By: Balogun Orunbon

Many Residents of Epe local government council and Epe division, have expressed their views on the performances of the Chairman, Princess Surah Animashaun, concluding that the Chairperson deserves a second term in office.

The majority of respondents, who commented while the Chairperson inspected some projects across the eight (8) wards of the council area, agreed that the Chairman deserves a second term.

This, they attributed to her people-oriented projects, which they said have placed her above her predecessors, adding that the council area deserves the services of “such a committed and hardworking public officers to further move the council forward.”

Here are some responses by the residents, who were chosen across the eight (8) wards of the council and nineteen (19) wards of the Epe division of Lagos State.

Setting the ball rolling, Mr. Tajudeen Alabi, a 46-year-old trader from Oluwo Market, in Epe, the council area, stated that Chairperson, Princess Surah Animashaun has brought governance nearer to the people, adding that she has proven to be a round peg in a round hole. “For me, Princess Animashaun has done well and she has scored over 90%.”

This was corroborated by another resident of the council area, 37-year-old businesswoman, Mrs. Iyabo Ajayi from Ayetoro Market, who commended the Chairperson on her programmes on healthcare, education, rural development, youth empowerment amongst others. She added that she would definitely support the Chairperson for a second term, while urging her not to relent on her progressive programmes.

But for Segun Adebola, a 50-year-old teacher from Oke-Balogun, there was no need for comments. Adebola said that if the Chairman had performed, she was only carrying out her duties as a Chairman.

Another respondent, a 53-year-old trader in Ita-Opo area of the council, Mr. John Emeka, said Princess Animashaun is doing well and the people want her for a second term.

“I am particular about her developmental drive and the way she has reached out to farmers, artisans, associations and her efforts on road construction and rehabilitations. I want to urge our people to support her for a second term in office because she has performed beyond expectations,” he said.

Also commenting, 34 years old civil servant Olanrewaju Tijani in Bado-Oba said the people of Epe division as whole want more of the Chairman, saying that nobody does it better. While not trying to compare Princess Animashaun with past Chairmen, Tijani stressed that giving the Chairperson a second term in office would allow her complete the numerous projects she has started and that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has proven to be a party of the people through the Chairman.

Adeleke Ibiyemi, another 28-year-old resident of Bado-Isale area of the council, who works as a contractor, said that he would not want to say much, but that “time will tell if the people want more of the Chairman from 2025.”

On her part, a 28-year-old housewife, Mrs. Ronke Adewale, resident of Ajagbonnabe, who said that it might be hard to measure performance, emphasised that Chairman, Princess Surah Animashaun has shown that despite the resources available in the council, one could still do her best. Adewale, who resides in the city, said she was born and grew up in the council, and that the transformation agenda of the current administration is proof that “we still have committed politicians in Epe, Lagos and Nigeria as whole.”

This was corroborated by a 60-year-old cleric, Mr. Steve Ikechukwu, a resident of Odomola, Epe council, who urged the people of the local government council to allow Princess Surah Animashaun go for a second term saying that “this is the kind of person we need to drive the vehicle of our dear council.”

Malam Adamu Mohammed, a 49-year-old trader, and a resident of Poka area, who said he hailed from Borno State, explained that the Chairman, Princess Surah Animashaun is a good woman, who is passionate about development and well-being of her people as whole.

“I am from the North, but I can tell you that I have been in Epe local government area for over 20 years and if I should compare, this woman has done better than others no matter what anybody says,” he said.

Respondents from Agric junction, who reacted to the Chairman’s level of performances also agreed that she has performed better than her predecessors.

A 57-year-old businessman, Mr. Oladipupo Onanuga, a resident of Ejinrin area, said Princess Surah Animashaun has touched every nook and cranny of the council area within a short period of time.

“We in Ejinrin area of Lagos State, which is outskirts of Epe can attest to her performances. We have had several Chairmen, who did not remember us. But we can feel Princess Animashaun through her people-oriented programmes in agriculture, healthcare service delivery, technology, arts, culture, tourism, sports development, and road construction amongst others,” he said.

While Mr. Kunle Ewaade, a 35-year-old resident of Eredo area and a company worker, said that he had no comment, but 67 years old Mr. Adewale Osinubi, a legal practitioner, who resides in Odoragunshin said that the Chairman has done very well given the available resources in the council.

“You can see the way she handled the outbreak of cholera epidemic in the council through the construction of 2 blocks of toilet and a borehole for the residents of ward A2 in Epe council area and how she prevented the cholera from spreading in the council area. We want our Chairman once again. She is the best woman for the job,” he said

Also commenting, 54-year-old, Mr. Dele Ariyo, a carpenter, who lives in the Pobo area, said he would want the people of the council to give the Chairman another chance. Ariyo stressed that Princess Surah Animashaun has brought her experience in the private/public sector to bear and that she would expect that she would enjoy a massive support from the people to show that they appreciate good gestures.

In his view, 64-year-old Mr. Solomon Idimogu from Imo State, who lives in Poka, said Princess Surah Animashaun’s second term is secured, adding that the people of the council value her “good works.”

Idimogu, a trader, commended the Chairman on her efforts over the technological drive across the council area, infrastructure development, youth empowerment, development of the education sector, healthcare amongst others.

“This woman is trying. We appreciate her good gesture. What else do we want if we say she has not done well? We all know that the resources of the council are limited and she has managed the little that is available and we can all see what she has done so far,” he said.

