There’s no doubt that last year’s December will be one to remember for a very long time, for the Councillors in lkorodu Local Government, as they ended the year with a bang, receiving brand new vehicles as official cars.
The posh Lexus cars, fifteen in total, were provided for the lawmakers and other officials of the local government, by the chairman of the council, Hon. Wasiu Adeshina.
Beneficiaries of the brand new cars included the Vice Chairman, Hon. Folasade Olabanji Oba, Secretary to the Local Government (SSG), Hon. Lateef Afinni, and the Council Leader, Hon. Adebowale Adebola.
Others included the seven Councillors and the Council’s Human Resources Manager.
While the trio of the SSG, Council Leader and the Head of the Resource Department, as well as the councillors received their cars at the event, others are expected to get theirs at a later date.
Also, a total of 100 beneficiaries, which included widows and elderly persons who were selected across the wards in the council, were presented 10,000 each with packaged food items worth of 1.5million naira.
The presentation of the food items was part of the empowerment programme instituted by the chairperson and wife of the council Chairman, Mrs. Abolanle Adesina.
The two-in-one event was attended by the chieftains and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in lkorodu, as well as traditional chiefs, Baales, market leaders, religious leaders, members of the Arewa (Hausa) and Igbo communities in lkorodu among others.
Meanwhile, Hon. Adeshina, while presenting the vehicles to the beneficiaries, pointed out that the presentation of the official cars was done to enhance the effectiveness of the officers in the discharge of their official duties.
“The vehicles were presented to the benefitting officials in order to enhance their efficiency. The vehicles are official cars and not for luxury. They are expected to use the cars to be more effective in the discharge of their duties”.
He, however, advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the vehicles and ensure regular there maintenance for them to continue to serve them well.
For the widows, aged and less privileged, Adeshina said the financial and food support were a token of their own dividends of democracy, especially in the spirit of the Christmas season.
He noted further that the event was a way of extending the goodwill of his administration to the widows, aged and less privileged people across the local government.
The council boss also used the opportunity of the event to challenge well-meaning Nigerians, philanthropists and organized private sector to extend a hand of fellowship and love to the widows and less privileged in the society, as a way of giving them a sense of belonging.
He advocated for the building of more Old People’s Homes as a way of alleviating their sufferings.
Hon. Adesina, also disclosed that the council would soon launch a local security outfit to further enhance security of lives and properties of residents.
While speaking in the same vein, the Chairman’s wife, Mrs. Bolanle Adeshina appealed to Nigerians to show love to the widows and less privileged people in the society.
She equally solicited support for the election of APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and all other candidates of the party in the forthcoming general elections in 2023.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Leader of the Ikorodu Local Government Legislative House, Hon Adebowale Adebola, expressed their profound gratitude to the Chairman for the official cars.
He noted that, the official cars would assist him and other beneficiaries in delivering their official duties and responsibilities more effectively and efficiently.
In his own remarks, Mr. Ajibola Abayomi Olabode, Head of Human Resource Department, lkorodu Local Government who was presented with a black Toyota Camry, profoundly thanked the chairman.
“I am really grateful for this great gift, and that shows that the Chairman truly and always fulfils his promises. He promised to give me my own car, and he fulfilled that promise. The chairman is a very hardworking person, and he has done a lot for the local government. He’s a man that recognizes and appreciates hardwork, therefore, l advise other officials to be patient, and work harder so that they too can be rewarded accordingly”.
Similarly, some of the beneficiaries of the food items and cash gift that spoke with our reporters equally commended the council boss and his wife for the gesture, and prayed that God would continue to bless and move them to greater heights in life.
Mrs. Esther Ayeni from Ward C, lkorodu, said that she was very happy for the money and food items given to her, and thanked Hon. Adesina and his wife for their kind gesture.
“l am very happy for these gifts. This is very commendable on the part of the Chairman and his wife, for deeming it fit to provide food items and cash gifts for us. I pray God should continue to replenish their pocket and raise them higher in life”.
An elderly beneficiary, Mrs. Abike Eunice Liadi was full of prayers for Hon. Adesina and his wife, for extending the gesture to her.
“l thank the Chairman and his wife too for remembering me. I really appreciate their act of generosity towards me and other beneficiaries. They will never lack. I pray God will protect them and their family. I hope others in positions of authority will take a cue from the Chairman, and show kindness to the elderly people”.
Also one of the widow beneficiaries, Mrs. Adeola Adenusi, while thanking the Chairman, said that:
“I’m indeed very grateful for this support. I prayed that God will meet Hon. Adesina and his wife at their point of need at all times. They have really done well with what they distributed to us. I pray that he will continue to succeed in his position as the Chairman of lkorodu Local government “.
In the same vein, Mr. Adeola Adenusi, a widower, described the gesture by Hon. Adesina and his wife as a big relief, adding that the food items and cash support are well appreciated.
He also commended the chairman for remembering them, and prayed that God will remember him for good too.
The event was rounded off with the presentations of the cars and food and cash gifts to the beneficiaries, by the council boss, his wife and other dignitaries.
Others at the event were: Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, former Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Princess Folasade Olabanji-Oba, Vice Chairman, Ikorodu Local government, Alhaji Musiliu Animashaun (De-Cubano), Chief (Mrs.) Taofeekat Allison, Iyaloja of lkorodu, Chief M.J. Odusoga (represented Ayangbure of Ikorodu), Alhaji Lukman Shonibare, Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC), Ikorodu, Alhaji Junaid Owokodu, former Chairman of Ikorodu Local government, and the WADESH Babes among