By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
The 5th edition of Oyetola Hand of Fellowship records a significant milestone as over six hundred Osun residents drawn across the three local governments of Ayedaade, Irewole and Isokan Federal Constituency received cash gifts from the philanthropic gesture of the sponsor, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA over the weekend.
The beneficiaries largely petty traders, artisans, farmers among others showered encomium on the donor for counting them worthy and for always investing in humanity.
The event, which was attended by who-is-who within the political circle in Irewole Federal Constituency had in attendance the former Chief of Staff to the ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Elder Peter Babalola; Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Hon. Akinola Olasunkanmi Omotuntun; APC Chairman, Irewole Local Government, Alhaji Arimiyau Owoade; APC Chairman in Ayedade Local Government, Hon. Ramoni Morenikeji; former Special Adviser on Commerce, Hon. Sola Ogunfolaju, APC Chieftain, Alhaji Olubowale; Party Excos; other loyalists of the party; traders; artisans; market men and women; youths among others.
Presenting the cash gifts to the beneficiaries, Oyebamiji described the initiative as a ‘child of necessity’ to further invest in humanity by lifting the residents out of poverty as his little way of giving back to the society.
The NIWA boss who was represented by his spouse, Dr. Sekinat Oyebamiji, extolled the people of the Constituency in particular and Osun in general for their unalloyed loyalty and unflinching support to the ruling party in the country – the All Progressives Congress, APC, noting that the gesture was aimed to cushion the effects of the temporary hardship occasioned by the subsidy removal and genuine socioeconomic reforms being championed by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Oyebamiji noted that the current administration in the country was irrevocably resolute to turn around the socioeconomic fortunes of the country and reposition Nigeria to the path of greatness as espoused by her founding fathers.
He assured that the temporary hardship in the country would soon be over as the federal government has been working assiduously to bring succour to all and sundry regardless of socioeconomic, political or religious affiliations by ensuring permanent solutions to the nation’s woes.
Oyebamiji reiterated his avowed commitment to the continuity of the programme as a little way to complement government’s efforts in making lives meaningful and worthwhile for the people saying “this initiative would continue in phases as part of efforts to continuously support the needy in the society”
He therefore, implored the beneficiaries to use the gift judiciously and apply it on things capable of effecting change in their lives and bring multiplier effects.
Earlier, former Chief of Staff to the ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Elder Peter Babalola lauded the donor, Bola Oyebamiji for his unwavering commitment to humanity.
He acknowledged the tremendous impacts of Oyebamiji on the lives of the people particularly the less-privileged and downtrodden over the years just as he beseeched God to continue to uplift and endow him the more as he champions the people’s cause.
Elder Babalola who has formally defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, used the occasion to acknowledge the warm reception received from the leaders of the party just as he bemoaned the poor performance indixes of the current administration in the state led by Senator Ademola Adeleke.
The former PDP gubernatorial aspirant noted that the current situation in the state was a pointer to the irredeemable failure and abysmal performance of the PDP-led government charging the incumbent Governor and his supporters to start preparing their hand-over note as he and other leaders of the APC remained resolute to wrestle power from Governor Adeleke and take the APC to victory come 2026 governorship election.
In their separate remarks, APC Chairman in Ayedade Local Government, Hon. Ramoni Morenikeji and Chieftain of the party, Hon. Akinola Olasunkanmi Omotuntun, appreciated Oyebamiji for the support given to the people as they urged the teeming supporters of the party to work vigorously in unity for the emergence of all the APC candidates in the forthcoming local government elections in the state.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Mary Emmanuel showered encomium on Oyebamiji and his family for counting them worthy of the good gesture, assuring judicious use of the money.