Kunle ADELABU
– Says constituents upliftment programme will be a continuous exercise
-Party leaders, traditional chiefs, beneficiaries commend lawmaker, support his re-election bid
It was yet another testimony of impacting representation by Hon. Babajimi Benson, Member, Federal House of Representatives, representing Ikorodu Constituency I, as he ‘uplifted’ hundreds of his constituents with tricycles, working equipment and home appliances.
Fifteen tricycles, popularly known as ‘Keke Marwa’ in local parlance, as well as scores of motorcycles, sewing machines, hairdryers, gas cookers, grinding machines, vulcanizing machines, freezers, generators and home appliances were distributed to about 1000 constituents at a well-attended ceremony held at Hon.Benson’s constituency office along Ebute-Igbogbo road, Ikorodu.
The tricycles were distributed to the beneficiaries at the weekend.
Financial grants worth N3million were also given to the six market associations in the federal constituency as support for their businesses. According to an aide of the lawmaker, the leadership of the markets in each of the six councils are expected to give a minimum of N20,000 each to market women and men from the N500, 000 allocated to them.
According to the federal lawmaker, the Constituents upliftment programme, which was designed to support constituents economically, would be a continuous exercise.
Hon. Benson, while speaking at the programme, was full of appreciation to his party and the generality of his constituents for their supports and prayers.
He also assured that he would continually initiate programmes and activities that would positively impact on them.
“This is just the beginning. This programme is going to be a continuous programme. We are going to have the second, third, fourth and other editions”, he said to the jubilant crowd.
The Federal lawmaker also used the occasion to state some of his achievements in the last 3 years as the representative of the people.
“Within three years as your representative, we have 8 schools and one ICT Centre named ‘Abiodun Ogunleye ICT Centre’.
“We have successfully executed constituency projects across the division. We have also facilitated five transformers to different communities, constructed boreholes, streetlights, provided grader and roller for street grading and provided employment opportunities”, he added.
Mayor Deen Sanwoola, the Director-General, iCare Movement which is the operational arm of Hon. Benson, while also speaking at the event , stated that the programme was tagged ‘Upliftment’ because they intend to have meaningful impact on the people.
“We deliberately tagged the programme ‘Upliftment’ because we have seen that empowerment programmes doesn’t work again. We intend to have programme that would impact meaningfully on the people”, he stated.
“It’s our own way of caring for the constituents and giving back to them.
“It’s not an easy task to pick beneficiaries from the 30 wards and 6 councils in Ikorodu Federal Constituency.
“Nine slots each were allocated to the Wards and LGAs. We also allocated slots to the people on our data base. We actually have 38,000 people on our data base” , he stated.
He pleaded that the beneficiaries should make good use of whatever given to them while also assuring those that do not benefit that the exercise is a continuous one.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) State Deputy Chairman, Hon. Sunny Ajose, in his own address, enjoined Ikorodu people to be thankful for Hon. Benson for getting back to them regularly unlike others.
He also pleaded with the beneficiaries to put the equipment into good use and not sell them.
Mrs Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, State APC Woman Leader, described the lawmaker as a worthy lawmaker and assured him that women were solidly behind him.
Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, in his own remarks, thanked the lawmaker for keeping faith with the people that elected him and gave his support for his re-election bid for another term.
In his own remarks, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, APC Chieftain, stated that the performances of Hon. Benson is a result of given a young man the opportunity to represent.
He commended his feedback programmes to the party leaders and the people and also gave his support for his second term bid.
The royal fathers in the division; Oba Kabiru Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Fatai Ajibade Agoro, the Ranodu of Imota, Oba Richard Ogunsanya, the Olubeshe of Ibeshe, Oba Akeem Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin and Oba Sotonwa, Sekumade of Ipakdo, also took turn to commend Hon. Benson and gave his re-election bid royal blessings.
Other APC leaders like Princess Adenrele Ogunsanya, former Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola, former Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Chief Dele Olowu, Otunba Ganiu Olusegun Abiru, the Chairman, Ikorodu Oga-Development Association (IKODASS) and Lagos East senatorial aspirant among many others also commended the lawmaker and supported his re-election bid.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Taye Balogun, who was given a gas cooker, stated that, “This is great and God will continue to bless Hon. Benson. After this, I expect him to do more because this can not go round everybody. He needs to also give back to those who are not party people but who are also instrumental to his emergence. Although, his ‘Apo-Anu’ programme is helping greatly, but he still has to do more”.
Mrs Adebayo, a beneficiary of a grinding machine, in her own response stated that, “I really thank God for Hon. Benson. He will continue to prosper and be elevated. His work will not experience setbacks and God shall protect his family and all that concerns him”.
Alhaja Adesanya, the APC Secretary, Ward C, Owutu in Ikorodu West LGA and a beneficiary of a generating set, stated that, “I’m thankful for this gift. May God continue to guide him on whatever path he has chosen. He deserves to govern Lagos State after his second term as our representative in the Federal House of Representatives”.
Mr Morufu Raji Iyiola from Igbogbo/Bayeku LGA, a beneficiary of a generating set, stated that, ”We thank God for this empowerment by Hon. Benson. This will not be the end of his empowerment and other programmes. Those in authority should do more of programmes like this if they want people to follow them. It is a way of encouraging both party people and others that are in need of assistance from the government. It will also encourage us to support them, especially during elections”.
Mr Idowu Tajudeen, from Ward B in Ikorodu LGA, a beneficiary of a hairdryer, stated that, “I love this empowerment programme because it’s the first time I’m benefiting from the party since about 20 years that I have been participating in politics. It’s a wonderful programme. I will be giving the hairdryer to someone that is badly in need of it”.
