By Sodiq Yusuf
The Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial District at the Senate, Dr Ajibola Basiru yesterday empowered over 600 of his constituents with vocation tools and other items.
The event which was held in Osogbo saw materials including grinding machines, hair dryers, motorcycles, generators, freezers, computer tablets distributed to over 200 constituents as well N8 million to 400 traders under the trade support initiative and many more.
In his remarks, Senator Basiru stated that the empowerment programme which started with three-day intensive capacity building training of 100 Co-Operators in August under the Zonal Intervention Programme (ZIP) and his personal contribution was geared towards fulfilling his electoral promise of putting the people first.
The Senator who enumerated other intervention programmes since his assumption of office promised to look inward and do more for the electorate while securing effective representation for them at the National Assembly.
He said “The aim of empowering our people is borne out of the dire state of the economy and the attendant strain and the need for the people to be able to fend for themselves without recourse to begging or waiting on the government and political office holders for handouts. It is also to make our people to be self-reliant and encourage productivity which will contribute to the growth of National Gross Domestic Products while the effort will also allow for rural development both in capital and human resources.
“It is also to complement efforts of the Government at achieving good standards of living for the people and most importantly, to safeguard and ensure human dignity by engaging in productive activities. I want to implore the lucky ones who are recipients of these tools to make good and judicious use of the equipment and machines to their full capacity so as to create wealth, not only for themselves but for their immediate society and Osun State at large.”
At the event was Nigerian’s Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who saluted the doggedness of the Senator for ensuring that his people benefit from the dividends of good governance which the All Progressives Congress stands for.
Aregbesola appealed to the people of the State of Osun not to waver in their support for the progressives and the incumbent administration in the state, noting that the leadership is committed to improving its welfare and social support scheme.
He said: “I must thank Dr Basiru for doing this for the people. I am glad that he is not only providing empowerment tools and financial assistance to our people, he is also doing a lot in terms of school construction, road grading, provision of water and other amenities which will make life more meaningful for our people.
“We will look in-ward and think of better ideas to do these kinds of things so it will impact more in the lives of the people. The APC is committed to the State of Osun. Our people should not waver in their support for us because we are the best bet to guarantee good governance in our state.”
Governor Adegboyega Oyetola represented by the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Hon Taiwo Akeju commended the Senator for complementing efforts of the state government in providing timely and adequate support to the people.
Oyetola assured the people that the government will always recognise and appreciate the contributions of political office holders especially those in the National Assembly for the good of the State.
“We are happy for what he is doing and the Governor will continue to support him. We are together, we are one. He is following the footsteps of the Governor and complementing what he is doing. We are happy and the state will continue to support him in all ramifications”, he said.
Speakers at the event including the APC State Secretary, Hon Rasaq Salinsile, former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Akintunde Adegboye, APC State Women Leader, Alhaja Kudirat Fakokunde, Iyaloja General, Alhaja Awawu Asindemade and others urged the Senator not to relent in the path of catering for the welfare of the people.
