A former Commissioner for Works and Transport under Governor Seyi Makinde led administration, Professor Raphael Afonja has supported indigent Ogbomoso indigenes with food items and cash donations for the just concluded Eid-I-Kabir celebration.
OYOMIND recalls that the former commissioner was relieved of his duty as Works and Transport Commissioner immediately he recovered from COVID-19 in 2020.
According to OYOINSIGHT, Afonja in 2019 was eyeing the Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Orire federal constituency seat in the house of representatives.
This newspaper cannot however confirm whether or not Afonja, after being relieved from office, would contest the 2023 election.
Afonja is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in his native Ogbomoso town.
Done in partnership with Baba Kuete, an On Air Personality at Parrot FM, Ogbomoso, food items and cash were given to the disabled, widows, elderly, drivers and the needy.
Asked what motivated him to extend the gesture, Afonja explained that it was just a normal thing for him as he has always embarked on such even before he joined active politics.
”It is just a style of telling those who are well-to-do to also feel encouraged to assist people. If we don’t do, nobody would do it. We have got to assist our people. The harsh economy is biting harder. The little trades some of them are involved are gone. We just have to start somewhere. Nothing is too small.
”Forget the fact that I now reside outside the shores of this country, I grew up here. I know how people look to the festive periods like Eid-l-fitri, Eid-l-Kabir, Christmas, Easter and New Year. But for quite some time now, things haven’t been easy. In fact, those who have things to do are not encouraged because of the downturn. So, I felt we needed to put smiles on their faces,” he added.
