Politics
Joy in Oyo as Senator Sunmonu empower constituents.
•Ajimobi, constituents hail lawmaker.
ON Friday 6th January, 2017, both governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and constituents hailed the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu representing Oyo Central Senatorial District at the red chamber during empowerment of members of her constituency.
She was lauded for her contributions to the socio-political landscape of her community, senatorial district, state and how her ilk was said to have constitutes great blessings to Oyo state.
According to some constituents, Senator Sunmonu with the desire to right societal wrongs, her performance don’t only goes beyond law making but sharing and bringing dividends and goodies of democracy to the door steps of her constituents by given them a new lease of life with various masses –oriented programmes.
Noting the alarming rate of poverty and unemployment in our nation, the former speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Sunmonu said she was able to bring succor to the plights of her constituents by distributing empowerment tools, which goes beyond political party lines as beneficiaries cut across the senatorial district.
As a result, the penultimate Friday was a moment of joy as the highly jubilant beneficiaries find it hard to hide their feelings by expressing vociferous gratitude to their benefactor, Senator Sunmonu.
Motorcycles donated by Senator Sunmonu to her constituents.
Among the several millions worth of empowerment items donated to the people were Sewing machines, Hair Dryers, Generation Sets, Hand Sprayers, Gas Cookers, Fertilizers and Motorcycles.
The event which was held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, had in attendance members of the state executive council, some members of the National Assembly from the state, State Party Executives among others.
Empowerment tools distributed by Senator Monsurat Sunmonu.
Speaking at the empowerment programme, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, lauded the lawmaker’s rhythmic progress for quality representations.
The governor stressed that Senator Sunmonu has proved to be a worthy representative of the district and the state at large, considering the tremendous achievements she has recorded.
While recalling her outstanding performance as the speaker of the State Assembly, Ajimobi said she facilitated projects and contributed actively at the National Assembly.
The governor’s statement reads , “Sunmonu has been doing very well. She is active and very intelligent. She is a worthy representative, who has exhibited Integrity, Godliness, patriotism and selflessness”.
Governor Ajimobi urged other lawmakers to emulate Senator Sunmonu, adding that every responsible and responsive representative must make the welfare of their people paramount on their minds.
Also, in their separate remarks, Prince Kunle Sanda, S.M Akindele and Mr Sunday Adewale who spoke on behalf of Ibadan, Oyo and Ogbomoso zones of the senatorial district respectively paid a glowing tribute to the lawmaker for her unprecedented achievements and strong commitments to the welfare of her constituents.
They further appreciated her for being a better example of good representative.
In a related development , Olufunmilayo Philips, a beneficiary of Sunmonu’s scholarship appreciated the lawmaker for her support, which covered his education and all other external examinations.
Philips, who is currently undergoing a Masters Degree in Mathematics at WUHAN University of Technology, China disclosed that the lawmaker also facilitated international scholarship for him.
He was the best performing student at a Mathematics Competition organised by National Association of Oyo Students (NAOS).
Beneficiaries.
Earlier in her address at the epoch making event, Senator Sunmonu explained that the work of a legislator exceeded dishing out cash gifts to constituents but involved facilitation of projects and ensure the executive does their jobs.
Enumerating her achievements, Senator Sunmonu said she had primarily sponsored four bills (4), co-sponsored ten (10) bills, primary sponsor of seven (7) motions, co-sponsored/supported many motions and have efficiently and effectively carried out several oversight functions.
Her sponsored bills are: Ammendment of the Electoral Act, Ammendment of Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Ammendment of Federal Road Safety Act and Ammendment of Criminal Code Act.
Speaking further, the lawmaker said that she had executed several community projects among which was the provision of twenty five (25) transformers across the senatorial district, which would be inaugurated in February.
She stressed, ”apart from the empowerment materials distributed today, I have provided exercise books to students, revolving loans to market women and empowered people living with disabilities.
“I have facilitated both national and international scholarships/ bursaries for no fewer than 30 students from the district and have presented over 300 JAMB forms to indigent students”
“I have provided ICT centres across the district and market facilities at Egbeda market.”
Continuing, the lawmaker said she facilitated resumption of work at the new Oyo-Ogbomoso expressway, repair of Adegbayi axis of Ibadan-Ife expressway, repairs of Sawmill-Owode Oyo road and Akobo bridge in Ibadan.
The former speaker added that she has maintained regular interactions with her constituents through town hall meetings.
While commending the governor for his continual support towards her success at the National Assembly, she equally appreciated the royal fathers across the state, who have always offered foresight and advice on dealing with wide-ranging issues.
Senator Sunmonu, however promised to do more towards satisfying the yearnings of her constituents.
