Jare Babatunde
-Good time coming to Nigeria soon – Asipa Kaoli
In response to the hardship being experienced by the people, the Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Builder Sesan Daini, has launched a food bank initiative to provide succor to the residents of the council facing hardship due to the removal of fuel subsidy.
The council boss launched the initiative last Thursday, at the Miksson Onas Event Hall, along Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way, lgbogbo.
At the launch were Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, APC chieftain, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, GAC chieftain who was represented by the Secretary of the APC, Hon. Maja, Vice Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Yeye Basorun, former Sole Administrator, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Hon Sefiu Ogunyemi, APC leader, Hon. Gbenga Basanya, former Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Hon. Gbenga Oshin, former representative, Ikorodu Constituency II, Hon. Taiwo Orenuga, APC chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and Mr Balogun, DPO, Ikorodu Divisional Police headquarters among others.
Also in attendance were youths, artisans, special people, representatives of cultural communities and others.
Builder Daini, while presenting the initiative to the public, said that it is in response to what is happening in the country which the Federal and State Governments have also responded to.
“I want to appreciate God for making this happen. What we are doing today is launching a palliative programme which is tagged ‘the Igbogbo/Bayeku food bank initiative'”, he said.
“This is one of the projects and programmes that will come out of our palliative programme in the next six months. This is to reduce the hardship on our citizens, caused by the subsidy removal.
“We share the pains of the people, and know that what is currently happening in Nigeria, calls for attention and the support of government.
“We want to equally appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he has highlighted as his plans to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal in Nigeria. Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has equally rolled out his plans, but we look at it that it would not be complete without the local councils trying within their capacities to support the federal and state governments’ initiatives to address the pains and hardship on Nigerians”, he said.
The council boss announced that the initiative is being kicked off with the distribution of 3000 packs which will be channeled through stakeholders who are expected to share them to the most vulnerable people in their respective communities and associations.
He pleaded with them to carry out the sharing in a just and fair manner that would present the good image of the council.
“As stated by Mr President that almost N1 trillion has been recovered within the last 69 days, that is a plus for him and it would definitely transform to something for our people”, he said.
“We are going to share 3000 food packs today to support you. I want to appeal to you that whatsoever that we are giving here is not for your own personal and family food, but you are to distribute it to your people and residents that are in needs”, Daini pleaded.
“It is for you to extend the goodwill of the government to your people. We are giving you these packages because you are trusted with this responsibility. I hope that you will not betray our trusts.
“What we are sharing will not be limited and we are not even focusing on the party. We are focusing on the citizens and residents which our party members are among. Today’s initiative is channeled directly to the residents of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA.
“We will be sharing food item which is mainly rice, to the artisans, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Igbogbo Youth Coalition, CDAs through the CDC, orphanage homes, persons with disability among others.
“You should share them fairly in such a way that will protect our integrity and our institution”, he said.
Builder Daini also announced that the council will be providing a line through which concerned residents can nominate vulnerable people whom they think should benefit from the palliative.
“We are also going to be releasing a phone number that people can send names of people that they are nominating to benefit too. If you know any old person or vulnerable in your environment, just send their details to the number: name, address, phone number, NIN number and the CDA the person belongs to. Send the details to this number and such will be captured in our food program and the food items will be delivered to that person at home”, he said.
“What we intend to achieve through that is to see to it that what we are sharing gets to our old people and others”, he said.
He commended the committee in charge of the palliative items for their commitment.
Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, former Commissioner for Agriculture, Lagos State, said that the initiative is Igbogbo/Bayeku council’s support to ameliorate the national challenges which citizenry are facing aftermath the fuel subsidy removal.
He appealed to stakeholders saddled with the responsibility of sharing the palliatives, to ensure that they they are properly shared to those who are in need.
“What we are witnessing here today is the palliatives from the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA. The state government, led by Babajide Olusola Sanwo – Olu, is also going to release its own palliatives, while Mr President has also approved 200 metric tons of grains to be released from the reserve”, he said.
“Individual legislators like Babajimi Benson does this regularly and also Tokunbo Abiru who is also going to do his own. There are also other individuals too who are going to give out.
