2nd July, 2017
The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has presented brand new vehicles to four members of his Surulere Federal constituency.
The vehicles, a Toyota Hilux Pick up, a Mitsubishi Pick up and two Kia saloon cars, were presented on Sunday in Lagos to the beneficiaries under the second phase of the lawmaker’s Constituency Support Programme.
Gbajabiamila had in March presented six brand new vehicles to constituents in the first phase of the programme designed to empower beneficiaries to start taxi business with Uber and Taxify.
The four beneficiaries of the second phase of the empowerment programme, across the nine wards in the constituency, emerged through a raffle draw.
Gbajabiamila, while presenting the keys of the vehicles to the beneficiaries, said the empowerment was a redemption of his electoral promise to make impact on the lives of members of his constituency.
He noted that leadership was about making great impacts on the lives of the people, saying the programme was a way of giving back to his constituents and connecting with them.
“What we are doing today is what we have always done to make the people of this constituency happy and make them feel the impact of democracy.
“We did the first phase in March to empower people to start their businesses. This is the second phase and we are so happy to see how happy the beneficiaries are.
“You see, I don’t believe that it is only when elections are approaching that a leader has to connect with his people.
“That connection with the people should be continual. We have done a couple of empowerment, this is another one, and by God’s grace, we will continue to do more,” he said.
The lawmaker said he would continue to serve the people to justify the mandate given to him to represent them at the House of Representatives.
He advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the vehicles for the upliftment of their lives and those of their family members.
The majority leader urged those who missed out in the programme to exercise patience as they could still benefit from his subsequent empowerment programmes.
Gbajabiamila enjoined constituents to be faithful to the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the party was committed to delivering the dividends of democracy to all parts of the state.
On the forthcoming council poll, the lawmaker urged residents to vote according to their conscience.
He urged residents to shun acts of violence before and during the election and do their bit to ensure the poll is peaceful.
“My advice to all residents is to ensure the election is successful by embracing peace and eschewing violence.
“Also, it is the duty of everyone to ensure the poll is credible. It is when we have credible elections that we can have credible leaders,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries of the programme, Mr Christian Fregene, thanked the lawmaker for the vehicle, saying the lawmaker had demonstrated true leadership with the programme.
He said he was positively overwhelmed by the vehicle empowerment and promised to put it into good use.
“This is the first time I am getting an empowerment benefit in this constituency, and good enough, the empowerment is a big one.
“I thank the Majority Leader for this demonstration of service to the people and I pray God should continue to guide him to do more,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Mr. Suleiman Thompson, who went home with the Toyota Hilux vehicle, said he was extremely happy.
He described the representation of Gbajabiamila as the best so far in Surulere, and urged the lawmaker to continue with the good work.
“This is the first time an incredible thing like this is happening in Surulere. We have never had it this good.
“I want to commend our leader for this great initiative and I want to express my appreciation and assure him that the people of this constituency are behind him,” he said.
Thompson urged those who did not benefit at the programme not to feel bad as the lawmaker had promised to reach out to more people in subsequent programmes.
The Sole Administrator of Surulere Local Government Area, Mr Sheriff Balogun, was one of top politicians, prominent people in the constituency as well as other constituents who graced the presentation of vehicles in Surulere.
Gbajabiamila had recently distributed no fewer than 501 e-learning tablets to secondary students as part of programmes to give back to his Surulere constituency.