Ogun State governor-elect Dapo Abiodun sends Easter message to lepers colony in Abeokuta

OGUN State governor-elect Prince Dapo Abiodun spent Easter Monday delivering a message to a lepers colony at Iberekodo in Abeokuta North Local Government Area as part of his planned inclusive programme aimed at assuring everyone that they will catered for.

Prince Abiodun, 58, was  elected governor last month on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and will assume office on May 29 after being sworn-in. Seen as a young and urbane entrepreneur, Prince Abiodun is the managing director of Heyden Petroleum an oil and gas company as has promised to run an inclusive government that focuses on tapping into the human resources of Ogun State.

Represented by his deputy governor-elect Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele and his wife, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, the governor-elect assured the lepers of his incoming administration's readiness to make life more worth living for them. Seen as a unifying figure, Prince Abiodun has assured Ogun indigenes that his administration will not leave anybody behind and his visit to the colony is seen as part of this programme.

Elder John Ojoawo, the chairman of the Lepers Colony, appreciated the governor-elect for identifying with them and appealed that their monthly stipend of N10,000 be increased by his government. He explained that the colony was built by the administration of Chief Olusegun Osoba but added that the stipend which was introduced then could no longer cater for their needs.

In addition, he also requested that the government should look into the area of providing vocational training for the youths in the settlement. Elder Ojoawo also urged the incoming government to provide their children with free education and a good road network to ease transportation to the colony.

“We want the welfare of lepers in the new government to be promoted. We want our linkage and community roads to be fixed to ease access to this settlement and we also need a bus of our own as commercial bus drivers discriminated against us," Elder Ojoawo added.

Mrs Salako-Oyedele said the resolve to celebrate Easter with the lepers and also make charitable donations was a pointer to the fact that the incoming administration is more concerned about the welfare of its people. She promised the government will continue to look after the interests of the community by making primary school education free and also providing interest- free loans to the women.

“We are here to celebrate with the inmates of  Lepers Colony in Abeokuta and to share the goodwill of Prince Dapo Abiodun who is a welfarist in nature. The welfare of the citizens of Ogun is paramount to him, so we are here to wish them well.

“At the end of the day, this community will benefit greatly from Prince Dapo Abiodun's government as we have told them we will not forget them.  They have enjoyed government before and in this case, they would surely enjoy government again,” she added.