By Idowu AYODELE.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has criticized the alleged forceful conversion of public reading and learning facilities in Dugbe, Ibadan, into shopping malls and lock-up shops by the state government, describing the development as shameful, ill-conceived, and unacceptable.
In a statement released over the weekend by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the APC also raised concerns about the alleged sale of the modern motor park facility at Wema Area on New Ife Road, Ibadan, built during the administration of the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
According to the party, the motor park has been sold to a pastor who presides over a popular church near the facility.
Residents of Ibadan, the state capital, were reportedly stunned when they noticed the sudden erection of massive private business complexes within the premises of the Oyo State Library Board.
The facilities, built by the defunct Western Region government, had served as public libraries and archives for decades, benefitting students, researchers, and tourists until recently.
“It is a sad reality that the buildings which used to serve as public libraries and archives in Dugbe axis of Ibadan have now paved the way for the development of commercial and business structures,” Sadare said.
“The implication is that education and research development have been relegated to the background in the state by an administration that has done little to address the poor reading culture among young students.”
The APC expressed alarm over what it termed the erosion of public heritage under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, alleging that public properties are being sold or leased to private individuals and groups under questionable circumstances.
“How can a government wake up one day and convert public reading facilities and archives into lock-up shops in the name of making money, thereby subjecting society to the dangers of illiteracy and ignorance?” the statement queried.
The party also cited other instances of alleged mismanagement of public assets, including the concession of OYSADEP Guest House in Saki and Agbowo Shopping Complex in Ibadan, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to the state’s socio-economic development.
“Sad enough, the ignoble activities of the governor and a few other characters around him as they involve mismanagement of land and other resources belonging to the state have paved the way for a surge in land grabbing cases in most parts of the state capital. There are many cases involving appointees of the governor, PDP lawmakers, local government officials, and party chieftains,” the statement added.
The APC called on well-meaning individuals and stakeholders in the state to demand accountability from the Makinde administration and halt what it described as the systematic erosion of public resources and heritage.
Over 300 constituents of Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in Oyo State benefitted from a skill acquisition and empowerment programme organized by their representative in the National Assembly, Hon. Akinmoyede Olafisoye.
The event, held at Faith Joe Event Centre, Alegongo, Akobo, Ibadan, aimed to address the challenges of unemployment and economic hardship by equipping participants with practical skills and financial support.
The programme focused on empowering youths, students, and unemployed graduates to become self-reliant. Each participant was provided with a certificate, a Point of Sale (POS) terminal, an umbrella, and ₦100,000 as a startup grant to kickstart their businesses.
The tools and financial aid were designed to enable beneficiaries to establish sustainable sources of income.
Participants received comprehensive training, gaining hands-on experience to ensure they could effectively utilize the tools provided. The POS machines were configured with the personal details of the recipients, ensuring proper use and discouraging unauthorized transfers.
Addressing the participants, Akinmoyede who is the Chairman House Committee on Nigeria/ Mexico Parliamentary Friendship enjoined the beneficiaries to explore the opportunity for their benefit by ensuring that they use the machines for the purpose it was meant for.
He added that all the machines have been configured with the documents of individual beneficiaries which will make it very difficult to transfer to another person.
In his goodwill message, the Oyo Central Senatorial chairman of APC, Hon. Joshua Oyebamiji said comparing what the lawmaker has been doing in the area of dishing out empowerment and palliatives to his constituents, it is difficult to tag him a first-timer at the national assembly.
While appreciating Akinmoyede for his gesture at the event, former APC Deputy State Chairman, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, Hon. Fatai Awoyoola, and Hon. Akinbode Emmanuel said they were yet to discover the magic wand being used by the lawmaker for his constant and habitual empowerment programmes.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke at the end of the training, Afolabi Kuburat, Akinropo Akindotun, Ajala Abisade Iyabo, and Grace Anuoluwapo Ayinde lauded the lawmaker for giving them the opportunity to be self-reliant at this time when Nigerians are facing economic hardship.
The House of Representatives member representing Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency Oyo State, Hon. Prince Akinmoyede Olafisoye Wasiu has initiated another skill acquisition and capacity-building training for no fewer than 300 members of his constituency.
The initiative which is being organized in partnership with Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan is part of a strategic effort by the lawmaker to foster rural development of cooperative for their economic emancipation and break the shackles of poverty so as to alleviate the impact of the high cost of living among the people in Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency he represents.
The training programme is coming up on Monday 18th November, 2024 at Faith Joe Event Centre hall. Alegongo, Ibadan by 8.00am.
A statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the lawmaker, Alimi Abdullahi stated that the capacity-building is designed to equip participants with essential entrepreneurial skills with a view to building sustainable livelihoods and improve the quality of lives of the people of Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency.
All the participants for the training are expected to be at the venue by 8am so as not to miss any part of the training.
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