>
Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A political group that championed the campaign of President Bola Tinubu in the build up to the February 25 poll, South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA), on Wednesday, distributed palliative to the residents of Oyo State to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
Speaking during the flag off of the distribution at the Arcade in Oyo town on Wednesday, the National Chairman of SWAGA, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the palliative would be distributed not only to members of SWAGA and All Progressives Congress (APC), but to the general public.
He said the palliative is SWAGA’s token of appreciation to the people for their support in the last election and also to let them know that they have not been forgotten.
“We will continue to get back to them to offer assistance where it is necessary. We are here to meet our people to gear them up because the job is not done. We have won the national election, Asiwaju is the president, but we will continue to support him so that he can perform very well,” he said.
Adeyeye, who noted that the palliative cannot reach the entire population, said thousands of people in the state would benefit from the palliative.
“There are other organisations that will do palliative as well and the government is also doing, but I am happy that we are the first organisation outside of government to distribute palliative and we will continue to do it. This is the first phase, there will be a second and third phase.
“Things were really very bad before Asiwaju assumed office. Nigeria was sinking, but now we are in the process of revival and we are beginning to see some great signs. World leaders are claiming the president; we have seen the great steps he is taking on behalf of his people and that is why he is being given worldwide recognition by world leaders and I am happy about that. He is a charismatic president managing the affairs of Nigeria at this present time and I believe he is going to lead us to a safe haven,” the former minister said.
The SWAGA National President appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with President Bola Tinubu, saying: “When things are so bad, it can’t suddenly become good in one day. You vote in a process of gain before you begin to experience the gain.
“We are satisfied with what he has achieved in 100 days. He has taken very bold steps that the previous governments could not take. From what we have seen from Asiwaju, it is going to be four good years of excellence and acheivements and he will have a second term by the grace of God.”
Adeyeye further explained that the palliative distribution is starting from the South West, adding that it will move to North Central states of Kogi and Kwara before going to other places.
Speaking on the modalities of distributing the palliative, the National Women Leader of SWAGA, Alhaja Ayo Omidiran, said the group has representatives in all the local government areas, stressing that the representatives will distribute the palliative in the full view of everybody.
“We have explained to them that the palliative is not meant for only SWAGA members, it is for everybody in their locality.
“To ensure that it gets to the grassroots, we have decided to share it on local government basis,” she said.
Omidiran, who noted that everybody is feeling the effect of the economic downturn in the country, appealed to those who are well to do in the society to remember those in the lower rung of the ladder and do whatever they can to alleviate their suffering.
“They should emulate what SWAGA is doing and if you are supporting Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, you should support him fully. You supported him during election, you should also support him during governance,” star added.
In his own address, SWAGA Convener and the president’s son-in-law, Hon Oyetunde Ojo, appealed to Nigerians to give the president some time to fix the country.
He said: “We realise that things are not that easy but we are telling them to calm down.This is not going to feed them for life, this is only extending the good wishes of President Bola Tinubu. We are just telling the people generally that the president has not forgotten them, he knows what is going on in the country
“A country that, for the past 30 years, has been in various crises. Somebody has to fix it, but he won’t fix it overnight as a magician. It takes time.
“We are here to deliver the message of the president. They supported us in this journey and as we are moving.
“We have told them, he is the president of Nigeria now, not the president of SWAGA or APC. So, this palliative would be distributed to everybody irrespective of party, tribe or religion.”
Ojo expained that, although SWAGA does not have the capacity of government, it will distribute educational materials and health facilities.
“There is a series of programmes; we have it in systematic apptoach,” he added.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke at the event thanked SWAGA for the kind gesture and expressed confidence in the ability of President Bola Tinubu to take Nigeria to the promised land.
Dignitaries at the event include former Commissioner in Oyo State and National Secretary of SWAGA, Hon Bosun Oladele; National Treasurer of SWAGA, Hon Oloruntoba Oke; North Central Coordinator of SWAGA, Hon Ibrahim Raji; former Commissioner of Education in Oyo State and State Women Leader of SWAGA, Dr Tokunbo Fayokun; Oyo APC Organising Secretary, Alhaji Muritala Olomi, former local government chairmen among others.