House of Representatives member for Yagba Federal Constituency, Hon Leke Abejide has admonished his constituents to accept his developmental efforts as same as their expectations from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Abejide made this known during the flag-off of the 100M Leke Abejide Foundation (LAF) Cooperative, Thrift Credit Union loan disbursement and distribution of food items in his hometown, Alu, Yagba East Local Council, Kogi State. During the disbursement of the non-interest loan scheme for women, the various women cooperative societies spread across the three councils in Yagba Federal Constituency, namely Mopamuro, Yagba East and Yagba West Local Councils received N25m, N45m and N30m, respectively.
Abejide said while his target is to ensure good governance and development for the benefit of the people represents the people of Yagba East, Yagba West and Mopamuro Federal, he also made it a duty to extend his gesture to Kabba Bunu-Ijumu and Lokoja/Kotonkarfe Federal Constituencies. He however said his effort committed to the two other constituents outside his catchment is not for purpose of elections or running for Senate but to put humanity first.
Abejide, who is on his second term in the Green Chamber and elected on the platform of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), attributed his achievements to the enablement of President Tinubu. He corrected the impression that people have not felt the economic impact of the president. According to him, since Tinubu is human and not omnipresent, he has done what is expected of him which is about the enablement of each and every parts of the system to reach their potentials from federal, state and recently to the local government levels, the onus is on all tiers of government to deliver good governance and development.
“Some are saying they have not felt the impact of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. You have said it here loud and clear that you feel my impact, I now put it to you that once you see me and feel my impact, you have aready felt the impact of the President”, he added
The 2024 edition of the yearly LAF empowerment programme which included distribution of food items for constituents and clothing for widows, coincided with the N100m interest-free loan scheme for women through selected cooperative societies,
Beneficiaries included 14 cooperatives from Yagba East; Seven from Yagba West and nine from Mopamuro. It is aimed to promote nano and micro businesses across 34 electoral wards and 244 polling units in Yagba Federal Constituency.
This scheme aims to foster economic growth by targeting women businesses through business expansion, creating jobs and stimulating local economy, according to Elder S.F Ibiteye, Chairman Board of Director, LAF Cooperative Thrift and Credit Union, who also noted that the projected goal is not political but to invest in the people and their businesses.
This scheme is a concrete manifestation of Hon.Leke Abejide’s commitment to the people, as he understands what’s nano and micro businesses are facing, the scheme is to ease and boosts businesses”, he said.
Additionally, LAF distribution 30,000 pieces of six yards of Ankara to widows across the constituency. Other items distributed by the foundation included rice, salt, sugar and garri.
In his remarks, Abejide said, “Very soon LAF Cooperative Thrift Credit Union will become the most preferred financial institution for loans as it will be accessible Nano businesses. By empowering women entrepreneurs, nano and micro business, we support businesses, uplift families, and foster an inclusive and prosperous society. We are confident that this initiative will inspire a new wave of entrepreneurial spirit, drive economic growth, and create lasting wealth for the people Yagba”.
Speaking further on the empowerment of his constituents, and 2027 elections, Abejide said “I have seen on social media different articles bothering on 2027 election, when I am yet to complete one and half years of my second term in office, I just want to start giving back do the people at the grassroots and I know God will continue to help me. It is unfortunate that some people are talking about 2027 House of Representatives election, my target is governance, I want to face governance to make Yagba Federal Constituency the envy of all. I refuse to be distracted but focus on the development of Yagba. When it is time for politicking it will be played.
Politics is not played on social media, but it is played in the grassroots and it is local and we are in the grassroots now to play it local. The Senate seat is in Yagba West, therefore, we should be cautious about how we play politics and with the huge population of Yagba East Local Government which is like two local governments lumped together, I think it is inappropriate to fight us”.
“The annual WAEC fees that we pay and extended to Kabbabunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency is not focused on contesting for Senate election. We have people-oriented schemes meant to benefit people for capacity and human building. The women cooperatives society scheme is targeted to provide financial solutions and empowerment to women in small scale businesses for expansion and growth”.
Hon. Abejide noted that women play a critical role in the development of any society, adding that the non-interest 100M loan scheme was determined to empower the women to drive economic growth.
He also noted that this year’s edition of the empowerment of widows marks the 10th of the initiative, which was launched in 2014 targeting 250 women in Yagba.
Participants praised Hon.Leke Abejide’s dedication to grassroots development and commitment to good records of representation.
