The Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the six Local Councils in Ikorodu, including their Executive and Legislative Arms, on Saturday, January 24, 2018, promised to drum up support for the “I Care Foundation” Food Bank by engaging in quarterly food distribution to the masses to stem the tide of hunger and reduce poverty among the populace.
While addressing the mammoth crowd of the needy, which include widows, widowers, elderly people living with disabilities and others, during the January edition of this programme, Hon. Babajimi Benson disclosed that more than ten thousand (10,000) indigent indigenes have so far benefited from this programme, initiated by his Foundation, which has operated for one and a half year now. According to him, the beneficiaries were constituents nominated by churches, mosques, CDAs, CDCs, Local Government Executives and those nominated from JB portal. He said that there was no discrimination; though, the beneficiaries must be found to have genuine need of assistance before being nominated.
Benson said that his Foundation incorporated the Executive and Legislative Arms of the Local Government Area and the Local Council Development Areas in Ikorodu to help eradicate poverty and hunger across the division. The Legislator also stated that quarterly, they would have to join in his good gesture by distributing food items and others to the needy, who will gather at the ‘I Care Foundation” premises. He assured that this new gesture would not stop the monthly food distribution but that beneficiaries would get additional food bags during the quarterly distribution.
Benson, in another development, frowned at the dwindling number of voters in the State. He recalled that out of six million registered voters in Lagos State in the 2015 General Election, it was only N1.5million people that voted, which was not a good development. The House of Representative member, therefore, appealed to those who have not collected their PVC to do so without delay. According to him, Ikorodu, going by the last election outcome, should be able to move from the fourth position to the first position in the on-coming election. He stated that achieving this would increase the slots of the number of Commissioners that would be appointed from Ikorodu and increase the support of the State Government.
Jimi Benson said he would carry out empowerment for all party Excos if he gets results of improvement in the number of people that have collected their PVCs. He said market women also won’t be left out and would get empowerment in the form of “Atajere” (profitable sales). The Legislator also made it clear that in order to benefit from whatever empowerment that is in place, beneficiaries must showcase his/her PVC. He affirmed that it was through having PVC that they can elect a person or persons of their choice and promised to see that the eventual collection of the card is not stressful. He later thanked all his supporters for their backing.
According to the Director General, “I Care Foundation”, Mayor Deen Sonwoola, the Food Bank now caters for five hundred beneficiaries duly nominated every month. He disclosed that the six Local Councils in Ikorodu division responded positively to the letter sent to them by “I Care Foundation” to bring whatever they could offer the beneficiaries in addition to the Foundation’s own. Sonwoola also affirmed that as time goes on, each Local Council would carry out the distribution of food in its area. The occasion was also used to endorse Jimi Benson for a second term as a Legislator in the State.
Among those that endorsed him included, APC chieftain, Chief Denle Olowu; PA Golden J.; Alhaji Olufowora; Princess Denrele Ogunsanya; APC LGA Chairmen; Local Government Chairmen, APC loyalists, traditional chiefs and others. The Chairman, Ijede LCDA, and Vice Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, Hon. Fatiu Salau and Hon. (Princess) Folashade Olabanji-Oba respectively, commended Hon. Benson for his various initiatives and infrastructural development as well as the collaboration between the Executive and Legislative Arms for the food distribution.
Shade Oba described the leadership style of Benson as awesome while Fatiu disclosed that between 2016 and 2017, Bensons had graded not less than fifty roads in Ijede while also engaging in school renovations and provision of portable water. He revealed that in the area of rural electrification, Benson promised to provide a 33KVA Transformer with cables in Ijede. One of the APC aspirants for the Lagos State House of Assembly in Ikorodu Constituency I, Mr. Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan, commended Hon. Benson’s caring gesture and promised to emulate him by the time he gets people’s vote to represent them at the State Assembly.
A photo session ended the program.
