Hundreds of members of Share/Oke-Ode community of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State were at the weekend empowered with items worth millions of naira to address unemployment and poverty in the community.
The empowerment was courtesy of the lawmaker representing the constituency at the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Razaq Owolabi who explained that he had to take a bank loan to put smiles on the faces of his constituents.
Daily Trust reports this was the first time any lawmaker would carry out the empowerment.
The beneficiaries carted away six cars, 43 sewing machines, 20 sprayers, Deep Freezers, generators, clippers and five thousand exercise books for primary and secondary school students across the 10 wards that constitute the constituency.
The programme which was held at the expansive Christ Apostolic Church Primary School premises, Share attracted the crème-de-la-crème of the community including traditional rulers, politicians, government officials, among others.
Owolabi who promised to organise two more of such event before the end of his tenure said his determination to ensure that no one is left out from this first phase among those to benefit pushed him to obtain a loan from a bank to augment the initial budget for the empowerment scheme.
He said, “Today is important in my life because I’ve broken a jinx. It’s expedient I let people know that I denied myself many things as an honourable member and was making certain contributions monthly.
“When I collected the money, it did not meet up with the present exorbitant price of things in the market, which I plan to buy for the empowerment, so, I took a bank loan to argument. My resolution is that everyone in my constituency will feel my impact.
“My determination is to ensure no life is spared of the dividends of this democracy you voted for in my constituency and I won’t rest until I have put smiles on your faces. People accused me of incurring debt to satisfy others, it’s worth it, because, when I needed you, you supported me” he submitted.
While congratulating the beneficiaries, Owolabi urged them to make good use of the items and cash award.
Also speaking, the speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Engr. Yakubu Danladi who led the Clerk of the House, Hajia Halimah Jummai Kperogi and other legislative staff to the event charged other lawmakers to emulate Owolabi.
“What we saw here today is a good development. This is a confirmation that Owolabi loves his people and very connected to them. A record is set already; his love for his people prompted him to go the extra mile to put smiles on the faces of both the old and the young in Ifelodun local Government area of the state”, he added.
In their separate interviews with Daily Trust, three of the beneficiaries, Abdullateef Balogun, Memunat Ahmed and Remi Afolami (car recipient) who were full of praises for Owolabi said this is the first time they are having such empowerment since they have been in politics adding that his action was a reflection of the love he has for his constituency.
