Kunle Adelabu
The representative of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Defense, Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson has revealed that his iCare Foundation’s Foodbank scheme has provided food support for over 30, 000 households since inception.
He made the statement to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the laudable food programme which has impacted on the people of the lkorodu division.
At the special edition of the monthly programme held on Saturday, October 16, 2021, at the lawmaker’s Constituency Office located along the Ipakodo-Igbogbo road, about 1000 beneficiaries received bags of food items tagged, ‘Apo – Anu’, and containing, rice, beans, wheat, beverages, groundnut oil among others.
The lawmaker, who said that he was concerned about the economic hardship in the country, also added that the quantities of the items being provided in the bags have increased.
“You, the beneficiaries, are our special guests for today’s event. They are the people who want to have smiles on their faces”, he said.
Rep. Babajimi said that he chose to identify with the people first before going to Onikan Stadium for the State Congress of his party because the electorate who put him in office are also thanking him for what he’s offering them.
“I appreciate you because I called you and you answered. No matter how small it is (the package), you gladly accept it and say thank you.
“You will be blessed and shall also be a blessing to other people. Your children will also be in high places in Jesus name, amen”.
While assessing the program in the last five years, Rep. Benson said:
“So far, so good, we have tried our best to touch the lives of the vulnerable in our modest effort. Looking at how much the prices of food products have gone up today. We instituted this programme to assist the vulnerable in the society”, the two – term lawmaker said.
“Even in a time like this, we have doubled the quantity of the items being given to further assist the vulnerable people in the constituency”, he added.
“We have increased the number of beneficiaries too in consideration of the harsh economic realities.
“Within the last five years that we started this food program, we have been able to feed 30,000 families. Let’s assume that we have four members in each of these families, you can imagine how many individuals that we have catered for which is about 120, 000”, he revealed.
“Aside from giving out food items, we have, in terms of development in this area, built hospitals, impactful roads, schools in about twenty – six locations, helped people into the military service and civil service as well”, he said on the other areas that he has impacted through his representation.
“Presently, we are building an hospital in Imota which happens to be the biggest in Lagos East with eighty beds which will likely be ready within the range of four to five months”, Rep. Benson added.
Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, Chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), described the ‘Apo – Anu’ food program as excellent and appealed to beneficiaries to keep supporting Rep. Benson.
“This initiative is an excellent program and the size of the turnout shows that it is very impactful and people are very happy about it”, the Octogenarian said.
Basorun urged beneficiaries to continue to support and pray for Hon. Benson because of his large heart and also pray that he continues the food program.
“The most important thing I want to talk about is about those who don’t have their voters’ card yet, they have said you people should go and get your voters card. Please, ensure that you do this, because when the time comes for you to pay him (Rep. Benson) back with your vote and you don’t have a voter’s card that you will use to vote, then, how do you want to do that?
“There are also some of you that have the card but do not usually go out to vote, there’s need for people with this kind of attitude to have a change of mind because of someone like Hon. Benson”.
The Chairman of Igbogbo/ Bayeku LCDA, Builder Sesan Daini, in his own remarks, said:
“If you do good, good things will surely come your way. Hon. Jimi Benson is treading on a path that is worthy of emulation and I pray that the grace to continue to lead will be bestowed unto you”, he prayed.
Some of the beneficiaries that spoke with THE IMPACT also commended the good gesture of the lawmaker.
Mrs Arowolo Motunrayo, from Ijede LCDA, said:
“I pray God will continue to bless him. He has been doing it before and he will continue to do even more of this”.
Mr Tajudeen Sikiru, from Ikorodu Local Government, in his own reaction, said:
“Though, we have been having representatives in Ikorodu before now, but Babajimi Benson is different. We are praying for him to go higher because he is a good man who has the interest of his people at heart.
“Is it the education, health, infrastructure or the food he provides for the needy? We wish he can come back to do more because he is a kind hearted man and he is worthy of emulation because he is different. So, we pray God will continue to bless him and his family and all that he does shall be successful”, he prayed.
Mrs Elizabeth Onasanya, from Elepe in Ijede LCDA, also speaking with our reporters, said:
“I want to thank him for all that he has been doing, even if it just the needy that he takes good care of, God will take good care of his household too”.
Monsuratu Bakare, from Ward A in Ikorodu Local Government, said:
“We thank him and God will continue to bless him because all that he is doing is giving joy to the people. May God continue to bless him”, she also prayed.
Also in attendance to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the iCare food programme were political chieftains, religious leaders, community developers, youth groups and many others.
