•••calls for compassionate people in politics
Deacon Banjo Omole, the Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Ifako-ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos on Sunday said that Nigeria needed more compassionate people in politics to serve humanity.
Omole made this remarks at the Empowerment Programme for Widows and Old People organised by the Touch of Love and Lifting Hands Foundation founded by an APC chieftain, Mrs Atinuke Owolabi.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Owolabi is a leading APC female aspirant for Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area chairmanship seat in the last council poll before her withdrawal over party supremacy.
He said: “We are always happy because she (Owolabi) is a member of APC and I am especially happy with all her philanthropic gestures and compassions for the needy.
“She does good with her resources and money. This is what we want in politics, we don’t want corrupt people but people that will make life better for the people.
“Those that will do good to people, and people can attest to their kindness and compassionate heart are what we want in politics,” Omole said.
Reciting a poem for Owolabi, titled “Roll Out Compassion Two Times” the APC chairman said that the foundation has done immeasurable projects to better lives of the people, especially the needy.
According to him, many poor Nigerians are looking up to see those that would help bring succor to them.
“Atinuke is immuned with blood of compassion. For this elequent personality to further the cause of service to humanity in giving from her sweat is examplary.
“Atinuke is a mother who gives voluntarily, with human face and her passion for the poor dominates heartful gestures.
“This woman uplifts others. she answers the directive of God for compassion to fellow men, ” the APC boss added.
According to him, Owolabi’s rank of philanthropic gestures is fast rising and her profile rising also among the Non-Governmental Organisations.
He said that Owolabi was marching in the footsteps of most notable Nigeria’s female philanthropists such as Funsho Alakija, Amina Oyagbola and Olajumoke Adenowo.
Omole commended Owolabi for providing shelter for the blind, enrolling out-of-school children in schools, feeding the poor and caring for the unemployed youths among others.
Omole said that no act of kindness done for humanity would be forgotten by God, stresing that Owolabi venturing into politics would be an added advantage to affect many lives.
In her response, Owolabi, who said is an engineer by profession, said that she joined politics to make good use of every privilege position for the greater good of the people.
She said that over 200 widows and aged were empowered with different gifts items like clothing, foot wears, food stuff and ingredients.
“The next empowerment in December will be mega when we will be doing a one week humanitarian services. We will do more of empowerment, awareness and workshop,” she said.
Owolabi described accolades from the APC Chairman as heartwarming which would strengthen her to do more for the people.
She said that her belief was that if could touch so many lives with her meagre resources, a good number of the poor masses would rejoice if given opportunity in politics.
An 85- year-old beneficiary, Mrs Oladipupo Rebecca, who prayed to God to continue to bless and keep Owolabi for the gesture, said she had been benefitting from the foundation.
Meanwhile a Lagos State House of Assembly member representing Ifako-Ijaiye constituency 02, Hon. Rasheed Makinde in a statement released special adviser on media and publicity, Tunde Rufai, described Deacon Omole as an energetic and charismatic leader whose experience in modern day politics cannot be overemphasized.
