Ogun State Deputy governor-elect, Engr (Mrs) Noimot Salako-Oyedele, wife of the governor-elect, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, in a group photograph with inmates of the Lepers Colony, Iberekodo, Abeokuta, for Easter celebration on Monday. Photo: Olayinka Olukoya
The Ogun State governor-elect, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Monday, had a get-together with inmates of the Lepers Colony at Iberekodo in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the State.
Abiodun represented by his deputy governor-elect, Engr (Mrs) Noimot Salako-Oyedele and his wife, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, assured the lepers of his incoming administration readiness to make life more worth living for them.
The chairman of the Lepers Colony, Elder John Ojoawo, appreciated the governor-elect for identifying with them and appealed that their monthly stipend of N10, 000 be increased by his government.
Ojoawo explained that the Colony was built by the administration of Chief Olusegun Osoba, submitting that the stipend could no longer cater for their needs.
He also requested that the government should look into the area of providing vocational training for the youths in the settlement.
Ojoawo urged the incoming government to provide their children with free education; good road network to ease transportation to the colony.
He said “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. We also need a bus of our own as commercial bus drivers discriminated against us.
Salako-Oyedele in her response on behalf of Abiodun 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 provide 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. We are here to wish them well.
“At the end of the day, this community will benefit greatly from Prince Dapo Abiodun government. 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.