CONTINUITY MATTERS" - OREKOYA BACKS HAMZAT FOR GOVERNOR, APPEALS TO SOMOLU VOTERS FOR SECOND TERM

Somolu Lawmaker Points to 3 Years of Bills, Projects, and Youth Programs as Case for Re-election

 Hon. Abiodun Orekoya, member representing Somolu Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, says continuity in leadership is key to sustaining progress in Lagos, as he threw his weight behind Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat’s bid for governor.

“Continuity is the beauty of democracy,” Orekoya said in an interview. “He doesn’t need to learn. He has been in the system as deputy for many years. He just needs to start from where the current administration stops.” 

He added that this would be the first time a deputy governor would succeed a governor in Lagos State.

Reflecting on his three years in the Lagos Assembly, Orekoya described the experience as “fantastic” and said the House had set the standard for legislative practice in Nigeria and West Africa. 

He noted that lawmakers from other states regularly come to Lagos for training because of the quality of debate, procedures, and capacity-building programmes. 

“It is an honour to be part of this House. As an administrator, it is a great thing. I love it and I don’t want to leave it,” he said. “We have the opportunity of making laws that affect the lives of our people and their living standards. It is always a joy to do that.”

Legislative Record, Drug Abuse, and Youth Advocacy

As Chairman of the House Committee on Youth, Sports and Social Development, Orekoya said he has combined creativity with firmness to push key initiatives forward. He played a key role in the near-completion of nine stadia across Lagos State, a project aimed at reviving grassroots sports and giving young people structured opportunities outside the classroom.

For Somolu specifically, Orekoya said he set up a committee to secure land after discovering the area had not had a stadium for decades. As committee chairman, he pushed for the project to be extended to his constituency. “Today the stadium is almost completed,” he said.

On youth and drug abuse, Orekoya said the issue is personal. He noted that Lagos has become a commercial nerve centre for drugs in West Africa, and the abuse is happening in communities with children as the main victims. Though drug legislation falls under the exclusive list, he said the effects are local and demand state action.

“I came up with a motion, telling Mr Speaker we can act on it,” he said. He visited the NDLEA office in Lagos and found that the rehabilitation centre could take only 12 people at a time. In his capacity as committee chairman, he advised the Lagos State government to build more rehabilitation centres. 

The proposal gained traction when the National Assembly came to Lagos for constitutional amendment consultations. “It was one of the issues Mr Speaker brought up. To the glory of God it was well received. And I am sure they are working on it,” Orekoya said.

 He added that the Assembly urged the National Assembly to allow states legislate on issues affecting their children.

Legislatively, he said he has co-sponsored over a dozen bills spanning governance, finance, infrastructure, and social welfare. These include the Lagos State Administration of Civil Justice Bill 2023, the Local Government Administration (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Community Development Associations (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Lagos State Public Works Corporation Bill 2024, and the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (Amendment) Bill 2024. More recently, he has backed the Lagos State Research Trust Fund Bill 2025 and the Lagos State Railway Corporation Bill 2025.

One of his most defining interventions came when he brought the case of 12-year-old Aminat Alege — a student shot by a stray police bullet in Agege — to the attention of the House. The move ensured the matter was not swept under the carpet and the girl received treatment.

Projects, Empowerment, Health, and Education in Somolu

Orekoya said translating legislative influence into tangible benefits for Somolu residents has been his priority. In infrastructure, at least ten roads have been rehabilitated or reconstructed under his facilitation, including Awosuyi Street and Oguntolu Street. For traders and commuters in Somolu’s dense neighborhoods, he said the improved mobility has meant shorter travel times and better access to markets.

In education, over 250 GCE forms and 150 JAMB forms have been distributed to students across the constituency. Another 147 students have received bursary awards, while four indigent students are on full scholarship under his sponsorship. Cash support for tuition has also reached scores of families who would otherwise have pulled their children out of school.

For economic empowerment, more than 341 constituents have received tools, equipment, grants, or business support to start or expand small enterprises. Ninety-six beneficiaries have been reached through the NG-Cares program, while 120 traders across Somolu markets have gotten direct assistance. He said he has also facilitated employment opportunities for 29 constituents within the Lagos State public service.

On health, Orekoya said he partnered with the West African College of Nursing for a 2023 medical outreach that reached more than 1,000 members of his constituency as direct beneficiaries. He sponsored the full vaccination of 150 people against Hepatitis B, covering the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd doses. He also funded surgeries for two constituents suffering from hernia and breast cancer, and covered treatment for others with ailments including glaucoma and broken legs. In addition, he provided support funds to clear outstanding medical bills for several constituents.

On youth development, Orekoya pointed to the Somolu Youth Assembly, themed “Onboarding Sustainable Future Leaders,” which exposes young people to mentorship and self-reliance opportunities. He facilitated the inclusion of two Somolu youths in a Lagos State exchange program in Finland. His Orekoya Alliance Under-17 Football Competition has also become an annual fixture, attracting international scouts and national recognition.

“The feedback is very encouraging. All the beneficiaries are working with the tools because they had an agreement with us not to sell the tools,” he said. He added that every beneficiary was verified and documented to ensure accountability.

Case for a Second Term

Ahead of the APC primaries, Orekoya appealed to voters in Somolu Constituency 1 to support his re-election, citing his track record as former vice chairman, executive secretary of the council, and now lawmaker.

“They know what I have done before and what I am capable of. Government is a continuum. I will try my best, and another person will come and try his,” he said.

He stressed that his priority remains youth development: “If you say the youth are our tomorrow and you don’t take care of them, then our tomorrow is backward.”

Party stakeholders in Somolu say the demand for his return is growing, arguing that stopping now would disrupt ongoing projects and momentum.

 For Orekoya, a second term would mean consolidating the road rehabilitation drive, expanding youth exchange programs, and deepening legislative advocacy at the state level.