Wale Jagun
-Plans monthly discounted market
The Chairman of Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, Otunba (Hon.) Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju, on Tuesday, supported 150 residents in his council with three million naira as part of his social intervention program to cushion the effects of current economic challenges.
Each of the beneficiaries drawn from Ward C, D and E, were presented with N20, 000 each at the presentation ceremony which its first phase took place along the Agric – Owutu Road, Ikorodu. The second phase comes up on Thursday, with additional 100 beneficiaries to get N20, 000 each as monetary support.
The programme is tagged, ‘S.K.O. Empowerment Initiative: Cash Assistance Programme’.
One of the beneficiaries was a young primary school boy whom the Chairman said was considered because he lost his mother few months back.
At the event, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and a loyal supporter of the Chairman, Mr Sunday Adekoya, popularly called ‘Cemetery Mortuary’, was presented with a brand new motorcycle as an empowerment.
Hon. Sulaimon also informed that his administration has set up a committee to look into the possibility of organizing a monthly discounted markets for residents to buy food items, an initiative he said would compliments the state and the federal government’s efforts to provide relief for the people.
“The Cash initiative programme, you will agree with me, is a round peg in a round hole at this period. It would be carried out across the five (5) Wards of the Local Council Development Area, to ensure no ward is left out. It has been divided into two segments to be held on Tuesday March 19th and Thursday March 21, 2024, respectively. Our plan and target for now is 250 households”, Hon. Sulaimon said.
“Our aim is to roll out this Cash Empowerment Initiative consistently. We believe it will relieve and assist in reducing the stress and alleviate the present economic hardship.
“This modest gesture will no doubt foster the love, the faith repose in the grassroots governance of inclusiveness”, he added.
Speaking on the young supporter presented with brand new motorbike, Hon. Sulaimon said that his support for him and his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), deserves more than the bike being presented. He charged him to make good use of the empowerment item.
“Today, we are also empowering one of our youths with a motorbike worth a million naira. I did not know the beneficiary from anywhere but he keeps supporting me even when there was no hope that I will be the Chairman and I always get report about him from others”, the Council boss said.
“He is a true loyal man to me as a person and to our party, APC. On many occasions, he lied that I have done things for him whereas I have not done anything for him. He deserves more than this. He has done so much for our party and also suffered.
“I hope that he would be able to make good use of this motorbike to empower and improve himself”, he said.
Announcing his administration’s plan to compliment the state government in establishing its council’s version of discounted market, Hon. Sulaimon said:
“We are kick starting and rolling out another phase of the massive palliative of subsidized discounted market food and logistics complementing that of the commendable ‘Ounje Eko’ Initiative of the working Governor of Lagos State”.
An apex APC leader in Ikorodu Division, Prince Jamiu Adio Saka, speaking at the presentation, commended the Chairman’s gesture, adding that the initiative would compliments the efforts of the federal and the state governments in bringing relieve to the people at the grassroots.
“I am thankful that we have a good government that care for the people. This rogramme will bring succor to the grassroots and the people’s welfare. It is complimentary to what the federal and state governments are doing.
“I am particularly happy for the organization of the the programme. This is a well-coordinated and planned initiative”, Prince Saka said.
Like the Chairman, Prince Saka, who presented the key to the motorbike to the beneficiary, charged other party members to learn lesson in loyalty. He charged beneficiary on the need to make good use of the motorbike.
Many of the beneficiaries commended Hon. Sulaimon for the gesture which they said would go a long way in supporting the feeding of their families.
Also at the presentation ceremony were Hon. Segun Aluko, Vice Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, Hon. Jessica Oba, Council Leader, Ikorodu West Legislative Arm, Hon. Adegboyega Oyebola, APC chieftain among others.
