grace of God also frustrated all the efforts of the main opposition party to manipulate the true outcome of the election, despite all the resources and machinations deplored to achieve same. The same magnificent grace ensured Senator Kola Balogun won all the court cases instituted against.

PROGRESSING IN SERVICE: If the grace of God brought you this far, it would take the grace of God to go farther; Kola Balogun knew this and never stepped outside the canopy of His grace. Very unlike many first term Senators, Kola Balogun capitalized on the grace of God in relating with his colleagues at the Red Chambers and within a short while, he found his voice among the veteran Federal lawmakers. Without mincing words or exaggerating, Senator Kola Balogun has become a great lobbyist at the national Assembly because when it comes to national and district matters, party divides are not sufficient to hold him back.

AMONG THE CONSTITUENTS: understandably, because he didn't emerge from the popular channels of party structure as candidate and many felt they were denied of the opportunity to "task" him maximally; even after the victory, there were still reservations from the party members who were always complaining. These complains filtered to the constituents and many complained without any reasonable cause. We soon discovered the source and progression of the complaints and by the same grace of God, we were able to change the narratives, though the Covid 19 pandemic made us have a slow start. Now, it's no longer "he has not done anything", it has become "come and give us our portion too". Personally as a PR man, I know this is a big progression because Nigerians don't ask for "their portion too" unless they have evidence of others getting something.

According to the Iyaloja General of Oyo State and the Mother of the Oyo State Speaker, Chief Mrs Tina Ogundoyin: "No Senator has ever done so much for Ibarapa land like Senator Kola Balogun". Ibarapa land has 3 of the 9 local governments in the Oyo South District. Expectedly, they always FEEL marginalized but by the grace of God, Distinguished Senator Kola Balogun has always maintained their lot and entrench fairness in his distribution of dividends of democracy.

Gracious in speeches, humble in conducts, firm in principles, humourous in interactions, impacting in service and posterity-focused in priorities; beyond reasonable doubts, though thorough breed with pedigree of royal birth and international experience, the Grace of God that brought him to office is still at work in helping him produce the desired results. 

I hate to contest against the Grace of God and I wish to have the opportunity to ask Governor Seyi Makinde what informed his decision of Dr Kola Balogun as the candidate for Oyo South. Like I acknowledged at every available opportunity; working to make the election of Kola Balogun a reality was winning Engr Seyi Makinde's election by 60% before his actual election because defeating the incumbent Governor and leader of the APC Governorship candidate was a task that must be accomplished for Omi Tuntun 2019 to become a reality.

This epitome of Grace is 65years today and still so youthful because even his stature and strength is another measure of Grace. Working with him can be so exhausting because once there is work to be done, no procrastinating, no resting. The good thing is that this same man of Grace also enjoys playing, his dexterity with words are legendary, his humours can spring up when least expected.

As a political Scientist with PhD, he has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that depth of academic knowledge in politics can also translate to exemplary Public service, where the heart is right and the grace of God is sufficient.

Mohammed Ademola Kola Balogun, "Omo Erin ka'wo ijaleri" Happy 65th birthday.

Rotimi Johnson -Ojasope

IBADAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS COASTING | SENATOR BALOGUN

IBADAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COASTING REALITY  |  SENATOR BALOGUN

The Senator representing Oyo South District, Dr Mohammed Kola Balogun has shown his excitement that the upgrade of the Alakia Airport to international standard is gradually coming to reality with the assessment tour of the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committee on Aviation on Thursday 22/07/2021.

We would remember that the first Motion moved by Senator Kola Balogun on the floor of the Senate in 2019 was the Upgrade of the Alakia Airport to International Airport and the visit of his colleagues from the national Assembly is a follow up to the motion which is now taking the committee consideration.

According to the statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Senator Kola Balogun appreciates the Executive Governor of Oyo State for the warm reception of the visitation Team, all his commitments and efforts towards this upgrade since he became the Governor of Oyo State.

"Our able Governor has demonstrated the upgrade of the Alakia Airport to International one is his top priority and I am pushing strongly to complement these efforts at the National Assembly so that the Federal Executive can make budgetary allocations for the upgrade of the facilities; both the aeronautical and non aeronautical facilities at the Airport. Governor Seyi Makinde has started the gradual funding, with the collaboration and more funds from the Federal Government, our dream of this upgrade can come to reality before the end of 2023". Senator Kola Balogun posited.

The Distinguished Senator Balogun appreciates his Colleagues from the national Assembly; Senator Smart Adeyemi and Hon Nnaji, the Chairmen of the Aviation Committee of both Senate and House of Representatives respectively for this working visit, the representatives of the FAAN at Abuja, the Ibadan Airport Manager Mrs Aiyenuro Oghenetega for her unrelenting cooperation with Oyo state government and the national Assembly team on the smooth running of the facility. 

