Kunle ADELABU
The representative of Ikorodu Constituency ll in the Lagos State House of Assembly , Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, on Friday,April 27,2018, empowered over 360 Constituents who are artisans with various business tools and items during the 3rd edition of his Annual Bibire empowerment Programme tagged, ‘Mega Empowerment 2018’.
At the programme which was held at the U.P.E Playing Ground, Ebute Ajebo Road, Imota, the first term lawmaker also listed his representative achievements in the last three years as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
He stated that the reason for the empowerment scheme is to give the people of his constituency economic freedom and sustain them in this period of hardship.
“The motive behind this annual programme is to alleviate the sufferings of my people as part of the dividends of democracy. It also an avenue for me to render my stewardship account to you in the last three years as part of my promises during electioneering campaign”, he stated.
“I owe you a duty as your Representative in the Lagos State House of Assembly in line with the theory of social contract. You will agree with me that some promises had been actualized while some are yet to materialize but with your support and prayers we shall have cause to rejoice in the end.”
At this year’s empowerment programme, 336 constituents were empowered with 50 sewing machines, 50 hairdressing dryers, 10 vulcanizing machines, 30 pepper grinding machines and 30 sets of barbing equipment with generators.
Other empowerment equipment and items distributed were 30 farming tools, 30 fishing nets and 15 crates of soft drinks with coolers which were given out to 70 people.
Hon. Solaja added, “The officials of Coca Cola Bottling Company are here to obtain the addresses of the beneficiaries for easy delivery. Refrigerators will also be distributed to some of them who have shops.
“Another 36 people will receive five cartoons of indomie noddles on wholesale and retail arrangements. Note that I will stand as your guarantor in this regard”, he assured.
“I,therefore, enjoin the beneficiaries not to offer the given items for sale but to make the maximum use of the opportunity for their benefits”, he pleaded.
He assured those not considered in this year’s edition that they would benefit from the subsequent editions.
Hon. Solaja, while rolling out his legislative achievements at the Lagos State House of Assembly, stated:
“This 8th Assembly, which commences in June 2015, had passed a total number of 25 bills into laws while several others are still in different stages of passage.
“Among the 25 laws passed are kidnapping Prohibition Law which seek to address kidnapping of innocent citizens for money making by people of the underworld; Neighbourdhood Safety Corps Law which seeks to strengthen our security in the face of all sort of crimes in the state; Land Grabbing Prohibition Law which seeks to address the spate of Landgrabbers (Ajagun Gbale) that has pervaded the nook and cranny of the state among other vibrant Laws”, he added.
“I wish to state categorically that members of the 8th Assembly are passionate about the security and welfare of our Constituents hence, the need for vibrant Laws that will protect them at all times. Against this background, 192 Resolutions had been passed in this 8th Assembly for the benefits of Lagosians.
Speaking on achievements that had his direct representative and lobbying input, Hon. Solaja stated:
“As your representative, in 2016, I facilitated the relocation of Mile 12 Market to Imota to further develop my constituency as well as expansion of Rice Processing project in Imota.
“Also, the establishment of Industrial Park in Imota, Rehabilitation of Public Primary and Secondary Schools across my constituency were also facilitated as well as the ongoing road construction at Igbogbo-Ipakodo axis through Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Igbe road and construction of Igbogbo Mini Stadium”.
Solaja also listed his self-help projects to include training for 97 students in computer ; distribution of GCE forms to 125 students; organizing an essay and quiz competition where all participants were given GCE forms while those in first positions were given laptops in each of the three editions; construction of boreholes in the three councils in his Constituency and numerous gift items which were distributed to the adherents of the three religions across the constituency in 2015.
For 2016 self-sponsored projects, the lawmaker listed the construction of Constituency Building in Imota and renting of two offices in Ijede and Imota for constituency works; distribution of 150 GCE forms for indigent students to support their academic pursuit; presentation of three computer sets to the best students in the 2016 edition of the Quiz and Essay competitions; provision of boreholes in the three councils under his constituency and distributions of various gift items to adherents of the three religions in Imota, Ijede and Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDAs.
In the same vein in 2017, the lawmaker stated that he again, constructed one borehole in each of the three councils, totalling nine boreholes constructed in 3 years; organized poverty alleviation scheme for 200 aged people and securing employment for his constituents in the teaching service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Claener Lagos, Lagos Government Service Commission and lecturing positions in higher institutions.
Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, while speaking to the media at the event, stated that, “Hon. Solaja is very conscious of where he is coming from and he is doing very well to impact on his people and constituency. This empowerment programme is beyond 2019 elections. I will personally endorsed him for second term because he has performed very well. He has always being coming back to give us feedback and this is what the people who voted for him want. He is a good and responsible representative”.
Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the representative of Ikorodu Constituency I, while also speaking with the media stated, “ I feel so impressed because a member of Lagos State House of Assembly is doing so much for his people despite the fact that there is no constituency allowance but nevertheless using his own hard earned resources. My prayer is that everybody that gets any of the empowerment tools would use it for the intended purpose and not sell it”.
Hon. Babajimi Benson, Member, Federal House of Representative, in his own comment stated, “Empowering the constituents is not an easy job, but Hon Solaja has done very well in this regard. This is really a mega empowerment scheme that would go a long way in making our people economic independent. The beneficiaries should be extremely grateful and use the equipment very well for the purpose they are intended for”.
Beneficiaries’ Reactions :
Adesanya Tejumola Kazeem from Imota LCDA (Beneficiary of Pepper Grinding Machine):
“I’m extremely happy for this gesture of being empowered with a grinding machine. I will use it to take care of myself and family”.
Adebayo Rukayat from Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA (Beneficiary of Hairdressing dryer)
“I thank Hon. Solaja greatly for the empowerment. I pray that God will continue to bless him and grant his prayer requests.”
Angela Nweke (Beneficiary of Farm tools)
“This equipment will go a long way in helping my farming activities. I pray that God will continue to bless our honourable and reward him accordingly.”
