Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-As Makbet FC emerges HOA Unity Cup winner
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmanship candidate for Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun (HOA) as pledged not only to continue with the development of sporting activities but also to improve on it if he is elected into office come Saturday, July 12.
Aroyewun who also said that the just concluded championship which he sponsored and tagged, “HOA Unity Cup” is meant to bring youth and other residents together in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA and also use it to canvass for votes, gave the assurance at the finale of the match on Sunday.
The final match between Makbet All Stars and Nwanedinaba All Stars ended 2 – 1 at the regulation time with Makbet getting the N200, 000 prize money and the runner up N100, 000.
The first goal of the interesting final match came at the 25th minute of the match from Seun Ganiu, Nwanedinaba striker, who converted a lovely pass from his midfielder who had beaten a Makbet player in the midfield with a good body movement. Several attempts made by the Makbet players proved abortive as the first half ended 0 – 1 in favour of Nwanedinaba All Stars.
Makbet’s determination and coordinated play paid off in the 46th minute of the second half when Jerry Emmanuel Joseph slotted home a free kick from the edge of the box to equalize. The team made it two at the 67th minute of the second half through a goal scored by Femi Nicholas.
Aroyewun in an interview after the match said that the tournament that was kicked off a few weeks ago was used in mobilising and bringing about unity and cooperation among the youth.
He added that if elected, his administration would improve on sport and youth development in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA.
“All Stars Cup is a unity competition which brings everybody together and creates bonds among our people. This creates awareness for our people to come out and vote for our party massively on the 12th of July 2025.
“Before coming to government, I have been part and parcel of this kind of programmes which we are definitely going to continue and we will improve it. Sport is business, sport is entertainment, sport creates bond, it creates unity and we will do more of this.
“I want to encourage our people to come out en masse to vote for our party APC from the Chairmanship to the Councillorship and to give us the maximum support they have been giving us,” he charged.
While expressing happiness at the level of support that he has received so far, Aroyewun also assured residents of the council of his agenda to create a conducive atmosphere and give them good governance.
“I want to use this opportunity to appreciate our people for their love that has been massive. The passion has been great, and the support has been very encouraging. We really appreciate them and will not take them for granted.
“We assured them that once we assume office, we will continue from where this government will stop and improve by creating environment that will be very conductive for our people to live; an environment that will grant them security of live and properties; that will improve health care, improve infrastructural development, and give peace to our people to live in tranquility to live in harmony.”
The Vice Chairmanship candidate, Barr. Ade Ayeni, emphasised the agenda which their administration would pursue when elected.
“Our agenda is to promote youth programmes in areas of sports, and entertainment. We have a lot of talents here that just need people that will push them to get to where they are going and we are ready to do that. Under the leadership of Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun, we will give youth the necessary platform for them to excel,” he said.
Comrade Olalekan Billiamin Oba, Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Development said that politics is about doing what the people want which the candidate of the APC is doing by bringing the residents together to be entertained:
“Every politics is local, and every politics that does not have what the people want in mind as a priority shouldn’t be entertained.
“You can see today that the local government elections are something that concern the young people and every citizen because that is the closest arm of government to the people. This is a sign that we truly have people that are truly interested in what happens in their various communities.
“For me, this is a positive development because the people again have reasons to decide who leads them in the next four years.
“For me again, this is actually very commendable, and it is still a sign that we still have a system of government that is all about the people, and the people have the right to decide who leads them, and who will decide their faith in the next four years. This is true democracy.”
Obayomi Adeoye, Chairman, Unity Cup Organising Committee said that the idea is to encourage cooperation and unity among the people and across Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA through football.
He commended the APC Chairmanship candidate and other candidates for aligning with the initiative and pledging to improve on sport development especially football when they eventually get into offices.
He pleaded with residents of the council to troop out on Saturday to vote in a peaceful manner.
Captain of the winning team, Emmanual Chukwu, while stating that the match was tough also added that the tournament achieved its intended purposes by bringing people together to achieve unity.
He thanked the APC Chairmanship candidate for supporting the tournament and assured him of massive support during the LG elections on Saturday.
