During the 2019 campaign, my attention swivelled to a particular woman from Kishi in Oke Ogun who would leave no stone unturned to follow PENKELEMESI’s train to tour every nooks and crannies of Oke Ogun axis.
On a fateful day, I challenged the woman to go home and rest. She actually looked lethargic and unkempt, having followed the train back to back for almost five days nonstop.
And the woman replied, “PENKELEMESI is my benefactor, I am ready to follow his campaign anywhere. Even if he says I should abandon my petty business and move to Ibadan, I would not hesitate. Its not for any other reason they nicknamed me. “Iya PENKELEMESI Ponbele. I can’t pay Oloye Adelabu back for her love and tender heart to me particularly and the widows in general.
At this point, I enthused. What specifically did Bayo Adelabu do to have won that special space in your heart? And Iya Penkele retorted “The first time he passed through the road leading to my house we all lined the street to welcome him enthusiastically, little did I know he noticed my tattered cloth among the multitude in his open roofed car. He directed the team to reverse to where I was staying, and one man came from a bus and collected my name and my daughter’s phone number. That was the beginning of my change for a better story.”
She explained further, “My son got a call the following Sunday morning and was directed to hand over the phone to me. They were full of pity when I narrated my story that I was a hapless widow who was only surviving by selling ‘Ogi’ to make out a living. I overheard a voice directing the caller to request my measurements and asked me to wait at the point where they met me the previous day. I did. The same man whom I sent measurements to handed me four pieces of new clothes and assured me my name would be registered among the beneficiaries of the Empowerment program for Widows. In a few days time, I was invited to Ibadan, they gave me my own handsets and benefitted from a grant which is a large sum of money which I am using to open a neighbourhood provision store”. I applauded the woman and thanked her fate that pushed her to meet a politician with a heart of gold.”
Oloye Adelabu Adebayo has changed many people’s lives through his foundation and is not resting on her oars. He is one politician with ethics of care.
A heartwarming life story narrated by Isiaka kehinde.
