Over 750 FG Jobs To Skills Acquisition, Akinyelure Puts Constituency Record On The Table

For Senator Ayo Akinyelure, the debate over who should represent Ondo Central in the National Assembly in 2027 should not be reduced to campaign promises alone. It should, in his view, begin with what previous representatives have done with the mandate entrusted to them.Akinyelure, who represented Ondo Central in the 7th and 9th Senates, has renewed attention on his record of representation, including about 850 Federal Government employment opportunities he facilitated for graduates from the senatorial district.

This is in addition to a range of empowerment initiatives for women, youths and other constituents. The former lawmaker, who is now the African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial candidate for Ondo Central, said the employment opportunities cut across Federal Government ministries, departments, agencies, parastatals and other institutions, with beneficiaries drawn from the six local government areas of the district.But beyond the employment figures, Akinyelure’s constituency scorecard also points to a model of representation built around direct economic empowerment.

According to the scorecard released by the former senator, his interventions included the distribution of deep freezers, motorcycles, tricycles, sewing machines, weaving machines, grinding machines, generators and hair dryers, as well as vehicles, including a Volkswagen bus, Primera and saloon cars.Women and youths, he said, also benefited from skills-acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes designed to equip them with practical means of earning a living.For Akinyelure, the significance of such interventions goes beyond the number of items distributed.

He argues that while legislative representation is principally about lawmaking and oversight, effective constituency representation should also create avenues through which ordinary citizens can improve their livelihoods.That philosophy appears to underpin his decision to place the employment of more than 850 graduates at the centre of his latest scorecard.

The former lawmaker describes the beneficiaries not as statistics, but as young people who gained opportunities to build careers, support families and contribute to their communities.“I have remained committed to public service even after leaving the Senate in 2023. I am therefore presenting my record to you as we approach the 2027 election. This is not a claim of perfection but a record you can examine, question and verify,” Akinyelure said.His message comes as the 2027 senatorial contest begins to take shape.

The Independent National Electoral Commission’s published list of candidates for Ondo Central includes Akinyelure for the ADC, alongside candidates of the APC.

Rather than presenting his record as beyond scrutiny, Akinyelure is inviting constituents to interrogate it alongside the records and promises of other candidates.

That invitation to scrutiny is significant in a political environment where campaign narratives often revolve around promises of what candidates intend to do if elected. Akinyelure’s approach is aimed at shifting part of the conversation towards what has already been done.

The Chartered Accountant-turned-politician has recently received expressions of support from some beneficiaries of his employment interventions.About a week ago, a group claiming to have benefited from his employment interventions presented campaign materials in support of his 2027 ambition, saying its members secured employment opportunities facilitated during his periods in the National Assembly.For Akinyelure, however, the support should not substitute for public scrutiny.He has urged every candidate seeking the mandate of Ondo Central to put forward his or her record, programmes and plans.

This will leave the constituents to examine the available information before deciding who deserves their mandate.