FEMI GBAJABIAMILA DOLES OUT BUSES, TRICYCLES, MOTORCYCLES TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN SURULERE 1. | Shakiru Seidu. ..Applauds Constituents of their unflinching support upon him as Leader of the House of Representatives.

The erudite Legislator and Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has again demonstrated his philanthropic gesture by doling out 30 new Buses, 25 Tricycles and 160 Motorcycles to his Constituents, which cut across the 9 Wards in Surulere 1 federal Constituency. MegaXpression Magazine gathered that the Community Development Associations, Youth Associations, Women Associations, Artisans, Socio-Cultural groups (Arewa, Igbo Coalition and South South group) and APC party faithfuls were all benefitted. The Legislator reiterated that the move is not only to show that he remains humanitarian and philanthropic but to make the beneficiaries have means of livelihood.

In his eloquent remarks at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Friday, 1st of June, 2018, where the succour was presented to hundreds of people, the erudite Legislator used the medium to express his profound appreciation to the people of Surulere 1, for their uncommon support as a Legislator, and promised not to relent in his pursuits to make life worth living for the down-trodden in the Constituency.

He said "It’s a pleasure to stand before you who have elected me to the National Assembly to legislate for you at the center. Your mandate under my watch has been guarded jealously. I am constantly in touch with the constituency and you have kept faith with my leadership. As you all know that the mileage we have achieved today in Surulere became possible through the coordinated effort of all the critical stakeholders in this Constituency. From the Councillors, Surulere Council Chairman, our State Lawmaker and my humble self we have been working tirelessly to ensure that the dividends of democracy spread to greater number of people in our constituency particularly ensuring that Surulere reaps the full benefit of having their own son as Majority Leader in the National Assembly. We have provided jobs, federal political appointments, and federal projects which as Majority Leader I was able to attract to Surulere."

Hon. Gbajabiamila further described the benefits that the programme has brought to Surulere. He said, "it's makes life easier and more abundant for residents by easing transportation and secondly, provides economic empowerment to beneficiaries from the GBAJA RIDE PROJECT.

"About 2,000 young men and women divided into groups of 5 to 10 have been empowered. Because I believe with everyone person empowered you have indirectly empowered a minimum of 5 people including parents and family, it becomes clear that when you do the arithemetic, this project potentially touches the lives of 10,000 residents." He explained.

MegaXpression Magazine also report that he warned the beneficiaries to adhere to all the transportation laws of Lagos State government. He said the Buses and Tricycles can ply all routes within Surulere, while the Motorcycles are restricted to inner roads within the constituency only.

While revealing his responsibilities as a Representative and some of his achievements, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila said, "I am saddled with the role of lawmaking, oversight function and representation. Such representation requires that I attract as much federal presence to this constituency as possible during every budget cycle for implementation by MDAs apportioned to do so under the Appropriation Act. While some of them are yet to be implemented or implemented in part by the MDAs, you can be rest sure that as your representative I will continue to ensure that no agency of government denies the people of Surulere.

"I am glad that greater citizens’ participation has reinforced many independent project monitoring platforms across the country and these platforms must be encouraged if we care about ending the trend of abandoned projects in Nigeria. I am proud to say that we do not have any abandoned project under our constituency outreach in the 8th Assembly.

"For me, Surulere 1 federal Constituency remains the No. 1 Constituency in Lagos State and Nigeria. As you are aware the rehabilitation of Karimu 1 and Karimu 2 road network in Ward E1 and Ward G, commenced immediately after Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode Commissioned the Modele/Mathew Road which I facilitated. We are currently Installing 26 new solar water plants at Olawale Daudu Street; Shitta area by Akerele; NTA avenue, Tejuosho; Tejuosho Modern market; Mathew Street; Abati Barracks; Ishaga road; Adebola Street off Adeniran Ogunsanya; Ilegogoro by Council Secretariat; Alapafuja beside Super Cinema; inside Onitolo Community Secondary School and other areas in the constituency. We have also installed Home Solar System in 400 homes in Surulere, just a tip of our numerous projects."

Over the ridiculous estimated bills being charged by Eko Distribution company without providing them pre-paid meters even when payments had been made for the meters, Hon. Gbajabiamila narrated his sponsored Bill to criminalize estimated Bills issued by Power Distribution Companies in Nigeria and to compel the provision of prepaid meters to homes. "The Bill was overwhelmingly supported by all my colleagues in the House and will be open to members of the public and critical stakeholder on June 5, 2018 for debate at the House of Representatives Complex," he revealed.

"I led the adhoc committee of the House that prevailed on the federal government to employ family members of victims of the 2014 Nigeria Immigration Recruitment disaster and automatic employment for injured victims who were still alive, I am glad to inform you that they have all been gainfully employed amongst many other interventions.

"Under my leadership of the Ajaokuta Revival committee of the House we have visited Ajaokuta Steel Company and Itakpe Iron ore company and will conduct a public hearing on June 4, 2018. Our visit and committee work is already yielding positive results and I can assure Nigerians that under the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, Ajaokuta Steel Company will rise again to stimulate the country’s economy.  However, here in Surulere, we will be embarking on several programmes in coming days to enable us expand and reach even more constituents." He said, as part of his oversight activities.

The articulate Legislator further enjoined his Constituents to participate in government at all levels. He therefore enjoined all to register to vote. "Its our right, go to INEC office at Small London or Nathan Primary School. For those who misplaced their cards or have their PVC damaged just apply to same office for replacement." He explained.

Before he left the podium, he applauded APC members in Surulere 1, for their peaceful conduct in the last Party Congress. "We have re-engineered our Party at grassroots and will repeat same at the next APC National Convention in Abuja. At every point, I have so many reasons to thank God for the loving constituents I am blessed with and whenever I look back at yesterday, where we are today and project into our future, I can only pray that never again will Surulere retrogress in ranking in the National Assembly or have the number of projects accruable to the constituency downsized. It’s a choice we have to make." He said.

Some of the guests at the Mega Empowerment were Prince Tajudeen Olusi, leader, Lagos Central Senatorial District, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, APC Chairman, Lagos State, Hon. James Faleke, MHR, Hon. Babajimi Benson, MHR and other House of Reps members. Hon. Desmot Eliott, Member LSHA, Mr Ladi Lawanson, Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Tajudeen Ajide, Chairman Surulere Local Govt., Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, APC Women leader Lagos State, Chief Mrs Kemi Nelson, APC Women leader Southwest,  Hon Shakirudeen Sanni Ajao, APC Chairman Surulere LG, Mr Olanrewaju-Smart, members of APC, religious leaders, CDCs, Market Women, Artisans, Associations, among many people were present.

SHAKIRU SEIDU.
Publisher / Editor-in-Chief,
MegaXpression Magazine.