- Turns Late Gov’s Legacy to New Grassroots Movement
BY KEHINDE AKINPELU ILORIN
Members of the family of the late former Oyo State Governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, have extended financial support to two women who lost their husbands in the recent kidnapping crisis in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, declaring that the late governor’s legacy of service must continue to touch the lives of ordinary people.
The intervention, presented on Tuesday by the former First Lady of Oyo State and Chairperson of the Alao-Akala Transformation Movement (ATM), Chief (Mrs) Oluwakemi Alao-Akala, alongside Pst Mrs Florence Alao-Akala, came ahead of the formal unveiling of ATM scheduled for Wednesday.
The gesture was presented against the backdrop of growing concerns over insecurity in Oyo State, including the May 2026 abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, an incident that triggered nationwide concern before the victims were eventually rescued after 56 days in captivity.
Speaking after the presentation, Chief (Mrs.) Alao-Akala said the financial assistance was intended to provide some immediate relief to the affected families, while acknowledging that no amount of money could compensate for the loss of a loved one.
“We have given them some money and we pray that God will multiply the money and that they will be able to use it properly. It is really nothing compared with what they have lost. Losing a loved one is a big deal,” she said.
She said the intervention was consistent with the humanitarian values associated with the Alao-Akala family, noting that the family had over the years supported students, widows, visually impaired persons and other vulnerable members of society.
According to her, the Alao-Akala Transformation Movement was conceived to provide a platform for sustaining the ideals of her late husband through initiatives targeted at community development, education, healthcare, youth and women empowerment and humanitarian assistance.
“We just thought it was right to unveil a political arm of the foundation, which we are going to launch in the future. We came up with Alao-Akala Transformation Movement,” she said.
Explaining the name, she said the initials “ATM” were derived from the name by which the late governor was popularly known, stressing that the movement would seek to translate his philosophy of service into practical interventions that respond to contemporary challenges.
The development comes months after the security crisis in Oriire, where armed men invaded three schools on May 15, 2026, abducting pupils and teachers, including a two-year-old child. The incident, one of the most serious school abductions reported in the South-West in recent years, led to public outrage and intensified security operations involving various security agencies and local security groups.
The victims were eventually rescued on July 10 after spending 56 days in captivity and were taken for medical and psychological attention. The incident, which also involved fatalities in captivity, renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect schools and rural communities across Oyo State.
It was against this wider security and humanitarian challenge that the Alao-Akala widows said their intervention should be viewed, stressing that families affected by violence often continue to suffer economic hardship long after the immediate incident.
Pastor (Mrs.) Alao-Akala said the support was not merely about giving money but about standing with families during periods of grief and uncertainty.
She noted that the loss of a breadwinner could expose families to serious economic difficulties, adding that individuals and organisations had a responsibility to support victims of insecurity and other vulnerable members of society.
Chief (Mrs.) Alao-Akala also urged Nigerians who have the means to assist others to do so, saying acts of kindness could create lasting impact.
“The general public should know that what you do today, there is tomorrow for everybody. Whatever you do today is going to be talked about tomorrow,” she said.
She added: “Whatever you can do to help society, help people. Be your brother’s keeper. Whatever you are able to do to help, do it. When you help, you are just loading your clouds.”
On governance, she acknowledged efforts by government but called for more action to improve the welfare of citizens and provide essential infrastructure.
“The government is taking care of us. They could do better,” she said.
She also disclosed that the Alao-Akala family had previously assisted students with Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board forms and undertaken other interventions for disadvantaged people.
Mrs. Alao-Akala said she recently visited students of the Alao-Akala College of Health Sciences and inspected the ongoing Alao-Akala Health Centre in Iseyin, expressing optimism that the facility would be completed despite financial constraints.
“We visited the ongoing Alao-Akala Health Centre in Iseyin and we were happy with how far we have gone. We should have completed it by now, but what we budgeted for has not been enough. By the grace of God, it should be completed,” she said.
Reflecting on the late governor’s legacy, she said his greatest achievement was the goodwill he built among the people during his lifetime.
“One thing about my husband is that he wrote his name in the hearts of the people. When your name is written in the hearts of people, it is there,” she said.
She urged political leaders to regard public office as an opportunity to serve the people rather than a means of personal enrichment, while praying for the success of those currently entrusted with governance.
The two beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the Alao-Akala family for the gesture, praying for continued blessings for the family and the success of ATM. They also appealed to government and relevant authorities to intensify efforts to address insecurity across the country.
The formal unveiling of the Alao-Akala Transformation Movement on Wednesday is expected to provide further insight into its programmes, structure and objectives, particularly its proposed interventions in grassroots development, education, healthcare, women and youth empowerment and humanitarian support.
For the Alao-Akala widows, the immediate assistance to the Orire victims represents more than a financial gesture; it is being presented as an early demonstration of their resolve to keep the late governor’s legacy of service alive by responding to the needs of people affected by hardship and insecurity.