Leke Abejide — The Awo of Yagba, The “AWO” of Our Time
They called Obafemi Awolowo the Awo of Africa because he did not just lead, he transformed. He did not just occupy office, he redefined what office could do for the common man. Free education. Free healthcare. Roads. Industries. Television. Cocoa House. Awo gave the people what no one before him had dared to give and in return, the people gave him immortality.
Today, in Yagba Federal Constituency and beyond, that same spirit breathes again. That same fire burns again. That same uncommon love for the people lives again in the person of Rt. Hon. Elder Leke Abejide.
Like Awo who built schools across the Western Region, Leke Abejide has paid WAEC fees for thousands of students across Yagba, Kabba-Bunu, and Ijumu even before he joined politics. Like Awo who believed no child should be denied education because of poverty, Leke Abejide established ICT centres so our children can access professional examinations and digital learning without travelling hundreds of kilometres.
Like Awo who constructed roads that opened up the West for commerce and development, Leke Abejide has built roads like Yagba has never experienced connecting communities that were previously cut off from civilisation, creating access where there was none, and turning forgotten villages into connected towns.
Like Awo who brought the first television to Africa and electrified the Western Region, Leke Abejide has illuminated our communities with transformers, street lights, and solar-powered systems. Darkness is no longer our identity. Light has come and with it, hope.
Like Awo who invested in the health of his people, Leke Abejide has equipped our general hospitals with modern facilities. Like Awo who ensured water reached the masses, Leke Abejide has provided electrified boreholes across communities — because water is life, and no people should beg for life.
Like Awo who honoured institutions and built structures that outlasted him, Leke Abejide has honoured our traditional stools by providing vehicles to all graded Obas restoring dignity to the custodians of our heritage.
Like Awo who believed in the economic empowerment of the common man, Leke Abejide has empowered thousands with vehicles, business support, startup capital, and interest-free loans for women across Kogi West. His compassion does not stop at constituency borders. Like Awo’s vision, it covers an entire region.
Like Awo who never forgot the vulnerable, Leke Abejide remembers the widows and aged parents consistently, reliably, faithfully. Not during elections. Not during Christmas alone. Every month. Without fail.
And like Awo who spent his personal resources to build a region, Leke Abejide has spent billions of his own money to create the Lion Squad a security architecture that protects his people from banditry. Not government funds. Not constituency allocation. His own personal billions. This is sacrifice that mirrors Awo’s legendary selflessness.
Awo was called the best president Nigeria never had. But Yagba is blessed — because we have our own Awo, and he is serving us right now. He is not a distant legend in history books. He is here. He is present. He is active. He is delivering.
Rt. Hon. Elder Leke Abejide the uncommon man in a common environment. The Awo of Yagba. The Awo of our generation.
Like Awo, his works will speak for generations. Like Awo, his name will never be forgotten. Like Awo, he chose the people over himself and the people will forever choose him in return.
Uncommon. Unstoppable. Unforgettable. Just like Awo.
Signed:
Hon. Ayo Mayegun.