From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has again empowered his constituents, reassuring them that they will continue to enjoy the basic dividends of democracy.
Bamidele representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly made the remarks at an empowerment programme, tagged : ‘Renewed Hope Mega Empowerment for Ekiti Central Senatorial District’ held in Ado-Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State, where over 5,000 constituents from the district benefited.
The beneficiaries of the multi-million naira empowerment were drawn from the five local government areas of Ijero, Efon, Ekiti West, Ado and Irepodun/ Ifelodun, in the Senatorial District.
Items distributed include, Minibuses, motorcycles, tricycles, freezers, ambulances, cylinders, gas cookers, cooking pots, generating sets, sewing machines, pepper grinding machines, cassava grinding machines, wheel chairs, hair dryers, make-up boxes,, wheelbarrows, cutlasses, hoes tractors, lawn mowers, land tillers, educational materials among others.
Also, 1,900 people including market women from across the five local governments received grants of N100,000 each and students from various institutions also received cheques.
Bamidele who said the empowerment was part of what he promised to the people, noted that the empowerment was for year 2024, adding that year 2025 empowerment is still on the way.
The Senate Leader who explained that the empowerment programme was one of his ways of giving back to the system, emphasised that it was devoid of any political or religious affiliations
Addressing the gathering, Bamidele said, “This is part of my way of giving back to the system. Let me once again not miss this as another opportunity to say a big thank you to His Excellency, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who has consistently, deliberately and intentionally provided for me a conducive atmosphere to do my job not only in Ekiti State, but at the federal level in the National Assembly..
“Let me just say the essence of what we are doing here today is to ensure that over 5,000 people benefit from this empowerment programme.
“This empowerment programme is for the year 2024. This year 2025 empowerment programme is still on the way, and by the grace of God, today, we have a total of 1,900 people who will get a grant of N100,000 each paid directly into their accounts.These 1,900 people include 800 people who are market women from local governments of Ijero, Efon, Ekiti West, Ado and Irepodun/ Ifelodun.
“We also have our students whose cheques are also ready to be collected. We also have traders who are also going to benefit from the various items that are here. 180 motorcycles, over 400 sewing machines, 165 tricycles, 333 hair dryers. We also have cassava grinding machines, we have pepper grinding machines, we have lawn mowers and land tillers for our farmers. We also have cutlasses and hoes, just as we have tractors for the big time farmers which will be handed over to them through their various cooperatives and farmers’ associations in Ekiti Central Senatorial District under the watch of the Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture in Ekiti State who knows the relevant stakeholders.
“Also, we have a total of seven ambulances that we are giving to our various hospitals including the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, our College of Health Technology, Ijero-Ekiti and the Intensive Care Unit in Iyin-Ekiti and some other health institutions. We also have a total of 20 mini buses that will also be giving to relevant entrepreneurs and stakeholders. I can go on and on to mention all other items but time is not on our side.
” Your Excellency, thank you for your support and to all the people in Ekiti Central, this is part of what we promised you. And we will continue to do our best, we will continue to do all we can to make you enjoy some of the basic dividends of democracy.
” What we have done here today was not done on the basis of political parties. We went through various associations to get the list of potential beneficiaries. We went through Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and we went through Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), we went through league of Imams and Alfas and we went through various trade associations for us to be able to draw the lists of the beneficiaries regardless of political affiliations and regardless of religious affiliations.”
In his remarks, the state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, commended the Senate Leader for the initiative. He urged the beneficiaries not to sell the items given to them but use them for wealth creation.
” If 2024 is like this, then you can imagine what we will expect in 2025. While congratulating the beneficiaries, on behalf of all of us, I say a big thank you to you sir for being a worthy representative of your people. This is one empowerment that is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf. What is happening here today is what is possible when there is unity among political leaders. And I plead with all of us that are benefiting from this programme.to please, apply it in a way and manner that is going to bring prosperity to each and every one of us. I love the way and manner the beneficiaries were selected. These are the people that will need these items, so, I don’t think anyone of them will go and sell it because they need it .I plead with you to use it as a form of wealth creation for yourselves and for your families.
“When Senator Bamidele was delivering his speech, one idea came to my mind and I just remembered the day the President came to Ekiti State to campaign for himself and for Senator Bamidele, he said one thing in the palace, he said, Ekiti Central people give me Opeyemi Bamidele, he is my son, he has my ears, I need him in Abuja and Ekiti Central people gave Senator Bamidele to the President, you can now see the results of what the President is doing. I need to remind us all of all this, that we have a President who cares for us, a President that walks his talk. Whatever we are doing either as a governor or members of the National Assembly, or members of the State House of Assembly or as chairmen of local governments or as councillors you are doing it on behalf of the President.
“So, what is happening today is the President delivering democratic dividends to Ekiti State through Senator Bamidele. But the difference is that you have a Senator that will look back and remember his people. It is not all representatives that will have the opportunity to do this and he will come home and do it, that is what stands him apart from all other representatives and I assure you heaven is taking note of this, your people are taking note of this, at the appropriate time they will compensate you with more support and with their prayers.
“I am extremely grateful onto you and I plead with all of us, that please, let us use these items well. We should not sell them. Let us use it for the purpose that it was given to us for. I am just pleading with all of us And for those that have not benefitted, this is for 2024 other people will benefit in 2025, in 2026, in 2027, in 2028, in 2029, in 2030, in 2031 from Senator Opeyemi Bamidele by the special grace of God. Once again, I am extremely grateful on their behalf to you with the way and manner you have shown compassion to your people and your constituents, God himself will recompense you. Thank you, sir!”