Talebearers

SEGUN OLULADE TO THE RESCUE IN EPE: TRADERS SMILE HOME WITH WORKING TOOLS

Politics and politicians in Nigeria have been given many names by members of the public; while some believe that thousands of politicians deceive them to get to power and lord it over them, others have argued that several public office holders have been bringing smiles to the faces of the people through compassionate gestures.

Indeed, when a roll call of those with much love for the masses and their environment is taken, the lawmaker representing Epe Constituency 2 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olusegun Olulade aka Eleniyan, would markedly be part of the list.

Since he got to the Assembly in 2011, the youthful lawmaker has been proving that ‘what is worth doing at all is worth doing well,’ as he has used his office to better the lots of the people of the semi-urban area, who have never had it so good in the past.

To further demonstrate that he is in office to change the status quo and make life meaningful for his people, Hon. Olulade, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Security, Strategy and Publicity, expended millions of naira to empower the traders and artisans in Epe Constituency 2 at an event, which held with pomp and ceremony at Pobo Community Primary School, Poka, Eredo LCDA, Epe on Sunday 31^st August, 2014.

Hon. Olulade practically came to the rescue of hundreds of residents of the sleepy community, some of whom had been groaning over poor economic state, and with the provision of working tools free of charge by the lawmaker, life will definitely not remain the same for the lucky residents.

The excited traders and artisans could not hide their joy as they were presented with tens of sewing machines, hair dryers, grinding machines, popcorn making machines, clippers and deep freezers.

 Other items given out to the cheering residents were vulcanizing machines, bicycles, rain boots, rain coats, flash light, television sets, mobile phones, fumigating machines, food items and cash for the elderly and widows.

Residents, politicians and eminent personalities including the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Hon. Henry Dele Ajomale had defied early morning rain to grace the occasion, which they described as one of its kind in the community.

Female politicians and youths in the area were particularly excited such that they kept interjecting the speeches of the guests and Hon. Segun Olulade with songs of inspiration to eulogize the lawmaker and expressed their love for him ‘for representing us well in the last three years.’

Olulade, who was resplendent in his blue lace sown in ‘agbada’, kept smiling and waving to the cheering crowd, who never failed to reciprocate by chanting ‘Eleniyan’ at short intervals.

In his short, but instructive speech, Olulade said that he has communicated the needs and aspirations of the community through the representation mandate given to him few years back, adding that “I have projected our community (Epe Constituency 2) as a community with enormous economic opportunities, vast land-mass and an investment haven for Lagosians, Nigerians and even people from the Diaspora.”

According to him, “We are here for a Mega Empowerment Programme, it is about empowering over 640 members of the constituency. It is meant to appreciate the people that have done well in voting me into the office. I have 61 communities in the constituency and we have 14 royal fathers. We are giving out over 640 items, and I have the support of my people, democracy is about people. You can see the endorsement of my people and the party. I have done many empowerments in all the communities in Epe Constituency 2 and brought government nearer to them, they are in support of my aspiration for second term in office.”

On how the beneficiaries were selected, Olulade stated that they were chosen through associations such as those of tailors and hairdressers; and that he selected those who have been doing well and who are in one profession or the other.

He made it clear that whatever he was doing for the people was voluntary, and that it was from his savings, and that the government does not give lawmakers money for such projects.

He emphasized that the day was meant for giving back to the people, give glory and honour to God and to re-echo the power of the people in governance.

“That is why I deployed all channels of communication (conventional and modern) for reaching back to the constituents from time to time, which has generated tremendous results. In the last 3 years and 2 months as your representative, I have conveyed quarterly meetings with stakeholders and leaders in every sector till date as a feedback mechanism for ensuring that the entire people of Epe Constituency 2 are well abreast of developments, actions and issues from your House, the Lagos State House of Assembly,” he said with confidence.

Hon. Dele Ajomale, who was the Chairman of the occasion, used the occasion to recognize the efforts of Hon. Segun Olulade in making life better for his people, while he added that the APC would conduct primaries for the forthcoming elections in the state.

He also took a swipe at those, who he said were accusing the party of imposing candidates on them during elections, saying that most of such critics have benefited from the alleged imposition in the past one way or the other.

He stated that the people would be allowed to choose whoever they wanted to contest for political offices, and that anyone that is popular should come out to contest the primaries.

“You can decide the person you want for any position wisely, and I want to advise that the beneficiaries of the gesture of Hon. Olulade should use the materials they are given wisely. What Olulade is doing today is a way of bringing succour to the people of his constituency, the project is worth millions of naira,” he said.

Another guest, who did not hide her support and love for Hon. Olulade, is the wife of the late former governor of Lagos State, Sir. Michael Otedola, Doja.

The octogenarian recalled how the lawmaker came to the rescue of the people, when some houses were about to be demolished in Odo-Iragunshin area of the settlement.

Madam Otedola described Olulade as a true son of the soil, who she said has represented Epe Division properly in his short stay in the Assembly.

“My late husband did his best, members of the APC has been doing their best in the state. I want to advise the beneficiaries of this gesture not to sell the items, Olulade is doing well. I once told some people that we would not support them for another term in office because they did not do well, but Hon. Olulade deserves another term in office, I will campaign and vote for him during the forthcoming elections. He will still go to Abuja to represent us as a good son of Epe Division,” she said.

Testifying to the significance of the gesture, a beneficiary of a hair dryer, Mrs. Omowunmi Seriki, said that ‘Hon. Segun Olulade has done well for us. I am getting hairdressing equipment as a leader of the group in this area and 20 others would benefit from the dryers, so we are grateful to him for this.’

Mr. Femi Ajinde, who got a sewing machine, also thanked the lawmaker for remembering them.

He stressed that the politician has done well for Ejirin, and that ‘I want the people to come out and support Hon. Segun Olulade for second term in office. I have never seen anyone like him before.’

Abosede Omowunmi, another tailor, who got a sewing machine, said; “past lawmakers did not do anything for us, but Segun Olulade has really helped us and we will support him for a second term of office.”

President of Youth Farmers Forum in the area, Mr. Depiver Adesegun, could not hide his joy over the way ‘Hon. Olulade has helped farmers in the area.’

“This is a new development in agriculture in Lagos State. Hon. Olulade knows the plight of the farmers and he has been training us on modern way of practicing agriculture. All the materials he is giving us today would be useful to us and we are thanking him for all that he has done for us. We support his second term ambition. All the youths would support him because we believe he would not forget us when he gets to office,” he said.

Others, who spoke at the event unanimously agreed that ‘Segun Oluade has done his best for the people of Epe Constituency 2,’ while promising that they would join hands in supporting him for a second term in office.

Some other guests at the event included the Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of the state on Political Affairs and Legislative Matters, Hon. Muslim Folami, who represented the Governor, wife of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. (Hon.) Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Mayowa, who represented her husband, Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Professor Johan Oladapo Fafunwa, Chairmen of Epe LG and Eredo LCDA, party leaders, royal fathers amongst others.

One thing that was clear at the august gathering was the fact that Hon. Segun Olulade has done a good job and with the way he was surrounded by the people at the event, it was obvious that winning a second term of office would not be a difficult task for the people’s ‘Eleniyan.’