The representative Oyo South Senatorial District at the National Assembly has described as mere falsehood and cheap blackmail an online allegation that he under performs, hence, has no business being in the Senate.
One Adedokun Sunday from Eruwa in Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State, in a report published by a blogger, challenged Balogun, saying he did not worth being a senator.
Sunday alleged, “Amidst the three senators we have in the state presently, he’s (Kola Balogun) the least performing figure. Should we agree that inexperience is cogently undermining the better performance of that senator?
“The senator has been underperforming, and also neglected the people of Ibarapa in his administration (sic).”
However, Balogun, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Dapo Falade, described the allegation as coming from a frustrated blackmailer.
The statement read that the senator would have chosen not to respond to the allegations, but he did so “in order to correct the false narratives being spread by one Asiwaju Omo Boboye calling himself Comrade Adedokun Sunday.”
The statement read in parts, “I don’t want to get involved in dirty exchanges with a person who has been seeking for personal favour from me. Why should I respond to a man who had, at various times, acknowledged what I am doing for my people in Oyo South Senatorial District?
“For the avoidance of doubt and in order to clear the false narratives being bandied about, I will like to set the record straight in respect of what I have done so far for my people.”
It quoted Balogun as saying that no sooner was he pronounced the winner of the senatorial election in 2019 than his opponent instituted various litigations challenging his victory.
“These litigations consumed the larger part of the first six months of my assumption of office as an elected senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As if this was not enough distraction from the performance of my legislative duties, the COVID-19 pandemic threw a sudden catastrophic spanner in the wheel of all the planned programmes of action for my district.
“However, in spite of all the distractions, both natural and human, I still ensured my constituents enjoyed the dividends of democracy, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, during and after,” it read.
The statement listed the senator’s initiatives to include facilitation of N60 million continuous revolving loan scheme and capacity building for nine cooperative societies in Ibadan in February 2020; and facilitation of N50 million capacity building programme for 45 youth and women selected from the nine LGAs in the art of film-making and business at Alice Place, Ibadan in February, 2020 in collaboration with the Nigerian Film Corporation, Jos.
It added that the senator facilitated a N50 million Capacity Building and Empowerment on Local Government Councils in Agriculture in nine LGAs at the IAR&T, Moor Plantation, Ibadan between 19th and 21st January, 2021; over N350 million COVID-19 loan to over 450 trade groups, big markets, media and the Ohaneze Nndigbo traders in the district between June and August, 2020.
Also listed are facilitation of the payment of Federal Government N30,000 each Survival Fund to 434 tradesmen and Artisans in Oyo South Senatorial District in June, 2020 totalling N13.02 million.
Facilitation of the payment of N20,000.00 each palliative grant of the Federal Government to 100 women in the District in February 2021 at the State Secretariat, Ibadan, Oyo State totalling N2 million.
Facilitation of payment of N20,000,00 grant to empower one thousand 1,000 women and youths in Oyo South Senatorial District through the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development via beneficiaries’ personal accounts totalling N20 million.
Facilitation of N14 million grant provision to market men and women in Oyo South Senatorial District paid via Nigeria Prisons Micro-Finance Bank in the month of February 2021 through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency.
Facilitation of N11m Continuous Revolving Loan Scheme for fresh eight Cooperative Societies in Ibadan and Ibarapa in April, 2021.
30 Solar Powered Street lights were provided in Oke-Aremo, Agala Estate, the UCH and the University of Ibadan all in Ibadan North Local Government. Provision of solar powered borehole, with overhead water storage tanks for NECO office in Agodi, Ibadan North Local Government.
A completed block of two classrooms with Toilet, Office, Store and Solar Powered light and other facilities at Oje-Igosun Grammar School, Ibadan North LGA. Already handed over to UBEC who in turn had handed it over to Oyo SUBEB.
Provision and Installation of 300KVA electrical transformer and accessories at Ashi Community in Ibadan North Local Government (protected with fence and gate).
Provision and installation of 300 KVA electrical transformer and accessories at Fagbamila Community in Ibadan North East (fenced with gate). Provision and installation of 500 KVA Transformer and accessories at Padi, Oke- Ofa, Ibadan North East Local Government fully energized.
Provision and installation of 300 KVA Transformer with Accessories at Ogungbade Area of Molete in Ibadan South West Local Government of Oyo State (properly fenced with gate). Provision and installation of 500 KVA Transformer and accessories at Falola Street, Osoba Area of Ibadan South West LGA.
Provision and Installation of 500KVA Transformer and Accessories at Salvation Army Area of Ibadan North West Local Government, and provision and installation of 300 KVA Transformer at Arise Area of Iddo Local Government.
Provision and installation of 300 KVA with Accessories at Riverview Estate, Idi-Ishin of Ibadan South West Local Government, provision and Installation of 300KVA Transformer and Accessories at Alatere Community of Iddo Local Government.
Construction and completion of one block of three classrooms at Community Primary School at Itabo, Lanlate at Ibarapa East Local Government.
Construction and completion of one block of two classrooms at Oke-Oba, Eruwa Local Authority Primary School in Ibarapa East Local Government.
Construction and completion of one block of 3 classrooms at Okusehinde Primary School, Aremo, Ibadan North East.
Rehabilitation of 1 kilometre Road at the BCJ to the Railway line in Ibadan South West Local Government to Ojutelegan in Iddo Local Government.
Balogun’s selfless dedication to the growth and welfare of the constituents, the statement read, were clear testimonies of his sterling quality.
