As part of efforts to cushion the current economic hardship in the country, the senator representing Delta Central, Okakuro Ede Dafinone, has distributed palliatives to about one thousand constituents and underprivileged drawn from the eight local government areas of the district.
The federal lawmaker also empowered hundreds of constituents with sewing machines, generating sets, car washing machines, hair dryers and other equipment to assist their businesses at this difficult time.
Speaking, while presenting the palliatives and empowerment equipment, Senator Dafinone noted that he was concerned about the current economy hardship among his constituents over the removal of fuel subsidy.
The palliatives and empowerment items were presented to beneficiaries on Friday in Sapele, Delta State.
Dafinone, elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), appealed to Nigerians to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu in addressing the myriads of problems confronting the nation.
He also appealed to Nigerian youths to suspend the planned protest over the economy hardship, noting that such protest has the propensity of worsening the already bad situation which the APC-led government was already fixing.
According to the senator, “we are here for the flag-off distribution of palliatives and the economy has not been friendly to all Nigerians with the increase in petrol price, prices of food, we see there’s hunger in the land, and saw the need to assist and support those that are less privileged among us.
“This programme did not start today, we’ve been planning for months on how we can empower our people, not because of protest but because I recognised that people are also hungry and they need empowerment that is why we are here.
“This empowerment is the first from many, those we didn’t capture today, we will capture tomorrow. We will continue this empowerment throughout our tenure in office so as to ensure that many people are reached across to.
“APC Government is responsive to people. The increase is designed to strengthen the economy and things will get better. The decision of the President is in order for us to adjust for the economy to take off.”
“Those that want to protest, their message to the government is that people are hungry, that things are hard, but the government has seen the message already. The protest will not help the country. If government gets the message and they take action, then the message has been delivered.”
Also speaking, Chief of Staff to Senator Dafinone, Chief Barr Adelabu Bodjor, has admonished beneficiaries to make effective and proper use of items given to them, insisting that items were given to put food on their tables.
“They should be well managed and no one should sell those items. It is for them to put a food on their table and that is the intention of the senator to make sure that every constituent going forward, have the ability to put food on their table,” he said.
The APC chairman in Uvwie Local Government Area, Comrade Leleji Wilfred, while commending Senator Ede Dafinone for the empowerment said all they needed in the grassroots have been provided by Dafinone, “we were also given fertilizer for farmers to improve on their farms and many other machines. We are happy for what he has done.”
Barr Innocent Ejedegba, from Ughelli South who was filled with joy and happiness said “I am happy to see this development in Delta central after one year in office. We appreciate him (Dafinone) so much for this gesture. This is a big relief to our people. We express our gratitude to him for this initiative. The people we are giving them to are from the grassroots, from unit level.”
Mrs Victoria Obakporlo the woman leader of Dafinone foundation and cooperative added that she’s been working with Senator Ede Dafinone for the past 18years and he has done well and has shown to the people of Delta central that he is capable.
Some of the items presented to the beneficiaries are grinding machines, sewing machine, vulcanising machines, welding machines, industrial gas burners, water pumping machines, car washing machines, industrial ovens, three-legged pots and fryers, 2.5KVA generators and HiSense freezers.
Others are makeup boxes with Ring light (14 inches Ring light with USB cable and Tripod), 24 hair washing basins, fiber washing hair basins and hair dryers.
While thousands of bags of rice, beans palm oil and other beverages were distributed as palliatives to underprivileged persons including those living with disabilities from the senatorial district.
