By Editor
Hon Kolawole Akinlayo, House of Representatives Member representing Ekiti North Federal Constituency 2 has cleared the air about controversies trailing the Federal Government palliatives given to National Assembly members saying that members of the House of Representatives only received one hundred million naira worth of grains provided by President Bola Tinubu in December 2023 to ameliorate the pains faced over the removal of fuel subsidy.
Speaking with newsmen at his country home, Hon Akinlayo said no lawmaker accessed the funds in cash, rather the grains were distributed through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to be distributed to various federal constituencies across the country.
The lawmaker added that the grains for his Federal Constituency, which came in two trailers, were distributed evenly across Ido-Osi, Ilejemeje and Moba Local Governments devoid of any political bias and party affiliation.
In his address to the people of his constituency, Akinlayo drummed up support for President Bola Tinubu urging them to patiently support the current administration in order to reap the dividends of democracy, which he assured, would trickle down to the grassroots.
He assured that President Tinubu would fulfill his campaign promises to the country’s citizens and asked for little patience.
While fielding questions on his stewardship at the Green Chamber, and how beneficial his tenure was to the people of his constituency, Hon Akinlayo highlighted employment facilitated for over 60 youths after a training Certificate Program organized with the Bamidele Olomilua University of Science and Technology, (BOUESTI) Ikere Ekiti.
His words; “The beneficiaries, drawn from Ido-Osi, Moba and Ilejemeje Local Governments, were trained in the production of renewable energy, system security, installation of solar power, CCTV, inverter, onboard diagnosing, intercom installation, among other services. I believed that when we train the youths we are building the nation. One step at a time”.
According to Hon Akinlayo, the students will be employed by Bamidele Olumilua University, BOUESTI, to train students of secondary schools across Ekiti State.
“My office would soon commence the payment of bursaries to all students of my Federal Constituency in tertiary institutions across the country. As long as you’re from Ido-Osi, Ilejemeje and Moba local governments, you’re eligible for the bursary award. It cuts across those in universities, polytechnics, schools of nursing, colleges of education, and others”, he said.
“I am the first legislator to attract the construction of over 5 kilometers of road to my constituency. That’s the Osan-Ora Road which is a border road linking Ekiti to Kwara State. The road is in the finishing stage and will soon be commissioned. I have also reached out to the State Police Command to station a security post to protect people plying the roads from being attacked by hoodlums”.
While reacting to a vote of no confidence passed on legislators of Ekiti North extraction at the National Assembly by a youth group, Hon Akinlayo said his works will determine if he would be returned to the House of Representatives.
The legislator said in a bid to ensure inclusion ninety aides were given appointments across his Federal Constituency and placed on monthly salary, adding that Chiefs in his Constituency are on his monthly payroll to boost their effectiveness.
He also discloses the appointment of the Special Adviser on Chieftancy Matters to interface between his office and the chiefs of his constituency.
“I have executed my programs one after the other, regardless of party affiliation, I have sunk boreholes, renovated a lot of projects. Taking into cognizance that Ekiti is an agrarian state we have designed a program for farmers. In the next one or two weeks those in my constituency will receive farm implements like herbicides, fertilizers, improved seedlings and farm support to ensure that they have improved yields”.
“We’ve given JAMB forms to eligible students in the constituency. I have been doing that even before I was elected. Just recently I paid the National Examination Commission (NECO) fees for all eligible students at my alma mater, Ikosun Comprehensive High School. I’m doing my best to make sure my people get the best representation”
In a related development, Hon Akinlayo however, explained that some of the festivities lined up for the people of his constituency this Easter was put on hold due to the death of the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Ekiti State, Barrister Paul Omotoso, and the chairman of Ero Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Buga.
He lauded the achievements of Barrister Paul Omotoso and the late LCDA boss stating that they were instrumental to his stint at the National Assembly, and described their passing away as a monumental loss to the Progressive Family and Ekiti State.
“We lost those two fine gentlemen to the cold hands of death even before their time. These men still had a lot to offer in service to Ekiti state and humanity. They will be sorely missed and we pray to God to grant their families the fortitude to bear the loss. Our hearts are with their families at this time