Mr. Kehinde Ajisegbede, a 50-year-old commercial bus driver, in his response, said he would want Princess Animashaun to be given a second term without any stress because she has proven to be selfless and people-oriented.

Ajisegbede stated that there are proofs everywhere to show that the Chairman has a good team as Personal Assistants, Special Advisers, Supervisory Councillors and legislative arms, and that she was sure that “the woman would not disappoint if given another chance.”

Mr. Rasheed Bolajoko, a 55-year-old medical doctor in Agbowa/Ejirin, but residing in Epe, also want the Chairman to be given another term, saying that her works are everywhere for everyone to see and promised to be part of those that will campaign for the Chairperson for second term in office.

In his response, Mr. Alamu Omolaja, a 37-year-old artisan, said that Epe Local Government has come a long way and that history would be on the side of Princess Surah Animashaun as a woman who ensured massive development of all the areas of the local government council.

“It is only dishonest people and those who play politics of bitterness that would not support this kind of woman who has done well for our local government.

“See the way she transformed the healthcare programmes, education programmes, youth empowerment, sports development, culture, tourism, and others. There is no doubt that she deserves a second term in office,” he said.

For Lukman Onitiri, 45-year-old teacher, and Chukwuma Okeke, 56-year-old trader, both residents of Yeguda and Igbapawa in riverine area of the council, said Princess Surah Animashaun is the best Chairman Epe Local Government has ever had and that all hands must be on deck to ensure her success at the local government polls in 2025, in Lagos state.

The people of Ketu-Ejinrin are not left out in the call for Chairperson, Princess Surah Animashaun to be given a second term in office as the majority of the respondents believes that she should be allowed to continue the rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes that she started.

Commenting, Mrs. Ireti Oduwole, a 38-year-old nurse, who lives in Ikosi-Ejinrin area said the people of the area feel the presence of the Epe local government Chairman despite the fact the area is not under her purview and some of the challenges facing the council area.

Oduwole said that what she loves most about the council Chairperson is her listening ear and urged the people to give her another chance.

“Chairperson Surah Animashaun has visited our area several times and she is attending to our needs. Her councillors too, were very passionate, and hardworking, ready to deliver, they have also shown that they were a perfect match and they were all doing well.

“The work they started cannot be completed in four (4) years, so we still need them around to complete the massive projects they were embarking upon,” she said.

For Mr. Tajudeen Olowo, a 47-year-old commercial bus driver at the popular T-Junction, the Chairperson has raised the bar of governance in the local government area and she deserves a second term.

Olowo reiterated that sentiments should be put aside in such instances, saying that anyone who feels the Chairman has not done well should come and mention the areas that have not been touched.

“I will give my vote to Princess Surah Animashaun again and again. She is a woman that has proven that she didn’t go to the office to amass wealth. Why can’t we give her another chance to further prove that she is ready to serve more than she is doing now,” he said.

Another respondent from the area, Adeleke Oluwaseun, 50-years-old and a civil servant, who lives in Itarabugba, said that he would rather keep his comment to his chest, while Mrs. Nimota Omitaomu, a 42-year-old trader in General Hospital Road area of the council commended the local government Chairman for her proactiveness.

Omitaomu gave an instance of the bad portion of Alausa, Wale-Logun, Akodu roads, where she said the Chairman is fixing palliatives and the way she has been responding to the needs of the people.

In his view, Mr. Sunday Chukwuma, 58-year-old businessman in Recreation Ground Area of the council, said that even the blind could see what Princess Surah Animashaun has been doing for the people of the local government council, since she got into office on July, 27, 2021.

Chukwuma advised those who have contrary opinions to give advice where necessary rather than running “the woman down because I know what is happening in other local council areas, where I go regularly for one business transaction or the other.”

Mr. Jamiu Alamu, a 30-year-old member of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), who resides in Epe area expressed satisfaction with the leadership style of the Chairperson, who he said that she always listening to the advice of the residents, especially elderly people at all times.

Alamu stressed that Princess Surah Animashaun does not see herself as just a leader, but a servant-leader with love for her subject and urged her to keep up the good work.

“What will her opponents campaign with that the Chairman has not done? She has touched all the areas that affected the people and she makes us understand at all times that she would continue to do her best.

“Nobody can solve all the problems, but our Chairman is doing her best and we are happy with her. May God continue to help her and assist her to do all that she planned to do. For me and my people, we will vote for her 100 times,” he stated.

Mr. Irewole Adeola, a 23-year-old student in Noforija; Suraj Olokodana, a 38-year-old teacher in Poka and Taiwo Oduwole, a 39-year-old contractor in Odomola, also lent their support for the Chairman and advised that Epe Local Government “cannot afford to deny such a committed woman second term in office, in 2025.”

This was supported by Mr. Kolawole Jones, 54-year-old electrical contractor in Ita-Opo, who said that he has been following the administration of Princess Surah Animashaun with keen interest and expressed satisfaction with her performances.

“Princess Surah Animashaun is our woman. We will give her our support, not just because of her performances, but for her right attitude to service.

“As Chairman, what you need to do is to carry the people along and Princess Surah Animashaun does that. She makes us to understand the situation of things and she explains to us why some things are yet to be done, with a promise that they would be done based on the capacity of the local government and we have seen her ingenuity even in the area of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR),” he said