Campaign For 2019 Has Begun And We Are Not In Support Of Any Aspirant – Hon. Benson

Kunle ADELABU

-Gives out cars to loyalists at his foundation’s end of year party

The representative of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives in Abuja, Hon. Babajimi Benson, has publicly declared that his political platform would not be supporting any aspirant for any position in the forthcoming 2019 General Elections.

He made this declaration during the iCare Foundation’s End-of-the-year party held at the Sky Bar of Fun City Building located on Lagos Road, Ikorodu, on Friday, December 29, 2017.

The Federal lawmaker also gave two of his loyalists, Hon. Jokomba and Mr Bimbo Owomilowomi, cars as surprise end-of-the-year gifts.

“The campaign for 2019 has started and iCare Movement will not be supporting any aspirant for any elective position except our own aspirant (Hon. Babajimi Benson) since they are all aspiring on our party’s platform. Our energy and resources would be deployed towards achieving our own return to the Federal House”, Hon. Benson stated.

“We are not going to give support to any aspirant since they are all our people and we must not be seen to be giving support to one against others”, he explained.

“I want to thank my party, leaders, electorate and members of iCare Foundation for their supports since the inception of this dispensation”.

“I also thank members of my movement for their inspirations, ideas and supports. Without you guys, I don’t know what I will be saying today”, Hon. Benson said thankfully.

Also, his wife, Jumoke, in her own speech stated that, “We have reasons to be thankful. Three years ago when we held the inaugural edition of our end-of-the-year party, we were about 25 in attendance but today, as you can see, we are over 200 in attendance. It shows approval of our ideals, principles and representations”.

“I thank you all for supporting my husband and his foundation, iCare”, she stated.

Earlier, the Senior Legislative Aide to Hon. Benson, Mr Bayo Oteju, in his opening address at the gathering, stated that the emergence of Hon. Benson in Ikorodu’s political firmament is the beginning of a new era.

“The emergence of our own representative, Hon. Babajimi Benson and his foundation, iCare, is a dawn of new era in Ikorodu division, Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole. Since inception, we have planned and executed people- oriented programmes”, Mr Oteju stated.

“We always started our planning with God and He is always reflects in our implementation and delivery. iCare is innovative and we are in politics to make lasting changes which is the reason our members stand out”, he added.

Mayor Deen Sanwoola, the Director-General of iCare Movement, in his keynote address listed the achievements of Hon. Benson and iCare Foundation since 2017.

“Since the emergence of Hon. Babajimi Benson, the Ikorodu political space has not been the same. We have initiated many programmes which have impacted on the lives of the people and Lagos State as a whole”, Mayor Sanwoola stated.

“We introduced Foodbank project which is our way of giving back to the society, especially to the old age, needy, less privilege and those that are vulnerable and cannot fend for themselves. The initiative is the first by any federal lawmaker in Nigeria”, he stated.

“We also appreciated our women in the party and community for their supports and contributions to the development of our party and the community”.

“Within the same year,  we introduced Start-Up programme for the youths which is another first in Nigeria and we have been able to secured funding for 85 of our members. The initiative has also made the Lagos State Government to partner with us”, he added.

“As a proactive and innovative organization, the Foundation has also been able to develop technology to monitor political activities, especially during the electioneering periods.While others are running around the polling booths, we can conveniently sit down in our Situation Room to monitor the polling centres and votes been cast. Through this technology, we know the strengths of the oppositions in certain areas”, Mayor Sanwoola said of the innovation.

He also listed Back-to-School initiative and facilitation of the construction of block of classrooms in schools among other programmes initiated and executed in 2017 by Hon. Benson and his foundation.

He added that Hon.Benson has also been delivering on his primary assignment which is lawmaking and oversight functions,stating that “Hon. Babajimi is the best in Nigeria in this regard”.

Speaking on exchange of gifts among iCare members which is usually a major part of the annual get-to-together event, Sanwoola said it’s a way of creating bonds among members.

“Exchange of gifts among the iCare members is our own way of creating bonds. The whole essence is to encourage harmonious relationship among our members”, Mayor Sanwoola stated.

Members of iCare Foundation took their turn one-after-the-other to state why they chose to be members of the foundation and they all identified the personalities of Hon. Babajimi Benson and other leaders of the foundation as their motivating factors.

The event featured a dance competition while members of the foundation and guests were treated to varieties of sumptuous meals and drinks.

Among guests that attended the occasion were Comrade Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Hon. Wasiu Agoro, Chairman, Imota LCDA, Hon. Adeola Banjo, Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, Barr. Ade Ayeni, Secretary to the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Hon. Titilola Adegbenga, Vice Chirman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Hon. Ola Ameen Apanisile, Vice Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, Hon. Wasiu Olowu, the Majority Leader, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and the Majority Leader of Ikorodu North LCDA.

Others were Alhaji Taiwo Longe, APC Chairman, Ikorodu LGA, Elder Olakitan, APC Chairman, Ikorodu West LGA, Mrs Toyin Salau, APC Chairman, Ikorodu North LGA and Evangelist Falohun, APC Chairman, Ijede LGA among other party leaders.