Signed

Rotimi Johnson -Ojasope

GSM; THE DISCOVERED MISSING PUZZLE IN PUBLIC LEADERSHIP. By Rotimi Johnson -Ojasope

GSM; THE DISCOVERED MISSING PUZZLE IN PUBLIC SERVICE | By Rotimi Johnson -Ojasope

Governor Seyi Makinde is so enigmatic that the more you know, the more you discover you don't know enough. So the greatest understanding of this silent great achiever is that he can not be fully comprehended.

Meanwhile, analysing the part of him that is presented in his leadership strides is very easy because it is dissecting his moves and interpreting his precepts from public service perspective. So, I crave your indulgence to follow me in this voyage.

EXEMPLARY SERVICE & MODESTY: Without sounding sycophantic, Governor Seyi Makinde has remained modest, exemplary in his conducts and subservient in his public service. For instance, in the 2020 budget, renovation of Ministries were executed, with all of them wearing new looks. I remembered how the Late Hon Kehinde Ayoola discussed the importance of the move with me. However, His Excellency has not yet allocated renovation to the Government House because he still lives in His personal residence. My point; his lifestyle has not changed in any noticeable way because till today, there is absolutely nothing he has or uses on government expenses that is above his previous status. Sincerely, this is one of the main problems of our elected leaders; they so much live above their initial incomes that they have to steal so much to maintain the unrealistic opulence they have been exposed to in office.

THE POPULIST BROUHAHA: I laugh when I hear the opposition accuse Governor Seyi Makinde of populist policies because it is always hilarious; you are complaining and condemning a democratic leader but hammering on his doing what will benefit the majority of the populace and factoring them into every policy promulgation as your major emphasis. The man that was Elitist got hated and booted out; isn't it obvious that elitist policies can't win elections where votes truly count? The late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was not elitist and his footprints are still on the sand of time till today. So, it's truly discovery of puzzle to find populist style in Governor Seyi Makinde; it is only when majority are satisfied that the majority will carry the vote. Majority of the active voters are among the masses and in the middle class. Perhaps, if we have had a couple of populist Presidents in Nigeria since 1999, Nigeria would have advanced beyond this pathetic level of underdevelopment.

THE MASTER BUILDER OF NEW OYO STATE: When I wrote about the street lights in part of Akobo, many of my friends were surprised, some pleasantly and others wondering but I told one who verbalised her consternation: "You may despise GSM because he doesn't have tribal marks or has not compensated you but we can't deny the evidence of unprecedented performance in Oyo State". I have trained my mind to appreciate what is good, irrespective of who does it but when my main man does it, I will not only acknowledge, I will blow his trumpet. The evidence of departure from cosmetic infrastructure and patching are the Ibadan Civic center junction that was perennial eyesore until permanent rehabilitation was done last year is a good example. Otherwise, it would have required another patching by now, in the middle of the rainy season. I heard a Governorship candidate condemned the Moniya-Iseyin road but I can't blame him since his mentor couldn't achieve that feat despite the Socioeconomic importance to the state. This single road is about 70km, more than all the roads constructed in the 8yrs administration of Governor Ajimobi who could only complete far less than 50km. Good infrastructure, aesthetic environment, good road networks etc are of great economic importance when charting the course of enduring development. Like Senator Kola Balogun rightly described GSM; he's the builder of modern Oyo State, not just the Architect who designs; Builders bring dreams to existence, abstract to reality and they deserve all the accolades.

There's another aspect but I would rather hold that till later. Na jeje I sit down and they started asking questions about the street lights I published and now I am joggling their brains so that they can know what has been on ground in just 2yrs are more than streetlights. Leadership goes beyond building infrastructure because any well paid contractor can achieve that but setting the priorities in the face of limited resources, coordinating the welfares of the populace and charting a good course for posterity are the jobs of good Leaders.

So, Gov Seyi Makinde is not just a Governor in Nigeria but he is the Governor, that is the missing puzzle in public leadership because he is raising the bar and making seemingly impossible strides pleasure rides in the face of recession and pandemic.

I am Rotimi Johnson -Ojasope and this is consistent with my believes and previous write ups in the last 10years, so if you have not been that consistent, take a walk and ignore this. However, if you are consistent, you can challenge me and let's have intellectual discuss. 

LEADERSHIP QUOTE: “Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be.” – Jack Welch

CONCERNED CHRISTIANS CONGRATULATE MUSLIMS AT ILEYA, CHARGE OYSG ON FAIRNESS TO CHRISTIANS:

On this special occasion of the Eid El Kabir, the Concerned Christian Citizens wish to commemorate with the Muslim faithfuls for the celebration of the Salah. May this season bring peace and harmony to our dear nation especially Oyo State.

Meanwhile, it's not a secret that the Oyo State government through the LG's gave directives for the welfare package for Muslim religious and political leaders in their domains. This went down well with us as this has been the tradition from several past regimes but our concern is the bias we felt when it comes to Christmas season as such generousity is not replicated. Our Christian and political  leaders through the LG's do not get such treatment from the State down to the Local Government level.

