Over 3,000 Ondo Elders Receive Free Healthcare in Political Outreach
In a significant health initiative, more than 3,000 senior citizens in Ondo State have benefited from a free medical outreach program. This effort, designed to improve the health and wellbeing of the elderly, is also strategically aimed at mobilizing grassroots support for President Bola Tinubu's re-election ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Organized by PBAT Mandate Elders Forum
The outreach is organized by the PBAT Mandate Elders Forum, a support group within the All Progressives Congress (APC). Operating in phases across the state, the program demonstrates a commitment to the welfare of the elderly while simultaneously strengthening political backing for Tinubu.
Facilitator Demola Ijabiyi emphasized that the initiative is part of a larger strategy to harness the influence of respected elders in communities. He disclosed that beneficiaries receive regular health checks and treatment for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and prostate issues.
Sponsored by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo
Ijabiyi revealed that the medical outreach is sponsored by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. The program began with approximately 500 beneficiaries and has since grown to over 3,000 elders, enrolling new participants in stages.
"We usually gather to interact and strategize for the election of our president. During these events, we noticed that our elders needed help. Our sponsor, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, stepped in. Since then, we have been addressing different aspects of their health," Ijabiyi stated.
Elders Provide Background Support
Ijabiyi described the senior citizens as vital to society, noting that while they may not be as mobile as younger individuals, they provide crucial background support. "We, the elders, cannot go out. We are not as mobile as the young ones. So, we have those young ones going about, and we are giving them background support. That's why I was there with them yesterday. They know that their elders are here, and it gives them confidence that what they are doing is exactly what their elders are doing," he explained.
Reconciliation of Party Factions
Addressing the recent crisis that rocked the APC in Ondo State, Ijabiyi disclosed that reconciliation has been achieved following intervention from the party's national leadership. "There's no more faction. There's no more faction in Ondo State. Now, let me tell you, before the Congress, we had some parallel Congresses. So, the national body intervened and reconciled the two groups, sharing the positions among us," he said.
He added, "So, there's no more faction as far as the party executive is concerned and as far as the party structure is concerned in Ondo State. Those who are going to Abuja are representing all of us. They are not going to Abuja divided."
Unprecedented Health Outreach
Bukola Oluderu, the Assistant Secretary of the PBAT Mandate Elders Forum, described the health outreach as unprecedented. She attributed its success to the minister's leadership and alignment with Tinubu's vision.
"I want to thank the President for all he has been doing for us. Ondo State had never had it this good. Since I joined politics years back. It's been wonderful. My plea is for women. If you see what the President is doing, especially our mother Senator Oluremi Tinubu who is the better half of the President. She is doing wonderfully well for the women," Oluderu stated.
The initiative highlights a blend of healthcare provision and political mobilization, showcasing how community welfare programs can be intertwined with electoral strategies in Nigeria's political landscape.
