14th July, 2010
A member of the Lagos House of Assembly, Ayoola Ahmed, has chided politicians who renege on their electoral promises, urging voters to hold them accountable for their breach of the pact with the people.
Ahmed, who represents Lagos Island Constituency 2 in the Lagos Assembly, said the electorate should start making use of their votes to determine the quality of elected representatives they want at various levels of government.
The lawmaker noted this last weekend during the economic empowerment programme he initiated for the people of his constituency.
As a grassroots politician, Ahmed said he has always taken steps aimed at touching the lives of the people in many ways.
His efforts, he stated, include provision of jobs for 150 graduates and non-graduates in the Lagos State civil service; provision of medical assistance to people with complicated cases through operation; annual summer classes for both primary and secondary school students and computer training for youths.
Others, according to him are granting of bursary awards to 85 students of institutions of higher learning; empowerment of people by financing their trade equipment and organising sporting activities like boxing, table tennis and football for youths in his constituency.
At the empowerment programme, 20 grinding machines, 25 sewing machines, 35 pop corn machines, 15 filing machines, 20 industrial pressing irons, 20 industrial clippers, 20 hair dryers, 10 motorcycles and crates of soft drink were given to beneficiaries.
Ahmed stated that the gesture was borne out of his belief that when people are financially empowered, they would be able to take care of their personal and family needs.
He added that such project will surely reduce unemployment as well as crime, especially among the youths.
He advised the beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity by operating the machines strictly according to instructions in the manuals, while also thanking his political leaders, members of Action Congress (AC) and people of his constituency who offered him the opportunity to serve them.