Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State on Monday urged political officeholders to adhere to good governance and leadership principles to ensure the delivery of dividends of democracy in their various constituencies.
Aiyedatiwa, who stated during the official distribution of grants to artisans and school pupils by the member representing Akoko South East/South West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Adegboyega Adefarati, in Akungba Akoko.
The governor said empowering the people should be a collective effort to uplift communities and build a brighter and better future for children.
According to him, political officeholders can complement the efforts of the government for development by giving back to their people and ensuring the delivery of dividends of democracy.
Aiyedatiwa, who hailed Adefarati for his dedication towards addressing the needs of his constituency, said that the grants would stimulate local entrepreneurship, create jobs, and improve livelihoods.
The governor said, “Let me commend our Hon. Member for this thoughtful initiative, which demonstrates a deep understanding of the needs of our community.
“It is a testament to the power of public service and the positive impact that dedicated leaders can have on the lives of their constituents.
“Let me say these initiatives accord with our development agenda in the Sunshine State. We have also concluded plans to provide microcredit loans to artisans in the state.
“The loans would be disbursed very soon by the Ondo State Micro-credit Agency. Similarly, we granted scholarships, bursaries, and financial assistance to students of Ondo State origin in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
“By the same token, we are forging ahead with the process of employing two thousand teachers in both public primary and secondary schools in the state.
“In the area of security, we shall continue to strengthen our home-grown Amotekun Corps and other security agencies for optimal delivery on protection of lives and property.
“The State Government had also approved N2 billion to support agriculture in the state with a view to encouraging farmers and ensuring food security. We will continue to pursue policies and programs that would make life easier and more meaningful to our people.”.
In his welcome address, Adefarati, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Labour, Employment, and Productivity, commended the remarkable development Ondo State has experienced under Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration.
Adefarati highlighted his own contributions to the constituency, including empowerment programmes, infrastructure improvements, and initiatives aimed at enhancing education, water supply, and economic support for residents of the two local government areas.
Adefarati emphasised that these efforts reflect the APC’s commitment to the welfare of the people and urged the Akoko community to support Governor Aiyedatiwa in the upcoming November 16 gubernatorial election.
He listed some of the items distributed to the people, including the sum of N100,000 each to 500 constituents, the distribution of sewing machines and hairdryers, and the distribution of over 100,000 exercise books to pupils in public primary schools, while over 1000 bags of 50 kg fertiliser were also distributed to farmers in the area.
In his goodwill message, former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, praised Adefarati for his commitment to the welfare of his people.
He encouraged the constituents to continue supporting the lawmaker, assuring them that they would keep benefiting from his dedicated service.
Similarly, the State Chairman of the APC, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, commended Adefarati for following in the footsteps of his late father and urged him to keep up his good work for the people of the constituency.
The Alale of Akungba, Oba Sunday Isaac Adeyeye, also commended the lawmaker’s contributions to the development of the constituency, noting that his achievements since assuming office are truly commendable.
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