Alli distributes N35m food items to 3,000 widows 

Towards cushioning the effect of economic hardship on the people, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has distributed food items worth N35 million to no fewer than 3,000 widows in the senatorial district.

Alli while speaking with journalists on the sideline of a three-day program organised to support the widows drawn from across the nine local governments that made up Oyo South, restated his commitment to keep his electioneering promises, stating that the programme was aimed at delivering dividends of democracy to the people.

It would be recalled that the program started  on Tuesday in Eruwa with the distribution of food items to widows drawn from the three local governments in the Ibarapa zone of the senatorial district.

Alli said, “I decided that after reaching out to markets, we should now reach out to the widows. We have decided that it should be across the senatorial district.

“For this in the last three days, the totality of it is well over N35 million and at the close of it, it will be over 3,000 widows across the senatorial district.

“We are just beginning, this is just a tip of the iceberg. There are lots we have in plan for our people in areas like education, health, infrastructure and lots of other things.”

The lawmaker then urged other political office holders as well as the wealthy in the society to reach out to people so as to cushion the effect of the current economic hardship.

“As members of the National Assembly, we have not been given any palliative to give to our people but I decided to do this on my own. I will implore others to also please do same.

“I will advise other politicians to reach back to our people at home and also let us cushion the effect of the hardship our people are going through.

“We must assist the government in cushioning the effect of the hardship on our people,” he said.

Alli added that the issue of subsidy removal has come to stay, ststing that any contrary would only increase debt burden on Nigeria.

The lawmaker has also inaugurated the ICT centres he facilitated in Ibadan and Igboora, while he similarly inaugurated a modern toilet facility he built at Ajomale compound in Oja-Oba, Ibadan.

The Senatorial Chairman of APC in Oyo South, Alhaji Mojeed Olaiya, commended the lawmaker, describing him as a promise keeper and generous leader.

He lauded the lawmaker for doing so much in his first 100 days of assuming the office, assuring the people of his commitment to their welfare.

“If all those elected are doing what our Senator is doing then tension will go down gradually. So, what he is doing is good. I give kudos to him.

“The funny thing is, how many of his colleagues are doing this? Most of them have gone overseas now with their family.

“In the past, we don’t see those we elect for four years. The essence of democracy is for people to be happy, to have sense of belonging,” he said.

He added that Alli has promised to sink a borehole each in the 99 wards that made up the senatorial district, noting that 12 had already been sunk.

CAn APC leader in the state, Chief Bello Oladeji, thanked Alli for being generous and committed to the people’s welfare.

“The Distinguished Senator is doing very well. He is a politician, he knows what to do and when to do it,” he said.

Also, an APC chieftain from Ibadan North local government area, Dr. Adepeju Esan, appreciated the Senator for the gesture, stating that the people are lucky to have him as their representative.

“One will not say it is unexpected like you’ve heard people talk about it.

“It won’t be the first time the Senator will be doing this kind of a thing, even before he assumed office as a senator.

“We can only say that we are lucky to have him representing us to be able to do what he knows how to do best and we are grateful. We appreciate it,” she said.

Some of the beneficiaries at the event appreciated the lawmaker for considering them at this trying period, describing him as a politician with human face.

They said it was the first time a Senator from Oyo State would distribute such items and still initiate several projects within his first 100 days in office.

A beneficiary, Princess Stella Otegbola, thanked the lawmaker for the gesture, praying God continue to bless him.

“We thank Senator Sharafadeen Alli. May the Lord continue to bless him. He will continue to move from glory to glory,” she said.

She urged government to make proper provision for the elderly, youths, middle-aged and less privileged, while also providing other basic social amenities.

Muinat Mustapha, another beneficiary, thanked the Senator, uging government and other public office holders to reach out to people to cushion the effect of the economic hardship.

“We thank the man. We appeal to government to put more effort on the young people and assist the upcoming youths. People are suffering,” she said.

It would be recalled that Alli had recently facilitated fully equiped ICT centres for Ansar-ud-deen High School I, Oke-Ado, Ibadan and Methodist Grammar School in Sagaun, Igboora.

He also donated a borehole to Mokola Divisional Police Station together with a generating set, while he donated  3.5kva Inverter with Solar panels to Sango Divisional Police Station.

The lawmaker similarly distributed palliatives at several markets, sunk boreholes, erected solar street lights and organised coaching classes for students.

In fulfilment of an earlier promise, Alli donated a Toyota Sienna bus to the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Oyo State chapter.