By Dapo Ipool

The idiomatic expression of “a chip off the old block” means that someone is very similar to their parents, especially in their character or behavior. In Cambridge dictionary, it implies that a child shares many traits with their parent(s). On a more elucidatory note, the phrase describes a close resemblance, whether it’s in appearance, personality, or habits.

It suggests that a child’s traits are inherited or shaped by their parent(s). The idiom is informal and commonly used in everyday conversation. The term dates back to ancient times, with an analogy to a chip of stone or wood that closely resembles the larger block it was cut from.

The name, Adebayo Adafarati, was one of the names that sent the men in uniform packing during the military junta. To send the men in uniform back to the barracks, National Democratic Coalition,NADECO, was a leading organization in the fight against the military during the despotic reign of General Sanni Abacha. In the struggle against the return of the men in uniform to the barracks was a prominent figure earlier mentioned. He played formidable roles that brought about the democracy that we all enjoy today. The hard toils, sacrifices day and night are unimaginable, and this can not be forgotten in a jiffy, even by the generations yet unborn. Little wonder he was appointed twice as the State Commissioner of Works and Transport, under the administration of Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin. As destiny would have it, he became the executive Governor of Ondo State, with state-of-the-art transmogrification to boost. While he held sway, he was a spartan and puritanical disciplinarian who brooked no administrative excesses.

As a noble scion, Hon. Gboyega Adefarati, is a House of Representatives member, representing Akoko South East/Akoko South West Federal constituency in the National Assembly. Known for his Midas touch, MHR Adefarati has always left an indelible imprints at every opportunity to serve. Been a former Commissioner of Agriculture in Ondo State, the ministry under his holistic watch attracted the attention and recognition of world organizations like World Bank, International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), Food and Agriculture Organizations(FAO), Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project(L-PRES), Agro-processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support Project(APPEALS), Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project for the Niger Delta(LIFE-ED). For his avuncularity in the National Assembly, he advocated for the importance of upholding worker’s rights, enforcing fair wages, creating a safe and inclusive work environment; facilitated job for the teeming jobless youths in his constituency; renovated and constructed school buildings and classrooms; provided and installed transformers in some rural areas who have been in darkness for years.

Known for his ardent passion for the welfare of his constituents, he has provided solar streetlights across his constituency; gave out thousands of notebooks to pupils in public schools; provided grants to hundreds of artisans and market women; distributed empowerment materials like sewing machines, dryers, grinding machines, generators and deep freezers; donated solar powered boreholes to the various communities across his constituency; constructed modern Police stations, town halls, culverts, and health centers; distributed agricultural equipment to thousands of farmers; distributed thousands of bags of fertilizers to farmers, as well as the renovation of dysfunctional boreholes across the 26 wards in his constituency.

Without sounding immodest, Hon. Gboyega Adefarati is one of the few representatives who passionately serves the interest of his people. He has always been a voice for the voiceless, and a helping hand to the have-nots- windows, widowers and the less privileged. For his quality representation, his constituents are having life in abundance in terms of social amenities and timely interventionist programmes.

Dapo Ipoola, a media consultant wrote in from Abuja.