Apero Mekunu - Oyo State

02/02/2026

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” — James Baldwin

It’s a new month, but we are still asking the same questions. That alone should tell us something. February feels like a good time to pause and ask ourselves where we really are, not where we hoped to have been by now. We know what is wrong. We have named the problems over and over again. The real issue is this: what are we doing with the knowledge we already have? This week, let’s sit with that question honestly. Not to accuse ourselves, but to spark real conversations about growth, responsibility, and what moving forward should actually look like.

31/01/2026

Imagine that it is 2026, big 2026, and on your way home you are quietly praying, God please let
there be light when I get home. This is the reality for so many people. Late into the night, all
you hear are generators humming, filling the air with noise and fumes. People rely on solar
power or generators just to get through the day, which means those who cannot afford these
options are left struggling in the dark. This is not comfort. This is survival.
In parts of Oyo State, this struggle has gone on for years. In Ibarapa North, some communities
have lived without steady electricity for a very long time, despite being connected to the grid.
Years without light has become normal there, and that should worry all of us. This is not
something we should adapt to or accept as our fate. We need to stop getting used to things that
are not right, and start asking questions. When we speak up, pay attention, and demand better,
we remind those in power that basic needs like electricity are not privileges. They are rights

The presence of electricity poles, cables and transformers can easily mislead a visitor into thinking residents of Ayete, Tapa, Igangan an...

26/01/2026

“Just because you do not take an interest in politics does not mean politics will not take an
interest in you” - Pericles
So you think politics does not concern you because you do not have power anyway? Because you are not running for office or sitting in government? But do you realize that politics shows up in almost every detail of your life? From how much you pay for transportation and fuel, to school fees, hospital bills, power supply, and even how much rent your landlord charges. These are not random problems. They are shaped by decisions made by people in positions of authority. When policies fail or leadership lacks direction, everyday people feel it first and feel it the hardest. Choosing not to care does not protect you from the consequences. It only removes your voice from the conversation. Being politically aware is not about shouting online or knowing every policy by heart. It is about understanding that leadership decisions affect your
daily life, and choosing to pay attention because your life is already involved.

20/01/2026

“In a democracy, the highest office is the office of citizen.”
Louis Brandeis
When citizens disengage, power becomes unchecked. When people stop paying attention after
elections, promises fade quietly and decisions are made without public pressure. Participation
does not end at the ballot box. It continues in staying informed, asking questions, and refusing
to look away when things begin to slip.
As this year unfolds, we are reminded that our role does not end with voting or online
conversations. It shows up in how we follow up, how we hold leaders to their words, and how
we stay present in our communities. A strong democracy is built by citizens who understand
their value and use it consistently. If we want better leadership, it begins with us choosing to
be better citizens

16/01/2026

What can we do today to make a difference? We can start by understanding the process.
Knowing when elections are happening, how to register, and where to vote already puts you in
a stronger position.
You can also help by sharing correct information and gently correcting false narratives when
you see them. Encouraging calm and thoughtful conversations matters more than arguing.
Small efforts like these help create a more informed and responsible society

14/01/2026

In December, a trailer lost control in Ibadan and rammed into several vehicles on the road. Six
people died. Others were injured. Families lost loved ones in a moment they never saw coming.
People were simply going about their day, commuting, running errands, trying to get home. By
the end of that day, lives were gone, and many questions were left unanswered.
Incidents like this force us to look beyond the accident itself. They make us think about road
safety, regulation, enforcement, and whether the systems meant to protect people are actually
working. Better leadership does not bring back lost lives, but it can prevent future loss. As we
think about the choices we make this year, especially when it comes to leadership, we must ask
who truly cares about human life. Who is ready to put safety, responsibility, and people first,
not just power.

The FRSC spokesman in Oyo, Mayowa Odewo, told journalists in Ibadan on Monday in a text message that five persons were injured in the accident.

12/01/2026

“The ballot is stronger than the bullet” Abraham Lincoln said this many years ago, and it still
holds weight today. It reminds us that real power does not always come from force or noise,
but from participation. Especially in a year like this, when campaigns are starting and political
conversations are getting louder.
This is a campaigning year. Promises will be made, faces will appear everywhere, and everyone
will suddenly remember the people. But beyond the noise, the ballot remains one of the
clearest ways ordinary people can speak. Voting is not just a right. It is a statement of what you
want and what you are no longer willing to accept.
Choosing not to vote is also a choice. Silence creates space for others to decide your future for
you. As this year unfolds, let’s remember that participation starts with paying attention and
ends with showing up. Your ballot may feel small, but many small choices shape the future we
all live in

09/01/2026

This year is not for watching from the sidelines. It’s not a year to fold your arms and hope
others will fix everything for you. 2026 is asking something different. Attention, commitment,
participation, and courage. If you’ve ever felt that change is somebody else’s job, this week is
your reminder that you are part of the picture too.
Apero Mekunu exists for people who want to be involved, not passive. For people who want to
understand, not just react. For people who want to build, not just complain. If this sounds like
you, if you’re ready to be intentional, informed, and active, then this space is yours. Let’s
commit to moving differently this year together

06/01/2026

Last year taught us a lot, and not always in gentle ways. We saw frustrations, broken systems,
hard moments, and stories that hit close to home. In Ibadan, a young student heading to take
his WAEC exam was tragically killed by a stray bullet on his way. A moment that shook families
and raised hard questions about safety and responsibility here in Oyo State.
That kind of news reminds us that the challenges we talk about aren’t just headlines. They
affect real people with real dreams. If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that change doesn’t fall from
the sky. It comes from being aware, being involved, and refusing to look away when things are
hard. We cannot afford to be uninformed or indifferent this year.

A stray bullet has killed a student who was heading to the examination centre to sit for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination

05/01/2026

It’s a new year. The calendar has changed, but our country didn’t suddenly wake up different.
The same issues we faced in 2025 are still here in 2026, and nothing magically fixed itself
because we flipped a page on the calendar. So beyond the celebratory messages and “Happy
New Year” there’s a deeper question waiting for us. What are we really going to do this year?
In 2026, what are you willing to do differently? Not wish, not hope, not just talk about it. Do
differently. This year will not change on its own. It will only change because people like you
and me decide to stay aware, speak up, and show up in the spaces that matter. So let’s start the
week by thinking not just about a good year, but a meaningful one.

04/01/2026

We asked the streets what Oyo really needs… and they didn’t hold back.”

30/12/2025

DID YOU KNOW?
Oyo State loses a significant amount of food not because farmers fail to grow it, but because
too much of it never makes it past harvest. Crops spoil due to poor storage, weak
transportation systems, and a lack of nearby processing facilities. Farmers do the hard work of
planting and harvesting, only to watch part of their yield waste away because there are not
enough silos, cold rooms, aggregation centers, or reliable farm to market roads. This is not a
farming problem. It is a systems problem.
What makes it more frustrating is that these are gaps government policy is meant to fill. With
better investment in storage infrastructure, processing hubs, and logistics support, farmers
could earn more, food prices could stabilize, and waste could drop significantly. Instead, much
of the burden is left on individual farmers who simply do not have the resources to fix
structural failures on their own. When food rots after harvest, it is not just a loss for farmers. It
is a failure of planning, coordination, and political will.