Read How Owoeye is Using Sporting Activity to Reach to the Youths at the Grassroots

Sports are indisputably the most popular leisure activities among youths in Nigeria and the State of Osun is no exception. It is important for young people to play sport and stay active for their physical and mental health and wellbeing, and to develop their physical literacy.

In addition to using sporting activities to keep fit and remain physically and mentally alert, the State of Osun House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye is using face-to-face and body to body interaction to reach to the youths on issues affecting them in a constructive way.

So it was in the morning of Saturday 27th July, 2019 when the Osun Speaker was physically present at the football field of the Osu  Community Middle School of Atakumosa Local Government to play, mix and mingle with the regular early morning football playing youths of the community.

The entourage of the Speaker included the Council Chairmen of Atakumosa West Local Government, Hon. Francis Famurewa and Ilesa North East LCDA, Hon. Adeniyi Oladipo and they all appeared in their jerseys.

While the early morning football match was going on, some students of Osun State College of Education (OSCOED) that reside at the Ibodi-Osu axis got the wind that the Speaker was on the Osu town field and they organized themselves into a peaceful protest, carrying placards with different inscriptions such as "We say No to 3 Months of Darkness", " Help! Help!! Help!!! Our community in darkness for over 100 days", Since April 2019, Nigeria Students in Total Blackout " etc.

They are the students that reside around Robicom, Ajibade up to MichoDollar area very near the OSCOED site.. Since the electricity in Ilesa and its environs has been reinstalled by the operation of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) after about four months of darkness these students have not regained electricity in their area and they are approaching the examination session.

The electricity transformer of their area has broken down and it is beyond repair. The landlords and tenants (many of them students) have made financial contributions amounting to N1.5 million which is not enough to purchase a new transformer. They therefore brought their grievance in a peaceful protest before the Speaker and the Council Chairmen.

Addressing the protesting youths, Rt. Hon. Owoeye appreciated their comportment that exhibited that they are responsible. In his words, "I am overwhelmed by your comportment and  believe that there is nothing too much to do by the government to alleviate the suffering of the people. It is annoying that you are contributing money for the purpose of buying transformer for your community."

After the Speaker had consulted privately with the two council chairmen present, he continued to address the students, "Since the money contributed is in procession of the landlords, we are going to coordinate with them. We will take the N1.5m and take it to the supplier of transformer and the government will pay the balance".

Having heard the Osun Speaker's proclamation the protesting students bursted into singing praise songs and disperse peacefully.

More Photos (All photos by Oladimeji Lasore)

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