Kunle Adelabu
-As Hon. Sulaimon doles out food items, cash palliatives
It was a massive turnout at the Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Secretariat, as about 5000 residents of the council, trooped out to get palliatives provided by the Chairman, Otunba (Hon.) Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju.
Bags of food items comprising of rice, beans and garri, were distributed to beneficiaries which were sourced from the wards, traditional institutions, CDC/CDAs, religious bodies, youth groups, special people and market associations among others.
Also, some of the beneficiaries were also provided with monetary palliatives at the event which took place on Thursday, August 17, 2023.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Otunba (Hon.) Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju, speaking with THE IMPACT, said that the council was responding to the harsh economic situation by providing vulnerable residents with food and cash support.
He pledged to sustain the exercise.
“Today, we have distributed 5000 bags of food items to vulnerable residents. Beneficiaries cut across various groups, associations and others. This is part of our intervention to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy”, Hon. Sulaimon said.
“We have empowered many financially, including the elderly residents, as part of our welfare programme for the people.
“We plan to sustain the exercise from time – to – time to support our people, because we are the closest government to them and we can feel their conditions which have been compounded by the fuel subsidy removal”.
The Council boss appealed to residents to bear with the new government of President Bola Tinubu whom he said would drive the country out of its economic challenges into prosperity.
“I charge our people to be patient with the policy of the new government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It would take time, but we will all enjoy it at the end of the day”, he said.
The Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Ikorodu West LGA, Otunba Adebayo Lawson, also speaking, assured that citizens of the country will still smile with various palliatives that governments at various levels have put in place to cushion the effect of the economic challenges.
“We all know that the times and conditions in the country is not cheery, but with the palliatives that the government is putting in place, very soon, everything will be okay and there would be light at the end of the tunnel”, Otunba Lawson said.
“The State Governor has directed all the Council Chairmen to provide palliatives to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal, and the exercise will be periodical and not a one – off thing.
“With that, the people of Ikorodu and other councils should trust the APC government that it meant well for the people of Ikorodu and Lagos State at large”, he added.
Some of the residents and beneficiaries that spoke with THE IMPACT, commended Hon. Sulaimon’s gestures.
Mr Taiwo Buhari:
“This is a laudable intervention, and I say a big thank you. If something like this is being shared every month, many people would not starve. May God bless him and his family.
“We need more of this in our council and in Nigeria as a whole”.
Chief Akata:
“This is a good idea and we appreciate him. The crowd that I am seeing here is much and that is why is a bit difficult, but they are trying to distribute the palliatives to everyone”.
Mrs Olufunke Ashabi Owoyele, who was also at the event, said:
“The Chairman is responding to the situation in the country. He is really trying because the crowd here is massive and the food bags available will cater for them”.
“We just have to thank our chairman and more power to his elbow”.
Imam of Isawo, Alhaji Sulaimon AbdulSodiq:
“We really appreciate what our Chairman has done for us. Our Chairman is doing well and we thank him. We are also sure that more will still come”.
In a statement by the Ikorodu West Deaf Development Association and signed by its Public Relations Officer, Mr Opeyemi Onademuren, the group appreciated the chairman for the gesture.
“We, the entire executive members of the above named association, received 5 palliative food packages from Honourable SULAIMON KAZEEM OLANREWAJU (FCA FCTI), the Executive Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA.
“On behalf of the Ikorodu West Deaf Community, we appreciate the Council Chairman for always carrying us along by recognizing our association in his administration”.
The group also thanked the Comrade Asoro Abubakri led National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ikorodu West LCDA, and Hon. Jessica Oba Enitan, Council Leader, Ikorodu West LCDA, for their gestures towards the association.
