Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
The Council Leader of Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Legislative Arm, Hon. Jessica Enitan Oba, has supported petty traders with fund to expand their businesses.
She empowered over 50 constituents and residents of Ipakodo in Ikorodu West of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, with the sum of N1millon as business support.
The presentation ceremony took place at the Ward A meeting venue in Ipakodo, Ikorodu West LCDA.
A cheque of N15, 000 each was presented to the beneficiaries who, alongside members and party members showered commendations on the council leader for her kind gesture.
Hon. Enitan Jessica Oba, speaking at e presentation event, thanked party leaders and members for their suppport since her assumption of office, and for honouring her invite to the empowerment programme.
She assured them that she would never disappointed them.
She pleaded for the understanding of those that are not benefitng from the empowerment, stating that they would be considered in the phase two and three of her empowerment scheme.
“I want to plead with those that are not benefitting today to know that they are not forgotten. There will be second and third editions of the empowerment programme when they too would be considered”, she pleaded.
“What we are doing today and have done before are small to what you all are still going to benefit from our party if you stay steadfast”, she assured party members.
“We all know that our party is a party of continuity. Our programmes and projects are always taken over and continued by the succeeding government or political office holders.”
The Ikorodu West LCDA Council Leader also charged party members and residents of Ipakodo to get their PVCs and vote APC candidates into various electoral offices.
“We are all aware of what is going on at the moment. Who is our next president in Nigeria? Let’s vote our party candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president in the next general elections”, she charged.
“If you have not collected your PVC, ensure that you go to the INEC office to collect it. They are waiting for you there. And those of you with temporary cards should keep it very well.
“Let us use our PVC to vote Gov. Olusola Sanwo-Olu as the governor; Tolunbo Abiru as Senator and Babajimi Benson for the House of Representatives and Gbolahan Ogunleye for the Ikorodu Constituency I Assembly”.
Mayor Muhydeen Sanwoola, the Director- General, iCare Foundation who chaired the ceremony, commended Hon. Jessica Enitan Oba for the initiative.
He charged political office holders on thorough vetting of empowerment beneficiaries so as to ensure that only those deserving and needing them get them and not those he described as ‘professional beggars’.
He also said that for empowerment programme to truly serves its purpose, must lift people out of poverty.
“I hope that this empowerment programme takes beneficiaries out of poverty because that’s the purpose it is intended for”, Mayor Sanwoola said.
The Chairman of the occasion who said he was proud of Hon. Jessica whom he said belongs to the iCare political family, also pledged that iCare will support the Councilor in the next edition of the programme.
The Executive Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, Hon. (Otunba) Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju also speaking, commended Hon. Oba who is the Councilor representing Ward A in the council, for putting money together to empower her constituents.
“It is commendable of our Council Leader to have set aside parts of her little earnings as a Councilor to empower people with”, he said.
“It is a sacrifice on her part because she has the interest of her people at heart. She raised the N1million empowerment fund on her own, she didn’t come to the council to ask for anything”.
The council chairman, while charging the beneficiaries to make good use of the money to encourage the donor to do more, also charged them to ensure that residents in the council give maximum votes to the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other party candidates for maximum benefits.
The immediate past Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, Hon. (Princess) Jumoke Ademehin, in her own remarks, said that:
“Jessica has proven what women are capable of doing if given power or political position”, Princess Ademehin said.
Prince (Alhaji) Jamiu Saka, Apex leader in Ikorodu West LCDA, said that the Councilor is setting a good track records, adding that he’s proud of the donor.
“My leader (Council Leader, Ikorodu West LCDA Legislative Arm), I can only pray for you to do more because you and the executive of the council are setting a very great track records not only for yourself, but as model for all of us”, Prince Saka said.
“You are living up to the mandate entrusted upon you by not only representing well, but also with tangible things to show as your account of stewardship and at same time, giving people the dividends of democracy.
“This is just the beginning and it shall never ends here”.
The APC leader charged the beneficiaries to make good use of the money given them to support their businesses.
“The money that you are being empowered with today is coming at a very critical period. It’s not meant for Christmas fabrics or turkey, but for investments into your businesses. Endeavour to make good use of it by improving your trade”, Prince Saka charged.
He further commended Hon. Oba as a responsible and responsive representative.
“My leader, you have shown that you are very responsive, reliable and responsive”, he said.
“When we wanted to chose the Council Leader, our focus wasn’t Ward or other considerations, but competence. In actual fact, those we considered then are all qualified, but we are very proud of you as the leader; we are proud of your achievements and you have been progressing by obtaining masters degree…”, the Apex leader recalled.
“Hon. Jessica Enitan Oba is only living up to her “Enitan’ (person of history). Se’s truly a person of history and good records”.
Mrs Eze, an Igbo APC leader, described the donor as a good person who is emulating her political leader.
“Jessica is a good lady and representative”, she said.
“She is emulating Hon. Babajimi Benson by doing things in his way. She doesn’t discriminate against other tribes”, she added.
Igbogbo/Bayeku and Imota LCDAs’ Council Leaders who graced the occasion also commended their Ikorodu West LCDA counterpart for her support for traders.
Some of the beneficiaries that spoke with THE IMPACT described Hon. Oba as a listening Councilor who cares for her constituents, and they pledged their total support to her.
Other leaders that attended the event and also commended Hon. Jessica Oba were: Mrs O.O.T. Benson, APC chieftain, Hon. Jide Banjoko, former Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA Hon. Femi Agbo, former, APC Ikorodu West LGA Chairman, Elder Odusoga, former Secretary to the Ikorodu LG, Captain Adewunmi Benson, APC chieftain, Engr. Ademehin, husband of the former council chairman, Arch. Taiwo Kara, APC chieftain and Hon. Femi Anifowoshe, Secretary to the Ikorodu West LCDA.
Also in attendance were: Hon. Batife, Deputy Leader, Ikorodu West LCDA Legislative Arm, other Councilors and Supervisory Councilors n the council.
