- empowers with automobiles, other items, cash grants
By Olanrewaju Adesanya
Hon. James Faleke, a Federal House of Representatives lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal constituency has again assert the need for constituents and Nigerians to keep to healthy safety guides and abide by the social distancing prevention norms, to check the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
The federal lawmaker for more than twenty minutes before the commencement of the programme, personally ensured social distancing amidst beneficiaries gathered for a large scale empowerment, he bankrolled to put smiles on the faces of his constituents from every nooks and crannies of the constituency.
In his words:” I will not tolerate you sitting in clustered manner, we make adequate space available here for compliance with specified distance measure for sitting arrangement.
“We tried to minimize the number via the invites sent out but with all that we still had a mammoth crowd here.
“COVID-19 is real we have to take our safety serious even as the second wave of the deadly virus bites harder”. Said Faleke.
While delivering his remarks at the empowerment programme,held within the Police College premises at Ikeja, Faleke noted that he was encouraged to do better than what he did, next time owing to the encomiums usually poured on him whenever such gestures were made.
According to him Ikeja Federal Constituency had nothing more than its integrity and the best thing to do is to empower the constituents.
“You voted for me as your representative and my duties are lawmaking, oversight and representation.
“Here our integrity is all we have, no federal government roads really, so we can only empower our people. Several laws made are of less interest to our people, they most times ask ‘kilobade’ ( what is in that for us).
When I listen to the Encomiums poured on me it encouraged me thus far,this is the fourth empowerment since 2019. Aside the ones we did in time past,we have done a lot we have empowered 1,120 constituents.
“In 2018 we bought 26 cars, a car for each ward basically to bolster the stand of our people economically.
“It was not properly managed but I won’t say because that was not done well we will not continue to do more. We have a list of many who have benefited, we’ve done street lights in 67 street.16 transformers were provided.
“Another 18 transformers is being installed one per ward basis,it is ongoing.
Just a day before we Commissioned two blocks of classrooms each in Ogba Grammar School, Ojodu as Ogba Junior High School and Ojodu Grammar school got a fully fitted ICT centre.
“Selected students also got 130 LENOVO Laptops, we’ve also facilitated federal jobs for 96 constituents. Two blocks of classrooms will soon be commissioned at Onipetesi High School next week we also gave cash grants of forty thousand naira each to hundreds of constituents, artisans, traders and other categories.
“We are also installing Solar power in more streets to make life safer and secured. My wife has always supported me. She always advocates for more coverage and also counsels that we need reach out to others who are yet to get a feel of us not same set of people at all times.” Faleke reiterated.
Resolved to advance the economic wellbeing of his constituents, Hon Faleke gave out 100 mini buses and tens of tricycles to individuals with a charge to ensure others in the community feels their positive contributions.
Also 100 chosen individuals went home with a deep freezer and generator to further boost their business strength.
Another set of people were given industrial sowing machines and normal sowing machines fully fitted, as some others went home with hair dryers and others got grinding machines.
In total a sum of more than five million naira was handed by the lawmaker, to hundreds of listed individuals and party faithful from the wards and local government level to alleviate the harsh economic conditions in the country.
Chief Funsho Ologunde, the All Progressives Congress party Vice Chairman Lagos West in his comment at the event urge people to come out and get registered with the party to enjoy more democratic dividend.
According to Chief Ologunde, the lawmaker has again bitten his imagination given the number of automobiles given to people, of which he disclosed he has lost the count,he urges beneficiaries to use the items judiciously.
“This won’t be the last, he has been doing it and the new version are always more than the ones done in time past.
“The commodities are meant to better your economic stability, use it to better your lot. To those who are yet to benefit, you will surely be considered in the next phase.
“Across all the 774 local government areas in the nation, APC has commenced registration of members.
“Let’s all mobilize more people to register. We need large numbers to assert our dominance as number one position in the party.”
The Executive Chairman of Ikeja Local Government,Engineer Mojeed Balogun while speaking with newsmen at the empowerment venue, notes that the lawmaker makes them proud owing to his massive empowerment efforts.
Mojeed however urge the beneficiaries not to sell the items but rather use it to better their lots and sustain their livelihood.
“This empowerment is quite mega in nature, it is really commendable because this has not happened in Ikeja constituency before now, it has touched a lot of people more than you ever expected.
“Most of the beneficiaries today are transporters, some are out of jobs now and this will inject live back into the system. We expect a bigger one next time.One can only advise them to value of what they got.”
The council boss added that more people should join APC because the party will truly deliver the desired goodies to the people.
A traditional ruler present at the event, His Royal Majesty the Olufide Ilufemiloye 1 of Onigbongbo, Oba Olusegun Ajasa urge the beneficiaries to make proper investment of the items.
He however, prayed for the lawmaker for the massive empowerment noting that he has gladdened the heart of many and that God will continually uplift him.
Other stakeholders at the event were, the Chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA Mr. Dotun Olakanle, a party stalwart Pa Ebenezer Akinbolade, Eze Dimgba Opotemba, Mrs. Akerele, Alhaja Fasilat, Alhaji Ghali Olubokun and host of others.
Mrs Mutari Usenat one of those who got a deep freezer and generator as empowerment items, noted that her business suffer set back when her freezer got spoilt but with the once gotten now it will boost her business strength. She prayed for divine upliftment for the lawmaker.
Another beneficiary Mr Rapheal Madu commended the lawmaker who he referred to as a detribalized Nigerian, whose focus for the good of all be you Igbo, Hausa or Yoruba.
“Hon. James Faleke is a good man, I want him to come back because many people love him.
I have something doing already but being a beneficiary, I will also extend empowerment to another individual who has got nothing doing now, but could do transportation business to survive.
“This can help me pay my bills like electricity bill, house rent and others.” Said Madu.