“What is happening in Nigeria today is not just about food but also cost of transportation, so, we can all see that there are hardships in the land, and one good thing is that Mr President has acknowledged it; all the governors know what is happening; local government chairmen are aware and every responsible people and entire citizens of Nigeria knows that this is the best time to give, so that our neighbour will have some comfort.
“So, I commend what Igbogbo/Bayeku has started today, which is going to continue for the next six months with other several initiatives from the federal and state governments and individuals and groups.
“The stakeholder that have been identified: CDC, Market men and women, clergy, youths, women, special people and other categories, please, when you get these packages, let us give the most vulnerable people among us who are not here. These are people who cannot come here. They live in Oreta, Offin and other places. They cannot come here because of hardship”, Asipa Kaoli said.
The APC chieftain appealed to residents to exercise patience and see the hard situation in the country as necessary occurrence which would usher in good time.
He assured Nigerians that the various programmes which the President has unfolded, would go a long way in cushioning the effects of the subsidy removal.
While appealing to the government functionaries to be just in executing the President’s policies, especially at the local government levels, Asipa Kaoli also charged residents who will be benefiting from the business support to make good use of it.
“The President clearly said that he acknowledges that Nigerians are going through difficult times and we are going through a lot of pains, but these are necessary pains that one has to go through in order to give birth to surplus and happiness”, he said.
“It is like a woman who is in the labour room and when a woman goes to the labour room, it is a time of tribulations. She does not know whether it is going to be life or death because she is going through excruciating pains, but immediately after delivery, her joy knows no bound.
“After a period of time, Nigeria generally we would be in plenty by the grace of God, and our pains will be removed.
“The President has also highlighted several palliative programmes and I want to repeat particularly for the benefit of our own people in this local government, the President has promised that there is going to be business support for 1300 micro and small scale businesses in all the 774 local governments in Nigeria.
“In order words, that support is coming to Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA. Who are the beneficiaries? They are described as NANO enterprises; those are people who sell ‘Boli’ ( plantain), ‘Epa’ (groundnut) and others who sell small items infront of their homes and those who do not employ more than one or three persons. These are the beneficiaries and the money will be paid directly to them.
“This is one promise of Mr President, which is like blood transfusion to a dying person. Mr President is injecting life into the economy of Nigeria. He is bringing foreign capital into our businesses at nearly zero percent and the NANO is a grant. We implore that you should make best use of it when you get it.
“And to those who will implement, they must do it with the fear of God. If they implement honestly, integrity and let it get to those in need, Nigeria would become better. We have had very excellent promises by Mr President, but the implementation matters and those that will implement it, are the local government officials.
“When the support for your business comes, please, make sure that you apply it prudently and help yourself by multiplying N1 to make N3 and N10. That is how all of us can be a little more comfortable than what we are today. Mr President is wholeheartedly committed to what he promised to do”, Asipa Kaoli said.
The Chairman of Igbogbo/Bayeku Palliative Committee, Mrs Toyin Otenaike, who commended the chairman for the initiative, also assured residents that it would be sustained for the next six months, while also appealing to stakeholders to ensure that packages allocated to them are adequately distributed to those in need.
“I am happy to tell you that when Hon. Daini called me for this purpose, I discovered that Igbogbo/Bayeku is the first to initiate this. I accepted the call as a call to service “, she said.
“This is an initiative that was well – thought out and planned and he deserves an applause for this initiative. The initiative of Hon. Daini in Igbogbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, has been put in place before that of the President and the state governor, and that is why we are all here today.
“This initiative will not be a one – off event. It is going to continue for the next six months which is going to take different forms. Palliatives are not necessarily about food; they can be about other things that can benefit the people.
“My appeal is to the representatives of various groups, that they should let the distribution go far and wide. We don’t want a situation where anyone will hoard it”, she pleaded.
She also enjoined stakeholders to assist the committee in educating the public to be patient with the situation, stating that there would be light at the end of the tunnel, because government is doing everything to cushion the hardship.
