Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA, the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, is a man with an unquenchable passion for the wellbeing and development of his constituents.
His sterling performance, which has continued to receive remarkable ratings across the district, has proven him to be a man who had prepared well enough for his present position long before his emergence two years ago.
Apart from living up to the expectation as a lawmaker in the hallowed chamber of the Senate where he has sponsored and co-sponsored several impactful Bills, the former banker turned politician has equally initiated and facilitated lots of programmes and projects across the Lagos East which would continue to have positive impact on the people in the District (both young and old) even after leaving office as their representative.
His latest feat, which included – commissioning of a mini-Stadium, market as well as empowerment for market women and farmers, has received greater commendations because of the manner in which they were structured to capture critical sections of the district.
Notable among these commendations was the one given by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu who described the new facilities and empowerment gesture as well as other projects of Senator Abiru for his constituents as life-changing.
With this remark by the Governor, coupled with the praises from party leaders and people of the Lagos East at the commissioning event on Thursday, June 30, 2022, at Epe, the reelection of the performing Senator is not only a matter of certainty, but a foregone conclusion.
Despite the heavy downpour on that day, the residents of the Lagos East Senatorial District stormed the ancient town of Epe to welcome Senator Abiru and Governor Sanwo-Olu for the commissioning of the projects facilitated by the lawmaker.
The huge attendance included chieftains and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), royal fathers, Lagos State Cabinet members, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, council Chairmen, artisans, market men and women, unions, youth groups and associations among many others.
At the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu inaugurated a 960-capacity mini-Stadium which has a Football pitch, Basketball and Volleyball courts, administrative offices, changing rooms and other amenities.
The governor also commissioned the remodeled popular Oluwo Fish market which now comprises 240 open stalls, 82 lock up stalls, 5 open floors, 12 toilets and 4 new offices for Iya Oloja and Baba Oloja, Tourism Board and Local Government Staff Security post.
The projects were facilitated by Senator Abiru through the Presidency, under the office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Senator Abiru also doled out grants worth N62.5m to 1,250 selected market women and traders across the senatorial district and also supported about 200 rural farmers with hand planters and financial grants.
Also, a brief novelty football match between Tokunbo Abiru Football Club and Epe Alaro United was played to launch the new Stadium. The match was won by Team Abiru through a penalty shootouts.
Meanwhile, Governor Sanwo-Olu and Senator Abiru arrived for the commissioning events around 1.16pm in a Chopper which touched down at a military base close to the new Stadium. They immediately left amidst heavy entourage and press crew to commission the Oluwo First market which is also close by and later returned to commission the Stadium.
In his address at the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu said that projects facilitated by the Senator are ones that will have direct impacts on the socio-economic reality of the town, commending Sen. Abiru for diligently representing the district in the National Assembly.
“Over the last 18 months, Senator Abiru has dutifully delivered the dividends of democracy in several areas and on multiple fronts, not just in the primary mandate of law-making, but also in terms of life-changing empowerment and endowment.
“Today, we are here to commission a number of infrastructure projects by him, some of which were facilitated through the Office of the Special Assistant to President Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), being headed by an esteemed daughter of Lagos, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire”.
Sanwo-Olu noted that the market project was commerce-oriented, designed to improve the livelihood and earning capacity of beneficiaries. The recreational facility, the Governor said, is a project that would positively affect people’s lifestyle and translate to health benefits, as well as improved quality of life.
The Governor said that the lawmaker had lived up to the ideals of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and to the legacy of transformation instituted in Lagos since 1999.
He appealed to the beneficiaries to see the projects as public resources entrusted in their care, urging them to productively utilize the facilities with the utmost sense of responsibility.
Also, Senator Abiru, while addressing the gathering, said that he took up the assignment to represent the Lagos East Senatorial District with a determination and passion to improve the lots of his constituents and elevate the socio-economic condition of the people, thereby, complementing the efforts of the State Government.
Aside sponsoring 13 private member bills and co-sponsored three other bills, which included motions, he explained that he has prioritised three key pillars of legislative role, empowerment and endowment to deliver dividends of democracy to his constituents.
“I publicly acknowledge and appreciate the magnanimity of the presidency, through the Office of SDGs, for the projects we are commissioning today. These projects, which also include support for market women and rural farmers, are part of the fulfillment of social contract I solemnly had with the people of Lagos East Senatorial District while seeking their mandate in 2020”, he said.
“The modest achievements I have recorded in the last 18 months in the saddle as a Senator will be sustained with more interventions that will directly impact the lives of our people. I shall maintain this daunting tempo of leadership and development, while also assuring my constituents of effective and quality representation in line with my ‘Doing Good’ mantra.”
In her own remarks, Princess Orelope-Adefulire, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), applauded Senator Abiru for making women empowerment as a cardinal focus of his activities, noting that such action is crucial for social integration and inclusiveness.
She said that the Office of the SDGs in the presidency had facilitated the rehabilitation of more than 10 schools and four healthcare projects in the Lagos East Senatorial District.
While stating that her Office has embarked on projects across all local government in Lagos State, she assured that the tempo would be sustained to further support the State government in enhancing development in the State.
The event was brought to a close with the presentations of giant dummy cheques to the representatives of the market women and farmers by Governor Sanwo-Olu and Senator Abiru, for the empowerment and financial grants.
Other dignitaries who graced the well-attended commissioning/ empowerment events included: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, Former Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, GAC member, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, Alhaji Bode Oyedele, Alhaji Akanni Seriki Bamu, Lagos APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, Mrs Surah, Chairman, Epe Local Government, Hon Olusegun Olulade among others.