By: Shuaib AbdulWahab Alikinla
The name Alhaja Chief (Mrs.) Mariam Abdulwasiu Omotayo resonates strongly among the citizens of Moro, especially for those closely following the political dynamics of the All Progressives Congress (APC). One will know her for her proactiveness, but it rained more after she was appointed as Commissioner II at the Local Government Commission. Her journey to becoming a notable figure in Kwara politics and the local government landscape took a significant turn when she emerged as the APC’s only female candidate among 16 candidates in Kwara for the 2024 Kwara State Local Government Election. Despite skepticism surrounding her potential, particularly from opposition voices, she triumphed in a fiercely contested election against her PDP counterpart on September 21, 2024, with a wide margin, and was sworn in by the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq CON.
Without wasting any time, Alhaja Mariam Abdulwasiu Omotayo picked up the race to deliver good governance to her people. Remarkably, this pivotal moment coincided with her giving birth to a healthy baby boy, which led some critics to question her ability to juggle the demands of motherhood and high office. However, one year later, she has firmly silenced those doubts through a series of transformative accomplishments that underscore her resilience and leadership capacity.
Over the past 365 days in office, the administration of Alhaja Mariam Abdulwasiu Omotayo has worked on bringing governance closer to the people. In the spirit of the Governor's vision of people-centred leadership, she has prioritized key areas ranging from security, education programmes and initiatives, rural electrification, adult literacy, digital literacy, social amenities, civil servants’ welfare, and more.
Security is a major business for any responsive government. The Agbeke and Adaara administration has played a significant role in securing the lives and properties of the people of Moro Local Government. With the introduction of the security program Operation Secure Moro (OSM), 200 people have been recruited into vigilante groups and equipped with ammunition, provided mobility with the distribution of motorcycles across the 17 wards in Moro Local Government. Total overhauling and renovation of the NSCDC Shao Command facility is another security project, including the distribution of motorcycles to the Police Divisions of Bode-Saadu, Jebba, Malete, and Shao to enhance security in the local government.
As a responsive leader, Alhaja Mariam Abdulwasiu Omotayo’s administration demonstrates her firm understanding of the phrase: “Education is the bedrock of a nation.” Her administration has constructed a two-block classroom with an office and furniture at Ada’ara Village of Arobadi Ward; completed the construction of a block of classroom with an office and furniture at Elemere Secondary School of Wumi/Ayaki Ward; established the first ICT centre in Moro Local Government at the Secretariat with her agenda of turning Moro Local Government into a digital literacy hub in Kwara North and Kwara at large; established Adult Education Centres across the local government; and established a vocational centre at Bode-Saadu—projects that demonstrate her inclusiveness for all. The disbursement of relief cash prizes for KWASU students who fell victim to attacks in their hostels is another contribution to education in Moro Local Government within one year.
Moro Local Government is one of the food baskets of Kwara and neighbouring states. Over the years, road networking has been a major issue in the smooth transportation of farm products from farmland. Some rural roads from Fala, Ejidongari, and Elelu linking to Agogo have been upgraded to stimulate agricultural production and strengthen economic activities in rural communities. Reconstruction of the damaged Weru Bridge in Megida Ward and repair of a collapsed bridge at Babadudu Ward, provision of farm inputs and fertilizers to farmers across 17 wards, and the purchase of a ridger for tractors of the local government to enhance the work rate of farmers—all align with the agricultural initiatives of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq CON.
Implementation of the Moro Water for All Project (MOWA-P), targeting the drilling of 100 new boreholes and the rehabilitation of 200 damaged ones across the local government area, is ongoing. Completion of drilling of a motorized borehole at Elelu Village, drilling of a hand-pumped borehole at Olomigbona Village in Ajanaku Ward, and more than 40 hand-pump boreholes repaired so far have solved the problems of water scarcity, providing clean and drinkable water for hundreds of households in Moro Local Government.
The welfare of civil servants under her watch as local government boss is not compromised, as workers are being paid promptly. The local government secretariat wore a new look with the total renovation of all staff offices at the Secretariat and Clinic, with the provision of drugs to the clinic. The retirees are not left out of her administration; all steps have been put in place for them to get paid for what they have laboured for without stress, which has been manifesting with 90 percent of retirees in Moro Local Government smiling to the bank every month.
Her rural electrification project has ended many years of darkness in some communities and boosted the economy of some areas in Moro Local Government. Provision and installation of a 300KVA power transformer at Shao in Shao Ward, and another 300KVA power transformer at Malete in Malete Ward, have had a great impact on the lives of communities. The one in Malete has curbed many criminal acts caused by the sound of generators that blocked alerts from students when they were attacked by criminals around the community, Training of youths for Solar Power Installation across 17 wards in Moro local government by Agbeke/Ada'ara Administration is another source of resolving rural power electrification in many communities in Moro Local Government.
The smooth running of the council also rests on the performance of the legislative council. Her administration has prioritized their welfare as she renovated their chamber to enhance smooth and effective legislative business, purchased a new branded 18-seater Hummer Bus to ease their mobility to the office with standard furniture, and purchased an official car for the Speaker as the leader of the legislative council.
Another bold step of her administration is the construction of the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq Ultra-Modern Trailer Park with Shopping Complex and Hotel for travelers to curb serious accidents caused by trailers parked at roadsides in Oloru; the purchase of official cars for her Vice Chairman, DPM, and Local Government Treasurer to ease their mobility and increase the work rate of the council. Alhaja Chief (Mrs.) Mariam Abdulwasiu Omotayo has also used her initiatives and influence to facilitate projects and programmes for youths, women, and elders in Moro Local Government.
Her achievements are not limited to governance alone. She has done remarkably well with her initiatives to end political factions in Moro APC, bringing together some aggrieved members and elders for the progress of the party and to build one united family under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s APC.
The achievements of Alhaja Chief (Mrs.) Mariam Abdulwasiu Omotayo within her first one year in office strongly reflect her leadership committed to actionable results rather than political posturing. Her administration's relentless focus on security, education, agriculture, infrastructure, civil servants’ welfare, retirees’ welfare, and governance reforms has exceeded expectations, dispelling the doubts of critics who questioned her capacity to lead while balancing family life. The transformative impact of her leadership style will be felt for years to come, solidifying her legacy in the annals of Moro's history.
Indeed, her one year in office has been nothing short of transformational. No wonder the Ohoro of Shao Kingdom, Oba Dr. Job Ọbalowu Atolagbe Ilufemiloye Ayanwola IV, bestowed on her a prestigious title of Yeyemeso of Shao Kingdom. She was also conferred with another title as the Zeenatu Deenul Islam of Moro Land (Oso Adini Ile Moro Lapapo) by the Council of Ulammah and Imams in Moro Local Government, and given an Award and vote of confidence by Moro Student Union National Headquarters. Today, the Executive Chairperson of Moro Local Government and Yeyemeso of Shao Kingdom, Alhaja Chief (Mrs.) Mariam Abdulwasiu Omotayo, has redefined leadership in Moro Local Government, not just as the first female Chairperson in the history of Moro, but as a performer whose achievements speak for themselves. Her journey is not just impactful; it is inspirational. And if the first year is anything to go by, then the people of Moro can confidently look forward to more years of progress under her purposeful leadership.
Shuaib AbdulWahab Alikinla is Media Assistant to Moro Local Government Chairperson, writing from Safari Village, Malete Ward.
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