Hassan Bello Emerges as the Preferred Grassroots Aspirant for Ibadan South West LG Chairmanship

Residents of Ibadan South West Local Government Area say Hassan Bello’s long-standing involvement at the ward and community level makes him the right choice for the council chairmanship.

Across several wards in the LGA, residents who have interacted with Bello over the years point to his consistent presence in community meetings, youth engagements, and local dispute-resolution efforts. They argue that this track record gives him a practical grasp of the day-to-day issues affecting traders, artisans, students, and families in neighborhoods from Oke-Ado to Ring Road and Apata.

“Empirically, Hassan Bello is roundly grounded in the grassroots,” said Mrs. Adeola Fatai, a trader at Oja-Oba. “He doesn’t show up only during election time. We have seen him sit with market leaders and youth groups to talk about drainage, security, and how to keep the environment clean.”

Others highlight his accessibility and familiarity with ward structures. Mr. Tunde Olanrewaju, a community leader in Challenge area, said Bello’s approach has been to listen first and act on feedback from ward executives and community associations. “When you want to serve a local government like Ibadan South West, you need someone who knows the people by name and knows what each ward is facing. That is why many of us see him as the right choice,” he said.

Residents also cite concerns that have persisted in the LGA, including waste management, road maintenance in inner streets, support for small businesses, and creating opportunities for young people. They say a chairman with grassroots grounding would be better placed to translate these concerns into practical local interventions and to maintain regular communication with ward leaders.

Ibadan South West is one of Oyo State’s most populous and politically active LGAs, combining dense urban settlements with expanding peri-urban communities. Political watchers note that candidates who demonstrate sustained ward-level engagement often perform strongly in local elections, where voter mobilization and trust at the polling unit level are decisive.

Community leaders say the coming weeks will be important for all aspirants to present clear plans for the LGA. For now, a growing number of residents in Ibadan South West say Hassan Bello’s record of grassroots contact makes him their preferred choice for the chairmanship position.