By Ola Taiwo
The Alao-Akala Transformation Movement (ATM) has empowered widows, and religious leaders and All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders with cash assistance in Irepo, Oorelope and Olorunsogo local government areas of Oyo State,
The movement also extended its gesture to some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the areas as it mobilised grassroots support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The ATM is an initiative of members of the family of the late former governor of Oyo, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala to sustain the political legacy of their late patriarch.
The empowerment marked the inauguration of ATM’s activities in the three local government areas.
Chairperson of the ATM, Mrs Oluwakemi Akala, while speaking at the occasion, said the initiative was designed to provide financial assistance to vulnerable residents, strengthen the movement’s grassroots presence and promote the Renewed Hope agenda of the Tinubu Administration.
She urged residents of the area to support Tinubu’s re-election bid and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections, including the party’s governorship candidate in Oyo State and candidates for the state House of Assembly.
Mrs Akala who is a former First Lady of Oyo State explained that the money distributed for the empowerment programme was derived from her personal resources.
“It is my money that I came to share with them,” she said, urging the beneficiaries to use the funds judiciously to improve their livelihoods and support their families.
The ATM chairperson also called for greater attention to local government administration, lamenting the poor state of roads and other infrastructure in the area.
“The gospel I am preaching is local government. If you have an elected chairman, our society would be better than this”, she said.
Mrs Akala expressed hope that local governments would be allowed to discharge their responsibilities more effectively, particularly in addressing infrastructure deficits and other pressing needs at the grassroots.
The Director-General of ATM, Hon. Ademola Alao-Akala, a son of the late former governor, said the movement was established to reunite the political family of his father and sustain the former governor’s contributions to the development of Oyo State.
He explained that the movement emerged from the need to reconnect political associates and supporters who had become scattered following the death of their principal.
“The rationale behind ATM is that we saw the need to continue the good works that our principal, our father, Alao-Akala, was known for. We also saw that there was a vacuum since his departure to the beyond,” he stated.
The ATM director-general said the movement would provide a platform for members of the late governor’s political family to reconnect, pursue common goals and sustain their relevance in Oyo State’s political landscape.
The Minority Leader of the 10th Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Salami Waliu Ayinde, who represents Irepo/Olorunsogo State Constituency under the APC, 2023 – 2027
described the intervention as an opportunity to strengthen the party’s grassroots support ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ayinde, who commended the movement’s leadership for extending the initiative to the federal constituency, expressed optimism that the programme would improve the party’s electoral prospects.
“We really appreciate our mother for bringing this opportunity to our federal constituency. This programme will boost our support for the APC and help us work towards winning the 2027 general election,” he said.
The lawmaker advised beneficiaries to invest the money in small-scale businesses and other productive ventures capable of generating regular income rather than spending it entirely on immediate needs.
“My advice to the beneficiaries is that they should make good use of the money to establish small businesses that can provide daily income and help them sustain their families,” he said.
He also prayed for God’s blessings on the organisers and beneficiaries, appreciating the ATM leadership for extending financial support to vulnerable residents and party stakeholders.
Earlier, members of the movement paid a courtesy visit to the Iba of Kishi, Oba Moshood Oyekola Lawal Arowoduye II, as part of its engagements in the community.
The event attracted APC members, religious leaders, widows and other residents from Irepo, Oorelope and Olorunsogo, with the movement reaffirming its commitment to humanitarian support, political unity and grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
