By DAPO FALADE
Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, on Thursday, put smile on the faces of the people as he gave out 20 cars to traditional rulers and empowered 2000 beneficiaries in the Oke Ogun axis of Oyo State.
The 2020 edition of the empowerment programme of the senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District, tagged ‘BAF Mega Empowerment’, was carried out at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Iseyin.
Items distributed at the empowerment programme included 20 saloon cars, 270 motorcycles, 600 grinding machines, 250 sewing machines, 100 laptops, 80 deep freezers, 100 pack sprayers and chemicals for farmers.
Others included cash supports of N20, 000 each for 100 widows; N20, 000 each for 100 elders and most vulnerable; N20, 000 bursary each for 100 students; N100, 000 each for 10 selected youths and N10million for selected communities.
It was praise galore for Senator Buhari as chieftains of the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) present at the event describing him as a rare gift to the people of Oyo North Senatorial District.
The leadership of the party expressed satisfaction with the lawmaker’s programmes and projects, stressing that it is only a party like the APC that can do such a people-oriented programme.
Former governors of Oyo and Osun states, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala and Ogbeni Raufu Aregbesola (represented by Dr Yunus Akintunde), Oyo APC chairman, Chief Akin Oke, Senator Teslim Folarin (Oyo Central), Honourable Olusegun Odebunmi (Ogo Oluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency) and several others thanked him for priotising the interest of his constituents.
Chief Alao-Akala further described Senator Buhari as a worthy representative who should be emulated by other politicians, just as the Oyo APC chairman, Chief Oke, used the occasion to call on aggrieved members of the party to bury the hatchet and forge unity.
In his welcome address, Senator Buhari, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Land Transport, said the mega empowerment programme marked the third of its kind since he was elected in 2015.
He said the programme was targeted towards helping and empowering his constituents in various petty trading and helping widows and the most vulnerable with cash support.
“Also, we are helping our students with laptops and bursaries to support their educational pursuit. I am doing this for the benefit of my constituents.
“Some people will benefit today. And this could be the only thing they will benefit in this democracy. So, I am proud that I am doing it.
“It is my aim to use these empowerment programmes to build an economic cycle where wealth can be circulated among the less privileged in my senatorial district so as to move the state forward economically.
“It will also help to reduce poverty among our people, make our communities more secured and, most importantly, strike a balance of feedback between the electorate, the elected and those given dividends of democracy,” he said.
Buhari appealed to those who are yet to benefit from the series of his empowerment programmes to be patient and remain steadfast, just as he advised the beneficiaries to make a judicious use of whatever item they benefited to advance their earnings.
“Do not forget that this empowerment programme is a continuous one. Someday, you will also be a beneficiary. There is no way you can satisfy your people. Even with this, there is no way you can satisfy them. But I am happy that some people will be happy today,” he added.
The APC chieftain said, since his election as a senator in 2015, he has sponsored 19 bills and 11 motions, which included a Bill for the establishment of a Federal University of Technology and Agriculture in Oke Ogun, aside other physical projects, trainings and employment opportunities into various federal government agencies.
He expressed optimism that the bill for the Establishment of the special federal university will soon be signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Senator Buhari thanked the leaders of the former ruling party in Oyo State for their unflinching support and words of encouragement at all time.
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