We therefore implore our highly efficient, Governor Seyi Makinde to take cognizance of this giftings and ensure that equity and fairness is disp!ayed for future occurences, particularly for the Christmas Season which is fast approaching. We believe you will take corrective measures and we thank you immensely in anticipation of this show of courage and magnanimity.

Thank you and God bless Oyo State.

Representatives:

Prof Bisi Sowunmi 

Mrs Foluso Oyenuga Framo

EID EL KABIR 2021; SENATOR BALOGUN FELICITATES MUSLIM UMMAH

The Senator representing Oyo South District, Dr Mohammed Kola Balogun felicitates the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of Eid El Kabir celebration, describing it as another opportunity to be grateful to almighty Allah.

According to the brief statement released by the Media Adviser, the distinguished Senator enjoins the Muslim Ummah to rejoice and express gratitude to God for life and good health, particularly because of the pandemic and the global economic challenges that have claimed millions of lives.

"We should express gratitude to God for ourselves, our families and pray for the Governor Seyi Makinde led government of Oyo State; for more wisdom and strength to continue in taking care of the people through welfare oriented policies and other social amenities. We should also celebrate responsibly by maintaining the Covid 19 protocols because the pandemic is still spreading in the third wave" Senator Balogun admonishes.

Signed

Rotimi Johnson -Ojasope

SENATOR BALOGUN CONDEMNS CUSTOM'S KILLING OF PEOPLE AT IGANGAN

The Senator representing Oyo South District in the 9th national Assembly, Dr Mohammed Kola Balogun has condemned the operations of the men of the Nigerian Custom Service that led to the killing of 2 residents of Igangan and Amotekun Commander at Igboora.

In a statement released by the Senator's SA Media, he claims it's becoming incessant that Custom's men would kill innocent lives in the cause of their operations in Oyo State and even provoke a whole city to violence in the process.

"Agencies of Government must respect the sanctity of lives and operate in such a way to ensure there are minimum casualties when engaging suspects within the cities, particularly where it is more than the 40km radius stipulated in the Custom's Acts. We could remember a similar operation in Oke-Ogun that left about 3 innocent people dead earlier this year. People should be held accountable for lives lost and admitting the operations are not enough, the erring officers must be brought to book or even prosecuted to killing innocent people" Senator Kola Balogun posited.

People of Igangan have gone through a lot recently and the tension in the town is enough to cause the Custom's men to apply utmost caution in their operations; to avoid this kind of crisis and also for the safety of their men. We must be able to prevent a situation where the youths would rise in protest against any government agency because of unlawful killings because there are no punitive measures.

Signed

Rotimi Johnson -Ojasope

SA Media

AMUSING MISTAKE; TO THE ALTER. By Rotimi Johnson

I was walking in my political neighborhood in 2002 or thereabout and I saw the wedding convoy drove pass me. On the vehicle where I suspected to be carrying the Bride, I saw this phrase; "TO THE ALTER".

I can't remember who was with me on the stroll or where we were going but I can't forget the message that mistake conveyed to me and I pointed it out to my company, rather jokingly, I said it's to the alter indeed.

With over 20years in marriage and about 18yrs since I saw the vehicle plate tag, I am even more persuaded that Marriage is a place of alterations, more than before.

So, I have discovered that marriages fail when both spouses or one of them refuse the alterations after leaving the wedding altar. I can still see the vehicle in my imagination till now and that was a SIMPLE MISTAKE TURNED MESSAGE. 

I sincerely hope that couple got altered and still very married. Alterations take place at the alter but some spouses hold on for too long, resisting the alterations and condemning their partners for the alterations. 

In this school of alterations, you receive your graduation certificate of the Institution immediately you get admitted and almost all the tests and trials are alterations focused. 

I often wonder why spouses that were so excited on the wedding day get so bitter and frustrated later in the journey but the truth is that resistance to alterations make the frictions unbearable. Always having your way in marriage suggests you will soon be alone on the way. 

I have been indoor in the last 24hrs, I have had cause to ponder on so many things and this message came back to mind. 

Simply put, if you're not submitting to alterations in Marriage, the Institution won't be conducive for you; remaining who and where you were before admission into the Marriage Institution will spell doom for you and your spouse and fasting and prayers can replace submitting to the alterations, except you're praying for grace to flow with the alterations.

Furthermore, when only one spouse is getting altered on the journey, frustration soon sets in and frictions build until it becomes unbearable. 

I am not a marriage counselor but I have read books and have enough insights into Wisdom by the grace of God to understand some issues of life. 

If only couples spend quarter of the money they spend on wedding on education about how to make successful marriages, many homes wouldn't break up. I have no one in mind while writing this short article but since I have not written any article in weeks, except for official press releases, I am inspired to release this message to bless someone.

TO THE ALTAR, prepare to be altered and together you will get smooth operations as you progress further on the journey. Meanwhile, so many pretend to have started the alterations before the wedding but as soon as the ceremony is done, they revert to status quo.

AT THE ALTAR, YOU'RE ALTERED

Happy weekend folks

Rotimi Johnson -Ojasope